Hunting and Agriculture: An Examination of the Functional Aspects of Landscape Architecture in Post-Restoration Scotland

Abstract

The primary focus of the architectural historiography of Scottish country house landscapes in the long eighteenth century has been on formal and stylistic elements. However, these landscapes consisted of much more than ornamental and exotic gardens. Although landscapes were vehicles for conspicuous consumption, they also were the chief sites of food production and leisurely pursuits. As such, this paper instead endeavors to examine what the practical influences, specifically agriculture and hunting, were on these landscapes at the turn of the eighteenth century. This analysis derives from an evaluation of available literature and the 1685 Scottish Game Act. The ultimate conclusion drawn here is that formal elements, agriculture, and hunting were all powerful influences on early 18th-century landscape design. Further research, particularly through individual case studies, would only serve to show how landscape architects dealt with creating stunning yet useful landscapes.