‘Milton Abbey in Dorsetshire, the Seat of Lord Milton’ in W. Watts, The Seats of the Nobility and Gentry: in a collection of the most Interesting & Picturesque Views, engraved by W. Watts, from Drawings by the most Eminent Artists. Chelsea: W. Watts, 1779–86. Acton.b.25.155, plate 33

Founded by Benedictine monks, Milton Abbey was seized during the Dissolution of the Monasteries and acquired by the Tregonwell family, who held it until 1752 when it was bought by the Damer family. Brown worked for Joseph Damer, the first Lord Milton, on a number of occasions between 1763 and 1782. His services ranged from casual advice to fully-realised works. His first involvement included the laying of lawns to the north and west of the house to improve the views. It is likely that King Edward’s Drive also dates from this time. The most radical change to the landscape was the introduction of a large lake in the 1770s, requiring the purchase and flooding of the entire neighbouring village of Middleton. Although Brown is attributed with identifying this process as the only means by which water could be brought to the estate, there is some dispute as to whether he was responsible for the work itself. Brown was certainly busy at Milton Abbey in the 1770s integrating parcels of land, including a former burial ground, into the wider scheme. However, the difficult nature of his client and Brown’s own busy schedule means that although an important Brown landscape, there is evidence of other hands at work.

William Watts (1752–1851) was a line engraver and erstwhile student of Edward Rooker, taking over the latter’s Copper-plate Magazine in 1774. Seats of the Nobility and Gentry was published in twenty-one parts between 1779 and 1786 although it proved commercially unsuccessful and the series was curtailed prematurely.