Under Sir George Staunton, the park and the buildings start to take on the form that we can still see today.
He built his house on what is now the farm side of the park. He also built the farm house, the coach house and 28 follies across the park, as well as the hot houses filled with exotic flowers and fruits.
Clearly, he was pleased with his work:
"I think I have been peculiarly fortunate in my selection, The Leigh Park Estate is of a size suited to my means, at an easy day’s journey from London, and half-way between the popular watering-place of Brighton and Salisbury, the place of my birth, and the residence of the greater portion of my maternal relations. The situation is healthy; the views, including that of the sea, are beautiful; and although the mansion is of a modest size, and the park not large, the character of the property has been much raised by the addition of a handsome Gothic library, by the construction of numerous hot-houses and conservatories, famed for the successful cultivation of rare flowers and exotic fruits, and by the very great extension of the pleasure grounds, generally admired for their picturesque views and various decorations."
