It is famous as the birthplace of Lancelot 'Capability' Brown in the early eighteenth century, Britain's most celebrated landscape gardener.

He was the fifth of the six children of William Brown, a yeoman farmer and Ursula, née Hall, who had also worked in the big house on the Kirkharle estate.

In 1732, the young Brown began work at the Kirkharle estate, learning many skills in gardening, planting and land reclamation, leaving to further his career in 1739.

They made plans to restore the Grade II-listed park and to recreate Brown's vision for the landscape, including creating his proposed lake.

The water began to trickle through the cascade on 30 August 2016, the 300th anniversary of Brown's baptism at St Wilfrid's Church.

[12] The lake, grounds and St Wilfrid's church are open to the public as part of the Kirkharle Courtyard Visitor Centre.