An old deer park, improved in1776-80 by Richard Woods, to form a landscaped park of 34ha around a country house. W A Nesfield laid out gardens around the mansion in the late 1840's. Wivenhoe house was built by Thomas Reynolds in 1758-61. In 1846-53, the house was enlarged and refaced by Thomas Hopper, for John Rebow. Hopper also built the stable block and possibly the lodges. To the W and S of the house is a garden area surrounded by a low brick retaining wall. The line of the drive from the W lodge was laid out in the 1840's and is still visible. The mid C19 entrances are at the E lodge on Colchester road and W lodge on St Andrews avenue. The present approach is via park road. The Wivenhoe estate was owned by the Rebow family from 1734-1902. It was sold to the university of Essex in 1964 who converted it into university buildings and conference centre. The W part of the park is covered in university buildings. A series of 3 lakes runs through the valley. The top 2 lakes were part of Woods landscaping, and the 3rd was added by the university. Wood's designed a rubble grotto(now rebuilt) and an ice house still survives. <1>