lancelot brown was born as a land agent's and chambermaid's fifth child in the village of kirkharle, northumberland, and educated at a school in cambo until he was 16. brown's father william brown had been sir william loraine’s land agent and his mother ursula (née hall) had been in service at kirkharle hall. his eldest brother john became the estate surveyor and later married sir william's daughter. elder brother george became a mason-architect.