The first garden gnomes were introduced to the United Kingdom in 1847 by Sir Charles Isham , when he brought 21 terracotta figures back from a trip to Germany and placed them around the gardens of his home , Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire . Garden gnomes were first introduced to the United Kingdom in 1847 by Sir Charles Isham , when he brought 21 terracotta figures back from a trip to Germany and placed them as ornaments in the gardens of his home , Lamport Hall in Northamptonshire .