SEPTEMBER. 273 



TOTTENHAM PARK, WILTS, 



THE RESIDENCE OF THE MARQUIS OF AYLESBURY. 



Tottenham Park, including the adjoining forests of Savernake and 

 jMarlborough, comprises a vast demesne (exclusive of the numerous manors 

 which belong to the same noble proprietor), unequalled for extent or 

 variety of sylvan beauty, and is indeed the only forest belonging to a 

 private individual in the kingdom. " The Forest " consists mainly of 

 a succession of gentle eminences divided by narrow valleys, w^hich 

 in places spread out to wider stretching plains, thus presenting to the 

 best advantage the grand masses of forest trees, which everywhere 

 abound. The principal indigenous trees are the Oak, Beech, Ash, Birch, 

 and Thorn ; many of these are very old and of large size, and are often 

 accompanied by breaks of underwood, and fringed by large breadths of 

 common Fern. In fact, lovers of the picturesque may find an ample 

 field for study and admiration in traversing the miles which constitute 

 " the Forest," and which in many places present all the characteristics 

 of woods in the state of primitive wildness. Thanks to the noble 

 owner of Tottenham, for having allowed the glorious old Oaks of 

 Savernake to remain unmolested by the renovating hand of man, and 

 with a liberality which cannot be too highly appreciated, permits 

 pedestrians the rare treat of a walk through forest scenery, such as can 

 no where else be found in England. The London and Bath turnpike 

 road passes through the north part of the Forest, between Hungerford 

 and JMarlborough, and the mansion is situate about four miles to the 

 left of this, within the precincts of Tottenham Park proper. The 

 approach road to the mansion is carried through an avenue of Beech, 

 nearly the entire length, and which, as we intend making some 

 comments on it, in reference to avenues generally, in a future number, 

 we shall at once pass to the gardens and get to our esteemed friend Mr, 

 Burn, who for nearly forty years has had them under his charge, and 

 who, we need scarcely say, is still one of the most successful and 

 indefatigable cultivators of the present day. 



The kitchen garden is extensive and as such adapted for the supply 

 of a large family, and notwithstanding the subsoil is unfavourable, 

 produces excellent crops of vegetables. The wall trees, like others, 

 have suffered this year, but still we noticed a very fair crop of Apricots, 

 Peaches, &c. Everybody has heard of the famous Tottenham Park 

 Muscat (a large variety originated here some years back) ; this is still 

 growTi largely, and the Vineries were bearing fine crops of this and 

 Hamburghs. Vines in pots are a feature here, and are most suc- 

 cessfully managed, producing immense crops. To show how long the Vine 

 (even when forced) may be kept productive, there is one Vinery, which 

 was planted previous to Mr. Burn's taking charge of the place, and at 

 that time the Vines were not in the best of condition, but by skilful 

 management they have every season since produced heavy crops of fine 

 fruit ; and we think IMr. Burn may fairly challenge this house against 

 any in the kingdom, for the weight of fruit it has carried within the 

 last thirty -five years. The whole of the Vines are managed on the long 



NEW SERIES, VOL. IT. NO. XLV. T 



