Angnst 14, 1873. ] 



JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUEE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 



121 



mark, save that for years they have been freely thrown open 

 on the occasion of what is well known in the ilistrict as the 

 Great-Western Fete, when the hundreds of workmen eagaged 

 at the Swindon Railway Works, with their families, and many 

 more of the employi'^s besides, have, throuijU the liberality of 

 the proprietor, been enabled to make it their trysting- place. 



The mansion, of which we give a view from a photograph by 

 Mr. Wilkinson, of Trowbridge, is stone-built and of modern con- 

 struction, with an ample carriage square in front of the prin- 

 cipal entrance, which faces the east. It is surrounded with 

 seventeen acres of lawn dotted with choice trees and shrubs, 

 and close to it is a lake crossed by several bridges, one of which 

 is represented in our engra^-ing. The lake has no great breadth 

 in any part, except where it divides into two branches, forming 

 a large island ; but along its shores are picturesque walks more 



than a mile in [length. Indeed the walks about the place aro 

 its great charm. There are some four miles of walks, much of 

 them oontiued between Bos hedges 3 feet high, and which had 

 been much higher but are now clipped down, and which, it is 

 stated, were planted by Bishop Beckett. These walks aro 

 always shady and cool, aud are kept iu admirable order. On 

 the west side of the house is a terrace wall covered with Koses 

 and Magnolias, having standard Roses surrounded with Mig- 

 nonette, aud flower beds in front. This is a veritable garden 

 of sweet odours in the evening ; aud behind it again we have 

 Felicite Perpetuee Rose hanging in loose but profuse clusters 

 of white blossoms, accompanied with brilliant Gladioluses aud 

 Geraniums. The flower garden is on the same side of the man- 

 sion ; it is neatly laid out and effectively planted, especially 

 the oblong centre, which has at the outside two rows of Eche- 



i;i;rici.;rr hiju.se. 



Teria seccmda glauca, one on a ramp and the other on the flat, 

 and the space within is filled up with Alteraanthcra spathulata 

 and Qolden Feather Pyrethrum, while the raised centre con- 

 sists of Echeverias and Alternanthera magnifica. The outer 

 beds are edged with Cerastium tomentosum, within which aro 

 planted in snccession, according to the side. Blue Bonnet or 

 Purple King Verbena, Flower of Spring or Bijou Geranium, 

 the old Tom Thumb scarlet, and Aurea Floribunda Calceolaria. 

 Altogether from 20,000 to 30,000 plants, we are informed, are 

 yearly required for this garden. There is also a conservatory 

 on the same side of the house, kept in good order, and con- 

 taining scarlet Geraniums and Heliotropes extending from 

 floor to roof on the pillars and back wall, together with Tac- 

 8onia mollissima, Camellias, Dicksonias and other Ferns. 

 We have before alluded to the walks as being one of the 



most agreeable features of the place ; in particular wc would 

 notice an avenue with Beech and Oak on each side, along with 

 Yews, Box, and mixed shrubs ; a walk from the terrace to the 

 church with a Yew hedge on each side ; and in front of where 

 the old mansion stood we liave clumps of Oaks aud Elms, 

 forming an avenue through which Ufliugton church is seen iu 

 the distance. From the same side of the park White Horse 

 Hill is plainly seen, though the figure of the horse, what- 

 ever its origin, is now by no means clear; still, the scenery 

 is pretty in all directions, and the park is well studded, with 

 trees. We noticed an Oak l'> feet in circumference of, stem, 

 Beeches with ,50 feet of clean stem, several fine Scotch Firs, 

 and of other Conifers handsome trees of the Deciduous Cypress, 

 Finns Cembra, Picea Pinsapo, and Silver Fir. 



The fruit and kitchen garden is about four acres in extent. 



