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JOURNAL OF HORTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GABDENEB. 



[ N'oTOmber G, 1873. 



Actoas of Sutton in the county of Worcester. It is remarkable 

 mat her eon, also a Sir Thomas Lucy, prosecuted various 

 offenders for deer-stealing in the park at Sutton, and the record 

 of that prosecution in the Star Chamber in the eighth of 

 .James I.'s reign (IGIO), within Shakspere's lifetime, is still 

 among our public records. The wife of the Rev. John Lucy, who 

 possessed Charlcote at the beginning of the present century, was 

 lineally descended from Mrs. Lane, the preserver of Charles II. 

 after the battle of Worcester. 



From the park gates already referred to we pass by an avenue 

 of stately Elms, some 250 yards in length, to the old lodge, 

 which we are informed is the same as originally erected ; and 

 the mansion, of which we give an engraving from a photograph, 

 also remains unchanged, save by the addition of a new libraiy 

 and dining-room, and restorations which the hand of time had 

 rendered necessary ; but these have been so executed that it is 



difficult to tell the new from the old, such care having been 

 taken to preserve the original character of the building, which 

 is of red brick with stone facings. The principal front is to 

 the east, and between this and the old lodge there is a neatly- 

 kept flower garden, which is overlooked on its north side from 

 the croquet lawn upon a higher level. The terrace wall 

 bounding this is seen in our engraving, as well as one of 

 the Cedars which are growing on the east and west sides of 

 the lawn ; but the trees, it must be remarked, are of no great 

 size. At the extremity of the beautifully-kept croquet lawn 

 there is a small stone conservatory containing some Camellias, 

 Fuchsias, etc., but principally used in winter for sheltering 

 bedding plants, of which about 20,000 are annually planted. 

 Passing a rustic aviary, a walk leads northward to the Rose 

 garden overlooking the park of between ,S0O and 350 acres, 

 well timbered, and stocked with nearly as many deer as there 



CHARLCOfE HOBSE. 



are acres. Here there is a summer-house with a circular bed 

 in front, surrounded by a series of small beds converging to 

 its centre. There is likewise a very old Mulberry here, in the 

 last stages of decrepitude, but of its age and history we could 

 learn nothing. The walk past the summer house is carried 

 ,.ound and rejoins that on the north of the croquet lawn, the 

 mtervening space being occupied with " The Wilderness," 

 consisting of ancient Yews, Box, and Scotch Firs. 



The west front of the mansion overlooks the Avon, which 

 is reached by a flight of stone steps, while on the south-west 

 side a view is gained of a waterfall and bridge. To this pro- 

 bably Jago refers in his lines — 



*' Charlcote'B fair domain. 

 Where Avon's sportive stream delighted strays 

 Thro' the gay KmiJing meads, and to his bed 

 Hele's gentle current woos, by Lucy's hand 

 In every graceful ornament atfir'd. 

 And worthier such to share his liquid realms." 



Between the mansion and the river there is another flower 

 garden on two levels, the higher being carried close to the 

 house, and from this there is a fine view across the park. The 

 south-west entrance is reached by the bridge just referred to, 

 from which point an avenue 20 yards wide of nearly three- 

 quarters of a mile in length extends in the direction of Strat- 

 ford-on-Avon. The trees are Lime, those near the house are 

 of great age and overarch the road, but nearer Stratford they 



are quite young. It may here be remarked that a footpath 

 runs from the little village across the park to Stratford, and 

 the greater part of its length is nearly parallel to the avenue ; 

 ini'eed at this time of fallen leaves, and probably at all other 

 times as well, its course is so faintly marked that the avenue 

 has to serve as a guide to where the footpath is. It must 

 have been an old right of way, saving something like half a 

 mile in the distance to Stratford-on-Avon, and probably 

 existed in Shakspere's days, and ivith a herd of deer but 

 200 yards off one could understand how easy it would be to 

 mistake where the right path lay. 



The Icitchen garden and forcing ground are situated a quarter 

 of a mile from the house, being on the opposite side of the 

 branch road leading to Stratford-on-Avon. 'Ihe walled garden 

 is about 2J acres in extent, being about 130 yards long by 100 

 yards wide, thus presenting a good length of south-aspect 

 wall. The ground for some distance from the south wall is 

 nearly level, but it then slopes rapidly to the south. The soil 

 is a sandy loam, 2J feet deep, and in excellent condition for 

 growing all kinds of crops. The principal walls are of brick, 

 from 10 to 12 feet high, and surmounted with substantial 

 stone copings projecting 4 inches beyond tho wall's face, but 

 towards the lower portion of the ground the height varies 

 according to tho slope. The Peach and Nectarine trees on 

 the south wall are well trained, but several of them evidently 



