April 13, 1876. ) 



JOURNAL OF HOHTICULTUBE AND COTTAGE GAEDENER. 



289 



of the village and the maypole in the centre carry the visitor 

 back in imagination to times long gone by. 



The entrance into Annesley Park from the Nottingham side 

 is from the latter village, and the drive to the mansion is one 

 of an imposing character. The park is about six hundred acres 

 in extent, and is well stocked with deer and Scotch bullocks. 

 The long avenue of trees through which we pass possess some 

 rather singular associations, for formerly the trees were cut 

 into the shape of dogs and bears, but they have long been 

 allowed to grow in their natural shape : hence this drive is 

 called " Dog and Bear Lane." The principal entrance to the 

 Hall is through an archway into a large open courtyard, 

 bounded on the north side by stables, carriage houses, and 

 other outbuildings ; the east by offices, laundry, dairy, game 

 larder, &o. ; and the south side is open to the park. The stable 

 wall is covered with a fine sheet of Ivy, out as trim and neat 

 as the wall on which it is growing. In the centre of the court- 

 yard is a large fountain, which with the other imposing ap- 



pendages gives the place an aristocratic appearance. In close 

 proximity to the Hall is an ancient little church. The Facred 

 edifice is overshadowed by broad-spreading trees, which shed 

 a solemn quietude over the spot where " the rude forefathers 

 of the hamlet sleep." As wo left the courtyard I noticed just 

 in the boundary of the park two fine specimens of Fern-leaved 

 Alders. From the front door round to the western side of the 

 Hall is a broad border filled with spring-flowering plants in 

 the ribbon fashion, consisting chiefly of Daisies, Crocuses, 

 Polyanthuses, Hepatioas, Stachys lanata, Aubrietia, Violas, 

 and Pansies. 



Ascending a flight of steps we reach the bowling-green ; it 

 was on thia beautiful sward that Byron during his visits to 

 Annesley used to practise pistol-shooting. Another double 

 flight of steps brings us to the upper terrace, from which we 

 obtain splendid views of the surrounding country. This spot 

 is so associated with historic interest that it deserves more 

 than a passing notice. As ia seen in the engraving there is a 



I?ig. 85. — Annesley hall. 



door in the wall between the flights of steps leading into a 

 cellar underneath the terrace. This door was the great poet's 

 favourite target, and the holes made by the bullets still remain. 

 Some years ago, as it was fast falling to decay, when Mr. 

 Young, the head gardener, had another door made and hung 

 on the original hinges, and the old bullet-holed door fastened 

 to it in order to preserve it to posterity. 



Resuming our position on the upper terrace the distant land- 

 scape stretches before the eye like a charming panorama. In 

 the distance rise majestically the hills of Mapperley, Bestwood 

 Park, the seat of the Duke of St. Albans ; and nearer Annesley 

 is Hacknall Torkard, famed as being the last resting-place of 

 Byron. As we contemplate the range of hills which lie before 

 us we cannot help calling to mind those lines which have made 

 the hills famous. 



" Hills of Annesley, bleak and barren, 



Where my thoughtless childhood stray'd ; 



Now the northern tempests warring. 



Howl above the tufted shade. 

 " Now no more the hours beguiling. 



Former favourite haunts I see ; 



Now no more my Mary BmilinR 



Makes ye seem a heaven to me." 



The front of the terrace is ornamented with quaint balus- 

 trading, and the wall on the opposite side the broad pavement 



has the appearance of living festoons. At distances of about 

 12 feet there are projecting pillars built of the same material 

 as the wall. These pillars are mounted with a broad cap and 

 finally a round stone ball. Ivy is planted at the back of the 

 wall, trained over these caps along the top of the wall, and 

 falls in the centre like suspended chains. The effect produced 

 by what I must call the " Ivy copings," for the want of a better 

 name, is very pleasing. At each side of the pavement there 

 are broad borders filled with spring-blooming plants, and by 

 the time that these notes reach your readers will light up these 

 ancient terraces with their simple beauty. 



As we emerge from the terrace we pass down a large flight 

 of steps, and leaving the Hall behind ns we pass by beds of 

 Rhododendrons, with some venerable Elms, Limes, and Syca- 

 mores in the rear. Numerous walks intersect the pleasure 

 ground, and in places where the surface is considerably ele- 

 vated the walks traverse through cuttings about 5 or G feet 

 deep. Instead of the grass sloping down to the margin of the 

 walks the sides are built up with rockwork with large cavities 

 between the stones, in which are planted Aubrietias, Arabis, 

 Iberis, and other gay spring flowers. As we pass along one 

 of these walks every step is full of interest. Several very 

 fine evergreens are in luxuriant health, such as Piuns excelsa, 

 70 feet round the extremity of its branches and 25 feet high ; 



