19 



CHAPTER 11. 



THE APPEOACH. 



Definition. — Direction of the Approach. — The Site of the 

 Entrance-gate. — Style of the Gate and Lodge. — Line of 

 Approach through the Park. — Gates on the Line of Approach. 

 — Formation of the Approach. — Eoadway of Approach. — 

 Decoration of Approach. — The Avenne. — The Fine Approach. 



Ax Approach is a road leading from the principal 

 highway of the district^ and passing through the park 

 and dressed gi'oimds to the mansion-house. It is not to 

 be considered as identical with the avenue found in some 

 old places, which latter is an alley or straight road run- 

 ning between parallel lines of tall trees. The term 

 approach, in its general acceptation, may denote everj^ 

 kind of access to the house; in common usage, how- 

 ever, it is mostly restricted to the principal one. In 

 districts where there are large forests or extensive pas- 

 ture farms connected with the estate, the external high- 

 way may be so private as to assume the character of an 

 approach, and as such may require to be dealt with on 

 the principles of landscape-gardening : at present it is 

 proposed to speak of the approach only as internal to 

 the park. In the estimation of some, the approach 

 occupies a primary place in the arrangement of a countrv 



