NOTES ON THE ILLUSTRATIONS 



the reconstruction and improvement of a previously existing design. 

 His intervention has certainly been most successful, for the place as it 

 is now has a considerable degree of distinction and possesses many 

 features of interest. Well-proportioned terraces and other architec- 

 tural details have been introduced, and advantage has been taken of 

 the situation of the house to provide standpoints from which fine 

 views of the surrounding country can be obtained. Ford Castle * 

 (Plates XLV. and XLVI.), a place of much historical importance, 

 was purchased a few years ago from the Marquis of Waterford by 

 Lord Joicey, who has since spent large sums of money in improving 

 the grounds and the village which adjoins the castle. Like so many 

 of the northern places, Ford Castle stands on a high plateau above a 

 wooded valley which is laid out as a wild garden and crossed by 

 bridges from which there are charming views of the slopes and 

 streams below. In the north-west corner of the plateau is a small 

 but well-designed formal garden that makes a pleasant foreground to 

 a vista which stretches away into the far distance. A large fountain, 

 designed by Louisa, Marchioness of Waterford, and erected as a 

 memorial to her husband, the fourth Marquis, stands in another part 

 of the grounds ; and another important architectural addition, which 

 has been made by Lord Joicey, is the new entrance from the main 

 road, an open stone wall with fine gates and bronze horses on the top 

 of the gate piers. Ford Castle is known in history as the place where 

 King James of Scotland spent the night before the battle of Flodden 

 Field. 



Fulford Hall (Plate XLVII.) is an old house which has been in the ^ 

 family of the present owner for at least two centuries. The gardens 

 are apparently of the same date as the house, and are good as examples 

 of the earlier fashion in design. Old trimmed yews give a quaint 

 picturesqueness to the place and assort well with the architectural 

 character of the building with which they are associated. The most 

 striking thing at Gledhow Hall (Plate XLVIII.) is the fuchsia 

 garden, which is also called " My Lady's Garden " ; a charming nook 

 enclosed by shrubberies which is planted with fuchsia-bushes that 

 have grown to several feet high and are covered by masses of bloom. 

 The grounds are laid out in a simple and unpretentious manner, but 

 full advantage has been taken of the undulating character of the site, 

 and the whole place has been planned with taste and judgment. 

 There is in the garden a remarkable piece of topiary work, a box- 

 tree which has been trained and trimmed into the shape of an old- 

 fashioned rush-bottomed chair. At Grimston Park (Plates XLIX., 

 L., and LI.) is one of the best examples of the Italian type of garden 



xxv 



