274 THE SHAKESPEARE GARDEN 



handsome bowling-green surrounded with a balus- 

 trade of freestone." 



Hampton Court Gardens, so beautiful to-day, 

 were very famous in Tudor times. The old manor 

 house was at the southwest corner of the area, and 

 around it Cardinal Wolsey laid out his gardens and 

 orchards. In 1599 Henry VIII seized the estate 

 and enlarged the gardens. Ernest Law exclaims : 



"What a truly delightful picture must these gar- 

 dens have formed with their little walks and par- 

 terres, sheltered arbors and banquetting-houses. The 

 largest plot was called the King's New Garden and 

 occupied the place called the Privy Garden. Here 

 were the gay parterres with gravel paths and little 

 raised mounds with sun-dials on them. Here was 

 also the Pond Garden, which is still to be seen and 

 which, though much altered, yet retains something 

 of its Tudor aspect; and another, known as the 

 Little Garden, which may, perhaps, be identified 

 with the enclosed space at the side of the Pond Gar- 

 den. Studded about in various parts of the gardens 

 and orchards were heraldic beasts on pedestals, hold- 

 ing vanes, or shields, bearing the King's Arms and 

 badges; also many brass sun-dials." 



Another typical garden was that of Kenilworth, 



