ioo ENGLISH PLEASURE GARDENS 



stone walls surrounding the main enclosure ; a bovver or 

 banqueting house, also of stone, on one of the terraces 

 near the castle or palace ; a flowery orchard, a large 

 oblong fish-pond, high clipped hedges, and a garden of 

 pleasant flowers spreading beneath the palace windows. 



The flowery The orchard is exceptionally delightful ; its alleys are 

 bordered with flowers, and a profusion of foxglove 

 and other hardy annuals grow beneath the apple and 

 pear trees, which are planted at a regular distance apart. 



other At the extreme south end of the walk, which extends 



along the west side of the main garden, there was 

 formerly an open pavilion, which has unfortunately dis- 

 appeared. Leading from the terrace on the main house 

 level is a yew walk or alley, known as the "winter 

 walk," and built for one of the ladies of the family 

 for winter exercise. Outside the garden walls is an alley 

 of beautiful beeches known as " Clarissa's walk," since 

 it was a favourite spot with the lady to whom the poet 

 Waller gave this name, a member of the Sidney family. 

 It is difficult to mention another pleasaunce retaining 

 more than one or two mediaeval features. At Sudeley 

 Castle a part of the gardens were relaid out on old 

 lines about fifty years ago. There are high yew hedges 

 with birds quaintly clipped on top and covered alleys, 

 but the choice of flowers has not been in keeping with 

 the rest. In other places survivals or reproductions 

 have been even less complete. 



