136 



ENGLISH PLEASURE, GARDENS 



considered the lowlands more desirable. Evidently 

 it was a matter of taste, for actually there are Eliza- 

 bethan gardens still to be seen in every variety of 

 location, on hillsides, as at St. Catherine's Court ; 

 on hilltops, as at Hatfield ; and on level ground, as 

 at Montacute. 



At the entrance to the house w % as often a forecourt. 

 This was a rectangular enclosure surrounding a grass 

 plot divided by a path leading to the house and 

 sometimes containing fish-ponds and a dove-house. 

 " Near unto the same you shall make your ground 



dove-house if the law will 

 permit you such a one, in 

 fashion like a round turret 

 in the midst of your court." 

 Many forecourts have been 

 done away with, but there 

 are, fortunately, a few re- 

 maining. Of these, good 

 examples are at Levens in 

 Westmoreland, at Sandywell and King's Weston in 

 Gloucestershire, at Mount Morris, and at Charleston 

 manor-house. 



The number and character of the gardens depended 

 of course on the taste and affluence of the owner. 

 If he were poor, he might not be able to afford more 

 than one enclosure, containing, like the early Tudor 



A C1R.CULAR DOVE-COT : HARLESTON 



