ASHRIDGE, BUCKINGHAMSHIRE 



A SH RIDGE possesses an unique position in 

 *~\ the world of English Gardens, for it has a 

 great past, a beautiful present, and a marvellous 

 history. 



Though much of this last is shrouded in un- 

 certainty, surmise can connect the missing links in 

 the chain of facts, and a fairly complete story can 

 be woven together. 



In the past the Garden, like the old house, was 

 entirely surrounded with walls. From ancient 

 records, it appears that there must have been 

 within these walls a Garden such as delighted those 

 who loved to dwell among " Mazes," " intricate 

 Meanders," " fantastic Yews," and " evergreen 

 Sculpture" those "absurd tastes," which Henry 

 VIII. and his successors found pleasure in, 

 abhorred though they were by later generations. 



How much of this old Garden was found still 

 existing by "Capability Brown" (that eager spoiler) 



