ASHRIDGE 91 



round the square of the Garden. Four flights of 

 stone steps in the grass slope beyond form the 

 entrances to this Garden, which is on a slightly 

 lower level than the surrounding ground. These 

 steps are very effective, with their pedestal pillars 

 and vases on each side ; straight gravel paths run 

 from them to the central Gothic Cross, forming 

 with the Box-edged knots an intricate pattern. 

 Many of these knots have been filled from a 

 design of Lady Maria Alford (the mother of 

 Lord Brownlow) with coloured gravel or sand, a 

 very old custom made use of in early days, but 

 chiefly copied from the Dutch. Lord Bacon de- 

 nounced the practice in no measured terms: "As 

 for the making of knots or figures, with divers 

 coloured earths that they may lie under the 

 windows of the house, on the side which the 

 Garden stands they be but toys ; you may see 

 as good sight many times in tarts ! " 



It may be a debased form of flower Gardening, 

 but as a decorative effect it has great value, 

 especially when the hand which starts the "sight " 

 knows when to stay it, as is the case at Ashridge, 

 where the idea is to give a kind of floral inter- 

 pretation of the arms of the family. 



On an August day this Garden is ablaze with 

 every colour of the rainbow, scarlet predominating 

 owing to the masses of brilliant red Geraniums. 

 Opposite the Monks' " Parlour " are some Rose-beds 



