298 A BOOK OF ENGLISH GARDENS 



in colour and design. The nearest bed of flowers 

 is an exceptionally fine Herbaceous Border which 

 runs parallel with the house, the enclosed Gardens 

 lying in a line with it. Beyond the walls of these 

 Gardens the Herbaceous Border lies like a flash of 

 colour, flanked by a grass walk, which has on the 

 other side a delightful old Holly hedge, cut in 

 quaint shapes, round and square quite a precious 

 heirloom from past days ; the beautiful mass of 

 glossy leaves contrasting well with the varied 

 colours of the flowers close by. 



Lord and Lady Northcliffe, who have taken 

 Sutton Place on a long lease, possess a genuine 

 love for the old House, and entering into the spirit 

 of its past, jealously guard it from innovation, 

 allowing nothing to be introduced there which is out 

 of keeping with the style of the house or Gardens. 

 The wrought-iron gates to both the walled Gardens 

 were designed by Lady Northcliffe, and carried out 

 by the village blacksmith. Entering by the first of 

 these original gates, a Garden is found full of 

 interest, filled with old-fashioned flowers, such as 

 Lavender and Roses, blending delightfully both as 

 to colour and scent. The flowers are planted in 

 four square beds in the centre of the Garden, inter- 

 sected by grass paths. A Pergola of Roses and 

 Honeysuckle runs across the middle of the Garden, 

 appearing to bind the two halves of the Rose-beds 

 together, and giving a very fanciful effect to the 



