XVI 



WREST PARK, BEDFORDSHIRE 



' I "HERE is a delicate sense of magic in the 

 * beauty of the Gardens at Wrest Park, a magic 

 that comes from the touch of a master hand, for the 

 old French Gardens at Wrest were laid out by no 

 other than Le Notre, the greatest genius in the 

 history of the world's Gardens. Thus it is no 

 wonder that the courtly charm and fascinating grace 

 of the great Frenchman peeps out on every side, 

 regardless of the continual changes Time carries on 

 its wings. 



Few Gardens, however, remain as they were 

 originally designed : each owner in turn adds and 

 takes away from them. Sometimes the beauty of 

 variety is gained, but generally the first great 

 influence rules throughout as it does here, and 

 Le Notre speaks, and is felt in much that never 

 came from his hand. An old inscription on the 

 " Rustic Column " at Wrest mentions many of 

 these changes changes extending even to the 



Y 381 



