Historic Gardens of Virginia 



Hill is still called "Tarleton's Wood," for it was here that his 

 men encamped while waiting for their leader. 



How long the old garden at Castle Hill has. been in existence 

 it would be difficult to say, but probably somewhere between the 

 granting of the land in 1727 and the completion of the present 

 house in 1765. It has no intricate plan, no winding walks. It is 

 simply a great square, bounded on the north side by a high brick 

 wall against which stand fig bushes, and enclosed on the other three 

 sides by a Colonial arrowhead picket-fence. The garden lies in 

 four deep terraces. 



At the top stands one of the great box-hedges, for which Castle 

 Hill is famous. The highest terrace, where one enters the garden 

 through an arch in the hedge, and down a flight of old brick steps 

 sunk deep in the bank, is devoted entirely to flowers. There are 

 the old garden shrubs and flowers, some so old that their names 

 are now almost forgotten. The borders are a tangle of lovely 

 color, and the air is filled with a penetrating sweetness that goes 

 to one's head like wine. 



Leaving the upper terrace by more old steps, deep set in the 

 terrace side, a broad turf walk leads down to the second and 

 down more steps to the third level, and so to the lowest ter- 

 race of all. The great square beds on each side of the walk are 

 bordered by fruit trees, and grass paths lead everywhere around 

 the terraces. Beginning on the second level, a grape arbor stretches 

 over the broad turf walk, and as one passes down from terrace to 

 terrace, one sees the orderly rows of vegetables stretching away 

 on either side, for the Castle Hill garden is not only beautiful and 

 full of old world charm, but it is noted throughout the countryside 

 as the best vegetable garden. 



No changes have been made since it was first laid out by 

 Dr. Thomas Walker, of Indian fame. In Colonial days, he was 

 Major and Quartermaster-General of the Colonial forces in Vir- 

 ginia, Member of the House of Burgesses, and the Committee 

 of Safety. In this garden have walked many famous men — Wash- 



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