BRYMPTON 



Brympton d'Evercy in Somersetshire — not far from Montacute, the 

 residence of the Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane — is a house of mixed 

 architectural character of great interest. A large portion of the earlier 

 Tudor building now shows as the western (entrance) front, while, facing 

 southward, is the handsome fa9ade of classical design, said to be the 

 work of Inigo Jones, but more probably that of a later pupil. The 

 balustraded wall flanking the entrance gates — the subiect of the picture 

 — appears to be of the time of this important addition, for it is better 

 in design than the balustrade of the terrace, which was built in the 

 nineteenth century. 



But the terrace is of fine effect, with the great flight of steps midway 

 in its length that lead down to a wide unspoilt lawn. This again passes 

 to the fish-pond, then to parkland with undulating country beyond. 



The treatment of the ground is admirable. Fifty years ago the lawn 

 would probably have been cut up into flower-beds, a frivolity forbidden 

 by the dignified front. 



Gardening is always difficult, often best let alone, in many such 

 cases. When the architecture, especially architecture of the classical 

 type, is good and pure, it admits of no intrusion of other forms upon its 

 surfaces. It is complete in itself, and the gardener's additions become 

 meddling encroachments. When any planting is allowable against 

 houses of this type — as in cases where they are less pure in style and 

 have larger wall-spaces — it should be of something of bold leafage, or 

 large aspect of one simple character ; the strong-growing Magnolia 

 grandiflora as an upright example, and Wistaria as one of horizontal 



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