46 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



the place where the beautiful structure bursts upon the view 

 amid its gracious surroundings, and as we approach, midway in 

 the drive, a romantic prospect over the country is disclosed, 

 the landscape stretching into the distance, with the church 

 neighbouring the priory ruins, and the wooded hill behind. 



The approach from the east is also most attractive, and 

 brings the visitor through the well-timbered park, where oaks 

 and elms abound, to \\here the house stands nobly, its 

 celebrated facade rising with imposing effect. A number of 

 the older trees on this side bear conspicuous marks of the 

 ravages of time and the elements, but the rich woodland of 

 Montacute has been well cared for, and a great many young 

 trees have been planted within recent years. The north 

 entrance is near the vicarage, a valley intervening between 

 the public road and the house, and is straight, with a broad 



is disclosed. To the south you look over the hills of Dorset- 

 shire towards Lyme ; to the west lie the heights below Minehead 

 and Blackdown ; north-westward the Quantocks, the Bristol 

 Channel, and the Coast of Wales ; to the north the Mendips 

 and Glastonbury Tor ; and, sweeping round to the east, many 

 a pleasant prospect beside. 



The glorious old house has the advantage of being built of 

 beautiful oolitic sandstone from the neighbouring quarries of 

 Hamhill. Its builder was Sir Edward Phelips, successively 

 Queen's Sergeant, Master of the Rolls, and Speaker of the 

 House of Commons, and it was raised between 1580 and 1601, 

 upon a simple plan a main block, with projecting wings, so 

 that it takes the shape of a stunted letter H. 



The west front is very beautiful, much enriched, and with 

 a gorgeous screen, said to have been brought from Clifton 



THE ENCLOSED GARDEN. 



"Country Life.' 



stretch of greensward on each side, the background being 

 formed by a long row of solemn Irish yews ; beyond which, 

 again, are deciduous and evergreen trees, such as oaks, 

 elms, cedars, and Weymouth and various other pines. 

 Recently large numbers of flowering trees and shrubs have 

 been planted in this part of the grounds, and, in their season, 

 these will lend new brightness and beauty to the approach. 



Montacute is a house of Elizabeth's days, with all the 

 character, and filled with the picturesque beauty, of Tudor 

 times, lying in a chosen part of Somerset, with hill and hollow, 

 wood and field, picturesque villages anJ rural lanes, for its 

 neighbours beautiful seats, too, and pleasant houses in the 

 land. About the house are tlv.se delightful surroundings, rich 

 and diversified, all dominated by the hill there are really two 

 pyramidal and wooded to its summit : the Monx Mitt us that 

 gave the place its name, and from the height a splendid view 



Maubank. The east side is equally fine, and its imposing wall, 

 with the three ranges of splendid windows, and statues of 

 Roman soldiers in niches between those of the upper story, 

 looks over the beautiful garden below. This, indeed, is a region 

 well filled with architectural interest, for, as if Montacute 

 House were not enough, there are glorious fragments of the 

 priory, and the village has features of unusual note. 



Within, the mansion has many beauties for those privi- 

 leged to explore. The hall is a noble apartment, with a fine 

 minstrel's gallery, and the customary screen, richly wrought. 

 The upper story is occupied almost wholly by a single 

 chamber, of very great and imposing dimensions. An 

 unusual feature is the winding stone staircase that conducts 

 the visitor to the drawing-room, which he finds a most 

 beautiful apartment, with rich and elaborate ceiling and much 

 fine woodwork. But the delightful features of Montacute 



