162 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



white - robed workers was 

 forgotten, and that the spirit 

 fled when the form was 

 made perfect, at least it is 

 certain that they entered 

 upon their labour as is 

 written in the Chronicle 

 of Meau.x, ruled over by a 

 monk from Fountains 

 seeking " their daily bread 

 by the sweat of their brows, 

 planting with their life's blood 

 the vineyard of the Lord of 

 Hosts." Not less certain is 

 it that under their laborious 

 hands the sterile wilder- 

 ness and impenetrable thicket 

 were brought under culti- 

 vation. 



Fountains Abbey shall not 

 be described in this place, for 

 it lies mostly outside our 

 scope. It is usual to approach 

 the entrancing scene through 

 the pleasure grounds of 

 Studley Royal, the noble seat 

 of the Marquess of Ripon, from 

 which certain of our illustra- 

 tions are taken, and few visitors are found to deny 

 that the classical character of those grounds, with the land- 

 scape gardening introduced by Mr. Aislabie in the last 

 century, has produced an effect of contrast that is very 

 charming. They are approached by an avenue of splendid 

 limes, and another of noble beeches. The place is full of 

 sweetness, and many hours may be spent amid the delightful 

 woods, in examining the ruins, and in surveying the 



Copyright. 



"Country Life.' 



THE RUSTIC BRIDGE WALK. 



picturesque beauties of Fountains Hall. Mr. Aislabie's work 

 at Fountains Abbey began about 1720, and he was assisted 

 only by his gardener, William Fisher. 



The river Skell was canalised, and caused to open into 

 large ponds, extending between turf-covered terraced banks 

 adorned with statues and bordered by fine hedges of yew, 

 above which rose the natural woodland. Since that time ways 

 have been cut through the wood to the top of the hill, whence 



> 



Copyright. 



THE RIVEW SKELL. 



'Country Lift," 



