212 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



I 



The last Duke 

 bequeathed the 

 property to her 

 for life, but her 

 interests were 

 disputed, and 

 great excitement 

 was caused by 

 her arraignment 

 before the House 

 of Lords in 1786. 

 At her death the 

 property passed 

 to the last 

 Duke's nephew, 

 who became Earl 

 Manversin 1806. 

 From that time, 

 however, the old 

 Hall fell upon 

 evil days. The 

 beautiful furni- 

 ture disap- 

 peared, and the 

 whole of the 

 building suffered 

 considerably, 

 several of the 

 best rooms being 

 given up to the work of hand-/oom weavers, who lived in 

 tenements within the walls. In this state it continued until 

 some fifty years ago, when the property came into the 

 possession of the late Mr. Stephen Moulton, who restored the 

 glorious fabric of the building. His brother and successor in 

 the estate, Mr. John Moulton, has completed the work of 

 beautifying the immediate surroundings and improving the 

 gardens. The site affords little scope, because immediately 

 in front of it, within joyds. indeed, are india-rubber works, 

 only partially hidden by a belt of trees and by shrubs at 



Copyright. 



THE ANCIENT DOVECOTE. 



ountry Life." 



the bottom of the 

 lawn. The 

 grounds are, 

 nevertheless, 

 remarkably 

 secluded. The 

 view from them 

 is not extensive, 

 but the old white 

 gables of Brad- 

 ford are visible, 

 and, though 

 hidden, the 

 waters of the 

 Avon rushing 

 over the weirs 

 may be heard as 

 they speed 

 through the 

 valley. The 

 scenery in this 

 part ot Wiltshire 

 is charmingly 

 picturesque and 

 attractive. As 

 our illustrations 

 reveal, the gar- 

 dens are formed 

 in terraces, with 



beautiful enriched walls. A good wall in a garden is a feature 

 to be seized upon, because against it can be planted many 

 beautiful things that will scarcely prosper elsewhere. The 

 upper lawn, devoted to tennis courts, is a pleasant resort, 

 where gay flower borders creep up to the sward, and at the 

 back of the flower border on the upper side are several rows 

 of ornamental shrubs quaintly trained, with elms, pines, and 

 other trees behind. 



Some loft, below is another lawn, devoted to bowling, 

 the fine old English game that is becoming more popular every 



Copyright. 



THE HOUSE AND TERRACE FROM THE WEST. 



' Country L>lt.' 



