218 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



finer kinds have been planted, and hence largely the extreme 

 beauty of the early summer at Alton, when the valley-sides 

 are clouds of varied colour. Hence, too, the green charm of 

 tiie winter, wh.-n otiier shrubs have cast their leaves. The 

 beech, the sweet chestnut, anJ the acacia are in rude heal.h 

 in this chosen spot, and there are firs to give relief, by their 

 sombre hue, to the deciduous trees and statuary. These 

 splendid wardens preceded the existing mansion they so 

 lavishly adorn, and have therefore appropriately been first 

 described. 



The fifteenth Earl of Shrewsbury, the same who 

 "made the desert smile," turned his at ention to gardening 

 as an enthusiast, and began his work in the year 1814. His 

 successor, the "good Earl," w.is not neglectful of his green 

 heritage, which he greatly improved, but his attention 

 was devoted more j articularly to the house, which, by 

 successive alterations, he converted into an imposing pile. 

 Before his time the place had never Iven known as Alton 

 Towers. Fortunately, in his later life, he made the 

 acquaintance of Pi-gin, and the two worked hand in hand, the 

 Earl having an inspiring worker, and the famous architect a 

 munificent patron. Between them 

 the mansion grew into what it is, 

 and was stored with historic 

 treasures and works of art ; but, 

 unfortunately for the place, both 

 owner and architect dieJ t>o soon. 

 Their congenial work did not end 

 with Alton Towers, for, as 

 everyone interested in the later 

 development of our English 

 architecture knows, churches and 

 other buildings sprang up under 

 the liberal hand of the Earl, and 

 through Pugin's loyal truthfulne s 

 to style and to mediaeval tradition. 

 Those times have goie by, 

 but the work of those two 

 men has left its mark on the 

 land. When Bertram, I:arl of 

 Shrewsbury, d'ed, the senior 

 line of the Talbots failed, and, 

 after some litigation, Alton 

 Towers, with the Shrewsbury 

 title, fell to the late Eail Talbot 

 of Ingestre. 



The imposing conservatories, 

 3OOtt. long, with a central domed 

 house, are architectural also, but 

 here the hand was not that of 

 Pugin, but of London. Their 

 vast size and lofty character 

 cause them to stand out boldly 

 among their beautiful surroundings, 

 but it is unfortunately true that 



architectural effect, if associated with great size, may mar 

 the object for which conservatories are intended. Few 

 plants can be happy in buildings so large and draughty 

 that the greatest skill can scarcely make them suitable for 

 their inmates. 



Some o; th- architectural features of Alton Towers, which 

 are external to the mansion itself, have already been referred 

 to. The Gothic Temple, " Le Refuge" that quiet nook, 

 which we have illustrated, under the hill the Harper's Cottage, 

 a picturesque building of S.viss aspect, on the opposite height, 

 the Pagoda Fountain, rising strangely amid lovely foliage 

 and retlecte.1 in still water where lilies sleep, the Modem 

 Stoi.ehenge, and other features of this great estate all ad J their 

 points of interest or attractiveness to the domain. Then there- 

 is Ina'.- Rock, where the great King of Wesscx is said to 

 have held a parley with Ceolred, the Mercian, after 

 the battle. 



From these various features the visitor who is seeking out 

 the garden and sylvan beauties of Alton Towers may return 

 to the old quarry near the mansion, which in the happiest 

 tashion has been made rich in conifers. Here, indeed, 



they succeed beyond expectation. The Deodar cedai , Pinus 

 Cembr.i, P. insignis, Abie> Douglas! , and A. Menziesi 

 are amongst the most flourishing of the tribe in the 

 quarry. 



Before we leave Alton Towers, it is pleasant to linger a 

 while in the private garden of sweet-smelling flowers, also 

 near the house. Here a crowd of roses, honeysuckles, and 

 other beautiful plants exh ile their welcome perfume. Hence, 

 too, a quiet walk leads to the private chapel or oratory of a 

 late Countess of Shrewsbury of the old line, and is entered 

 by an iron gate, surmounted by a cross. 



Pleasant it is, too, having enjoyed the charms of the 

 ornamental grounds, to glance at the indoor plants and 

 at the fruit quarters, where many a fine English pear is 

 as luxiriant as the rhododendrons in the woodland, or the 

 gay denizens of the parterres. The illustrations depict 

 better than words can describe the character and some of 

 the beaut'es of this truly famous garden. Our country 

 may well be proud of such places. Here the mossy trunk, 

 the still pool, the green wall, the radiant parterre, and the 

 silent glade are the outward tokens of the subtle glamour 



Copyright. 



' Country Life.' 



THE PAGODA FOUNTAIN. 



of such surroundings. Silent, did we say ? Not so, indeed, for 

 here is a pleasure-land beloved of birds. 



"This jjuest of summer, 



The temple-haunting mnrllet, doth approve, 

 By his bold inaiisionry, that the heaven's breath 

 Smells wooingly here." 



So may we well say, in a place filled with song, and 

 whose every path and glade is fragrant with the breath 

 of the Country sum ITU-T. Not that the gardens at Alton 

 Towers are summer gardens only. The varied foliage 

 makes them delightful at every season of the year, 

 whether it be in the bursting of the bud, the leafy 

 triumph of June, the mellow charms of autumn, or the 

 chill days of winter, when lovely branch-tracery extends 

 against the sky, a. id silver glitters on the dark greens 

 o? rhododendron, cedar, and yew. But now no more 

 may be said, and the writer is content to remember an 

 inscription on a pillar of one of the conservatory vestibules 

 at Alton Towers: "The speech of flowers exceeds all 

 flowers of speech." 



