70 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



every possessor has modified the castle in some degree, and 

 it was a good deal altered and modernised under the direction 

 of Sir Robert Smirke ; but it is still a most imposing and 

 interesting example of early military construction adapted to 

 modern residential needs, and the red limestone of which it 

 is built contrasts charmingly with the green surroundings. 



The terraced character of the garden has already been 

 referred to. Indeed, no other character of garden design would 

 have been possible, for Nature herself had formed the terraces 

 by upturning the edges of the Caradoc stone towards the 

 veitical position, thus making a series of escarpments ascending 

 step by step to the hill. The garden terraces are five in 

 number, and command surpassingly beautiful views, the most 

 delightful of all being through a long vista of trees to the 

 distant peaks of Moel-y-golfa and the Breiddin Hills. 



be observed, with the dancing figures of some gay rural 

 community. There were old lead-workers who produced 

 these things, and it is interesting to note that the piping 

 shepherd of Powis Castle appears to be identical with a lead 

 figure at Canons Ashby in Northamptonshire. A pair of 

 quaint arcadians at Enfield Old Park are of the same class. 



Below the terraces the landscape character extends. 

 Some part of the grounds was laid out by the celebrated 

 "Capability" Brown, chief among landscape gardeners, and, 

 unless that worthy be libelled, he a.tually proposed, in his 

 vain search for uniform level or slope, to blow up the 

 picturesque rock upon which the castle stands. But Nature 

 herself would have warred against such destruction, and so 

 the glorious terraced garden of Powis Castle remains. 



But Nature has done very much for the place, and the 



THE LOWER TEkRACt. 



Admirably diJ the garden architect employ his opportunities,' 

 and the terrace walls, balustrades, and descents, adorned 

 with figures and vases, some of them of lead, and all quaint 

 or admirable, will contrast favourably with any other examples 

 of the same style in the land. This terraced pleasaunce, being 

 on the south side, is in a very favourable situation, and our 

 pictures show how successfully the features have been utilised. 

 The tall and singular yews, which rise with strange effect 

 beneath the castle walls, offer a contrast of hue and character 

 to the rich growth of flowers which makes the garden glorious. 

 The walls are magnificently festooned, and it would be hard 

 to describe the wealth of floral beauty which our illustrations 

 will suggest. In such positions glorious herbaceous borders 

 may often be founJ, while the walls, if well managed, may 

 themselves be veritable gardens. I he contrasts of varieJ 

 level, of garden masonry and statuary, of abundant colour 

 and of cool j:rren grass, are simply admirable on the terraced 

 - Castle. Particularly effective and picturesque- 

 are the leaden figures which line some of the terrace walls. 

 Lead, that admirable material for garden statuary, has often 

 been employed for the shaping of rustic or arcadian, figuies, 

 humble swains or dancing maidens, as on the third terrace at 

 Powis. In one of our pictures the shepherd with his pipe will 



scenery of the district is glorious. The park on the north 

 side is magnificent and most richly wooded. There are 

 splendid oaks of huge size, especially a sturdy giant on the 

 right of the approach, which, like many a brother, throws 

 down a vast expanse of shaJe. Here are trunks silvered with 

 the lichens of centuries, shadowy woodland depths, ope.i 

 glades, a domain of beauty enchanting the visitor with the 

 picturesque glory of sylvan charm and of rocky hollows, 

 sunny slopes, and lovely dells, the silence broken only by the 

 browsing deer, the note of birds, and the distant voice of tlu 

 stream. It is a wood of rare beauty, in which, by judicious 

 planting, the charm has been enhanced. 



Thus the visitor to Powys'.an.l comes back with charming 

 remembrances of Powis Castle. He has looked out from the 

 sundial terrace over a truly glorious prospect, and then h.is 

 passed down the long flights of steps leading him to that 

 beautiful gate of departure, and has refreshed his memory 

 with m my a thought that adds to the glamour of the fam us 

 pile. His mind has been carried back t) the early time ot 

 Hawys (iadarn, last descendant of the royal line entitled to 

 wear the talaith of gold, and he has associated Powis Castle 

 with the long and noble line of the Herberts and with many 

 wlnse names are prominent in history. 



