GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



village of Eydon, which lies amid the trees and is a 

 remarkably pretty place with many old houses ; possessing, 

 besides, a fine church v/ith Transition Norman portions, but 

 which owes much of its perfection to a restoration made in 

 1865, when the south aisle and porch were added as 

 memorials of the Reverend Charles A. F. Annesley of Eydon 

 Hall. The present mansion represents an older structure, 

 and was raised by the family of Annesley, now Viscounts 

 Valentia, about the year 1780, the design being by Lewis, and 

 the structure is certain'y imposing and characteristic. The 

 actual builder was the Rev. Francis Annesley, secoid son of 

 Francis Annesley, Esq., of Bletchington Park, Oxford, which 

 is now the principal seat of Lord Valentia. The style is 

 Italian, being a free adaptation of classic character, with 

 elaborated and enriched Ionic columns supporting an ornamental 

 entablature, crowned with a balustrade. Such a structure 

 must needs be imposing, and to many more attractive than if 

 it had been invested with the simple severity of the pure 

 classic style upon which it is based. 



for a centre, is an enriched but formal arrangement. Still 

 another descent brings us to the sunk garden, which is a 

 realm of floral delight. Indeed, the two great charms of 

 the place are its wealth of blossom and its wonderful 

 richness of foliage. 



The gardens have been described as interesting, and 

 formed in the French styh-. By this is meant that views have 

 been opened out by cutting through groups of trees, thus 

 forming such vistas as are seen in the " Bosquet de Bacchus," 

 and other pictures of Watteau. In these arrangements fine 

 taste has been displayed, and the garden at Eydon may be 

 taken as an illustration of what may be accomplished by those 

 whose estates are in the pleasant neighbourhood of rich and 

 ornamental woods. There is unity in the vari.-ty of the place, 

 and each part has a charm of its own, with its own special 

 beauties. 



What Cardinal Newman has said, in his "Knowledge, 

 its Own Object," touching the garden and park will beat- 

 iteration. " You see to your walks, and turf, and shrubberies ; 



THE ORANGERY AND SUNDIAL. 



The situation is advantageous because of the slope which 

 lies below, giving many opportunities to the skilful hand of 

 the garden doi^ner. There is, indeed, an ascent upon every 

 side, and from the windows very fine views are commanded 

 over parts or the counties of Northampton and Warwick, in 

 the foreground being the beautiful gardens and r chly woo.ied 

 park of the house it>elf. There is extraordinary variety of 

 foliage, and sylvan grace and richness are everywhere. 

 Evidently the skilful hand of the planter worked here with 

 knowledge and foresight, and thus the house at the preser.t 

 day owes very much to those who have gone before. 

 The fir trees are particularly numerous, and lend their 

 grey and sober charm to the delightful walk we depict, 

 and offer a marked contrast to the tries which rrnre closely 

 neighbour the house. It will be noticed that the garden is 

 upon several levels and that lu-re, again, an excellent use 

 has been made of a tine opportunity. The low walls 

 which divid-- the levels give shelter to a multitude of 

 summer flowers, and below, with the sundial and fish-pond 



to your trees and drives ; not as if you meant to make an 

 orcnard of the one, or corn or pasture land of t'ie other, but 

 because there is a special beauty in all that is goodly, in wood, 

 water, plain, and slope, brought ail together by art into one 

 shape, and grouped into one whole." This is a true lesson 

 for the garden-maker the lesson of perfection in diversity 

 and unity in variety. We think that the creator of the 

 gardens at Eydon Hall was inspired by this thought, 

 and certainly in every part of th-> achievement there is a 

 beauty that will not elude those who have our pictures 

 before them, while supreme satisfaction awaits those who 

 are privileged to visit the place. 'I herefore, Eydon Hall has 

 a lesson, being an exemplar of many fine and goodly 

 things. 



The prospect looking over the sund.al garden towards the 

 house has some special claims to attention. It will be observed 

 in the picture that here the beds grouped about the dial are 

 stone-ed^ed, in a circular space of gravel, enframed by a square 

 of turf. To m.my it might se. j m more attractive if green turf 



