238 



G.4KDENS OLn AMD NEW. 



gardening, but this is 

 found in the walled 

 library garden, which 

 lies near to the east : nd 

 of the principal garden. 

 This is a most beautiful 

 and sequestered resort, 

 seemingly set apart for 

 studious reflection or 

 pleasant converse. The 

 wall that encloses it 

 ha-- an excellent coping, 

 and ihe low buttresses 

 are of the s.'.me period 

 a> the house, i he area 

 is grass. \viih flower- 

 beds framed in ti'.e turf, 

 the garden being divided 

 into spaces by gravel 

 paths, and where the 

 g r - u n d rises a 1 o w 

 terrace has been 

 tormed, with a grass 

 slope and a tli_iht of 

 steps ascending, beyond 

 whi;h is a \ista through 

 a green archway to the 

 _! i r d e n b e y o n d . 

 Hulking the stairway 

 and the path are de- 

 I gl.tful liUle amorini of 

 individual merit, all in 

 hronxe, like the rich 

 fl >wer vases which are 

 i:i the area, and up:>n 

 their st lie pedestals 



these I. ne tne top ol the 

 gras-i si >;-e that has 

 been alkul d to. The 

 walls of this library plei- 

 sau>-ce are themselves 

 gardens, and have a 

 esture of loveliness in 

 the flowering climbers 

 that clothe them . 



Here rose- flourish abur.danlly, and the fine sylvan background he most certainly exclu 



completes a truly beautiful garden picture, broader view, he might 



Though there is at Leighton a most charming dwelling- Ch inning indeed is the 



house, with ait 1 active plea-ure grounds, and a considerable Hall, though some puri: 



estate, the character of t'.ie whole is shnple, and there is little e.xc.uJe it on the ground 



to delay the 



pe n. What 

 we obsci ve is 

 a happy union 

 of various styles 

 of gardenage 

 the broad 

 a n d e f t e c t i v e 

 character : f the 

 principal garden, 

 wiih its toiin- 

 tain and admir- 

 able statuary, 

 the excellent 

 and original 

 terraces at 

 the east end, 

 w h e r e t h e 

 ground rises to 

 the >y!v.m p.n k, 

 tlu- ( harming 

 lar.dsc.ipe fea- 

 tures on the 

 other hand, \\ ith 

 the I a k e a s 



lll< -' - l ' m of SOUIH L.N1J OF Tllii tAST CARD; N. 



ICARUS. 



_ 



the whole, and the 

 radi mt ">ace of the 

 retired library garden 

 within its walls. 

 Various periods and 

 features of gardening 

 are thus represented, 

 a n d a n a d m i r a b le 

 setting is provided for 

 the architectural 

 s pi e n d our of t h e 

 mansion. Reserve is 

 another distinguishing 

 character of the 

 gardens. There is 

 no lack of richness, 

 as the visitor realises 

 wdeii he traverse-, 

 these enchanting 

 places. It was no 

 small th i n g, f o r 

 example, to br ing 

 together so many 

 excellent work's of 

 sculpture, and to 

 dispose t em well. 

 They import into the 

 garden something of a 

 spirit that is alien to 

 that of the architectural 

 period to which the 

 house belongs, but 

 the result is undeni- 

 ably pleasing and 

 attractive. There is 

 a partial breaking and 

 intermingling of styles 

 w ich adds a fresh- 

 ness to t h e o I d e r 

 forms. Here, perhaps 

 a lesson may be 

 c uggested. Let not 

 the garden planner set 

 up too rigid a method 

 in his work, else will 

 .le some Iliings wlvch, w.th a 

 ave welcomed to his satisfaction, 

 sculpture in the garden at Leight >n 

 vts might have been willing to 

 of its being the out.'ome of the 

 classic and 

 naturalistic 

 school. There 

 are many beauti- 

 ful gardens in 

 this part of 

 Walesa d those 

 of Leighton Ha'l 

 deserve to be 

 accorded a high 

 p I a c e a m o n g 

 them. They are 

 ra.l ant, beauti- 

 ful, varied, and 

 architecturally 

 interesting, 

 therefore both 

 admirable and 

 attractive. The 

 tall spire of the 

 modem Harly 

 Hnglish church, 

 erected by Mrs. 

 Naylor, adds to 

 the attractions of 

 the Ian.Xc.ipe. 



