-ol III \\K\\\II M\\oK 



; > the spirit i>t" the Middle Ages prevailed, 

 and yet when the tide of change had DCffUfl ti 

 rise, and the conditions which had hitherto shaped 

 the dwelling places of" mir fnret'.ither ; unging, 



and the w.ix was opening tor a complete t> 

 formation in style. Thus, though the frowning 

 .>. .-.-. . . ... . 



had lost most of their military character, and hail 

 become places where the porter might have his lodging 

 and open the gmtc to the welcome guests of" his lord. 

 Such is the gatehouse at South Wraxall, one of" the 

 most excellent examples in Kngland ; simple in 

 character, indeed, with its low Tudor arch, plainly 

 moulded, its excellent dripstone, its angle luittresses, 

 its lovely oriel window, and the quaint chimney on 

 the slope of the high-pitched roof. There is a winding 

 staircase on one side whereby the porter ascended to 



and the old domestic offices, now judiciously tempting 

 ivy and other plants to dim\ but not to enshroud 

 the features. 



.ire disp.ise.l not less to linger in the beauti- 

 ful garden which is on this front of the house. 

 Notue the admirable grouping the crass and paths, 

 with the low terrace wall, the dial raised aloft on its 

 tall pillar, the grey, ivy-clad wall on the right, with a 

 sp!.ish of vivid colour in the geraniums hanging from 

 its vase-, and the trees in the distance. Observe that 

 the terrace wall is itself In w.i\ of becoming a garden, 

 tor it is lo.isely laid, and you ascend by well-worn 

 steps to the terrace itself -a flagged terrace, the 

 stones not tx> wd! jointed, but with space cunningly 

 left in which some things pleasant to look at havr 

 nw>t.i-e. It is not all Hanged either, for space is 

 reserved, stone-edged and orderly, for a colony of 



GATEHOUSE EMTRANCB. 



the room over the archway, which is lighted by the 

 oriel window; and there arc "squints" on either 

 side through which he might take stock of the 

 prowler. 



In the excellent picture taken from under that 

 most picturesque gateway, we may see how pleasant 

 that approach is, Tor there are tall elms and farm 

 buildings there, and two tall outer gateposts, set in a 

 rough stone wall and crowned with urns, flank the path. 

 On our left, as we near the gatehouse, is a buttrc 

 wall, over which trees and ivy overhang, while a 

 pleasant garden is on the right, and through the arch 

 of the gatehouse we have a glance into the courtyard 

 which we shall presently enter. But we are first 

 tempted to survey the quaint range of buildings 

 which is in line with the gateway on the right, with 

 its high roof ridge, mullioncd windows and buttresses, 



the best of roses. The effect is most happy, and 

 we cannot extol it too highly. 



The same simple, beautiful and appropriate style 

 of gardening is found on the other side of the house, 

 where the long flagged walk runs the length of the 

 raised terrace to the north gateway. The manor 

 house is here most picturesque in varied skyline, 

 light and shade, picturesque windows, roofs and 

 >:.x>rs ; and an old loggia, whose range of pillars has 

 long supported the upper storey, makes a covered 

 way or cloister of unusual character below. The 

 flagged walk is well hedged, and has on one side 

 a magnificent herbaceous border of generous pro- 

 portions, wherein tall-growing, queenly flowers blue 

 delphiniums of many shades, flaunting poppies, lark- 

 spurs, phloxes, foxgloves and, later on, flashing 

 helianthus and dahlias of many hues arc all gay in 



