2 4 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



their radiant splendour throughout an ample period 

 of the garden year. From the flagged terrace we 

 drop to the grass terrace whereon stands a classic 

 urn of uncommon design, and then by a few steps 

 more, between two classic figures on pedestals, we 

 come to the main lawn. Again the terrace walls are 

 roughly laid for wall gardening, and a host of alpine 

 and other plants make gay the rough stonework. 

 The foliage here is also beautiful, and the contrasts of 

 colour in the grey house, the emerald lawns, the 

 many flowers and the dark masses of trees are superb. 

 The whole of this area Mr. Cox found a great, 

 dreary and semi-derelict piece of vegetable ground 

 with broken-down walls. 



Passing through the gatehouse, we find that 

 the courtyard, as also at Athelhampton and at Great 

 Chalfield, is not entirely surrounded by domestic 

 buildings. The area is in two levels divided 

 by a low wall, and there is an ascent from the 

 lower level to the lawn and garden, which have 

 been laid out on the upper half of the space. 

 Urns are upon this wall, and Portugal laurels at 

 intervals add to the distinction. The ancient porch 

 giving admission to the hall is on the right, and the 

 high-pitched roof of the hall, the Perpendicular two- 

 light and three-light windows, with traceried heads, 

 the splendid Jacobean window of the drawing-room, 

 and the other buildings of the interior of the court, 

 lend an appearance to the grey old structure which is 

 almost unique. The porch, always an important 

 feature, is very remarkable at South Wraxall, having 

 angle buttresses, a deeply-moulded arched doorway 

 and a picturesque window above, while the gargoyles 

 are of very singular character, as will be seen. 

 Mediaeval feeling pervades this part of the house 

 entirely, and grotesque carvings, excellent details 

 of the cusped window lights and weathered stone- 

 work enhance the effect. The interior of the house 

 shall not be described at any length in a volume 

 dealing with exteriors and gardens. The hall is 



lofty, and duly lighted on the sides by its Gothic 

 windows, but with a most unfortunate modern one 

 inserted high up in the south gable before the 

 time of Mr. Cox's occupation. A stone fireplace, 

 dated 1598, and an oak screen of the same date 

 show the developments added in the Elizabethan 

 age. The Gothic solar raised up above a cellar 

 beyond the upper end of the hall was widened and 

 redecorated at the same period as in the case of the 

 hall. Its oak panelling and immense stone mantel 

 are samples of the best work of about 1600. Its 

 great windows, lighting one end and one side, 

 appear in our illustrations. Upstairs they still show 

 the old guest-chamber in which legend says Sir 

 Walter Long and Sir Walter Raleigh smoked their 

 pipes together. 



The men who lived at South Wraxall did not 

 play any sounding part in their country's history, but 

 they had their share in the State and loved their 

 country home. How much of England's history 

 have they discussed in its hall, how much of their 

 own history has been unrolled within its walls ! So 

 full of the story of humanity is it that we seem 

 almost to hear their footfall. That such a house 

 should be reverently restored is a thing to be thank- 

 ful for. There was room for judicious selection and 

 careful constructive thought, and both were exercised. 

 It would have been so easy to spoil the place with 

 modernity ; but the spell remains unbroken and 

 there is no jarring note. W T e congratulate Mr. Cox 

 and his architect. W 7 e congratulate him especially 

 upon his lovely and wholly appropriate gardens, his 

 beautiful trees, his island surrounded by the fish- 

 pond, and upon all the picturesque, attractive and 

 admirable features which add so much to the charm 

 of this old English abode. Long may the fireside 

 smoke emblem of domestic peace rising to the outer 

 world-- continue to ascend from the chimneys of 

 Plantagenets, Tudors and Stuarts of this old Wiltshire 

 dwelling. 



GARGOYLES. 



