ARM V H\l I 



and bays, curvilinear gables above, and clal>oratc 

 chimneys, complete the architectural composition. 

 The day of the mo.it, drawbridge .uul portcullis 

 having long passed aw.i\, Mr. I ,-irton Warburton 

 placed above his do >rway a hospitable motto, 

 reminiscent of those at Montacutc and many other 

 placi 



I h x-- ''I K'""' '"" "<! t'w : 



Kli;li! m-l- nun- lllKI, if wiMlll) III |M^-> llll.nlj.-li 



Aiul now it remains to speak of the extremely 

 tine gardens which frame this quiet alxxle with 

 surrouiulinjjs which few, if any, can excel. The 

 neighbouring district is generally flat, hut it slo[x-s 

 on the east side of the mansion towards a consider- 

 able sheet of water and handsome plantations, the 

 house standing comparatively high, looking over a 

 richly-wooded country, not without variety, and with 

 a prosjxrct in one direction of the Macclesticld and 

 Staffordshire hills. The pictures of the garden will 

 interest and astonish every lover of the gardener's 

 art, for they arc a triumph both in design and 



ution. We do not know where better things 

 have been wrought. The elements of the style, 

 nevertheless, are simple, the happiest use being made 

 in bold forms and subtle contrasts of ilex and yew, 

 united with gorgeous colonies of herbaceous plants 

 which arc radiant all the summer long. The yew 

 and ilex walk leading out to the umbrageous spaces 

 of the park is of rare and singular character, affording 

 a delightful excursion into the quaint world of topiary 

 art. There is no evergreen that puts forth n fresher 

 or more distinctive green than the ilex in the spring, 

 and the conical forms into which it is deftly shaped at 

 Arley are in beautiful contrast with blocks of the 

 deqxrr-hucd yew. And yet the yew, too, is "kindled 

 at the tips," and we feel that in this singular avenue 

 we .trc in company with a host of quaint and attractive 

 garden inhabitants. 



Note again the extraordinary beauty of the 



ye Walk. From that over-arched shelter, 



h is vested with climbing plant., whit .1 

 glorious picture is disjosed ! On one side is .1 t.ill 

 brick wall, whose line is broken oiue and mnspii uoiisly 

 1>\ .t tall p.iir of stone tapped |v>sts support.ng a p.nr 

 of gates of excellent ironwork, while clinging growths 

 of evergreen* and flowering plants Jot he the wall in 

 many puce*, which, moreover, is strengthened, as it 

 were, by magnificent buttresses i>t \ew. These are 

 an original feature, though not wholly unlike those 

 at Hiddulph drangc, and afford an interesting variety 

 of the topiary style, being cut and kept by MM 

 skilful hands. Facing t!ie wall of brick is a 

 magnificent wall of yew, and again there are buttresse- 

 which play an important part in the design. For, 

 though they are buttresses in form, they are in effeit 

 intended to back up and give relief and contrast to 

 the flower-border, while also affording valued shelter 

 to its deni/.ens. We cannot s|>e.ik too highly of the 

 t.iste and skill with which this Arbor Walk is formed. 

 The contrast between the dark yew, the fresh green 

 of the grass, and the radiant colonies of hardy flowers is 



most admirable. Larlupun and fox-loves, poppies 

 aiul phloxes, snapdragons and lupines these and a 

 i rowd of other glorious flowers are grouped in lo\elv 

 colonies, tall-growing, queenly spires and tutted 

 masses, keeping up the tale of garden glory from 

 early spring until the blasts of autumn have blown. 

 The yew garden, with its picturesque little tea house 

 of timber anil brick, all fenced in by its high walls of 

 sombre green, is a delight to linger in, and is a world 

 of quaintness of its own. There are more open 

 gardens on the east near the chapel, well kept ami 

 beautiful, with a background of cedar ami many 

 ornamental and forest trees. In short, look where 

 we will, we are charmed with the garden beauty of 

 Arley Hall a place dearly loved, richly prized, and 

 much beautified by its possessor, and one where we 

 find successful modern work united with the historic 

 memories of a long and distinguished line of good 

 Englishmen. 



