344 



GARDENS OLD AND NEW. 



lives permanently in the home, and undertakes the 

 complete management, so that the visitors need not 

 " take thought " either for the day, or for the morrow, 

 and may enjoy in uninterrupted leisure their brier" 

 but welcome interval of quiet, comfort and repose. 

 The inmates come as guests, and are treated as 

 guests 



The " Home " stands on Abinger Common, 

 a pine-clad stretch of wonderful beauty, which 

 runs for a couple of miles south of Leith Hill 

 in Surrey. The air sweeps up from the Weald to this 

 typical Surrey site over the gooft. of elevation of the 

 hili, while the house itself is nearly yooft. above the 

 sea. The land was part of the copyhold of the 



almost like monastic cells. With the exception of 

 the dining-hall, there is no common meeting-place, 

 and there is none ot the charm of a good house, 

 though much to admire and commend. They 

 were built almost invariably on this principle, 

 because the guests are permanent inmates. At 

 " Goddards " the visitors, who only come and go 

 as guests for a short period, are provided during that 

 period with a beautiful home, where they have around 

 them everything that can stimulate pleasing fancies. 

 They have a bright social life there ; readings, games 

 and music in the evening, and, perhips best of all, a 

 lovely garden. Thus they are never at a loss for an 

 occupation, and the hours gliding by bring them not 



THE WEST WING. 



ancient manor of the Evelyns of Wotton, from whose 

 descendants it was purchased by its present owner. 

 The ancient name of the property was " Goddards," 

 and that name it still retains. 



It may be asked what it is in this home which 

 marks it as an advance in thought and sympathy 

 beyond the ideas, however benevolent, of mediasvalism. 

 Some of the points may be set down, in case they are 

 not obvious from the illustrations of the house. 

 Ancient "homes," whether for men or women, plain 

 folk or gentle-folk, from "God's House" at Ewelme 

 to St. Cross, were obviously built for the particular 

 purpose of housing poorer brothers or sisters in a 

 building where, as a rule, the rooms are very small, 



only renewed strength, but solace and comfort. 

 For ladies there is no such luxury as that of 

 beautiful flowers ; and there the flowers are, in. all 

 their charm, for their enjoyment. In the mediaeval 

 " homes " which survive, to the eternal honour of 

 their founders, no great detail and interest could, as a 

 rule, be afforded in their decoration. Their beauty 

 lies generally in broad effects of general structure. At 

 " Goddards " the house is full of detail and of 

 matters which cannot fail to interest the guests. It 

 was built from designs by Mr. E. L. Lutyens, and is 

 a very favourable example of the architect's work, 

 both inside and out. What, for example, could be 

 more charming than the southern front, with its fine 



