250 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND. 



Sir Richard Temple, who died in 1697, commenced rebuilding 

 the house at Stow, and his son, Lord Cobham, continued it, and 

 began the gardens, which were constantly being added to until 

 I 755- By that time they covered a space of five hundred acres. 

 Bridgeman was the first designer, and after him, Kent, while 

 Sir John Vanbrugh constructed several of the temples and monu- 

 ments. In one of the numerous descriptions of Stow, a pyramid 

 is specially mentioned as being the last design he executed * : 



" ascends 



The pointed pyramid ; this, too, is thine, 

 Lamented Vanbrugh ! this thy last design, 

 Among the various structures, that around, 

 Formed by thy hand adorn this happy ground." 



As this was the ideal garden of the period, there are several 

 contemporary guides and descriptions to it published. As 

 smaller places copied it, and were composed of the same sort 

 of collection of temples, gardens, and vistas; it will be necessary 

 to go through its varied features in detail, so I have transcribed 

 in full a letter from that same delightful correspondent, Lord 

 Percival, to his brother-in-law, Dering, giving his own 

 impressions of the gardens, to which he paid a visit in 1724 :t 



" Brackley. 14 Aug : 1724 Friday night, 



7 a clock. 

 " DEAR DANIEL, 



" Yesterday we saw Lord Cobham's house, which within 

 these five years, has gained the reputation of being the finest 

 seat in England. . . . The gardens by reason of the good 

 contrivance of the walks, seem to be three times as large as they 

 are. They contain but 28 acres, yet took us up two hours. It 

 is entirely new, and tho' begun but eleven years ago, is now 

 almost finished. From the lower end you ascend a multitude 

 of steps (but at several distances) to the parterre, and from 

 thence several more to the house, which, standing high, 

 commands a fine prospect. One way they can see 26 miles. 

 It is impossible to give you an exact Idea of this garden, but 



* Stow. Tlie Gardens of the Rt. Hon. Richard, Lord Viscount Cobham,. 

 1732. Anon. 



f MS. belonging to the Earl of Egmont. In St. James's Place. 



