EXAMPLES OF GARDEN DESIGN. 



" falls to the West, and rises to the North-east and South-east, the mansion being placed An 



" towards the North-east end of the pleasure ground. As the ground falls towards it ancestral 



" from the East and South and North, and falls from the house towards the West, its <*omaitt. 



" position as regards the main roads would be thought by some persons to be rather 



" unfortunate, as the drive traverses a descent in approaching the Hall, which gives 



"it a sunk appearance. This low-lying effect has now been removed by sinking 



" the drive in one part of its course, by removing a large portion of the hill between 



" the plantations numbered 10 and 12, by making the main entrance court to run 



" level from the colonnade to a width of 60 feet, supporting it by a balustraded terrace 



" wall, by forming a terrace on the North and West fronts and sinking these some- 



" what so as to give greater elevation to the house. A part of this work has already 



" been done, and gives the desired effect. Although situated in a beautiful district and 



" forming part of a charming estate, there were, owing to the whole of the park and 



" grounds being surrounded by a belt of oaks about a hundred years old, practically no 



" views into the park or of the distant landscape. By felling a number of these oaks, 



" they have been broken up into groups, and by this means many very fine views of 



" the surrounding country are obtained. The crest of the hill which rises on the West 



" side of the stream has also been cut through, and a view opened up across the park. 



" By the removal of some cowsheds, barns, and a smithy, a very fine view, terminating 



" in a rocky hill planted with Scotch Firs, has been opened up and is now seen from the 



" walk which leads alongside the stream flowing through the park. By its margin it 



" is intended to naturalise daffodils, spiraeas of sorts, iris, Japanese anemone, and other 



" hardy free-flowering plants. 



" The stables, which at present occupy a position near the house, are to be removed 

 " and a spacious new block built on ground convenient to the dwelling in the position 

 " shown on the plan. A walled-in kitchen garden of about one and a half acres, with 

 " an excellent gardeners' cottage, and a range of glass, have already been erected on the 

 " South-east of the mansion. A number of old trees were found on the ground, most 

 " of which have been taken advantage of, and others have been transplanted to their 

 " present stations in the park and elsewhere. Conifers have been largely planted for 

 " shelter, and large quantities of the choicer rhododendrons, azaleas, and acers added to 

 " ensure variety and brilliancy of colour during the season." 



Since the foregoing article appeared much has been done in many directions still 

 further to improve the gardens. In the first place, the old stables have been removed 

 and the site converted into a formal garden, the old bark barn at the end being remodelled 

 and made into a recreation room. The ground has also at great expense been excavated 

 from the end of the house, which has resulted in a great improvement. A drive con- 

 nects the front carriage turn with the side entrance court, and is spanned by an arch 

 designed by the late Mr. R. Knill Freeman, F.R.I.B.A., which leads to the formal garden 

 on the site of the old stables, and is shown in illustration No. 400. The proprietor's 

 love of choice flowering plants has resulted in a fine collection of hardy perennials 

 and flowering shrubs, which is increasing annually. The rustic bridge which spanned 

 the little stream has been supplanted by the oak bridge shown in illustration No. 189, 

 a sundial has also been designed to stand on the terrace ; and suitable garden furniture 

 has been introduced. 



As rock abounds everywhere within a few feet of the surface, terrace formation, as 

 generally understood, was almost impossible. The plan as illustrated therefore represents 

 the design as fitted to the existing contours, even the terrace levels being controlled by 

 existing conditions. Whatever exceptions may be taken to certain portions of the 

 reconstruction, it may be said that the luxuriant way in which everything grows renders 

 the garden at all times interesting. 



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