EXAMPLES OF GARDEN DESIGN. 



An Nearly twenty years ago, when first consulted by Colonel Sandys, I regretted that 



ancestral his predecessor had removed the entrance from the old court marked E on the plan, 

 domain. illustration No. 399, to the South-west front, which 1 considered it was highly desirable 



should be retained as the main garden front. It was, however, too late to make further 

 alterations to the house, but the prospect of certain additions to the Hall has reopened 

 the question, and now plans have been prepared which not only restore the old carriage 

 court to its former place, but permit of a fine drive to the North entrance, with gatehouses 

 and avenue approach, and an improved terrace scheme on the garden front. These 

 improvements are shown on illustration No. 41. It should be noted that the stables 

 are on a higher level than is the avenue, and therefore the old drive to the East 

 entrance is still to be used as the stable approach. 



The old carriage court on the South front is now laid out as a paved flower court, 

 with broad steps sweeping down to the lower lawn, and, to give additional interest to 

 the undulating lawn, a sundial is placed in a line central with the colonnade. 



Although this later development may seem sweeping and extensive, it is a fact that 

 very little of the work already done will have to be undone. All the drives are still 

 used excepting from the point marked n on illustration No. 399 to the house, which 

 is to be narrowed to the width of a path ; and the only alteration to the terrace walls 

 is the insertion of two extra' flights of steps. The undulating lawns and shrubberies are 

 untouched, and about two-thirds of the Dutch garden is retained. 



Several schemes have been prepared by the architect for the additions to the Hall, 

 yet all allow of the general arrangement indicated on this plan ; but as the building, 

 which combines recreation-rooms with the estate-offices, as recently remodelled, is so 

 successful, it was suggested that another building of similar design, placed to balance 

 it at a similar angle, would give a dignified and inviting approach to the court. 



This new drive will give the mansion its proper connection with the estate, and 

 fittingly form the principal approach to the house. The estate extends very little beyond 

 the boundary of the pleasure grounds on the South side, yet stretches for miles in a 

 North-easterly direction, taking in the whole of Esthwaite lake, and including most 

 of the land on its Western shore, right up to the village of Hawkshead, where the church 

 has from time immemorial been connected with the Sandys family. 



A LAKE DISTRICT GARDEN. 



The plan of this garden is introduced as typical of those cases in which local 

 conditions and the exceptional contours of the site very largely predetermine the dis- 

 position of the various features. It is situated on high ground not far from the village 

 of Windermere, and, as is usual in that district, unique and magnificent views are to be 

 obtained in a Northerly and North-westerly direction, and these are of such paramount 

 importance that all other considerations of aspect must be made subservient to them. 

 It thus comes about that many houses in the district, of which the present instance is 

 one, are, by choice, made with the principal windows very unusually placed, while the 

 carriage approach is from the South or South-east, thus reversing the ordinary arrange- 

 ment. As a rule, too, the more rugged and uneven the site, the better the views, as, 

 by placing the house on an elevated portion, surrounding obstacles are overcome, and a 

 most expansive panoramic outlook obtained. This was done in the present instance so 

 far as conveniently possible, and the ground slopes steeply away from it on two sides, 

 as will be seen from the arrangement of terrace walls and steps shown on the plan and 

 also on the section. Of the remaining two sides, that on which the stables stand, was 

 levelled by excavating a considerable amount of material, while that devoted to the main 

 approach, though it has a strong cross slope, allowed of the drive being made practically 

 level from end to end by laying it down in the strong curves shown. 



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