6o THE FORMAL GARDEN IN ENGLAND m 



do with Hampton Court, but it is plain that 

 the general arrangement of the grounds in 

 front of Wren's Buildings was due to his 

 influence, and it is known that the great 

 Fountain Garden was first laid out for Charles 

 II. The enormous semicircle, with the- three 

 radiating avenues and the great centre canal, 

 the intricate parterres de hroderie^ shown in 

 Kip's view, and above all, the masterly con- 

 ception of the grounds as a whole and in strict 

 relation to the architecture of the palace, were 

 certainly inspired by the influence of Le Notre, 

 if not actually due to his design. There is no 

 mention or any indication of the use of avenues 

 on this scale before the Restoration. Indeed, 

 Worlidge, whose book was published in 1677, 

 specifically says : " It was not long since our 

 choicest avenues were first planted with those 

 ornamental shades that now are become 

 common." There is therefore good reason 

 for assigning the origin of this feature to 

 French influence. Individual avenues were, of 

 course, in use before this date. Switzer says : 

 " About the reign of Queen Elizabeth of 

 immortal memory we may suppose some of the 

 old avenues and walks adjoining noblemen's 

 houses were planted." These, however, should 

 be distinguished from the system of avenues 

 radiating from one centre- which was now 

 introduced from France. 



The landscape gardener of the following 



