174 THE FORMAL GARDEN IN ENGLAND viii 



to alight in the road outside. These gateways 

 were sometimes arched, and sometimes consisted 

 simply of stone or brick piers. There is a 

 good instance in the town of Wilton of a small 

 gateway with a circular arch, flanked by pilasters, 

 with a circular pediment over and stone brackets 

 at the sides. On either side of the gateway 

 are wing walls completing the semicircle. There 

 are instances at Bradford-on-Avon and many 

 other places. They are usually quiet and simple 

 in detail and excellently built, for the masonry 

 of the eighteenth century is probably the best 

 that ever was done in England. The piers on 

 either side of the gates show every variety of 

 design. The most familiar instance is the 

 square pier of brick or stone with moulded base 

 and top, and a great stone cannon-ball. These 

 seem to have come into use in the latter part of 

 the seventeenth century, and to have lasted to 

 the beginning of this. There are many instances 

 in London. Those at Ashburnham House 

 are well known. There is a late but very 

 well -designed example (about 1780) in the 

 Euston Road, at the entrance to Maple's 

 timber-yard. At Eyam Hall, Derbyshire, the 

 piers are of stone, divided by bands into three 

 carved panels. At Risley the piers are of 

 brick for a height of 8 feet 6 inches ; above this 

 is a stone pedestal 2 feet 9 inches high, with 

 cannon-ball finials. The piers are 9 feet apart, 

 and the wing walls with the gate form half an 



