VIII GARDEN ARCHITECTURE 185 



balustrading on either side of the entrance to 

 the fore court at Brympton. The balusters are 

 2 feet 6 high, 12 inches centre to centre, and 

 stand on a plinth 3 feet 3 high. It appears to 

 have been built towards the end of the seven- 

 teenth century. About 2 feet 9 inches to 3 feet 

 from the ground to the top of coping is a good 

 height for the balustrade ; no rule, however, can 

 be given for its proportions, as these depend 

 entirely on individual circumstances and the 

 scale of the work. The solid piers ought not to 

 be too far apart, and the relation of the solids 

 to the voids — that is, of the piers to the open 

 spaces between the balusters — is a point of the 

 first importance. Many variations on this 

 simple type of balustrade are to be found. The 

 terrace at Risley has obelisks on the piers and 

 flat stone balusters between, a feature commoner 

 in wood than stone. The terrace at Haddon 

 has six small stone arches to each bay. The 

 height is 3 feet, width from centre to centre 

 of piers 1 1 feet 6 inches ; the steps measure 12 

 inches by 5. At Kingston House, Bradford- 

 on-Avon, the balustrade to the terrace (much 

 restored) is formed of panels of stone 2h inches 

 thick, pierced with open work of alternate 

 lozenges and ovals, with engaged balusters to 

 the piers, and stone urns of various designs. 

 At Montacute the terrace-walls on either side 

 of the garden at the back of the house have 

 simple balustrades with obelisks to the piers. 



