70 A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



came into fashion just before Tudor times, but they remained 

 in vogue for many years. When, in 1533, Henry VIII. made 

 great alterations in the gardens of Hampton Court, flower-beds 

 of oblong form were made in the King's new garden. They 

 were surrounded by rails painted green and white — the Tudor 

 colours — as may be seen in the original picture of Henry VIII., 

 a portion of which is here reproduced. In the Hampton 

 Court expenses, 1533, numerous entries refer to the purchase of 

 these rails. 



" Paid to [Henry Blankeston, of London, painter] for the like painting 

 of 96 fiat pownchens with white and green, and in oil, wrought with 

 antyke a both sides bearing up the rails in the said garden at lad. the 

 piece, ;^4 i6s. — ^Also paid to the same for like painting of 960 yards in 

 length of rail in the said garden with white and green, and in oil, price 

 the yard, 6d., £2^."'^ 



These items are repeated \\dth variations ; the posts 

 and rails were painted " white and green in antyke oiled 

 colours," and " flat posts " occur in the place of " fiat pown- 

 chens." 



Another novelty introduced in the first years of the Tudor 

 period, and soon a conspicuous feature in all gardens, was 

 topiary work, " opus topiarum " — that is to say, quaintly cut 

 trees and shrubs. This art, although new in England, was of 

 very ancient origin, having been known to the Romans. But 

 it is not until this date that it is mentioned as being practised 

 in England. The new idea found great favour in this country, 

 and much time and trouble were expended in producing these 

 monsters in trees, and the taste remained in fashion for more 

 than two centuries. Leland, in his Itinerary, in the early years 

 of the sixteenth century, mentions a place where striking speci- 

 mens of the work might be seen : " at Uskelle village, about a 

 mile from Tewton, is a goodly orchard with walks opere 

 topiario ;" and at " Wresehill Castle " he also describes an 

 orchard with " mounts opere topiario writhen about in degrees 

 like turnings of cokilshells to come to the top without payne." 

 This leads me to speak of yet another pecuHarity which was 

 much developed about this time, the " mount," like this one 



^ Exchequer, Treasury of Receipt, Miscellaneous Books, No. 237. 

 This is a large book of Expenses at Hampton Court, 24th Henry VIII. 



