206 



Gates and Gateways. 



oak bars. Though itself modern, it is of earlier type than those of wrought iron 

 which have been described. Sometimes for the sake of greater privacy a solid 

 wooden door is desirable, as in the attractive old Tudor example with a postern 

 which is illustrated in Fig. 294. Always satisfactory and with the added merit of 

 being very inexpensive are doors of simple wood trellis, such as Mr. Lutyens has 

 employed at Great Maytham (Fig. 295). 



Not less important than the gates themselves are their posts. The Packwood 

 House example (Fig. 288) is built in rusticated brickwork with a simple stepped top, 

 but the eighteenth century was much addicted to ball finials, as at Norton Conyers 

 (Fig. 289), and no better finish can be devised. For smaller gates the treatment shown 

 in Fig. 287 is admirable ; the steps in the wall make the upper part of the opening 

 wide, and give opportunity for an overthrow of more imposing design than the width 

 of the gate itself would allow. It is a happy compromise between a simple narrow 

 gate and one with a pair of side panels running the full height, as at Norton Conyers 

 (Fig. 289). 



A word on the undue growth of creepers is never out of season. The wanton 

 growth of ivy on the left gatepost in Fig. 288 shows how this noxious weed veils cornice 

 mouldings and destroys architectural proportion and balance. In addition, there 

 is to be remembered the deadly injury done by ivy shoots in penetrating and 

 loosening the joints, until in an evil day it pulls down the fabric which has endured 

 its baleful embrace. 



Stairways of all kinds are considered in their proper chapter, but reference 

 may be made here to the curved steps, built of brick on edge, which add so 

 greatly to the charm of the gate at Packwood House (Fig. 288). 



FIG. 295. A TRELLIS DOOR. 



