GHISWIGK HOUSE 



western side of the lake ; it is a lovely woodland walk, and from 

 the bank we catch charming glimpses of the grounds on the opposite 

 shore, and of the dome, and stately north front of the house. The 

 west front of the little Ionic temple by the pool, with steps descend- 

 ing to the water, is visible from the lakeside, but the steps are 

 partially hidden by a picturesque overgrowth of reeds, and water 

 plants. 



Time and weather have made serious gaps in the broad cedar 

 avenue at the south front, and one or two splendid old trees have 

 had to be shored up ; but on the north side, the most magnificent 

 group of these stately trees which I have ever seen, remain. They 

 are still in their prime, and are certainly superior to any at Kew or 

 Sion.* Farther east, between the north avenue and the Italian 

 flower-garden, are some fine beeches, and delicious it is in the early 

 autumn mornings to cross beneath them, over the carpet of fallen 

 leaves which, red-brown, or golden, rustle and scatter beneath one's 

 feet, revealing an understratum of bright green moss of perennial 

 beauty. 



Three diverging avenues radiating from a common centre, 

 was a favourite device of Kent's in garden-planning ; he adopted 

 it on both sides of the lake at Chiswick. Each walk terminated 

 in an arbour, a statue, a grot or a pavilion. On the western 

 side, a handsome obelisk with a finely carved classical panel below 

 it, marks the spot towards which three paths once converged ; 

 only two now remain, the third would seem to have lost its way 

 in a maze of shrubbery and undergrowth. 



Apparently the same thing happened on the eastern side of 

 the grounds, where two avenues out of those which once spread 

 fan-like in three directions, have disappeared. One led to a 

 pavilion, another to a temple of the Corinthian order, and the third 

 of yew which still exists, leads to an arbour in which is a bust 

 of Napoleon. Hence the avenue is known as the " Napoleon 

 Walk," although Kenjt, of course, died twenty years before Napoleon 

 first saw the light. Its conversion to a memorial of the great 

 Corsican, is significant of the political leanings of the fifth Duke 

 of Devonshire and of his Duchess, the beautiful Georgiana ; just 

 as a similar bust in the gardens of Holland House, is of those of 



* The finest of all was unfortunately blown down in the great gale of March, 1916, when 

 sixteen other trees were also laid prostrate. 



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