Bear Wood. 679 



is preserved, notwithstanding the difference of size of the bed- 

 rooms, by the two larger of the latter being towards the centre. 

 The chimney stacks, in some of the pairs of cottages, are short 

 and plain ; in others, somewhat higher, with the flues placed 

 in separate diagonal shafts : but, in others, the shafts are long 

 and circular, the bricks being formed on purpose, and glazed 

 inside. These circular shafts have a square plinth at bottom, 

 and square tops, and they are much the handsomest. We 

 also found, on enquiry at three of the cottages, that those with 

 the long chimney shafts were much less liable to smoke, than 

 those the shafts of which were shorter. To each cottage is 

 allotted 60 poles of land ; and this, with the cottage, is let at 

 the very moderate rent of 4/. a year. We know Mr. Wheeble 

 to be a most benevolent, intelligent, and liberal man; and we 

 must confess that we felt much (gratification at seeina; this 

 practical illustration of his benevolence. Estimating the cost 

 of each cottage at 40/. (and we do not think they would cost 

 above that sum), the rent charged for the land is not more 

 than would be paid for it by a common farmer. 



Bear Wood, John Walters, Esq.M.P. — Being in this neigh- 

 bourhood in 1818, we had an opportunity of walking over 

 these grounds shortly after they were purchased by the pre- 

 sent owner. They then appeared to consist of about 800 acres 

 of heathy waste, and about 100 acres of sloping ground 

 covered with beech and oak trees. A small piece of water 

 was forming on the side of the slope ; the walls of the kit- 

 chen-garden were built, and the site of the intended house 

 was pointed out to us. The place may now be considered as 

 finished; and we must say, that it has afforded us more gra- 

 tification than any other newly formed place that we have 

 seen since we left London. We never before saw a residence 

 laid out by Mr. Stuart; and we do think that he has here 

 given evidence of his possessing very great taste and judg- 

 ment. The taste which he has displayed in leading the walks 

 through the grounds, so as to show them and the views of the 

 adjacent country to the greatest advantage, is admirable; and 

 the extent of these walks, within the space of about 400 acres, 

 is nearly eight miles. The puny piece of water, most ridi- 

 culously placed on the side of a steep bank, he has extended 

 to nearly 30 acres, by filling with it the whole of a valley; 

 and other pieces of water have been formed, so as, in all, to 

 cover about 40 acres. The shapes of these pieces of water, 

 with one trifling exception, are excellent ; and they are so 

 disposed, and disguised by plantations, relatively to each 

 other, that the difference of their levels is scarcely ever ob- 

 served. The planting has been executed in masses of one 



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