THE 



GARDENERS MAGAZINE, 



JUNE, 1834. 



ORIGINAL COMMUNICATIONS. 



Art. I. Notes on Gardens and Country Seats, visited, from July 27- 

 to September ] 6., during a Tour through Part of Middlesex, Berk- 

 shire, Buckinghamshire, Oxfordshire, Wiltshire, Dorsetshire, Hamp- 

 shire, Sussex, and Kent. By the Conductor. 



{Continued from p. 194.) 



HiGHCLERE, the Earl of Caernarvon. — Aug. 14. Whoever 

 has noticed our remarks on the subject of situation, called forth 

 by Bear Wood (IX. 679.), and by Caversham Park (X. 1.), will 

 readily conceive that we were delighted with the natural features 

 of Highclere. Perhaps, taking the latter altogether, we may 

 venture to call it one of the finest places, as far as ground and 

 wood are concerned, that we have ever beheld. 



" Highclere is situated just at the point where the chalk 

 downs (extending northwards, from the village of Kingsworthy 

 on the south of Winchester, to Highclere, a distance of above 

 twenty miles) are suddenly interrupted ; their northern escarp- 

 ment forming two remarkably bold hills, which are the dis- 

 tinguishing features of the place, and conspicuous landmarks 

 to the surrounding country. One of these, called Sidon 

 Hill, is very beautifully wooded : it constitutes the southern ex- 

 tremity of the park at Highclere ; and, commencing about half 

 a mile to the south of the mansion, it rises about 400 ft. above 

 the valley which lies below it, and 948 ft. above the level of the 

 sea. The other, called Beacon Hill, is an outlier to the chalk, 

 and is exactly 900 ft. above the level of the sea : it is entirely 

 devoid of wood, and its remarkably square and obtuse outline, 

 and abrupt termination, together with its smooth surface, form 

 a striking contrast to the rich woods of Sidon Hill. These hills 

 are separated, by a valley of moderate depth, from the plateau 

 of chalk on which the mansion stands. The chalk terminates 

 about a quarter of a mile from the house; and the remainder of 

 the park, and the adjacent woods, extending between two and three 

 miles to the north, are entirely upon diluvial clay, gravel, and 

 Vol. X. — No. 51. s 



