Tottenham Park. 415 



man's house, form a line of detached villas, which, if near 

 London, would be considered as fit for respectable merchants or 

 private gentlemen. Mr. Iveson's house is a villa on a larger 

 scale, with a very handsome lawn, tastefully varied and deco- 

 rated by Mr. Iveson himself. It is on the margin of the park ; 

 and, by concealing the separating fence, it might be made to 

 appropriate, as its own, a considerable breadth of the park 

 scenery. — So much for the extent of this estate, and its general 

 management : we shall now turn to the park, and the house and 

 gardens. 



The park may be described as an interminable oak forest, on 

 a surface which, taken as a whole, may be considered flat, but 

 which, in particular places, exhibits undulations. This forest is 

 crossed at right angles by two avenues, one above eleven miles 

 long, which intersect each other in the centre, at which point of 

 intersection is placed the house. A stranger can form no idea 

 either of the extent of the park or of the length of the avenues ; 

 so that to him the characteristic of the place is interminableness. 

 Besides these principal avenues, there are innumerable subordinate 

 ones, many planted with beech trees, and others cut out of the 

 forest and bordered by the native oaks and birches. There is one 

 master avenue, or rather grass drive, which makes a circuit of 

 the entire forest, and which is 25 miles long. From one front of 

 the house one of the straight main avenues is distinguished passing 

 over a swell, at the distance of seven miles. By way of distin- 

 guishing the 25-mile avenue, we have suggested to Mr. Burns 

 the idea of planting an arboretum along it, of such trees and 

 large-growing shrubs as are perfectly hardy; and adjusting the 

 distance so that they shall extend over the whole 25 miles. 

 This idea, properly developed, would produce something unique, 

 and worthy of such a place as Tottenham Park. Mr. Burns 

 took us extensive drives in all directions; but, for want of distant 

 prospects, and water, we cannot say that we met with any 

 striking views. Indeed, we felt a degree of sameness, perhaps 

 increased by the impression, still vivid in our minds, of High 

 Clere. In the bottom of one quiet valley is Savernake Lodge, 

 a small villa, intended for the eldest son of the family when he 

 marries, with grounds about it very neatly laid out, and well 

 kept. Here the children of the present marquess were nursed up 

 by Mrs. Morgan, the present housekeeper, and each child had 

 its garden. These gardens still exist, and appear like little islands 

 in a sea of turf. They are surrounded by hedges, and are still 

 kept up with great care and taste, under the direction of Mrs. 

 Morgan. 



The mansion strikes a stranger as being placed in a low 

 situation, as the grounds rise slightly from it on every side. It 

 was originally, we believe, designed or built by Lord Burlington, 



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