Ashridge Park. 291 



The pleasure-grounds at Ashridge Park are under a separate 

 direction from the kitchen-garden : the gardener was, when 

 we visited them, Mr. Poynter, formerly propagator in Messrs. 

 Colvill's nursery. He had every thing in very high order and 

 keeping, and especially the plants in two large conservatories. 



The pleasure-grounds here extend in front of the house, 

 without being continued either to the right or left of it, as in 

 most instances of successful effect in pleasure-ground scenery. 

 They contain a good many acres ; but, from their compact round- 

 ish form, and their naked obvious outline, the first impression 

 which they made upon us was that of being confined. We 

 should have preferred less depth in front of the house, and a 

 greater extension along the margin of a valley on the north side. 

 It is agreeable to have a secure pleasure-ground, where one can 

 walk safe and secluded ; but it is, at the same time, grand, where 

 one can look from the windows of the house, over the wire fence 

 or ha-ha, to an undefined extent of park scenery, where we can 

 ride about at pleasure. There is no natural variation of surface, 

 and very little of distant prospect ; so that, to create interest in 

 this scene, it became necessary to form gardens, or parterres, of 

 different kinds, and rockworks. Rare exotic trees and shrubs 

 would also have contributed to the variety ; but very few of these 

 have been introduced, either in the open ground or in the con- 

 servatory. There is a small spot, surrounded by a hedge of box, 

 called the Monk's Garden ; another, called the French Garden ; 

 a rosary, rockwork, and some other separate scenes ; the best 

 of which is the rockwork, composed of large masses of plum- 

 pudding stone, a production which abounds in this county. 

 There is no great variety of plants in the conservatories ; but 

 such as are there are, in general, of the most showy kinds ; and, 

 being brought forward in reserve-houses, are only placed in the 

 conservatory when in flower, or in their best state. Very few 

 plants, and those chiefly creepers, are fixtures in the soil. There 

 is a Pittosporum undulatum, with a round head, 10 ft. or 12 ft. 

 in diameter. The principal conservatory connects the state- 

 rooms with the chapel ; and, we should think, is one of the finest 

 Gothic structures for plants in England. [We have since seen 

 that at Alton Towers, in Staffordshire, which is considerably 

 larger, and, when we last saw it, in 1831, was in the very best 

 possible order.] Both front and roof are glazed with plate glass. 

 A plan of the principal floor of the house, conservatories, and 

 chapel is given in Brewster's Encyclopcedia (art. Architecture), as 

 an example of every modern comfort and luxury, combined with 

 the ancient style of building. The architect was Mr. Jeffrey 

 Wyatt, now Sir Jeffrey Wyattville. 



The park is of great extent, exceedingly well wooded, limiting 

 that phrase to bulk and quantity of timber; but it exhibits very 



