Studley Royal. 559 



was begun about the year 1204;" and that, when complete, it 

 " took up 12 acres of ground." There is a tradition that the 

 monks resided, while the monastery was building, beneath the 

 shelter of seven yew trees which grew on a neighbouring hill. 

 According to the above-mentioned book, six of these trees were 

 standing in 1809; when the circumference of the trunk of one of 

 them was 26 ft. 6 in., about S ft. from the ground. Several of 

 them are still standing. 



The park at Studley is just what, in my opinion, a park ought 

 to be : extensive, varied in surface, and ornamented with noble 

 trees ; most of which, however, are planted either singly, or in 

 straight lines. Some of the oaks are magnificent, girting nearly 

 30 ft. From the arched entrance-gate the approach-road passes, 

 for a considerable distance, along a fine, but now somewhat 

 broken, avenue, nearly a mile in length, at the upper end of which 

 a lofty obelisk has a very good effect. The view from this obe- 

 lisk strongly reminds one of that from the equestrian statue at 

 the end of the avenue in Windsor Park." In both an ancient 

 building (at Windsor, the Castle ; at Studley, Ripon Minster) 

 appears to terminate the avenue ; for, although the minster is 

 about two miles from the entrance to the park, in effect it is 

 brought quite close to the end of the avenue. There is this dif- 

 ference, however : at Studley a fine view of the open country is 

 obtained over the towers of the church, which stands on low 

 ground ; while at Windsor the Castle is on a hill, and terminates 

 the prospect. A toy-like building, called the " Belvidere," 

 much like a child's doll-house in effect, is conspicuously placed 

 upon an eminence in the park. It is nearly all windows, and 

 seems to be intended for a resting-place from which to enjoy the 

 beauties of the surrounding landscape : in one direction, the view 

 from this place extends over a space of fully 30 miles. 



The mansion is situated almost at the outskirts of the park, 

 only a few yards from a public road. In style and character, it is 

 entirely at variance with the surrounding scenery, resembling an 

 overgrown whitewashed tradesman's villa, rather than the re- 

 sidence of the proprietor of a princely domain. Another man- 

 sion was begun, some years since, by a gentleman to whom the 

 estate then belonged ; but, in consequence of his death, the 

 building was not completed ; and it has since been transformed 

 into a chapel, sleeping-rooms, and (I believe) stables. 



A neat little flower-garden, containing some remarkably large 

 laurels, beds of roses, &c. ; an oldfashioned green-house, with 

 upright front sashes, and an opaque I'oof ; and an elegant tea- 

 room, with flower-beds of various shapes in front of it, adjoin the 

 south front of the house. 



The kitchen-garden is at some distance from the mansion, but 

 partly visible from it, and separated from the park by a low wall, 



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