Woodlands, Charlton House, Belford, 8fC. 583 



much better entirely removed. We have seldom seen a place with the grounds 

 in a worse state from neglect, but they contain at the same time the elements 

 of every thing desirable for such a situation. Would that we had the re- 

 arrangement of them, with a carte-blanche as to moving ground, and forming 

 an approach and terraced gardens. 



Belford, Mercer, Esq., is a place full of variety in the grounds, but 



at the same time without distinctive character in the different parts. One 

 hill and valley succeeds another, all varied by natural wood in a similar man- 

 ner, while there are different ravines and deep gullies which have been formed 

 by digging out sand, gravel, or chalk, and these might be arranged in imita- 

 tion of romantic Swiss scenery. In short, there are here the germs of an 

 almost endless succession of scenes of singular beauty and character ; alpine 

 heights, and Swiss valleys. Nothing has been done to the place for many 

 years, and the keeping is of the worst kind, with the edges of the walks as 

 deep as cart ruts. 



Belvidere, near Dartford, Lord Saye and Sele, is a noble place. The 

 house is situated on a piece of table land, bordered by a range of inequalities 

 of surface skirting the alluvial plain of the Thames, and commanding de- 

 lightful views of that noble river, and the coujitry beyond. The house has 

 no merit in an architectural point of view exteriorly, but it contains one 

 room fitted up in the style of Louis XIV., which is altogether, one of the 

 most complete things of the kind in England. It is 35 ft. long, 23 ft. wide, 

 30 ft. high, and appropriately finished and furnished. Exterior facings to the 

 windows, and other architectural decorations, with a terraced garden, for 

 which the situation is peculiarly adapted, would render this a singularly fine 

 place. There are extensive walks reaching for miles along the summits of 

 the wooded banks, and every now and then opening to the river, and some- 

 times descending to the lower grounds. The wood is chiefly the remains of 

 a natural oak forest, and, the soil being very thin on chalk, the roots, which 

 ramify from the "old trunks and stools of what had formerly been coppice 

 wood, spread over the surface like network, showing in a strongly marked 

 manner the advantage of planting above the surface rather than under it. 

 There is a fine mixture of hollies, laurels, junipers, red cedars, and other 

 evergreens, among the oaks, and there are some open glades covered with the 

 original heath, in the same state in which they have probably been for ages. 

 Though there are only about 150 acres in the park, yet there are upwards 

 of two miles of walks. These are 10 ft. in width, with low flat grass edgings 

 clipped, but not pared with the spade, and though no family has lived here 

 for a number of years, yet they are kept in the highest order. There is a 

 flower-garden in an extensive glade In the woody scener}', which comes in as 

 a fine relief to the general character, though the flower beds are much too 

 large, and far from being connected into a general system. There is a small 

 pinetum, unfortunately planted under the shade of the native oaks, and 

 therefore never likely to produce any effect. The native oaks are wholly of 

 Quercus sessiliflora. 



West Heath, Preston, Esq., is a thatched cottage, entered through a 



conservatory, and with an exterior form that an architect with an artistical 

 eye might turn to fine account. Showy beds of flowers abound on the lawn, 

 but they are much too large, and for that reason make the place appear 

 smaller than it really is ; so much depends on proportioning all the details of 

 a place to the whole. 



In returning, we observed two frightful chapels ; the Hanover Chapel at 

 Peckham, in the form of a pentagon, with small mean windows without 

 facings, and red brick walls without cornices or any decoration whatever ; and 

 another chapel nearer Camberwell, of larger size, with similar walls, with 

 three or four stories of naked windows like those of a third-rate dwelling- 

 house. Chapels, in general, throughout the country, are at present a disgrace 

 to it in an architectural point of view ; but it is to be hoped that the spread 

 of knowledge and taste will raise them to a par with other religious buildings. 

 Mr. De Crespigny's house at Peckham is a fine old brick building. 



