398 



JOUENAL OF HOETICULTUBB AND COTTAGE GAEDENEB, 



[ November 23, 1S71. 



first scarcely discernible, but as we jonrney on and pass the 

 trees wbicli shroud it from view, we become gradually more 

 impressed with a sense of its importance, and cannot but ad- 

 mire the good taste which placed it there. The park has many 

 groups of trees and some avenues of great length. The man- 

 sion, kitchen garden, and dressed grounds, which occupy an 

 area of from fifty to sixty acres, are situated near the middle, 

 being well sheltered with large trees profusely scattered around, 

 and which give to the whole the appearance so characteristic 

 of a country home. 



The mansion of Gorhamburj;, the principal seat of Viscount 

 Grimston, Earl of Verulam, is one of those Grecian structures 



which became fashionable about the end of the seventeentb 

 and beginning ot the following century. A row of Corinthian 

 columns adorns its southern front, and on the opposite side 

 broad flights of steps lead the visitor to the best suite of rooms 

 in that direction, whilst at the same spot access is obtained to 

 a lower floor. The olEces are united at the north-west side, 

 but the other sides are all included in the garden. The man- 

 sion, which is built of a local sandstone, carries the stamp of 

 age upon it, and presents a noble appearance. 



[Before proceeding with our notes on the various depart- 

 ments of the gardens we will record what we know of the eaiiy 

 history of the place. 



OOKHAiTEUEY. 



Kobert de Gotham, Abbot of St. Albans, appropriated to 

 liimself part of the manor of 'Westwick, attached to the abbey, 

 erected a mansion, and called it Gorhambmy — that is, Gor- 

 ham's Eesidence. His family were natives of Gorham, in Kor- 

 mandy. It was situated lower down the hill in front of the 

 prefent mansion. Eobert de Gorham died in 1166. Gorham- 

 bnry then became the property of the abbey, and so remained 

 nntil the abbey's dissolution in the time of Henry Till. That 

 monarch granted it to Sir Ealph Eowlatt, whose son conveyed 

 it in 1543 to Sir Nicholas Bacon, and in that family it has since 

 remained. A house was built by him. He commenced build- 

 ing in 1563, and finithed in 1568. It cost him about £2000, 

 but then, he adds, in a private memorandum, he did not reckon 

 " any timber felled within the Lord Keeper's woods, neither is 

 there valued any freestone from the abbey of St. Albans," for 

 that was ruthlessly despoiled on the occasion. 



Queen Elizabeth visited him there often, and when there in 

 1577, she told him, " Your house is too little for you." " Not 

 so, Madam," was his reply, " but your Majesty has made me 

 too great for my house." 



The Queen was first at Gorhambury in 1570-1, but of that 

 and some other visits we have seen no narrative ; but it is 

 certain she was well contented with her entertainment, for she 



was there again in 1573. So novel were such visits to Sir 

 Nicholas, that previously to her first visit he wrote to Lord 

 Burghley for advice how to entertain her ; " for," he added, 

 "in very deede no man is more rawe in suche a matter then 

 myselfe." 'We have not Lord Burghley's reply. In 1577, as- 

 already noted. Her Majesty was again at Gorhambury, and we 

 have an account of the cost of this visit to Sir Nicholas. The 

 gross amount was £577 6s. T^d., but we will only particularise 

 that " 206 capons cost £16 5s. 4(?. ; pullets 21s. ; chickens, 

 31 dozen and 8, £6 6s. id. ; geese, 10 doz., £6 12s. ; ducklings, 

 12 dcz., £3 13s.; pigeons, 19 doz. and 7, 42s. lOd. ; rabbits, 

 61 dcz. and 9, £7 9s. 6d. ; herbs, flowers, and Artichokes^ 

 £6 15s. lOd." 



The estate passed to the youngest son of Sir Nicholas, 

 Francis, the celebrated " Lord JBacon," who found the diiHcnlty 

 and expense of bringing a sufficient supply of water to Gor- 

 hambury was so large, that he said, " If the water could not be 

 brought to the house, he would bring the house to the water." 

 He, therefore, built Verulam House at the end of the avenue 

 facing the ponds at an expense of about £10,000. The estate 

 at length vested in a female of the Bacon family, and she mar- 

 ried a Grimston. The third Viscount Grimston commenced 

 building the present mansion in 1776. The centre was from 



EEKEEENCE3 TO PLAN OF FLOWER GAEDEN AT GORHAlIBrRT. 



i A, Raised terrace walk, 20 feet wide, 

 r. Mansion. 



B B, Walis 10 feet wide. 

 D D, Grass verges. 

 G, Portico. 



— 1, Geranium Mrs. Pollock. 



— 2, Verbena Purple King. 

 [ 3 — 3, Verbena, wbite-flower ed variety. 

 4 — 4, Viola Gornuta. 

 5—6, Geranium Waltbam Seedling, edged with Cerastimn. 



6—6, Geranium Stella, edged with Cerastium. 



7 — 7, Bogue's Dark-leaved Beet, edged with Golden Pyrethrtim. 



8—8, Verbenas, mixed kinds. 



9—9, Geranium Indian Yellow. 

 10 — in. Geranium Trentbam Rose. 

 11 — 11, Geranium -\lma, white-edged variety, 

 12 — 12, Geranium Amy Hogg, deep rose. 

 13 — 13, Blue Lobelia and Gazania mised. 

 14 — 14, Geraniums bronze and gold varieties. 



