X PERSONAL NOTE 



Williams, and as his successors, the authors of the 

 designs in the present volume have been trained in 

 a tradition of formal gardening, not, indeed, in any 

 extreme form, but after the manner 'of presentation 

 in the following pages. 



George Devey worked at a time when the battle 

 of the styles was being fought and won, — when 

 opportunities for improved " texture " in materials 

 were not as plentiful as at the present day. His 

 work, however (as shown, for instance, in the 

 gardens of Coombe Warren), will bear the test of 

 comparison with much good modern work, and his 

 skill in enlarging a house to suit its surroundings 

 is nowhere better shown than in the wonderful old- 

 world gardens of Brickwall, Northiam. 



The illustrations to the present volume, some of 

 which were prepared with the help of Mr. James 

 Williams, include a few adaptations from Mr. Devey's 

 work and a number of original designs, a large pro- 

 portion of which have been carried out. Grateful 

 acknowledgment and thanks are due to the follow- 

 ing for their kind permission to publish drawings 

 of work executed or designed for them, — the Earl 

 and Countess of Chichester, Stanmer, Sussex ; the 



