LANDSCAPE GARDENING 259 



bought and rebuilt it in 1697. He planned every detail in 

 both house and grounds with minute care, and the accounts 

 and agreements for the work were all preserved. The whole 

 place is on a grand scale, and has a magnificent situation. The 

 house, stables, and forecourt occupy 7 acres. This forecourt 

 originally was completely surrounded by a colonnade, and 

 measured 500 feet across, and 800 from the entrance-gates 

 to the house. Such formality was too much for Repton. 

 "It is only by excluding Nature," he wrote, " that we can 

 produce the effect of greatness in artificial objects, and a large 

 court surrounded by buildings can have no pretentions to look 

 Natural." For this reason he could not tolerate it, and on 

 his advice, in 1796, the north side of it was pulled down, and 

 replaced by iron railings. The porter's lodges were also 

 removed, and the iron gates and their stone pillars were alone 

 suffered to remain. On the south of the mansion lay the 

 chief part of the garden. Here five terraces, with red-brick 

 walls and stone copings, well covered with flowering plants, 

 descended the hill-side, and opened on to an avenue which 

 stretched for a mile across the park to two fish-ponds, and 

 terminated with a stone gateway dating from Buckingham's 

 time. There were originally three terraces, 1 but the Earl of 



1 The following are some of the agreements made with the Earl of 

 Nottingham when he increased the number of terraces from three to 

 five. The length is not mentioned in them, neither does Repton state 

 the exact length, but it must have been somewhat over 450 feet, 

 judging from his estimate for their removal. 



" William Edge, of the Parish of Kensington, has arranged with the 

 Earl of Nottingham to levell the walks and gardens at Burley, as were 

 set out and measured by Henry Dormer and Roger Jenkins (gardener), 

 and to find Carts and Horses for performing the said work, the said Earl 

 allowing grass and Hay for said horses for and in consideration of the 

 summe of £300. The work to be finished by Michaelmas. 



" Nov. 24, 1696." 



" Lord Nottingham agreed with Joshua Walker for the building of 

 the terrace walls. These walls were to be made of brick and stone. 

 those against the Mount Walls to be above the ground alle two or more 

 feet thick, as shall be necessary with the weight of earth, that lyes 

 against them, or otherwise needful. The walls to be coaped with 

 Clipsham stone. Lord Nottingham to promise the lime, water, sand, 

 morter, earth, and brick stone. 



"April 14, 1697." 

 VJ — 2 



