26o A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 



Nottingham, in 1696-1697, altered them, and added two, which 

 are spoken of as the " 106 foot " and the " 56 foot " Walks. 1 

 Repton sets forth in his usual style the reasons for his proposals 

 with regard to these terraces and other alterations at Burley. 

 The principles on which they were to "be conducted," he 

 writes, was a " strict adherence to those parts of ancient garden- 

 ing which contribute to its magnificence as a work of Art, but 

 not in the instances where proper advantage can be taken of 

 the natural beauties of its situation, and here a very happy 

 line of separation presents itself. The upper great terrace in 

 which the house stands is partly natural and partly artificial, 

 and this ought to be preserved and acknowledged as a work of 

 Art." He then proceeds to explain in detail how " the Upper 

 Terrace may be preserved and the others obliterated." 2 The 

 present grand terrace as altered by Repton measures 840 feet 

 long and 100 feet wide, 3 and the balustrade which he placed 

 along the entire length is 3 feet high. The wall which supports 

 the terrace is 12 feet high, of white stone and brick, and nothing 

 but a narrow path running along its base now separates it from 

 the park. Having disposed of the terraces, Repton goes on 

 to say, " It unfortunately happens we must also remove the 

 kitchen garden," and he explains that this should be placed 

 near the stables. He was not, however, permitted to do this, 

 and the old garden, with its fruit-trees and glass, may still be 

 seen. 4 The old bowling-green on the west was untouched by 



1 " Varney and Baker, Masons, by turning arches in y e 106 foot walk 

 3 half arches, 64. walls to bear those arches, £23 8s. 



" By building part of the wall between y e io6 ft walk and 56" walk, 

 East of the Steps, and part of the East staircase, £3 13s. 6£d. 



" Varney, by building part of wall at end of the 56" walk, £x os. gjd. 



2 "If the Upper terrace remains, the earth taken from the second 

 terrace will be sufficient for levelling those below. This I compute at 

 450" long x 70 wide x 5 deep, or 157,500 cub. ft., or 5,833 cub. yds., 

 which I suppose could be moved at 4d. — whole cost, £100. I compute 

 the length to be at about 450 ft., because I propose the ends to be 

 planted with thorns, holly, and hazels, and low growing brush wood." 



3 Practically 106 feet, if measured from the wall of the house, and 

 not from the foot of the steps leading into it. 



* The glass in this garden dated from the Earl of Nottingham's time. 

 In his accounts for 1712 an entry occurs of payment to " Mr. Blunt, 

 ye Painter, by painting ye Melon frames in ye garden, 116 yards at 

 6d., £2 18s. od." 



