igS GARDENS: THEIR FORM AND DESIGN 



a shadow-house, or a small temple shows that the original 

 owner was in a position to afford himself the assistance of 

 able craftsmen. Near an old house, said by the villagers 

 to be haunted, lies a garden that is worth visiting in spite 

 of rumours to the effect that tragedy may overtake 

 the incautious visitor. Upon a raised grass mound, above 

 a playground which is now disused, but once, no doubt, 

 was for the game of bowls, is an Elizabethan stone seat. 



It bears distinct resemblance 



to the Italian alcoves we have 

 been discussing. At present 

 it stands isolated, with no other 

 decoration near ; but doubtless 

 at one time it was an important 

 feature in the design of this 

 garden, and probably a clipped 

 yew hedge was upon either side 

 of it. The Italian craftsmen 

 who may have been doing 

 other work in the neighbour- 

 hood — for at that time, we 

 know, there were many in 

 England — evidently thought, it 

 wise, in so cold a climate, to put this seat in full view of 

 the sun ; a dial is in the upper part of the recess, so that 

 it bears the rather unusual advantage of being both a 

 seat and a sundial at the same time. The hours are 

 marked by long lines, and the half-hours have short ones 

 to denote them (Fig. 113), 



In large gardens, alcove seats are often very elaborate 

 and remind us of that grand one built by Wren, which 

 stands forlorn and meaningless, free of any fixed position in 

 garden design, near where the fountains play in 

 Kensington Gardens. It is to be regretted that we have 

 not yet mastered the importance of leading up to such a 



Fig. 113. 



