In the year 1762, a stone coffin, inscribed " Roger us de Morf," was dag up at the west end; but of 

 the family to whom it refers little more is known beyond the fact that they held a small estate in the 

 parish, which still retains the name of Morfe, from the time of Edward II, to that of Richard II, when 

 it passed by marriage to the Lows. 



Erdeswick, speaking of Enville, or Enfield, as it was called in his day, describes it as " a goodly 

 manor, and a park standing north-west from Whittington and Kinfare, something more than two miles, 

 where Thomas Grey, who died on the 20th of Elizabeth, built a very proper brick house." A plate 

 of this house, given in Plots' ' Staffordshire,' published in 1683, represents it as a rather small Gothic 

 edifice, with two central octangular towers, and windows with pointed arches. These towers form part 

 of the present Hall, being supported by two handsome projecting wings, partly embattled, with an 

 extensive range of buildings to the rear. Fronting the Hall is a lake that receives a small stream, which, 

 descending from the hills behind, forms some pretty cascades, overarched by a belt of fine forest trees. 

 These hills are covered with far-stretching woods, abounding with game and noble trees, chiefly oak, 

 intersected by numerous interesting and delightful walks and drives, the whole of which were designed by 

 the country-loving and agreeable poet Shenstone, to whose memory the small ornamented Chapel that 

 overhangs the lake was erected. 



Enville is a name long and familiarly known to those interested in the progress of horticulture by 

 the excellent qualities of the Enville Pine-apple, raised here ; but it is within the last few years that 

 the Gardens generally have attained the distinctive and magnificent character for which they are celebrated. 

 Previous to 1850, the whole of the grounds did not occupy more than twenty acres, with an average 

 range of glass for forcing and other purposes, but shortly afterwards was commenced, on extensive plans 

 and in the most liberal spirit, the general improvement of the entire department. The designs for the 

 reconstruction of the grounds were by his Lordship's gardener, Mr Aiton, whose excellent taste in 

 landscape-gardening is here fully illustrated. In this undertaking hundreds of men were employed, and 

 the rapidity of its execution was such that, in about three years, the fundamental part was completed. 

 The ornamental grounds, or flower-gardens, including the site of the former ones, now cover a surface 

 of seventy-six acres, and extend in a westerly direction over the face of a hill, of a gentle, undulating 

 character, partly natural, partly artificial, that afterwards assumes bolder outlines, and, clothed with far- 

 stretching woods and noble trees, forms one of a chain of the new red sandstone formation that intersects 

 this part of the country. Much of the newness of such improvements is, and necessarily will be, apparent 

 some years to come, but all that art could possibly do to soften this effect has been done. 



Facing the entrance gates, which are composed of wrought-iron, coloured bronze and gilt, and surmounted by 

 the Earl's coronet, is a very compact aviary, containing numerous specimens of British birds, and several of 

 those beautiful shy little creatures, the Californian quail. Another compartment is devoted principally to aquatic 

 species, among which are some Mandarin ducks, and crested cranes. There is also an American bird of 

 a rich deep plumage, almost as large as a hen turkey, called the crax, or curassow. Adjoining is the head 

 of the broad or straight walk — a narrow strip of ground about 120 yards long — planted as a ribbon r 

 border with flowers, whose height gradually increases on each side from the centre of the walk, which 

 is bounded on one side by a brick-wall, with trained roses, and on the other by a thick evergreen 

 hedge. This, the first acquaintance with the floral beauties of the Gardens, is quite unannounced, but the 

 scene is too rich and effective to be anything but delightful. At the extremity of this walk spreads out 

 in different stages of perfection the broad and expansive surface of the principal garden. Stretching 

 away, in a variety of fine undulations, is the green and elastic turf,* illuminated by numerous 

 irregularly-planned circular flower-beds, containing masses of calceolaria, geraniums of different varieties, 

 verbenas, alyssum, salvias, pentstemons, and other gay-flowering plants. The whole of the beds are 

 planted in the ring-system' — the centre being composed of one particular flower, with an outer border or 

 "ring" of another variety, by which a pleasing and effective contrast is obtained. The number of plants 

 required each year for this magnificent array is, as may well be supposed, almost incredible. There are 

 also, scattered over the entire surface, numerous standard roses, whose beautiful crowns and irregular height 

 relieve and enrich the general character. Opposite the walk, stands out in native luxuriance, a remarkably 

 fine specimen of Pinus rnacrocarpa, thirty- two feet in height, considered to be one of the most perfect 

 in England. From this point a curved walk, on the verge of the ground, extends upwards of a quarter 

 of a mile, the narrow strip of land by which it is bordered being planted with successive lines of golden- 

 chain geraniums, lobelia, and other flowers, backed by standard roses and hollyhocks. Opposite the 



* Three horse-drawn mowing-machines are constantly employed during the summer in keeping the turf in the gardens and on the cricket- 

 ground in order. 



