34 ROYAL GARDENS 



shot, it certainly seems an ideal home for the royal Field- 

 Marshal. 



Since Their Royal Highnesses have resided there avery great 

 amount of building has been done. The present mansion has 

 been erected and subsequently added to and improved ; lodges, 

 stables and drives constructed, the gardens entirely remodelled 

 and the whole estate made into one of the most perfectly 

 appointed and charming seats in the southern counties. The 

 Bagshot soil is of a very peculiar sandy nature, so much so that 

 it has given its name to the uppermost deposit of the London 

 basin, which is known to geologists as " the Bagshot beds." 

 This soil is most suitable for all kinds of flowering shrubs, 

 and it is, therefore, not surprising to find the gardens famous 

 for their magnificent rhododendrons and azaleas. Very few 

 gardens in England can compare with Bagshot at the end 

 of May and beginning of June, when thousands of superbly 

 flowering trees and shrubs are in the full beauty of their 

 rich and varied colouring. 



The main entrance is from the London road at the north- 

 east corner of the Park. It is guarded by fine wrought-iron 

 gates, and flanked by a handsome lodge. Immediately on 

 entering, the character of the place makes itself known. For 

 the drive, leading in a south-westerly direction, goes between 

 high banks of rhododendrons, set back some yards on either 

 side of the broad roadway, and behind them are splendid oaks 

 and other forest trees. After proceeding straight for three or 

 four hundred yards, the drive crosses another which leads 

 from the mansion to a second lodge facing the road to Bag- 

 shot railway station. The main drive crosses the Park and 

 emerges therefrom at a third lodge not far from the village 

 church. Close to the cross-roads just mentioned are the 

 stables and home farm, on the left or east side of the drive. 

 It was here or hereabout that the old royal hunting lodge 

 was situated. Shortly before coming to the crossing by the 

 stables, two paths leave the drive opposite each other. That 

 on the east side leads through iron gates, a small garden and 



