42 ROYAL GARDENS 



his marriage, first took up his residence here in 1875, Bagshot 

 Park and grounds had been much neglected for some consider- 

 able time. Steps were immediately taken to remodel the 

 whole place. The old house was on low ground near the 

 centre of the Park. This was pulled down and a site for the 

 present mansion chosen a quarter of a mile further north. 

 The structure stands on an imposing eminence, and is built 

 in red brick with white stone facings. From it charming 

 views of the Park with its fine old trees and lake, and the 

 spire of the village church, almost hidden among its sur- 

 rounding woods, can be got. Extensive views, too, from east 

 to west are obtained from the terrace. They are bounded in 

 the distance by the Surrey hills to the east, and disclose an 

 even wider prospect to the south towards Aldershot and 

 Camberley. 



The walls of the house are well clothed with flowering 

 and evergreen climbing plants such as Magnolia Grandiflora, 

 Garrya elliptica. Honeysuckles, Roses, Pyracanth us, Escallonias, 

 Myrtles, Bignonias, Euonymus radicans. Verbenas, Passifloras, 

 Cotoneasters, Clematis, Wistarias, Choisyas and Jasminum. On 

 the upper terrace and parallel with the house runs a broad 

 gravel walk 90 yards in length, terminating in handsome stone 

 steps. They descend to the grounds below at either end, and 

 are flanked with four terra-cotta vases filled, in summer, with 

 pink Ivy-leaved Geraniums. Just above the coping on the 

 slopes of turf are narrow borders of Dutch Lavender and pink 

 Roses, giving a very pretty effect. At the east end on the 

 steep slope are plantations of specimen variegated Hollies in 

 variety. On this terrace plateau, in the angles of the house 

 at both ends, are sunken flower gardens. The eastern one is 

 in close proximity to the dining-room, and has a clipped Yew 

 hedge around it with openings at intervals. The beds are of 

 simple design and are planted chiefly with varieties of Helio- 

 trope, a favourite flower here. About half-way along the 

 front of the house there is a conservatory, the roof of which 

 is well covered with a fine plant of Tacsonia exoniensis, 

 whose long growths are allowed to hang down freely with 



