SANDRINGHAM 125 



within the gate, a pergola, on the largest scale consistent with 

 ability to entice climbing plants to clothe it, has been con- 

 structed within the last five or six years. It is built on what 

 is known as the ' cube system.' That is to say, its height, 

 breadth and the distance from pillar to pillar lengthwise, are 

 all equal. The great pergola is not only satisfying because 

 its scale is entirely suitable to the grandeur of its surround- 

 ings, but is also extremely dignified and imposing in itself. 

 Half-way in its length it widens out on both sides into a 

 large bay, in each of which are semicircular marble seats 

 set on pavements of smooth, variously coloured slabs of 

 the same stone. In the centre of the pergola between the 

 seats, a beautifully carved antique marble vase stands on a 

 pedestal of two steps. One of the most interesting features 

 of this grand pergola is the method in which it is paved. 

 For this purpose blocks of rough local sandstone, in very 

 irregular shapes and sizes, have been used. They have been 

 laid quite unevenly, and where they are not liable to be 

 much trodden upon, minute mosses and tiny rock-plants grow 

 in the interstices. The view beneath hanging masses and 

 branchlets of clematis and rose clothing the rough-hewn oak 

 beams which form the pergola's roof is supremely lovely. 

 For it includes the whole length of a magnificent double 

 border filled almost to overflowing with numberless flowers of 

 the very choicest varieties. This border is more than three 

 hundred yards long, on both sides of a wide walk which 

 extends from end to end of the kitchen garden. In the 

 middle, where cross paths meet, there is a circular marble 

 fountain. And round it are arches laden with roses. At the 

 back of the borders all along, are more arches, or half-hoops, 

 of iron with apple-trees trained upon them. But the great 

 beauty of the immense borders, before everything else, is the 

 marvellous collection of flowers they contain. 



On both sides of the pergola, north and south, there are 

 lovely flower gardens. Lawns, arbours, long beds of stocks, 

 asters, antirrhinums and countless other flowers, a lofty grace- 

 ful sundial, and a low terrace, and everywhere roses — on 



