PERGOLAS. 
291 
PERGOLAS. 
By Mr. Edward White. 
[Read Oct. 23, 191 7 ; Mr. E. A. Bowles, M.A., V.M.H., in the Chair.] 
The early history of pleasure gardens refers to countries in which 
the summers were excessively hot and where it was imperatively 
necessary to provide shelter from the fierce sun. 
For the purpose of affording leafy shade no plant could be more 
serviceable than the pliant and luxuriant grape vine, and it is to 
this no doubt that the pergola owes its origin. 
The device of the pergola is very ancient. It is illustrated in 
old Chinese records, and we even find in Egyptian hieroglyphics 
representations which suggest with sufficient accuracy the form of 
the pergola of to-day. What is in effect the cross-section of a vine- 
clad pergola occurs as a decorative theme in many ages. Examples 
are found on friezes unearthed from the ruins of Pompeii and Her- 
culaneum. 
In the references to gardens made by ancient classical writers 
emphasis is almost invariably laid upon features designed to afford 
shade. We find that trellises of fruit trees and vines were employed 
to temper the sunshine in Roman gardens. Much later, but centuries 
before the general introduction of pleasure gardens in this country, 
pergolas and pavilions, tunnels and arched hedges were common 
details in the gardens of Italy. 
Mr. Inigo Triggs, in one of his excellent books, quotes Crescenzi, 
the Italian garden designer of the thirteenth century, who wrote of 
his pergola of vines as follows : " As in trees of this kind shade is 
sought rather than the fruit, they must not be too dry, and care should 
be taken that the trees be neither too many nor grow too thickly, 
because the shutting off of the air corrupts the health of the place ; 
also because the garden requires a free current of air." 
That was written nearly seven hundred years ago. In the Re- 
naissance gardens of Italy, a century or two later, pergolas attained 
the zenith of extravagant elaboration. 
In our country the sun is regarded as a benevolent if somewhat 
elusive deity rather than as a despot. There are times, however, 
when it sees fit to exert relentless power, and for such occasions shady 
retreats are gratefully welcomed in the garden. 
The history of the pergola in England is very fragmentary. It 
is linked up with that of trellis arbours, gallery walks, pleached 
alleys and the like, which from early Tudor days onwards have been 
familiar features in fine gardens. There was little difference in 
intention between the old gallery walk and the pergola of to-day. 
