PARK AND CEMETERY. 
13 
they are almost universally bordered with a hedge 
on both sides, and perhaps to this hedge more than 
all else besides, is due the quiet beauty of the scene. 
These hedges when artificially formed, are of the 
are planted evergreens of the broad leaved type, 
our own lovely magnolia grandiflora appearing near 
some of the dwellings. Leaving the enticing spot 
with reluctance, which every one does, another 
quite different, but bright scene unfolds itself. On 
the right is another pretty lane, hedged nicely on 
both sides. Looking to the right are the blue wa- 
ters of the Solent. A verdant meadow intervenes, 
while beyond the five or six miles of water, can be 
seen the “White Cliffs of Old England” on the 
mainland. I think Byron’s lines will find a fitting 
place here: 
“Yet are thy skies as blue, 
Thy crags as wild, 
Sweet are thy groves and 
Verdant are thy fields.” 
for well it describes my thoughts when last viewing 
the enchanting spot. I was informed that an 
American family, the Winthrops, were living in this 
place. Not a great way from Spencer Road is the 
ruins of Quarr Abbey, once a famous Cistercian 
Abbey. It is an ancient affair, having been built in 
the year 1132, by Baldwin, Earl of Devon, and dedi- 
cated to the Virgin Mary. The whole of the build- 
ings, as well as the stone wall which surrounded the 
30 acres it enclosed, are now a mass of ruins, ivy 
SPENCER ROAD, ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND, 
common hawthorn, Cratmgus oxyacantha, but very 
often they seem to be of spontaneous growth, as 
such things as maple, rose, honeysuckle, elm, dog- 
wood and oak are in excess of anything else. But 
of whatever they are, their owners are particular to 
have them nicely trimmed. Sometimes an opening 
gate or a low hedge will permit of a view on the 
other side, and it may be a well tilled agricultural 
field, or some fine mansion embowered in trees that 
meets the eye. Sometimes large trees on each side 
spread their arms across, forming a living arch, and 
then indeed there is a lovely scene. Such a road is 
shown in the photograph of Spencer Road, repre- 
sented here. This lovely secluded lane is between 
Ryde and Binstead, and on the way to the ruins of 
Quarr Abbey, Isle of Wight. It is not, I think, a 
strictly public road for vehicles, excepting to such 
as belong to those whose grounds abut on it, but 
pedestrians have free access to it and along it to its 
termination. There are seats, too, near the hedge 
for those to rest who wish to enjoy the scene, and 
for loving couples, and well they seemed patron- 
ized. The hedge is of hawthorn, well kept as may 
be seen. The splendid trees on each side are planted 
in grove style, not in straight lines. Probably some 
are original trees which were there in their wild state. 
The trunks of many of the trees are ivy clad, as may 
be seen by looking at the first tree on the right 
hand side, while between the large deciduous trees 
SEA VIEW, ISLE OF WIGHT, ENGLAND. 
grown, and tumbling down. To those who see these 
and similar ruins every day no emotions are awak- 
ened but to those who like myself come from a land 
where ruins do not exist, it is next to impossible to 
