186 
JOURNAL OF HORTICULTURE AND COTTAGE GARDENER. 
[ Se, tcmler 1, 1887. 
Northumberland he now enjoys some of the relief from business so amply 
earned. 
ARMSTRONG PARK. 
To commence a tour of the parks the most convenient plan is to pro¬ 
ceed in a Byker tramcar, starting from the Central Station to Cook 
Street, and a short walk from that point conveys the visitor to the 
entrance of the first of a series of three parks which extend for several 
miles. One portion of the first reached was called the Heaton Park at 
one time, and is still called the Heaton section. It was formerly the 
property of Colonel Addison Potter, whose residence, Heaton Hall, still 
stands near to it in greatly restricted grounds. It was purchased by the 
Corporation, and another portion given by Sir William Armstrong was 
incorporated with it, both now passing under the name of the Armstrong 
Park. There are about fifty acres enclosed, but owing to the varied 
character of the ground and its situation in a long narrow well wooded 
valley, with considerable elevations commanding views of neighbouring 
estates, it appears much larger than it really is. Entering from Cook 
Street the principal road passes along an elevated portion of the Park, 
with deep slopes on one side covered with Ferns growing luxuriantly, 
and clothed with trees, Beech, Elders, Maples, and Horse Chestnuts pre¬ 
dominating. There is a succession of hills and dales, open glades of turf, 
and pretty views in the direction of hills on the other side of the deep 
valley crowned with trees, and here and there a few villas peep¬ 
ing out. Several of the higher slopes are utilised as rockeries 
occupied with numerous alpine and other suitable plants, which 
appear to thrive excellently. The road descends somewhat, passing 
through a dense belt of trees, and the principal flower garden, 
with its admirably kept bowling greens and. croquet lawns, 
which are quite a feature in all the Newcastle parks, as well 
those of some other north country towns. These lawns are surrounded 
by grass slopes, in which are beds devoted to miscellaneous flowering 
plants. Those of a popular character distinguished by their fragrance, 
rich colours, or long continuance of flowering—Mignonette, Violas, and 
Roses—are largely grown, also mixed beds of Pelargoniums, Petunias, 
Pansies, Lobelias, Phlox Drummondi, Asters, and Zinnias. Some fine 
mixed beds of Stocks, Ageratums, and Roses have a capital effect edged 
with Dell’s Crimson Beet and Dactylis glomerata variegata. At the 
upper portion is a terrace which affords an agreeable promenade, com¬ 
manding a view of the-lawns and flower garden, and some beds at the 
lower portion of this are planted with the ordinary bedding plants on a 
broad ground of Cerastium tomentosum, the taller Castor Oil Plants, 
Chilian Beet, Palms, &c., forming the background. Upon the terrace 
are aviaries and several glass houses, one being chiefly devoted to flower¬ 
ing plants, and another to Ferns placed on a tastefully designed 
rockery. These are not open to the public, but as they are of moderate 
size with glass sides and doors their principal occupants are readily seen 
from the outside. 
The other portion of the park, which is reached shortly after leaving 
these houses, contains some high grounds, surmounted by an old ruin at 
one part and by a windmill at another, both sites commanding fine views 
of Newcastle, with the delightfully wooded valley leading to Jesmond 
Dene. Several picturesque features are introduced here, little brid .es 
having small rivulets or dells, with dense shrubberies at the sides 
and mixed beds of Calceolarias, Pelargonium, and miscellaneous 
flowering plants. Full advantage has been taken of the situation and 
its natural beauty, and though it cannot be compared in the latter 
respect with the adjoining Jesmond Dene, it still possesses attractions of 
no mean order. It is kept in first rate condition by Mr. A. Theaker, 
who has now been in charge for eight years, and a good portion was laid 
out or planted under his saperintendence. 
JESMOND DENE. 
The valley already mentioned appears to deepen and contract past 
the point where it is crossed by a graceful iron bridge at a great height, 
and this forms the boundary between the Armstrong Park and the 
remarkable Dene, which for over a mile presents a succession of pictur¬ 
esque scenery and luxuriant vegetation such as cannot be seen in any 
other town in Great Britain. It is worth a long journey to see, and it is 
surprising that its beauties are so little known, for many a lesson in 
natural landscape gardening could be derived from an inspection of 
this Dene. It was the property of Sir William Armstrong, and still 
remains under his control, being maintained entirely at his own expense, 
though thrown open to the public the same as the other parks, and it is 
expected that ultimately it will be transferred to the Corporation. 
Valleys of this character are frequent in Durham and Northumberland, 
but when treating them artificially with a view to their improvement, 
it becomes very difficult to avoid introducing some incongruity which 
might spoil the whole effect. The plants employed, and the manner in 
which they are disposed, have to be carefully considered, and it is almost 
unnecessary to say that Lord and Lady Armstrong, both of whom are 
distinguished by their excellent taste, have given these matters their 
serious thought. The result is an example of how far Art may be 
advantageously employed to improve Nature, for there is not one 
jarring element in the whole Dene. The exotic plants employed are 
those that grow with sufficient freedom to render them thoroughly at 
home under their new conditions, and instead of being dotted about 
singly or in two s or three’s, we see masses of several square yards, banks 
covered with particular plants, jungle-like masses of others in the 
damp portions of the ground, and a natural luxuriance of vegetation 
throughout that is delightful in the extreme. 
The chief features that arrest attention when entering the Dene from 
the Heaton Bridge end are the masses of Furze, Heaths, Funkias, and 
Spiraea filipendula clothing the banks both to the right and left of the 
winding path,, which in some parts descends gradually towards the 
rivulet or burn at the bottom of the valley, and then rises far above it. 
The right hand bank is very steep, and in several places probably ex¬ 
ceeds 100 feet in height, the left bank sloping downwards, and upon 
both there is a dense clothing of trees, those on the ascending bank 
being the largest ; they comprise Sycamores, Purple Beech, the Moun¬ 
tain Ash loaded with its scarlet fruits, with numerous shrubs, such as 
Mahonia aquifolia, and small trees as undergrowth. Large patches of 
Helianthemums, in steep sandy places, have a capital appearance. 
Pinks also look well in similar quantity. CEnotheras in variety, Irises, 
and the brilliant Lilium chalcedonicum flourish as many an owner of a 
hardy plant garden would wish to see his own pets do. For a long dis¬ 
tance the steeper banks are thickly covered with Vinca minor, which, 
overshadowed by trees that also partly overhang the path, grows 
vigorously and forms a dark green clothing as close as if it were clipped. 
Extensive patches of Megaseas are telling amongst the smaller leaved 
plants, while large clumps of Polygonum cuspidatum, succeeding as 
that plant always does in a damp situation, impart quite a shb-tropical 
appearance to some portions of the Dene: Campanulas, Liliums, 
Saxifragas, and scores of other har.ly plants are employed in profusion ; 
in every instance they are in colonies of one kind, not kept within 
formal bounds, but allowed to increase at will. 
The path descends beneath an arch and emerges near the stream 
amidst rich vegetation, the extremely high bank on the right being 
here chiefly occupied with Thorns, Maples, Sycamores, Elders, Rhodo¬ 
dendrons, and Ferns, while on the left are some open glade-like turf 
slopes, where Cupressus Lawsoniana is represented by a group of fine 
specimens, and nearer still to the water, but especially where it is crossed 
by a small bridge overgrown with Ivy, is quite a forest of the Giant 
Bulrush, with masses of Epilobium angustifolium flowering profusely, 
Golden Yews at the side, Austrian Pines and a magnificent forest-like 
bank of trees on the opposite side. The view from this point is exqui¬ 
sitely beautiful, an artistic study, every part in harmony with the sur¬ 
roundings, and abounding in deiicious vistas. This varied though quiet 
scenery continues for a good distance, but towards the upper part of the 
Dene there is a change in the character ; the waterway becomes deeper 
and rocky, the water falling over a high rocky shelf-like plateau into a 
course filled with huge masses of stone, where it dashes along rapidly 
into the smoother course below. A substantial handsome bridge spans 
the water at this point, and, as shown in the woodcut (fig. 25), prepared 
from a photograph of this scene, it has a highly picturesque appearance. 
The lower path is cut through or over the solid rock, but there are 
several paths conducting to the higher portions of the right bank where 
a prospect of exceptional beauty can be obtained. It is difficult to do 
bare justice to this charming Dene, for when seen on a fine summer’s 
day, with the foliage of trees and shrubs fresh, as it might be expected 
to be in such a sheltered valley, and flowers abundant in every direction, 
it could scarcely be rivalled. As a public park it is unique, for in few 
places are so many natural advantages afforded, so much taste displayed 
in developing them. We understand that Lord Armstrong takes a 
personal interest in the superintendence of this park, but entrusts the 
practical charge to Mr. Wilson. 
Quitting the park at the upper end and bearing to the left we 
approach several imposing residences, amongst them being Lord Arm¬ 
strong’s private garden, which is also termed Jesmond Dene. This is an 
extremely interesting garden, containing a large number of glass houses, 
where both fruit and flowers are well grown, the latter in large numbers. 
We cannot refer in detail to this garden in the present issue, as it deserves 
a more lengthened notice than space would admit this week, for the 
practical care of the courteous gardener, Mr. Elliott, is evidenced in all 
departments. 
LEAZES PARK. 
Proceeding on a tour of the parks Osborne Road is readily reached 
after leaving Jesmond Dene, and thence a tram runs to the Grey Monu¬ 
ment, opposite Blackett Street. Ten minutes walk through that and 
Albion Street conducts to the Castle Leazes, an open moor-like space, 
and to Leazes Park. This is about thirty-five acres in extent, and was 
the first taken over by the town as a public park. Though compara¬ 
tively small it has been laid out effectively, and is well furnished with 
trees and shrubs, which with an undulating surface serve to conceal 
the real extent of the place. Laburnums, Ligustrums, Aucubas, Poplars, 
Willows, Maples, Mountain Ash, Elders, Rhododendrons, Lilacs, and 
the common Laurels thrive much better than might be expected, for the 
park is much more exposed to the smoke from the factories on the Tyne 
than those already noted. They are planted in dense masses, and with 
a few Copper Beech introduced at suitable intervals have a bold appear¬ 
ance. A lake and rock-margined island are seen in one portion, the usual 
bowling and croquet lawns admirably kept are found in another, and at 
the highest portion of the ground is a terrace which overlooks the park 
and also commands a view of the town beyond. Numerous flower beds 
are there provided, Zonal Pelargoniums constituting the chief feature, 
with a few neat carpet beds, Dahlias and Rhododendrons in the back¬ 
ground. There some fine banks of the Golden Elder, very rich in colour, 
and numerous mixed borders, Stocks, Pansies, Epilobiums, and Golden 
Rod being conspicuous at the present time. This park is under the 
charge of Mr. John Wilson, and its condition is creditable to the care it 
receives. 
ELSWICK PARK. 
A short walk by way of Diana Street and Elswick Road brings us to 
