70 
A HISTORY OF GARDENING IN ENGLAND 
came into fashion just before Tudor times, but they remained 
in vogue for many years. When, in 1533, Henry VIII. made 
great alterations in the gardens of Hampton Court, flower-beds 
of oblong form were made in the King’s new garden. They 
were surrounded by rails painted green and white—the Tudor 
colours—as may be seen in the original picture of Henry VIII., 
a portion of which is here reproduced. In the Hampton 
Court expenses, 1533, numerous entries refer to the purchase of 
these rails. 
“ Paid to [Henry Blankeston, of London, painter] for the like painting 
of 96 flat pownchens with white and green, and in oil, wrought with 
an tyke a both sides bearing up the rails in the said garden at I2d. the 
piece, £4 16s.—Also paid to the same for like painting of 960 yards in 
length of rail in the said garden with white and green, and in oil, price 
the yard, 6d., £2 4.” 1 
These items are repeated with variations; the posts 
and rails were painted “ white and green in antyke oiled 
colours,” and “ flat posts ” occur in the place of “ flat pown¬ 
chens.” 
Another novelty introduced in the first years of the Tudor 
period, and soon a conspicuous feature in all gardens, was 
topiary work, “ opus topiarum ”•—that is to say, quaintly cut 
trees and shrubs. This art, although new in England, was of 
very ancient origin, having been known to the Romans. But 
it is not until this date that it is mentioned as being practised 
in England. The new idea found great favour in this country, 
and much time and trouble were expended in producing these 
monsters in trees, and the taste remained in fashion for more 
than two centuries. Leland, in his Itinerary, in the early years 
of the sixteenth century, mentions a place where striking speci¬ 
mens of the work might be seen : “ at Uskelle village, about a 
mile from Tewton, is a goodly orchard with walks opere 
topiario;” and at “ Wresehill Castle ” he also describes an 
orchard with “ mounts opere topiario writhen about in degrees 
like turnings of cokilshells to come to the top without payne.” 
This leads me to speak of yet another peculiarity which was 
much developed about this time, the “ mount,” like this one 
1 Exchequer, Treasury of Receipt, Miscellaneous Books, No. 237. 
This is a large book of Expenses at Hampton Court, 24th Henry VIII. 
