i9 
by large beds of shrubs and flowers, and in the midst a well proportioned stone sundial. Northward of 
the Privy garden is a lawn, shaded by large chestnut trees, and a sunken rose garden, overlooked by 
the older buildings of the Tudor palace, wherein Princess Elizabeth resided. 
The gardens have for the last twenty-six years been under the able supervision of Mr. Norman. 
DRAYTON HOUSE, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE. 
PLATES 27, 28, 29, 30. 
RAYTON HOUSE appears to have become in the reign of Elizabeth the property 
of Baron Mordaunt (1572-1601), who made extensive alterations and additions to 
both house and garden. His grandson was created Earl of Peterborough by 
Charles I., and his successor, the second earl, in the leisure intervals of a most 
adventurous life, found time to make many alterations at Drayton. The general 
arrangement of the gardens dates no doubt from before his day, but he made many 
improvements, and added the stone balustrade with the banqueting-houses at 
either end, also much of the terracing and steps. There is an engraving extant, dated 1729, 1 showing 
the forecourt, parterre, and garden-houses all as at present, but with the duck pond of greater extent. 
From the park a drive leads to the forecourt on the south-east side of the house, past the entrance 
gates (shown on Plate 29) which were erected by Lord Peterborough’s daughter and heiress, after her 
second marriage to Sir John Germain. The principal piers, which are about twelve feet in height, have 
small niches, above which are carved escutcheons. These are surmounted by eagles, and on either side 
connected by wrought-iron grilles with smaller piers, supporting handsome stone vases. On one side of 
the forecourt are the stable buildings and stable yard, while on the opposite side the courtyard is shut off 
from the gardens by a high wall, in which is a pedimented stone gateway with handsome wrought-iron 
gates. From the forecourt an archway leads to the inner court, which is paved with flags and has a 
Doric colonnade along one end, erected temp. William III. by Sir John Germain. This resembles those 
at Hampton Court and at Knole. 
The gardens are entered from the east front of the house, and the view on Plate 28 is 
from this point, showing the parterre with its leaden figures of Flora and Bacchus. The stone 
banqueting houses before alluded to, erected by the second Earl of Peterborough, are connected by a 
balustrade, on which are some very fine leaden urns, as shown on Plates 30 and 120. In the distance, 
in front of the “ ha-ha” separating the garden from the park, is a leaden group of Cain and Abel, a 
replica of that still standing in the grounds of Chiswick House. 
A double row of fine old limes divides the parterre from the kitchen gardens. These are on a 
higher level, and are approached by a flight of steps at either end of the parterre. As at Penshurst, the 
gardens are surrounded by high hedges of beech, elm, hornbeam and yew, with grass alleys between. 
In the enclosure nearest the house are two fine pleached alleys 2 of considerable age ; they are of wych 
elm, with gnarled stems intertwined and form complete tunnels some forty yards long. 
' Engraved by S. and N. Buck. 
2 Similar pleached alleys, formerly not uncommon, are now rarely to be met with, but the famous one at Hampton Court, 
known as “ Queen Mary’s Bower,” and the Lime Walk at Hatfield, still remain. There is also one at Melbourne Hall in Derbyshire. 
Hentzner mentions one that existed in his time at Theobalds. The word “ pleach ” is from the French plessir , to weave, and refers to 
the weaving together or intertwining of the branches. 
D 
