29 
THE SKATING POND, ASHRIDGE PARK, HERTS. 
PLATE 49. 
HE pond illustrated on this plate is situated in the beautiful grounds surrounding 
this seat of Earl Brownlow, which lies in the hilly and well-wooded country on 
the north slopes of the Chilterns. The park, which is of considerable extent, lies 
on the borders of Hertfordshire and Buckinghamshire, and is in fact partly in both 
counties. It is an example of a somewhat unusual treatment of water in a garden, 
and besides being a good ornamental feature serves a useful purpose as a pond for 
skating, when the weather is favourable for the indulgence of that pastime. It is 
rectangular in shape, partly enclosed on three sides by banks formed by the earth excavated. These 
banks form a good shelter, and help to keep the water still whilst freezing. The pond is surrounded on 
all sides, close to the water, by a low yew hedge, and has several descents by flights of stone steps 
to the water’s edge. 
BRICKWALL, SUSSEX. 
PLATES 50, 51. 
the many delightful old gardens surrounding the smaller country houses in 
England, there are certainly few to be found as quaintly picturesque as Brickwall. 
Both house and garden seem entirely to belong to one another, and the old world 
character of the latter has fortunately never been disturbed, so that to-day the gardens 
present much the same appearance as they have done during the last two centuries. 
The house, which is situated close to the village of Northiam, was built towards the 
close of the sixteenth century, on the site of an earlier building, and on a west gable 
is the date 1617. Additions were made during the reign of James II. by Sir Edward Frewen, whose 
family are still the possessors of the property, and under their hands the house has been well restored 
during recent years. Plate 50 is a plan of the garden, and Plate 51 is a general view of it from the 
house. 
The entrance from the main road is on the north side of the house, through gates with well 
designed piers supporting lions, and with small gates on either side. From here a short drive leads 
to the entrance ; to the left are the stables, and on the right a wing wall, behind which, on the west side 
of the house, is a small garden. On the south side of the house are the flower garden and kitchen 
gardens, and on the east is a large paddock with orchard and enclosures. These are on a rather higher 
level than the house itself, and instead of a terrace on the garden front, a paved brick path with flights 
of steps at either end communicates with a raised walk, 9 feet wide, which extends round the remaining 
three sides of the flower garden. This walk is screened by yew hedges on two sides, in which are 
openings at intervals marked by sentinel-like yews. 
On one side of the flower garden is a redangular fish-pond 75 feet long by 25 wide, with grass 
sloping sides. The central walk has twelve yews in the shape of triangular cones, set in the midst of 
old-fashioned flower-beds. On the west side, next the road, is a brick boundary wall with a palisade of 
