hornbeam, whose branches are intertwined and trimmed square to form a continuous hedge with the 
trunks left bare as high as the top of the wall. From the flower garden three openings give access to 
the kitchen garden, an oblong enclosure about 80 yards by 45, intersected by narrow grass paths. In the 
centre is a sundial, of which a sketch is given on Plate 60, and at the farther end of the kitchen garden, 
and separating it from the park is a grass bowling-alley, 9 feet wide by 130 feet long, raised a few feet, 
and with seats at either end. 
MELBOURNE HALL, DERBYSHIRE. 
PLATE 52. 
|HE early years of the eighteenth century saw the creation of many garden schemes, 
1 principally under the direction of the royal gardeners, London and Wise, but of 
may'll jjjjj these few are now remaining, especially of the smaller class designed by them. Of 
HUP (j§gj this kind Melbourne may be considered a very good example. Early in the reign 
of Charles I. the estate of Melbourne was leased by the Bishop of Carlisle to Sir 
John Coke, Secretary of State, who on his retirement settled there, and occupied 
his time in the pursuits of a countiy gentleman. On the outbreak of the Civil 
War he returned to London, and at his death the property passed to his son. The present house dates 
from the commencement of the eighteenth century, and occupies the site of the older Manor-house. 
Between the years 1704 and 1711, the grounds were entirely remodelled for Thomas Coke, afterwards 
Vice Chamberlain to George I., from the designs of Henry Wise, and with the exception of some 
alterations made about sixty years since, the plan remains practically as it was then designed. Henry 
Wise appears to have left untouched the older parts near the house, and to have extended the gardens 
towards the east and south, making the great water-piece, planting the groves, and forming the grass 
alleys with their yew hedges and high palisades of lime trees. 
Plate 52 gives a plan of the gardens as they are now existing, from which it will be seen that they 
occupy an irregular space, and are to the east of the house, whilst on the south-west side is a large lake. 
The forecourt is on the south side of the house, the offices, stables, and dovecote being on the north. 
The land slopes away from the house on the east side, and the garden is arranged on two levels with a 
central and two side walks, bordered with thick yew hedges. 
The upper level has been remodelled in recent years ; the lower consists of an oblong grass plot in 
four divisions, with a good lead figure of Mercury in the centre. Beyond is the fish-pond, an oblong 
pool 80 feet by 200, with a half quatrefoil extension on the further side, surrounded by grass verges on 
either side of a gravel path, and yew hedges with recesses for statuary and seats, while in the centre is a 
curious wrought iron garden house known as the Birdcage. Along the east side of the house is a terrace 
walk bounded at one end by an arbour and “ clair-voybe,” overlooking the lake. From this point a path 
leads to the yew-alley, a tunnel extending 100 yards, where the yew has become impenetrable to light 
overhead, and is thick enough to be proof against an ordinary shower of rain. It is terminated by a 
circular pool with a little leaden fountain, from whence walks extend right and left across the garden. 
From the Birdcage grass alleys extend in two directions, one leading to a small circular enclosure, 
the other, known as the “ crow walk,” to the “ crow’s-foot,” a very favourite feature in gardens of 
this period. The walk has broad yew hedges on either side, and its soft green turf and overhanging 
