3i 
trees make it a truly delightful retreat for hot summer days. From the “ crow’s-foot ” alleys and paths 
radiate in different directions, and the two principal alleys have lime palisades, 35 feet high, cut in 
the manner of the old French gardens. In the centre of the “ crow’s-foot ” is the famous leaden vase, 
probably the most elaborate work of its kind in existence. The Fountain Walk crosses the “ crow-walk ” 
at right angles, and has three fountain ponds. At one end is a wooden summer-house, from whence a 
delightful vista down the walk is presented when the fountains are playing, and here and there a bright 
gleam of sunshine falls across the grass walk, and lights up the sombre greens of the old yew hedges. 
Like Drayton Hall, Melbourne is famous for its magnificent collection of leadwork, for most of which 
one John Noste 1 was responsible. The vase referred to above was cast in 1706. It is supported by four 
kneeling monkeys, and is ornamented all over in a manner rather rococo, finishing above with four 
busts of the seasons and a bouquet of fruit and flowers. It is said to have cost only ^100. 
On either side of the fish-pond are lead statues of Perseus and Andromeda, the former being a 
particularly good example. There is also a flying Mercury, after Giovanni Bologna, and two fine 
examples of the kneeling slave, painted black with white drapery, and supporting a vase instead of the 
usual sundial, also several cupids, both single figures and in groups of two. One peeps out of a hedge, 
ready to let go his shaft, another is busily engaged in sharpening his bow, another is falling off a tree, 
another flying upward. A series of groups show the little figures engaged in quarrelling for the pos¬ 
session of a garland of flowers; words soon come to blows, a battle royal ensues, and the fourth group 
shows the youthful amorini making friends again. All these statues were supplied by John Noste, and 
old accounts are still preserved at Melbourne in which it appears that the Perseus cost ^25, the 
Mercury and Syca ^50, and a “young Triton with brass pipe in middle” £6 gs. ; this is no doubt the 
fountain still at the end of the yew alley. 
WESTBURY COURT, GLOUCESTERSHIRE. 
PLATES 53, 54, 55: 
SIESTBURY COURT is situated amid pleasant surroundings overlooking the River 
Severn, on the old main road from Monmouth to Gloucester, and within a few miles 
of the latter city. Plate 53 gives a plan of the garden partly as it existed in the early 
years of the eighteenth century, according to a view given in Atkyns’ “ Gloucester¬ 
shire,” 2 and partly measured from the garden as it exists to-day, the boundary line 
dividing these two portions being a brick wall, as noted on the plan. The old house, 
which probably stood here in Elizabethan days, was burnt down and a new 
building in the Georgian style erected by Maynard Colchester, Esq., in 1755-1757, when, fortunately, 
the old gardens were left intact. For some reason unknown this second house was destroyed in the 
year 1809, and the place remained unoccupied until a few years ago, when the house was rebuilt, though 
on a different site, adjoining the old garden-house, which has been incorporated in the new building. 
At the present time that part of the ground on which stood the Elizabethan building with its parterre, 
kitchen garden, and bowling-green, has been devoted to other purposes, and a straight carriage drive now 
leads direct to the house through this part of the garden. 
1 See description of Plates 107-112, “Leadwork.” 
2 Sir Robert Atkyns, “The Ancient and Present State of Gloucestershire.” London, 17x2. 
G 
