33 
Evelyn must have wandered there with his friend, when, by his advice, no doubt, the gardens were first 
planned and laid out. Two old fir trees, rising to a great height, formerly stood on either side of the 
entrance to the house, and are said to have been planted by Evelyn; only one of these venerable 
trees now remains. 
The gardens are to the north of the house on a slight rise, and are approached by a bridge across 
the broad moat. From this point a walk leads through their entire length, and a vista is thus 
obtained, through an old gateway into the park beyond. The gradual slope of the ground has caused the 
garden to be arranged on three levels, each varying but a few feet. Through the lower level a shallow 
stream runs, kept within bounds by low walls, as shown on Plate 57. Beyond the stream a grass 
slope leads to the first terrace, bounded on one side by a thick yew hedge of some antiquity; the next 
level is principally devoted to lawns, with here and there a straggling apple tree, a small stone figure of a 
boy, and the peacock-house; for the peacocks are one of the chief glories of Groombridge Place. The 
upper level is divided into two small gardens, in one of which is a sundial and in the other a fountain. 
These gardens occupy the site of a former kitchen garden. 
HOLLAND HOUSE, KENSINGTON, 
PLATES 58 and 58*. 
TANDING to-day well within the boundary lines of Greater London, Holland House 
is one of the very few survivors of the great seats of the nobility which formerly 
surrounded the metropolis. Whilst all around streets and houses have long 
swallowed up all available ground, this house still stands surrounded by a beautiful 
park and gardens, and as one rests amongst its shady groves it is hard to realize 
the proximity of the great city. 
About the end of the sixteenth century, Sir Walter Cope acquired the manor of 
West Town, and in the year 1607 commenced the erection of Holland House, which was then known 
as “ Cope’s Castle.” The original plan, by John Thorpe, is in the Soane Museum. Sir Walter Cope 
died in 1614, and the property passed to Sir Henry Rich, who had married his daughter, and who was 
created Earl of Holland in 1624. He fought during the Civil War, and being taken prisoner by the 
Parliamentarians, was beheaded in 1649. From the Restoration until the middle of the eighteenth 
century, Holland House was occasionally let, and William III. is said to have inspected it with a view 
to its conversion into a royal residence, but preferred Nottingham House. 
Many notable people subsequently resided here, and in 1716 Addison, who had married the widow 
of Edward Rich, Earl of Warwick and Holland, came here to live, and Holland House soon became a 
famous literary centre. From the family of Rich the mansion passed by sale to Henry Fox, first Lord 
Holland of a new creation, and it was for him the gardens were laid out in 1769 by Charles Plamilton, of 
Pains Hill. Of these old gardens the principal part now remaining is the Dutch garden on the west 
side of the house, shown on Plate 58, with flower-beds surrounded by high box-edging, and divided by 
broad paths. 1 This was not formerly so extensive as at present, and in the early years of the eighteenth 
century part of the land was occupied by a cherry orchard. 
Towards the end of the garden is an ivy-covered arcade, part of the original stable buildings which 
1 A plan of the Dutch garden was published in “The Book of the Garden,” by C. Mackintosh, 2 vols., London, 1853-5. 
