88 
JOURNAL  OF  HORTICULTURE  AND  COTTAGE  GARDENER, 
August  4,  1891. 
BRAMHAM  PARK. 
The  title  of  these  notes  will  bring  two  distinct  things  to  mind, 
according  as  the  reader  is  a  horticulturist  and  arboriculturist,  or  a  hunting 
man  from  that  particular  quarter  of  the  broad-acred  shire.  If  he  come 
within  the  former  category  he  will  immediately  call  to  mind  the  magnifi¬ 
cent  hedges  and  trees  which  abound  on  the  estate  ;  while  if  he  belong  to 
the  latter  class,  his  thoughts  will  turn  to  the  Bramham  Moor  hounds, 
whose  home  is  and  has  been  for  many  years  at  Bramham  Park.  With 
these  latter  we  have  nothing  whatever  to  do,  as  it  is  proposed  to  refer  to 
the  gardens  and  pleasure  grounds  of  the  estate  only,  and  at  the  outset  it 
may  be  said  they  are  well  worthy  of  such  reference  as  can  be  given,  for 
they  are  exceptional  in  more  respects  than  one.  The  visit  was  made 
under  the  guidance  of  Mr.  H.  J.  Clayton,  the  well-known  head  gardener 
at  Grimston  Park,  who  kindly  drove  me  to  Bramham  about  the  middle  of 
June,  and  thus  gave  me  a  most  delightful  outing. 
A  start  was  made  from  Grimston,  and  our  progress  was  through  very 
historic  country.  For  example,  we  crossed  the  Cock  Beck,  which, 
before,  behind,  there  were  Rhododendrons,  and  for  my  own  part  I  never 
saw  any  that  I  admired  more.  There  must  be  thousands  scattered  about, 
and  except  those  bordering  the  several  a\eaues  there  had  been  no  attempt 
at  systematic  planting. 
It  was  in  the  valley,  and  towards  the  lower  portions  of  the  hill,  that 
the  Rhododendrons  and  the  Oaks  were  so  grand.  As  we  ascended 
to  the  higher  ground  the  Oaks  became  •  poorer,  and  the  Rhododen¬ 
drons  ceased  entirely  ere  the  brow  was  reached.  In  places  beneath  the 
trees  bracken  luxuriated.  When  we  were  on  the  top  of  the  hill  we 
stopped  to  admire  two  avenues  which,  fine  though  they  undoubtedly 
are,  would  have  been  much  finer  had  more  space  been  allowed  when 
the  planting  was  done.  One  of  these  is  comprised  of  Copper  Beech, 
and  the  handsome  leafage  made  a  beautiful  picture,  though  it  lacked 
depth,  for  the  trees  practically  met  across  the  grass  of  the  walk.  The 
second  avenue  was  of  variegated  Sycamore,  and  as  the  growth  of 
the  trees  had  been  full  and  even  it  made  a  splendid  contrast  to  the 
Beeches  at  the  point  of  junction.  The  same  fault  with  these,  close 
planting,  was  again  all  too  plain. 
th"to.  by  Mr.  John  Moffett, 
Boston  Spa,  Yorks. 
Fig.  16.— VIEW 
IN  BRAMHAM  PARK. 
tradition  says,  ran  red  with  blood  for  thirty  hours  after  the  battle  of 
Towton  in  the  days  of  the  Wars  of  the  Roses.  Now  there  is  only  a  small 
current  with,  in  the  summer,  scarcely  strength  to  crawl  along  ;  but  in  those 
“good  old  days”  (?)  it  was,  though  never  of  great  size,  a  considerable 
stream.  Nothing  could  wear  a  more  peaceful  aspect  than  does  this 
neighbourhood  in  the  present  day.  It  was  comparatively  close  to  here, 
too,  that  the  stone  was  quarried  from  which  York  Minster  was  built, 
and  whence  all  that  is  required  for  repairing  is  still  taken.  Mr.  Clayton’s 
knowledge  of  these  interesting  facts  made  the  time  pass  quickly,  and  ere 
we  realised  it  the  five  or  six  miles  of  road  had  been  traversed,  and  we 
were  at  one  of  the  entrances  of  Bramham,  but  still  far  from  the  beauties 
we  so  much  anticipated  seeing.  Gate  after  gate  was  opened  and  shut  ere 
the  lodge  was  reached  and  we  entered  upon  the  first  examples  of  tree- 
planted  ground.  _ 
The  spectacle  that  greeted  us  was  a  most  delightful  one,  and  drew 
forth  repeated  expressions  of  admiration.  Save  for  the  handsome  Oaks  on 
every  hand,  the  avenues  of  Chestnuts  flanking  the  green  drives  that  radi¬ 
ated  from  a  common  centre,  the  eyes  were  met  by  nothing  but  huge  masses 
of  Rhododendron  ponticum.  In  one  place  there  would  be  an  immense 
clump  a  score  or  more  yards  through,  and  12  or  15  feet  in  height,  while  in 
other  -places  beneath  the  trees  single  plants  were  growing  and  flowering 
with  magnificent  freedom  and  telling  effect.  On  the  right,  on  the  left, 
From  this  point  we  commenced  to  descend  across  the  splendid  park, 
which  would  make  a  congenial  home  for  deer.  Here  and  there  were 
“  aged  Thorns,”  clothed  with  pink  and  white  flowers,  which  lent 
additional  charm  to  an  already  fair  pastoral  picture.  The  Thorns 
appear  to  have  flowered  with  the  greatest  profusion  in  many  places  this 
season,  and  the  blooms  at  Bramham  were  not  only  numerous  but  of  unusual 
size.  A  few  Oaks,  too,  were  observed,  and  very  greatly  they  varied  in 
stature.  Continuing  our  way  across  another  valley  we  recommenced 
ascending,  and  were  quickly  within  the  charge  and  at  the  home  of  the 
gardener  in  chief,  Mr.  Arthur  Freshwater,  whom  we  found  waiting 
to  show  us  the  pleasure  grounds  and  gardens  that  he  tends  so  well.  We 
had  a  short  rest,  however,  before  starting  for  “  fresh  fields  and  pastures.” 
There  is  no  mansion  of  Bramham,  it  having  been  destroyed  by  fire 
about  seventy  years  ago  and  never  rebuilt.  The  proprietor  of  this  lordly 
domain,  George  Lane  Fox,  Esq.,  resides  a  mile  or  two  away,  and  leaves 
the  ruins  of  his  former  home  to  add  interest  to  the  place.  The  lawns 
fronting  the  terrace  on  which  the  mansion  stood,  with  their  backing  of 
evergreens.  Rhododendrons,  Oaks,  and  other  trees,  are  picturesque  in 
their  simplicity,  and  would  suffer  if  beds  of  certain  shape  were  cut  out  on 
the  soft  green  grass.  It  was  necessary,  before  the  Rhododendrons  would 
thrive  in  this  position,  to  make  the  ground,  but  now  they  appear  to  be 
quite  at  home — almost  as  much  so,  indeed,  as  those  to  which  reference 
