55 
JOURNAL  OF  HORT [CULTURE  AND  vOTT AGE  GARDENER. 
December  20,  1900. 
Aldenliam  House . 
In  these  days,  when  so  many  establishments  once  nobly  maintained 
have  had,  by  reason  of  the  depreciation  of  land  values,  to  be  reduced 
in  I  heir  woikiug  expenditure,  it  is  good  to  know  that  there  still  remain 
several  in  which  the  love  of  the  garden  keeps  pace  with  the  affluence 
of  its  owtere.  Amongst  the  foremost  of  these  ranks  Aldenhani  House, 
the  residence  of  Lord  Aldenham,  whose  interest  in  the  garden  and  its 
rccupin's  grows  with  the  roll  cf  years.  There  can  be  no  mistaking 
the  excellence  of  the  up-keep  of  Aldenham  Gardens,  it  is  apparent  in 
the  tiees,  the  shrubs,  the  pleasure  grounds,  the  flower  gardens,  the 
glass  department,  the  vegetable  quarters,  the  lawns,  and  even  in  the 
condition  of  its  miles  of  grass  and  other  walks.  There  is  a  quality 
heie  that  upholds  the  reputation  of  the  gardens  abroad  as  well  as 
at  home,  for  when  an  exhibit  goes  thence  to  any  exhibition  it  is 
sure  to  be  the  cynosure  of  all  those  that  see  and  understand  the 
a  period  of  upwards  of  a  dozen  years  the  work  of  alteration  has 
been  in  constant  progress,  and  the  art  of  man  has  unquestionably 
beautified  and  improved  the  face  of  nature.  All  is  not  yet  done,  but 
that  which  remains  may  be  regarded  as  the  finishing  touches  to  an 
almost  completed  picture.  The  gardens  and  grounds  of  to-day  extend 
far  beyond  boundaries  of  olden  times,  and  in  their  formation  the  most 
skilful  use  has  been  made  of  any  natural  features  that  were  at  command. 
The  Lakes  and  Bathing  Pond. 
The  streams,  Lily  ponds,  and  lakes  on  this  estate  are  very  attractive 
by  reason  of  the  remarkable  selection  of  plants  with  which  their 
margins  and  other  points  of  vantage  have  been  stocked.  The  stream, 
which  finds  its  tortuous  way  through  the  home  pleasure  gardens,  has 
upon  its  banks  a  charmingly  varied  collection  of  plants,  shrubs,  and 
trees,  utilised  in  such  a  skilful  manner  as  to  present  fresh  points  of 
interest  at  every  turn.  The  series  of  ponds,  in  which  Lilies  and  various 
other  water  plants  have  found  a  congenial  home,  will  eventually  become 
one  of  the  greatest  charms  of  the  gardens,  and  will  be  the  continual 
Fig.  143.— aldenham  HOCTSE— THE  BATHING  POND. 
useful  as  well  as  the  beautiful  in  plant  life.  The  hand  of  time  has 
touched  his  Lordship,  perhaps,  but  day  by  day  his  keenness  of  perception 
remains  to  grasp  the  significance  of  any  well  defined  scheme  that  has 
for  its  object  the  further  adornment  of  his  beautiful  home.  In  this 
direction  he  is  supported  by  his  son,  the  Honourable  Mr.  Vicary  Gibbs, 
M.P.,  whose  younger  mind  eagerly  imbibes  the  charm  of  this  tree,  or 
the  striking  loveliness  of  yonder  flowering  shrub.  This  gentleman’s 
interest  manifests  itself  in  his  wide  knowledge  of  horticulture  and  his 
familiarity  with  tree  and  shrub  life  in  its  most  varied  phases. 
The  Art  of  Garden  Making. 
Aldenham  Gardens  are  an  excellent  illustration  of  what  Professor 
L.  H.  Bailey,  the  great  American  scientist,  would  probably  define  as 
“  the  art  of  garden  making,”  for  they  have  sprung  from  almost  quite 
flat  meadows  into  undulating  lawns  and  gardens,  with  streams  and 
lakes,  cosy  secluded  nooks,  and  an  almost  idealio  air  of  nature.  These 
results  have  been  the  work  of  time,  and  for  nearly  a  score  of  years 
Mr.  Edwin  Beckett  has  laboured  in  the  making  of  Aldenham  Gardens, 
which  will  remain  as  a  monument  to  the  excellent  taste  and  skill  of 
Lord  Aldenham  and  the  persistent  energy  of  this  capable  gardener.  For 
resort  of  all  those  visitors  who  are  lovers  of  this  type  of  floral  beauty. 
The  old  mansion  of  Aldenham  occupied  a  position  close  by  these  ponds, 
which  have  been  formed  over  the  exact  foundations  of  those  shown  in 
ancient  plans.  The  disadvantage  of  being  without  a  lake  suitable  for 
bathing  became  so  keenly  apparent  that  at  last  one  was  made  in  what 
was  undoubtedly  the  most  suitable  position  in  the  grounds.  The  work 
was  entrusted  to  Messrs.  Pulham  &  Son,  and  some  idea  of  its  character 
may  be  gleaned  from  the  accompanying  photographic  illustration.  Its 
banks  have  been  effectively  clothed,  and  in  the  course  of  a  very  few 
years  it  will  become  absolutely  private  and  secluded.  In  addition  to 
these  water  scenes  there  is  a  very  extensive  lake — or,  rather,  series  of 
lakes — some  three-quarters  of  a  mile  from  the  bouse,  and  these,  to 
render  them  more  attractive,  have  been  altered  and  had  their  banks 
stocked  with  forest  and  flowering  trees,  as  well  as  a  splendid  selection 
of  evergreen  and  flowering  shrubs. 
The  Pleasure  Grounds. 
The  pleasure  grounds,  as  is  customary,  abut  upon  the  more  formal 
gardens,  and  as  they  are  almost  wholly  artificial,  they  improve  in  effect 
year  by  year.  A  great  feature,  and  a  most  excellent  one,  has  been 
