DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.67417#0197
THE GARDENS
153
Caroline, who removed the fountains and flower-
beds of scroll-work and lace patterns, and took
away the stone flights of steps, being of Walpole’s
opinion that it is ridiculous to go up and down
stairs in the open air. Last of all came Lancelot,
nicknamed Capability Brown, because he never
ceased talking of the “ capabilities ” of the grounds
which he took in hand. He was appointed head
gardener by George II. in 1750, but, to his credit
be it said, refused to alter the gardens at Hampton
Court, out of respect to his profession.
Each age in turn has left its mark upon the
palace gardens, and fortunately for us each genera-
tion has, as a rule, respected the work of its fore-
fathers. Accordingly, there are few places where
the history of English gardening can be better
studied than at Hampton Court. Much, of course,
has perished in the march of centuries. The
Cardinal’s arbours, and the Mount with its rose-
mary hedges and winding paths, have been swept
away; but one relic of Tudor days remains in the
charming old Pond Yard or Garden, laid out by
Henry VIII. between the south front of Wolsey’s
palace and the river. Here we may still see the
sunk flower-garden, with the fountain playing in the
round pond, divided into formal beds and straight
walks by low stone walls, with the bases of the
piers that once supported the King’s beasts—“ four
dragons, six lions, five grey-hounds, five harts, and
foure unicornes.” Flowering creepers trail over
the walls and hedges ; tall purple and white iris,
blue violas and campanulas, mingle with the roses
153
Caroline, who removed the fountains and flower-
beds of scroll-work and lace patterns, and took
away the stone flights of steps, being of Walpole’s
opinion that it is ridiculous to go up and down
stairs in the open air. Last of all came Lancelot,
nicknamed Capability Brown, because he never
ceased talking of the “ capabilities ” of the grounds
which he took in hand. He was appointed head
gardener by George II. in 1750, but, to his credit
be it said, refused to alter the gardens at Hampton
Court, out of respect to his profession.
Each age in turn has left its mark upon the
palace gardens, and fortunately for us each genera-
tion has, as a rule, respected the work of its fore-
fathers. Accordingly, there are few places where
the history of English gardening can be better
studied than at Hampton Court. Much, of course,
has perished in the march of centuries. The
Cardinal’s arbours, and the Mount with its rose-
mary hedges and winding paths, have been swept
away; but one relic of Tudor days remains in the
charming old Pond Yard or Garden, laid out by
Henry VIII. between the south front of Wolsey’s
palace and the river. Here we may still see the
sunk flower-garden, with the fountain playing in the
round pond, divided into formal beds and straight
walks by low stone walls, with the bases of the
piers that once supported the King’s beasts—“ four
dragons, six lions, five grey-hounds, five harts, and
foure unicornes.” Flowering creepers trail over
the walls and hedges ; tall purple and white iris,
blue violas and campanulas, mingle with the roses