DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.49977#0235
CHAPTER X.
GARDENING UNDER WILLIAM AND MARY.
“ When lavish art her costly work had done,
The honour and the prize of bravery
Was by the garden from the Palace won.”
Cowley.
A GOOD idea of the number of gardens existing in England
in the time of William and Mary may be gathered
from the diary of Celia Fiennes,* who travelled on horseback
through the country. In every county, and at almost every
stage of her journey, she mentions or describes some garden
more or less notable. The fountains, or “waterworks,” were
perhaps the most characteristic feature in the larger gardens,
and of these she gives many elaborate descriptions. At
Chatsworth there were fountains innumerable, one a willow
tree “which rains from each leaf,” and there is one bason in
the middle “ of one garden that’s very large and by sluces
besides the images severall pipes plays out ye water: about
30 large and small pipes altogether, some fflush it up that it
ffrothes like snow.” At Wilton there was a grotto with pipes
concealed apparently all round and over the roof, which sent
forth a sort of shower bath which “ washes ye spectators.”
Again, at Bradby, Lord Chesterfield’s house, “ In one garden
there are 3 fountaines wherein stands great statues. Each
side on their pedistalls is a dial, one for ye sun, ye other a clock
wcl1 by ye water worke is moved and strikes ye hours, and
chimes ye quarters, and when they please play Lilibolaro on
ye chimes. All this I heard when I was there.”
* Through England on a side-saddle in the time of William and Mary.
1888.
GARDENING UNDER WILLIAM AND MARY.
“ When lavish art her costly work had done,
The honour and the prize of bravery
Was by the garden from the Palace won.”
Cowley.
A GOOD idea of the number of gardens existing in England
in the time of William and Mary may be gathered
from the diary of Celia Fiennes,* who travelled on horseback
through the country. In every county, and at almost every
stage of her journey, she mentions or describes some garden
more or less notable. The fountains, or “waterworks,” were
perhaps the most characteristic feature in the larger gardens,
and of these she gives many elaborate descriptions. At
Chatsworth there were fountains innumerable, one a willow
tree “which rains from each leaf,” and there is one bason in
the middle “ of one garden that’s very large and by sluces
besides the images severall pipes plays out ye water: about
30 large and small pipes altogether, some fflush it up that it
ffrothes like snow.” At Wilton there was a grotto with pipes
concealed apparently all round and over the roof, which sent
forth a sort of shower bath which “ washes ye spectators.”
Again, at Bradby, Lord Chesterfield’s house, “ In one garden
there are 3 fountaines wherein stands great statues. Each
side on their pedistalls is a dial, one for ye sun, ye other a clock
wcl1 by ye water worke is moved and strikes ye hours, and
chimes ye quarters, and when they please play Lilibolaro on
ye chimes. All this I heard when I was there.”
* Through England on a side-saddle in the time of William and Mary.
1888.