International studio (17.1902)

The Garden at Tigbourne Court

one of the garden’s most distinctive and helpful
features.

A quantity of overcrowded shrubs was removed
from a middle space, which was carefully levelled
for a tennis lawn, steps of the local Bargate stone
being placed above and below to give access both
to the lower level leading to the end of the orchard,
and to the upper level where the double flower
border comes on the upper portion of the ground,
on a level with the new house and at right angles
to the longer axis of the lawn. Where the flower
border is now situated, there were some crowded
and somewhat unsightly rows of conifers. The
removal of these was a great gain to the garden,
for it opened up an excellent view of the northern
wooded hill.

The steps come very happily above and below
the lawn. The inward curve of the upper steps
and outward curve of the lower, convert the lowest
step but one into a circular landing with a very
good effect. These sets of steps with the stone
seats in the flower border above and the pergola,
were designed by the architect of the new house,

Mr. Edwin Lutyens. The house is of Bargate
stone, with brick quoins and moulded mullions of
specially made brickwork. The general style of
the house is that of the older buildings of the
country.

The orchard was thoroughly drained and levelled;
the badly-cankered fruit trees removed, and those
that showed most promise retained. The side of
the house shown in the illustration looks into the
orchard across a small space of grass entirely cleared
of the crowded trees. From the terrace steps a
wide green walk is kept mown, the rougher grass
on either side being planted with daffodils and
other spring flowers. The effect obtained by this
arrangement is extremely pleasant and satis-
fying.

The pergola, with its alternately round and
square piers of specially-made thin, tile-like bricks,
is planted with vines and rambling roses. It
leads from the eastern angle of the terrace to the
tennis lawn, and its position in the garden adds
considerably to the general effect of the whole
scheme.

VIEW ACROSS THE TENNIS LAWN AT TIGBOURNE COURT, SURREY

PLANNED BY MISS JEKYLL

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