DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.66025#0215
GARDEN ORNAMENT
197
GARDEN HOUSES AND
DOVECOTES
IT was usual for the garden of the great house to have some kind of detached
buildings, frequently at the angles of walls, where they might serve as retired places
for study or repose, or, in the case of the larger examples, as summer banqueting
houses. They were also placed at the ends of raised terraces, commanding
a view of the enclosed garden or parterre on the one hand and of the park or open
country on the other. Since the Tudor days, wflien the sumptuous garden houses
at Montacute were built, the comfort of having such places of refuge has always been
felt, and the illustrations show the many ways in which the need has been fulfilled,
for the varied buildings range from the classical temple of the 18th century to the
humble summerhouse of the modest garden. Some of the temples and pavilions
of Palladian design were intended for pure ornament, to complete and conclude a
garden or woodland vista, but for the most part they had suitable seats, or sheltered
spaces that would allow of the placing of seats and tables. Many were wholly
enclosed and had a fireplace and windows. Comfortable lighting is often
forgotten when summerhouses are built, but it is just the provision of proper
light that makes them available for reading or any such purpose. If it is not attended
to the use of the place is wastefully restricted. Often an open summerhouse has the
light from the entrance only ; there should always be a side light ; if it is an enclosed
building and there is a fireplace, the light should be on the left side as the sitter faces
the fire. The better design of garden houses has of late been carefully considered
by architects, especially now that many people desire to have a dining room partly
in the open air.
In the old days when pigeons were depended on as a source of food, and large
ssocks were kept, the pigeon house took its place in the garden design. Some of these,
either circular or rectangular in plan, occur at the angles of garden walls, but others
are quite detached and are buildings of some importance. There are also to be
occasionally seen in old gardens interesting shelters for bee-hives, usually structures
of wood, straw-thatched, though one example shown is of solid masonry.
197
GARDEN HOUSES AND
DOVECOTES
IT was usual for the garden of the great house to have some kind of detached
buildings, frequently at the angles of walls, where they might serve as retired places
for study or repose, or, in the case of the larger examples, as summer banqueting
houses. They were also placed at the ends of raised terraces, commanding
a view of the enclosed garden or parterre on the one hand and of the park or open
country on the other. Since the Tudor days, wflien the sumptuous garden houses
at Montacute were built, the comfort of having such places of refuge has always been
felt, and the illustrations show the many ways in which the need has been fulfilled,
for the varied buildings range from the classical temple of the 18th century to the
humble summerhouse of the modest garden. Some of the temples and pavilions
of Palladian design were intended for pure ornament, to complete and conclude a
garden or woodland vista, but for the most part they had suitable seats, or sheltered
spaces that would allow of the placing of seats and tables. Many were wholly
enclosed and had a fireplace and windows. Comfortable lighting is often
forgotten when summerhouses are built, but it is just the provision of proper
light that makes them available for reading or any such purpose. If it is not attended
to the use of the place is wastefully restricted. Often an open summerhouse has the
light from the entrance only ; there should always be a side light ; if it is an enclosed
building and there is a fireplace, the light should be on the left side as the sitter faces
the fire. The better design of garden houses has of late been carefully considered
by architects, especially now that many people desire to have a dining room partly
in the open air.
In the old days when pigeons were depended on as a source of food, and large
ssocks were kept, the pigeon house took its place in the garden design. Some of these,
either circular or rectangular in plan, occur at the angles of garden walls, but others
are quite detached and are buildings of some importance. There are also to be
occasionally seen in old gardens interesting shelters for bee-hives, usually structures
of wood, straw-thatched, though one example shown is of solid masonry.