DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.19747#0065
No. III.
LAUREL HILL.
HHHOUGH not possessing so great a variety of hill and dale as the ornamented grounds at
Chalk Lodge, yet the sixteen acres at Laurel Hill are not without their beauties. In
decorating this little spot, the want of water is a disadvantage scarcely to be overcome; but a large
river, rolling its stream through the valley beneath the house, and whose ssiores are covered with
pendent woods, reaching almost to the Hill itself, unites with the grounds. This place resem-
bles Fairsield in the necessity for external objects; the rich view, 'consequently, takes the lead in
the scale of approbation: no circumstance, however, has been omitted to heighten every
beauty; to attain which, simplicity has been invariably consulted, and this will prove that
there is Icarcely any spot so devoid of natural advantages (although with Laurel Hill it may be
deshtute os water) as not to become interesting, from a consident arrangement of its different
parts.
The house is placed on an elevation os ten feet, and, contrary to the two preceding plans, near
the road, which in this place taking a gentle curve, displeases not by its form, and presents an
ever-moving picture to the eye. The ground from the dwelling has a gentle ascent up an hill by
the road-lide, and terminates in a tongue of land happily calculated sor a plantation; which
forming a gentle wave, presents, from the mansion, the appearance of a large wood : the decep-
tion is not a little heightened by the grove behind the house taking nearly a similar form, and ap-
pearing to unite with the other, whilst the lawn itself, winding between the two, is carried out of
sight. At the lower extremity os the ground another point of land projects: the kitchen-garden
is placed on this spot, as being more retired, and is hid by a surrounding plantation, which
not only screens it from view, but affords a pleasing objedt by its semicircular form from the house
itself.
Having given variety by the irregularity of the enclofures, and the waving appearance of
the woods; the walks and appropriate buildings fall next under consideration. In a small
shrubbery dividing one of the little sields behind the offices, which, with every offensive
objedt, are completely hid by trees, is situated a rustic lodge (<•/), to which, from the house,
the path conducts—it proceeds through a small enclosure bounded on the left by the planta-
tions before alluded to, screening the stables from the eye, and passes by a tuft of trees; an
hedge draws this enclosure to a point. Pursuing the walk which leads to it, a small gate opens
on a plat of green turf, whereon, embosomed in woods, is the 1 emple of Friendship («■) : every
objedt here is social and retired—the ground rises in front, which, with a few trees, orna-
mented with a limple urn, cannot fail to please. On the right the path descends by an hedge
into a deep recess, surrounded by the wood that skirts the upper part of the lawn. In this
dell is placed an hermitage (/): everything is congenial—the cliff, hollowed into cells, over
which the wild ivy luxuriantly creeps—roots of trees hanging from above—Hoping grounds
opposite, covered with the tall elm and native ssowering shrubs, arrest the mind, and lead it
to conclude that this is one of Nature’s favourite spots; nor, although informed, scarcely can
the imagination conceive a Ample deserted chalk-pit could be thus improved. From the
hermitage the path has a gentle and almost imperceptible ascent; chalk rocks on one side,
rising above the earth, and baring their naked fronts to the beating storms, or covered partially
by trees and ssirubs; on the other, the Hoping ground lessens by degrees, until arriving at the
Temple of Concord (g), it at once displays one of the most enchanting views imagination can
conceive.
C
Rocksj
LAUREL HILL.
HHHOUGH not possessing so great a variety of hill and dale as the ornamented grounds at
Chalk Lodge, yet the sixteen acres at Laurel Hill are not without their beauties. In
decorating this little spot, the want of water is a disadvantage scarcely to be overcome; but a large
river, rolling its stream through the valley beneath the house, and whose ssiores are covered with
pendent woods, reaching almost to the Hill itself, unites with the grounds. This place resem-
bles Fairsield in the necessity for external objects; the rich view, 'consequently, takes the lead in
the scale of approbation: no circumstance, however, has been omitted to heighten every
beauty; to attain which, simplicity has been invariably consulted, and this will prove that
there is Icarcely any spot so devoid of natural advantages (although with Laurel Hill it may be
deshtute os water) as not to become interesting, from a consident arrangement of its different
parts.
The house is placed on an elevation os ten feet, and, contrary to the two preceding plans, near
the road, which in this place taking a gentle curve, displeases not by its form, and presents an
ever-moving picture to the eye. The ground from the dwelling has a gentle ascent up an hill by
the road-lide, and terminates in a tongue of land happily calculated sor a plantation; which
forming a gentle wave, presents, from the mansion, the appearance of a large wood : the decep-
tion is not a little heightened by the grove behind the house taking nearly a similar form, and ap-
pearing to unite with the other, whilst the lawn itself, winding between the two, is carried out of
sight. At the lower extremity os the ground another point of land projects: the kitchen-garden
is placed on this spot, as being more retired, and is hid by a surrounding plantation, which
not only screens it from view, but affords a pleasing objedt by its semicircular form from the house
itself.
Having given variety by the irregularity of the enclofures, and the waving appearance of
the woods; the walks and appropriate buildings fall next under consideration. In a small
shrubbery dividing one of the little sields behind the offices, which, with every offensive
objedt, are completely hid by trees, is situated a rustic lodge (<•/), to which, from the house,
the path conducts—it proceeds through a small enclosure bounded on the left by the planta-
tions before alluded to, screening the stables from the eye, and passes by a tuft of trees; an
hedge draws this enclosure to a point. Pursuing the walk which leads to it, a small gate opens
on a plat of green turf, whereon, embosomed in woods, is the 1 emple of Friendship («■) : every
objedt here is social and retired—the ground rises in front, which, with a few trees, orna-
mented with a limple urn, cannot fail to please. On the right the path descends by an hedge
into a deep recess, surrounded by the wood that skirts the upper part of the lawn. In this
dell is placed an hermitage (/): everything is congenial—the cliff, hollowed into cells, over
which the wild ivy luxuriantly creeps—roots of trees hanging from above—Hoping grounds
opposite, covered with the tall elm and native ssowering shrubs, arrest the mind, and lead it
to conclude that this is one of Nature’s favourite spots; nor, although informed, scarcely can
the imagination conceive a Ample deserted chalk-pit could be thus improved. From the
hermitage the path has a gentle and almost imperceptible ascent; chalk rocks on one side,
rising above the earth, and baring their naked fronts to the beating storms, or covered partially
by trees and ssirubs; on the other, the Hoping ground lessens by degrees, until arriving at the
Temple of Concord (g), it at once displays one of the most enchanting views imagination can
conceive.
C
Rocksj