DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20000#0031
FORMAL GARDENS
IN
ENGLAND and SCOTLAND
AN HISTORICAL NOTE.
HE History of the Formal Garden in England is one of continuous and gradual
growth, from the earliest mediaeval period to the close of the seventeenth century, and
in this " Note " an endeavour is made to trace, as briefly as may be, the story of its origin
and development. Those who desire fuller information should consult "The Praise of
Gardens," by A. Forbes Sieveking; "Garden Craft Old and New," by John D. Sedding;
"The Formal Garden in England," by Reginald Blomfield, M.A., and F. Inigo Thomas ;
"A History of Gardening in England," by the Hon. Alicia Amherst; and some of the
early writers on the subject, of which a very complete list will be found in the last mentioned.
Of the garden in the Middle Ages there are no examples extant, but, fortunately, illuminated manu-
scripts and paintings of the period give us some impression of their arrangement. The garden was in those
days regarded chiefly as a place wherein to grow herbs, vegetables and plants for medicinal purposes ; few
feudal castles had within their precincts sufficient space for pleasure gardens, and indeed a garden for pleasure
was quite a secondary consideration.
There was sometimes a small "ladies" garden, usually consisting of a square enclosure surrounded by high
walls or thick hedges, and opening directly off the buildings. This quaint plot was in the first instance
designed as a place of rest, away from the troubles and cares of the world without, and was often surrounded
by a bank of earth turfed to form a comfortable seat, or used as a flower-bed, the front built up of brick or
stone, with here and there a raised mound, which developing later into the "Mount" became an important
feature in garden design. Such a garden would also contain its arbour in some sheltered position, carefully
screened from curious eyes, with perhaps a fountain and certainly a cistern or wells for watering.
In the early part of the Norman Dynasty gardens were practically what we now call orchards, although
few fruit trees were known in England at this period. But near the castles and monasteries a small enclosure
surrounded by lofty walls was reserved for the ladies, or for the Abbot, and this was filled with roses or other
fragrant plants. An interesting garden of the late fifteenth century, shown in the Flemish manuscript of the
" Roman de la Rose," is divided into several enclosures, bounded either by stone embattled walls or by a
fence of light trellis-work. In the centre of one of these enclosures is a fountain of elaborate design, from
which the water runs into a small canal circulating through the garden.
A garden was an important adjunct to every monastery, and often, as in the case of Canterbury, attained
to considerable dimensions. The art of horticulture was indeed principally practised amongst the monastic
orders, whose travelled brethren introduced many foreign plants into this country. As vegetables formed the
principal daily food of the inmates, the greater portion of the garden was devoted to their cultivation. There
would also be some acres of orchard or "Pomerium," a vineyard and a herb garden, wherein were grown
the herbs used as medicines.
B
IN
ENGLAND and SCOTLAND
AN HISTORICAL NOTE.
HE History of the Formal Garden in England is one of continuous and gradual
growth, from the earliest mediaeval period to the close of the seventeenth century, and
in this " Note " an endeavour is made to trace, as briefly as may be, the story of its origin
and development. Those who desire fuller information should consult "The Praise of
Gardens," by A. Forbes Sieveking; "Garden Craft Old and New," by John D. Sedding;
"The Formal Garden in England," by Reginald Blomfield, M.A., and F. Inigo Thomas ;
"A History of Gardening in England," by the Hon. Alicia Amherst; and some of the
early writers on the subject, of which a very complete list will be found in the last mentioned.
Of the garden in the Middle Ages there are no examples extant, but, fortunately, illuminated manu-
scripts and paintings of the period give us some impression of their arrangement. The garden was in those
days regarded chiefly as a place wherein to grow herbs, vegetables and plants for medicinal purposes ; few
feudal castles had within their precincts sufficient space for pleasure gardens, and indeed a garden for pleasure
was quite a secondary consideration.
There was sometimes a small "ladies" garden, usually consisting of a square enclosure surrounded by high
walls or thick hedges, and opening directly off the buildings. This quaint plot was in the first instance
designed as a place of rest, away from the troubles and cares of the world without, and was often surrounded
by a bank of earth turfed to form a comfortable seat, or used as a flower-bed, the front built up of brick or
stone, with here and there a raised mound, which developing later into the "Mount" became an important
feature in garden design. Such a garden would also contain its arbour in some sheltered position, carefully
screened from curious eyes, with perhaps a fountain and certainly a cistern or wells for watering.
In the early part of the Norman Dynasty gardens were practically what we now call orchards, although
few fruit trees were known in England at this period. But near the castles and monasteries a small enclosure
surrounded by lofty walls was reserved for the ladies, or for the Abbot, and this was filled with roses or other
fragrant plants. An interesting garden of the late fifteenth century, shown in the Flemish manuscript of the
" Roman de la Rose," is divided into several enclosures, bounded either by stone embattled walls or by a
fence of light trellis-work. In the centre of one of these enclosures is a fountain of elaborate design, from
which the water runs into a small canal circulating through the garden.
A garden was an important adjunct to every monastery, and often, as in the case of Canterbury, attained
to considerable dimensions. The art of horticulture was indeed principally practised amongst the monastic
orders, whose travelled brethren introduced many foreign plants into this country. As vegetables formed the
principal daily food of the inmates, the greater portion of the garden was devoted to their cultivation. There
would also be some acres of orchard or "Pomerium," a vineyard and a herb garden, wherein were grown
the herbs used as medicines.
B