DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20000#0046
i6
shows the original entrance courtyard on the west side of the house, and in front of this the River Wily
converted into a long canal.
Lawns now stretch up to the house on the south and east sides ; the north is devoted to the entrance
court, and on the west side is the Italian or sunken garden, laid out by the then Lady Pembroke between
1808 and 1810. Plate 16 shows a plan of this garden, and Plate 17 a view taken from the house,
looking towards the long walk, terminating in what is known as Hans Holbein's summer-house, which
was, however, designed by him for the entrance porch to the mansion. On the north and east sides of the
Italian garden is a broad terrace entered directly from the house; on the north side is a small sculpture
gallery arranged centrally with the garden, and believed to have been used in the old garden. At either
end of the terrace is a stone seat.
Around the terrace walls is a series of delightful leaden aniorini, shown in the view on Plate 17, and
to a much larger scale on Plate 19—these figures are about three feet high.
In the centre of the Italian garden is the fountain, shown on Plate 18 and also from a
measured drawing on Plate 119; it is of white marble and bronze, surmounted by a charming
little figure of a girl wringing the tresses of her hair, through which the water drips. A similar
fountain is shown in Solomon de Caux's volume, " Les Raisons des Forces mouvantes," published in
Paris in 1624 ; and it is therefore possible that the fountain may have been designed by him, but it
appears to have been partly re-made at a later date.
BOWOOD HOUSE, WILTSHIRE.
PLATES 20, 21.
OWOOD HOUSE lies surrounded by a fine old park some two miles west of Calne
and four south-east of Chippenham, in one of the prettiest parts of Wiltshire.
Formerly the estate was part of the royal manor of Pewsham, and being abundantly
stocked with deer, was much used for royal sport. James I. often hunted here, but
under the Commonwealth the estate was disafforested, and being seized by Parliament
eventually came into the possession of Sir Orlando Bridgeman. It was afterwards
purchased by John, Earl of Shelburne, father of the first Marquess of Lansdowne.
The greater part of Bowood House, including the orangery, is said to have been built from the
designs of Robert and James Adam, who took for their model the celebrated palace of the Emperor
Diocletian at Spalato. They were commenced by the Earl of Shelburne. The park and pleasure-
grounds were laid out by William, Marquess of Lansdowne.1
The house is approached from Chippenham, through an arched gateway designed by Sir Charles
Barry, by a drive two miles across the park, to the principal front on the south side ; the park also extends
round the east side of the house, while on the north are extensive kitchen gardens. The Italian Garden,
of which a plan and section are given on Plate 20, and a view on Plate 21, adjoins the house on the west.
It lies in a well-sheltered position, for the whole of the north side of the garden is occupied by the fine
orangery, which at the same time serves as an excellent screen to the stables and offices. A fine hedge
and group of trees form a boundary on the west, and on the south side the garden lies open to the park.
The garden is cleverly arranged in three levels. The higher one, on which the orangery stands, is a
1 There is an engraving dated 1768 of a design by R. Adam for a bridge in the park in imitation of an ancient aqueduct.
shows the original entrance courtyard on the west side of the house, and in front of this the River Wily
converted into a long canal.
Lawns now stretch up to the house on the south and east sides ; the north is devoted to the entrance
court, and on the west side is the Italian or sunken garden, laid out by the then Lady Pembroke between
1808 and 1810. Plate 16 shows a plan of this garden, and Plate 17 a view taken from the house,
looking towards the long walk, terminating in what is known as Hans Holbein's summer-house, which
was, however, designed by him for the entrance porch to the mansion. On the north and east sides of the
Italian garden is a broad terrace entered directly from the house; on the north side is a small sculpture
gallery arranged centrally with the garden, and believed to have been used in the old garden. At either
end of the terrace is a stone seat.
Around the terrace walls is a series of delightful leaden aniorini, shown in the view on Plate 17, and
to a much larger scale on Plate 19—these figures are about three feet high.
In the centre of the Italian garden is the fountain, shown on Plate 18 and also from a
measured drawing on Plate 119; it is of white marble and bronze, surmounted by a charming
little figure of a girl wringing the tresses of her hair, through which the water drips. A similar
fountain is shown in Solomon de Caux's volume, " Les Raisons des Forces mouvantes," published in
Paris in 1624 ; and it is therefore possible that the fountain may have been designed by him, but it
appears to have been partly re-made at a later date.
BOWOOD HOUSE, WILTSHIRE.
PLATES 20, 21.
OWOOD HOUSE lies surrounded by a fine old park some two miles west of Calne
and four south-east of Chippenham, in one of the prettiest parts of Wiltshire.
Formerly the estate was part of the royal manor of Pewsham, and being abundantly
stocked with deer, was much used for royal sport. James I. often hunted here, but
under the Commonwealth the estate was disafforested, and being seized by Parliament
eventually came into the possession of Sir Orlando Bridgeman. It was afterwards
purchased by John, Earl of Shelburne, father of the first Marquess of Lansdowne.
The greater part of Bowood House, including the orangery, is said to have been built from the
designs of Robert and James Adam, who took for their model the celebrated palace of the Emperor
Diocletian at Spalato. They were commenced by the Earl of Shelburne. The park and pleasure-
grounds were laid out by William, Marquess of Lansdowne.1
The house is approached from Chippenham, through an arched gateway designed by Sir Charles
Barry, by a drive two miles across the park, to the principal front on the south side ; the park also extends
round the east side of the house, while on the north are extensive kitchen gardens. The Italian Garden,
of which a plan and section are given on Plate 20, and a view on Plate 21, adjoins the house on the west.
It lies in a well-sheltered position, for the whole of the north side of the garden is occupied by the fine
orangery, which at the same time serves as an excellent screen to the stables and offices. A fine hedge
and group of trees form a boundary on the west, and on the south side the garden lies open to the park.
The garden is cleverly arranged in three levels. The higher one, on which the orangery stands, is a
1 There is an engraving dated 1768 of a design by R. Adam for a bridge in the park in imitation of an ancient aqueduct.