DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20000#0053
23
the River Thames to the entrance on the Kingston Road, known as the " Flower-pot" gate, where stands
the beautiful stone gateway designed by Sir Christopher Wren about 1699. A view of this is shown on
Plate 36, and in the measured drawing on Plate 37. It is of Portland stone, handsomely carved with
circular alcoves on either side of the piers, and shields containing the Royal Arms above. The piers are
surmounted by leaden groups of boys supporting baskets of fruit and flowers, modelled by Van Noste.
Along the entire length of the Broad Walk, and continued at right angles past the " Flower-pot"
gate, is the brick wall shown in elevation on Plate 37. This has brick and stone piers at intervals of a
few feet, and the tone of the old brickwork forms a delightful background to the brilliant masses of colour
in the flower border. This wall terminates the lime avenue and the canal, which in its turn forms the
boundary of the gardens on the eastern side of the palace. It is interesting to note that the soil
excavated in constructing the canal was used in the formation of the terraces on which the avenues were
planted by Charles II. The gardens thus enclosed include the great semicircular Fountain Garden and
the two long wings on either side, laid out with flower-beds, whose gorgeous colours are well set off by
the sombre green of the old yews, which, trimmed into various shapes, once formed points in the design
of the great parterre.
Along the river front is the grand terrace, nearly half a mile in length, leading past some fine iron
gates to the bowling-green and pavilion.
On the south front of the palace is the present Privy Garden, a very good idea of which may be
obtained from the view on Plate 34, taken from the upper storey of the palace. The garden is now
principally laid out with evergreen trees and flowering shrubs, with intervening grass walks and many
delightfully cool retreats for hot summer days. In the centre is a large fountain pond, and on either
side are terraces, raised with the soil excavated from the garden, for there was no fall in the land to give
the change in level, as desired. The east terrace overlooks the Broad Walk, and on the west is Queen
Mary's Bower.
The boundary wall of the Privy Garden on this side forms the division between the public gardens
and those still retained by the Crown. The latter consist principally of three enclosed oblong spaces :
the first, next Queen Mary's Bower, being all orchard garden ; the next, the interesting old pond garden,
shown on Plate 35, enclosed by low brick walls. The gateways in the wall on either side, shown in
Kip's view, still remain, but are no longer in use. Plate 35 also shows the Banqueting House, standing
in a small garden of its own, overlooking the river. It was built by King William III., and here he
was wont to come and spend many leisure hours. Not far away is the vinery, with its celebrated vine
planted in 1769, and adjoining is the greenhouse with a long garden plot in front.
On the northern side of the palace buildings is the old melon ground, now used chiefly for glass-
houses, and between this and the Kingston Road is the Wilderness, occupying the site of the orchards of
Tudor days. It is still arranged on very similar lines to its original plan, except that there were formerly
two semicircular labyrinths quite close to the Maze, known as "Troy Town." The Maze occupies a
triangular space in the north-west angle; it has hedges of hornbeam, and is one of the finest examples
in existence, the walks amounting altogether to nearly half a mile in length. Close to the Maze are the
Lion Gates, so called from the lions surmounting their handsome piers. They were erected in 1714,
but the gates, which appear dwarfed by the large proportion of the piers, were added at a later date.
On the whole the disposition of the gardens surrounding Hampton Court must be regarded as a
most masterly conception, which can hardly be equalled by any in the kingdom, and it is to be hoped
that in future generations those in authority will endeavour to keep up their old characteristics rather
than alter their appearance as fashion in gardening may change.
E
the River Thames to the entrance on the Kingston Road, known as the " Flower-pot" gate, where stands
the beautiful stone gateway designed by Sir Christopher Wren about 1699. A view of this is shown on
Plate 36, and in the measured drawing on Plate 37. It is of Portland stone, handsomely carved with
circular alcoves on either side of the piers, and shields containing the Royal Arms above. The piers are
surmounted by leaden groups of boys supporting baskets of fruit and flowers, modelled by Van Noste.
Along the entire length of the Broad Walk, and continued at right angles past the " Flower-pot"
gate, is the brick wall shown in elevation on Plate 37. This has brick and stone piers at intervals of a
few feet, and the tone of the old brickwork forms a delightful background to the brilliant masses of colour
in the flower border. This wall terminates the lime avenue and the canal, which in its turn forms the
boundary of the gardens on the eastern side of the palace. It is interesting to note that the soil
excavated in constructing the canal was used in the formation of the terraces on which the avenues were
planted by Charles II. The gardens thus enclosed include the great semicircular Fountain Garden and
the two long wings on either side, laid out with flower-beds, whose gorgeous colours are well set off by
the sombre green of the old yews, which, trimmed into various shapes, once formed points in the design
of the great parterre.
Along the river front is the grand terrace, nearly half a mile in length, leading past some fine iron
gates to the bowling-green and pavilion.
On the south front of the palace is the present Privy Garden, a very good idea of which may be
obtained from the view on Plate 34, taken from the upper storey of the palace. The garden is now
principally laid out with evergreen trees and flowering shrubs, with intervening grass walks and many
delightfully cool retreats for hot summer days. In the centre is a large fountain pond, and on either
side are terraces, raised with the soil excavated from the garden, for there was no fall in the land to give
the change in level, as desired. The east terrace overlooks the Broad Walk, and on the west is Queen
Mary's Bower.
The boundary wall of the Privy Garden on this side forms the division between the public gardens
and those still retained by the Crown. The latter consist principally of three enclosed oblong spaces :
the first, next Queen Mary's Bower, being all orchard garden ; the next, the interesting old pond garden,
shown on Plate 35, enclosed by low brick walls. The gateways in the wall on either side, shown in
Kip's view, still remain, but are no longer in use. Plate 35 also shows the Banqueting House, standing
in a small garden of its own, overlooking the river. It was built by King William III., and here he
was wont to come and spend many leisure hours. Not far away is the vinery, with its celebrated vine
planted in 1769, and adjoining is the greenhouse with a long garden plot in front.
On the northern side of the palace buildings is the old melon ground, now used chiefly for glass-
houses, and between this and the Kingston Road is the Wilderness, occupying the site of the orchards of
Tudor days. It is still arranged on very similar lines to its original plan, except that there were formerly
two semicircular labyrinths quite close to the Maze, known as "Troy Town." The Maze occupies a
triangular space in the north-west angle; it has hedges of hornbeam, and is one of the finest examples
in existence, the walks amounting altogether to nearly half a mile in length. Close to the Maze are the
Lion Gates, so called from the lions surmounting their handsome piers. They were erected in 1714,
but the gates, which appear dwarfed by the large proportion of the piers, were added at a later date.
On the whole the disposition of the gardens surrounding Hampton Court must be regarded as a
most masterly conception, which can hardly be equalled by any in the kingdom, and it is to be hoped
that in future generations those in authority will endeavour to keep up their old characteristics rather
than alter their appearance as fashion in gardening may change.
E