DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.20000#0082
52
existing. Similar ones, but in a ruinous condition, are to be seen at Hatton House, a few miles from
Edinburgh. In this case there is a fall in the ground and the garden-house was raised, and the
lower part used as a tool house, the structure being conveniently near the kitchen garden. Those at
Kinross House, illustrated on Plate 82, are also placed in a somewhat similar position, and with their
quaint roofs lend a picturesque air to the forecourt.
On Plate 90 are two good examples from the neighbourhood of Bath, which in all probability were
designed by the same architect. The one from Belcombe Brook is placed on a slight mound,
surrounded by water and shelters a lead figure of Perseus which is shown on this plate. The
octagonal summer-house from Iford Manor has a series of well proportioned Ionic pilasters with carved
caps. At present it is roofed with thatch, while the interior is panelled, and has a fireplace on one side.
The gazeebo was another variety of summer-house. The origin of the term is obscure, but it was
applied to those garden-houses which were built in a corner position overlooking the garden on one side
and the road on the other. A good example from Westbury Court is shown on Plate 55, and another
from Beckington on Plate 92. The latter is a small square brick building with stone quoins and a
handsome pedimented doorway. At the apex of the stone slate roof is a small finial. The other example,
on the same plate, is from the little Dutch garden at Nun Moncton near York. It is placed at the end
of a walk lined with lead figures (some of which are shown on Plate 108), and clipped yews, and its
double-domed roof is richly covered with lichen. The window on one side overlooks the trim bowling-
green, and from that on the other a picturesque corner of the River Ouse.
Although hardly coming under the designation of summer-houses, the fishing lodge and banqueting
house may here be mentioned. These were to be met with in many gardens ; one at Beckett Park near
Shrivenham, which was designed by Inigo Jones, is charmingly situated overlooking a lake, with broad
eaves overshadowing a small balcony. At Dovedale in Derbyshire is a similar building, though some-
what later in date, known as Isaac Walton's fishing-house.
Besides the garden-houses, arbours were frequently formed of clipped yew. Such a one still exists
at Canons Ashby, probably dating from the end of the seventeenth century. The example at Levens
Hall known as " The Judge's Wig" is a little later.
DOVECOTES AND PIGEON-HOUSES.
PLATES 93, 93*-
DOVECOTE or pigeon-house, also designated a columbary, was formerly considered
to be one of the most necessary of the numerous small buildings surrounding a
country house, and although, strictly speaking, it was considered as outside the range
of garden buildings, and more appertaining to the farmyard, yet occasionally it was
to be found within the garden walls, and was then frequently made a most
picturesque and appropriate addition, as is well shown on Plate 93, where an example
at Shipton Court, with its picturesque little lantern and wrought-iron weather
vane, is illustrated. At Basing House an octagonal dovecote still exists in an angle of the old garden
wall that so long withstood the siege of Cromwell's troops.
There was in those days hardly a manor-house without its columbary or pigeon-house, and pigeons
formed a very important source of food supply. The right to keep them was strictly confined to the
lords of manors, and any who infringed these rights were severely dealt with.
existing. Similar ones, but in a ruinous condition, are to be seen at Hatton House, a few miles from
Edinburgh. In this case there is a fall in the ground and the garden-house was raised, and the
lower part used as a tool house, the structure being conveniently near the kitchen garden. Those at
Kinross House, illustrated on Plate 82, are also placed in a somewhat similar position, and with their
quaint roofs lend a picturesque air to the forecourt.
On Plate 90 are two good examples from the neighbourhood of Bath, which in all probability were
designed by the same architect. The one from Belcombe Brook is placed on a slight mound,
surrounded by water and shelters a lead figure of Perseus which is shown on this plate. The
octagonal summer-house from Iford Manor has a series of well proportioned Ionic pilasters with carved
caps. At present it is roofed with thatch, while the interior is panelled, and has a fireplace on one side.
The gazeebo was another variety of summer-house. The origin of the term is obscure, but it was
applied to those garden-houses which were built in a corner position overlooking the garden on one side
and the road on the other. A good example from Westbury Court is shown on Plate 55, and another
from Beckington on Plate 92. The latter is a small square brick building with stone quoins and a
handsome pedimented doorway. At the apex of the stone slate roof is a small finial. The other example,
on the same plate, is from the little Dutch garden at Nun Moncton near York. It is placed at the end
of a walk lined with lead figures (some of which are shown on Plate 108), and clipped yews, and its
double-domed roof is richly covered with lichen. The window on one side overlooks the trim bowling-
green, and from that on the other a picturesque corner of the River Ouse.
Although hardly coming under the designation of summer-houses, the fishing lodge and banqueting
house may here be mentioned. These were to be met with in many gardens ; one at Beckett Park near
Shrivenham, which was designed by Inigo Jones, is charmingly situated overlooking a lake, with broad
eaves overshadowing a small balcony. At Dovedale in Derbyshire is a similar building, though some-
what later in date, known as Isaac Walton's fishing-house.
Besides the garden-houses, arbours were frequently formed of clipped yew. Such a one still exists
at Canons Ashby, probably dating from the end of the seventeenth century. The example at Levens
Hall known as " The Judge's Wig" is a little later.
DOVECOTES AND PIGEON-HOUSES.
PLATES 93, 93*-
DOVECOTE or pigeon-house, also designated a columbary, was formerly considered
to be one of the most necessary of the numerous small buildings surrounding a
country house, and although, strictly speaking, it was considered as outside the range
of garden buildings, and more appertaining to the farmyard, yet occasionally it was
to be found within the garden walls, and was then frequently made a most
picturesque and appropriate addition, as is well shown on Plate 93, where an example
at Shipton Court, with its picturesque little lantern and wrought-iron weather
vane, is illustrated. At Basing House an octagonal dovecote still exists in an angle of the old garden
wall that so long withstood the siege of Cromwell's troops.
There was in those days hardly a manor-house without its columbary or pigeon-house, and pigeons
formed a very important source of food supply. The right to keep them was strictly confined to the
lords of manors, and any who infringed these rights were severely dealt with.