Gunnersbury House, says Mr. Falkner, is a handsome specimen of the
Tuscan order. The South front is 126 feet long, and consists of a
centre and wings; the former is three stories high, and the latter two
stories. The north front is of the same dimensions, but of more simple
construction; it is ornamented with a grand portico with four columns
of the Tuscan order; the whole front consisting of three stories. The
east end is 60 feet wide, and is divided into two large and splendid
bow windows, and is used as a conservatory. The terrace in front of
the house is bordered by a dwarf wall and stone coping, and ornamented
with vases. At the east end of this terrace is an alcove, in which is
placed a statue of Apollo. The west end is bounded by an architectural
archway, leading to the gardens. On the west is a handsome temple of
the Tuscan order, supported by two pilasters and two columns. On the
tympanum of the pediment is a shield with foliage. The interior is
chastely arranged, and beautifully furnished with Chinese vases,
antique chairs, &c., and the walls are ornamented with bas reliefs,
representing the most striking scenes taken from the history of
Greece. From the south front of this temple is obtained an extensive
view of the surrounding country including Kew Gardens, and the Surrey
Hills in the distance. This spot is the most elevated part of the
grounds, as well as the most beautiful, and is further ornamented with
a circular piece of water, consisting of about two acres. This part of
the garden shows evident marks of the hand of Kent, who was employed
by Mr. Turner for the purpose of embellishing the grounds and
improving the landscape. A row of cedar trees here raise their
majestic heads, and are greatly admired. The Italian garden at the
back of the Temple is embellished with eight figures on sand-stone of
Burns’s “Jolly Beggars,” admirably executed by Thoms.
On the edge of Ealing Common stands The Grove, which, in the later
part of the seventeenth century, was occupied by Sir William Trumbull,
the friend of Pope, and Secretary of State to William III. Pope wrote
his epitaph:
A pleasing form, a firm, yet cautious mind;
Sincere, though prudent; constant, yet resign’d,
Honour unchang’d, a principle profest,
Fix’d to one side, but mod’rate to the rest,
An honest courtier, yet a patriot too;
Just to his prince, and to his country true;
Fill’d with the sense of age, the fire of youth,
A scorn of wrangling, yet a zeal for truth.
A gen’rous faith, from superstition free,
A love to peace, and hate of tyranny;
Such this man was, who now, from earth remov’d,
At length enjoys the liberty he lov’d.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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