The Stately Homes of EnglandJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The Stately Homes of England
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Historic buildings -- England
Chatsworth Park and grounds, from the Baslow Lodge on the north to
Edensor Mill Lodge on the south, and from the East Moor on the east to
Holme Wood on the west, are somewhere about ten miles in circumference,
and comprise an area, in round numbers, of about 1,200 acres; and it
would be difficult to find anywhere, in the same space, so great
a variety of scenery ranging from the purely sylvan to the wildly
romantic, and from the luxuriant wood to the rugged and barren rock,
where beauties of one kind or other crowd together so thickly, or where
such a charming alternation from one phase to another exists. But it
is impossible even briefly to attempt to speak of these beauties—our
engravings will have shown some of their features; others must be left
for the eye of the visitor to revel in while there. On one or two more
points only can we touch.
[Illustration: _The Hunting Tower._]
The HUNTING TOWER, which forms so conspicuous an object in the
landscape, crowning the wooded heights at the back of the house, and
from which floats a huge flag whenever the Duke is at Chatsworth, was
built in the reign of Queen Elizabeth as a prospect-tower, from which
the ladies of the family, and guests, might watch the progress of
the chase. It is a massive erection, of square form, with a circular
turret at each angle, and is about ninety feet in height; it commands a
magnificent prospect on every side. Near it, by the lake, or reservoir,
is the SWISS COTTAGE—a perfect cottage ornée.
[Illustration: _Mary Queen of Scots’ Bower._]
QUEEN MARY’S BOWER is one of the best-known objects in the park,
being situated near the drive leading from the bridge to the house,
and at a short distance only from the banks of the river Derwent.
This interesting relic of the unfortunate queen is a raised enclosure
surrounded by a deep moat, and approached by a flight of steps which
bridge over the water on its south side. Externally the “bower,”
overhung with trees and covered here and there with ivy which reaches
up to its open balustrade, is highly picturesque; internally it is a
pleasant enclosed grassy retreat, rendered shady by the trees which
grow in and around it.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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