The East Parterre garden was visible through the windows of the ballroom:
The focal point when viewed from the house was a fountain of Flora, goddess of spring and flowers, whose statue crowned the composition. She holds a cornucopia or horn, intended to jet water, and round her are four tritons (fish-tailed humans) blowing jets of water from conch shells.. Smaller jets line the circumference of the basin. The original Flora statue was broken some years ago when an attempt was made to remove it, and the fountain as a whole has been badly vandalized.*
Restoration of the gardens started in 2005 and it is hoped that funds will allow restoration of the fountain at a later date.
*Information from the English Heritage guidebook.
Is this the rear garden?!
Have you been to Castle Howard?
This place reminded me a lot of Castle Howard, minus the ruins, of course. ;o)
I went to Castle Howard many years ago, I am due another visit
This garden is to the side, the other garden I posted is to the rear.
The expense of preserving and maintaining these wonderful places must be huge, and explains why there has to be an entry charge. I do wish that I had taken the opportunity to visit rather more of these historic sites when I had the opportunity. There is obviously nothing comparable here in Australia but nevertheless it is a beautiful country with some of the most remarkable scenery. Sydney is a breathtakingly gorgeous city and I feel so privileged to be able to live and work here. I miss England, it’s where I was born and raised, but on balance, I feel content to be here.
Stupidly, I’ve probably travelled over far more of this country than I have my own.
I have lived in Perth and Melbourne and visited all the major cities. I’ve seen the outback and the snowfields. The sheer size and variety of this continent country is a little overwhelming.
Anyway, for lots of reasons, I have decided to start my own blog. I have so many photographs to share and a few things that I would like to say, issues that are important to me. I’ll let you know when I get everything up and running. It would be lovely if you could drop by.
Australia sounds such a beautiful place and I shall look forward to your blog and seeing your photographs when it is ready. Australia is a place I have never been so it will be nice to be introduced to it through someone who lives there.
Beautiful architecture!
It is a lovely fountain, I hope they get the funds to restore it.
Grounds laid out this way – would we get that from today’s landscape gardeners?
There are one or two although they are not as fashionable as they used to be.
Somewhere I have not been to.
I think you would enjoy it, especially the Church which is not part of the English Heritage property but very much part of the history.