Hampton Court ... Illustrated with forty-three drawings by Herbert ...

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HAMPTON COURT
graphia Rustica," " did plant thelarge semicircle before
the palace ... in pursuance of some great design he
had formed in gardening."
This must have been one of his first works, for as
early as June 9, 1662, John Evelyn, who was a great
authority on gardens, noted that the Park, " formerly
a flat, naked piece ofground," was " now planted with
sweet rows of lime trees," and that the " canal for
water " was " now near perfected." The whole of the
alterations were in the direction of enlargement, which
was fully in accordance with Evelyn's advice. The
aim of the changes was to imitate Versailles. The
House Park stretches for more than a mile to the
south. In that fine space there could be well set the
vistas of tree and water which should lead so appropriately
to the sovereign's home. Every plan was
drawn on strictly geometrical lines, in the gardens, as
later in Wren's buildings.1
Evelyn tells us also of two other features of the
gardens, which fitly represent the two contending
tastes of earlier days. " In the garden there is a rich
and noble fountain, with sirens, statues, &c, cast in
copper by Fanelli." This fountain seems to have
disappeared, but many beautiful specimens of architectural
decoration remain, chiefly vases, elaborately
designed in lead and stone, and little animal or figure
groups dispersed among the beds.
The second feature whichEvelyn mentions — but this
is later — is one which strikes every visitor to-day. It
1 Cf. adelightfularticlein the Spectatorfor August 1, 1896.