Brympton d’Evercy in Somersetshire--not far from Montacute, the
residence of the Hon. Sir Spencer Ponsonby-Fane--is a house of mixed
architectural character of great interest. A large portion of the
earlier Tudor building now shows as the western (entrance) front, while,
facing southward, is the handsome façade of classical design, said to be
the work of Inigo Jones, but more probably that of a later pupil. The
balustraded wall flanking the entrance gates--the subject of the
picture--appears to be of the time of this important addition, for it is
better in design than the balustrade of the terrace, which was built in
the nineteenth century.
But the terrace is of fine effect, with the great flight of steps midway
in its length that lead down to a wide unspoilt lawn. This again passes
to the fish-pond, then to parkland with undulating country beyond.
The treatment of the ground is admirable. Fifty years ago the lawn would
probably have been cut up into flower-beds, a frivolity forbidden by the
dignified front.
Gardening is always difficult, often best let alone, in many such cases.
When the architecture, especially architecture of the classical type, is
good and pure, it admits of no intrusion of other forms upon its
surfaces. It is complete in itself, and the gardener’s additions become
meddling encroachments. When any planting is allowable against houses of
this type--as in cases where they are less pure in style and have larger
wall-spaces--it should be of something of bold leafage, or large aspect
of one simple character; the strong-growing _Magnolia grandiflora_ as an
upright example, and _Wistaria_ as one of horizontal
[Illustration: THE GATEWAY, BRYMPTON