Transcript of the notes

interim, to pass away the time, Mrs Fry & I being alone, she took up her Work- Basket, & I took up “The stoops to conquer” & read two or three Acts of it to Mrs Fry till my Cousin, returned Home to supper.
Wednesday 30 Sept
After breakfast had a walk down. Garendon Lane, over the Meadows leading to Sheep’s- head, as far as the handsome Road, with long rows of Trees on each side of it, this is the Coach-road to Garendon Park . –

After Dinner, Mr Fry, my Cousin, & I took a walk into the Park, and such a day for Views, I never experienced, the Atmosphere was so uncommonly clear. We stopped a little while at the Obelisk, from which, there is a very

extensive prospect for many miles round the Country. –
On this obelisk there is an Inscription, I think it is engraved on a piece of copper, but the words are scarcely legible, “Erected by Ambrose Phillipps Esqr AD. 1733” The wooden base of the Shaft removed and replaced with cast Iron, and the four Balls re-set A.D. 1801.

We passed on to Mr Philipps House.

Saw some beautiful swans swimming on a piece of Water; between it, and the House, the grass is kept in such handsome Order, that it looks just like a smooth Green Carpet. – On the Grass there were two Muscovy geese. They are very pretty Birds, but have not the appearance of Geese, they look more like Ducks when they are swimming. We then proceeded on to one of the Park-Gates.

Afterwards we went to the chief Game Keeper’s Lodge, as my Cousin, wished to speak to him _ On our way close to this Lodge, the Dog was very angry at our intrusion, and barked tremendously loud at us, not withstanding which, we did not fear him, for he was chained to his House – We had. a little chat with the Game Keeper, at the door of the Lodge – I asked him if he recollected assisting contaminating the Holy Water with a little drop of Brandy last Year when we regaled ourselves. with some cold roast Beef, Mustard, & Bread & Cheese under a tree, after Shooting – “Oh yes, Sir,” says he,” and I remember you, and that Mr Fry had excellent sport that morning, & that it was a was a very beautiful day.

We then passed on to the Temple._

From thence we crossed the Park on our way Home; in our ramble through it, we saw plenty of Deer, some of whom had shed both their horns; others had shed only one horn, the other still remaining_ the Hares were also very busy, scampering about in all directions.

There. were some most beautiful. Groups of Trees, and now & then, over deep Vallies, and through long avenues of Frees we caught distant Views of the High Hills in Charnwood Forest, which were most beautifully, and truly picturesque. I am sure it would have been an admirable Subject, for any of our best Landscape Painters, and if they felt as much pleasure in Painting such Scenery, as I did in seeing it, they would have been most amply gratified.

After enjoying a beautiful sunset, we returned home to tea, pretty well tired, at least, I was so, for I had had a longish walk in the morning, to which I must add our Evening walk, altogether making about 8 miles, this was pretty well, for a Valeturinavian like me._

Thursday 1 October
Did not go out till about 12 oclock, having had to read the last “Act of The stoops to conquer” to Mrs Fry while she was at work with her needle. – Afterwards I took a short walk over Mr Middleton’s meadows.
& through Thorpe Acre, and then returned home to dinner.

Mr Fry & my Cousin went to Loughborough in the Afternoon. –

After we had taken a cup of tea at the Queen’s Head, Ashby de la Zouch, we passed on through Cole-Orton. On our arrival at the white-gate, leading to the House of the late Sir George Beaumont Bart we, by mere accident, saw one of the Servants at the Gate. We asked her, it we might be permitted to walk round the Gardens, She said, certainly, and immediately opened the gate for us, & my Cousin fastened the reins of the horse to a tree, & when we had walked through a long avenue, with trees on each side of us, we saw the House which built with stone, before it, there are beautiful green lawns, gravel walks, Urns, and a Sun-dial. The Grounds are ornamented with a great variety of most beautiful and scarce Flowers, surpassing

all possibility of description, displaying the Colours of the Rainbow. Among The Flowers which particularly attracted my notice, was the Rhododendron (of a very beautiful kind) in full bloom, the colour of it, is a brilliant variety of Lake. At the further end of the Garden is a Terrace, with a long, smooth gravel walk, from thence, there is a very extensive picturesque prospect over a considerable Valley, & in the back ground a grand display of Charnwood Forest Hills. Taking our departure from the Terrace, on the left hand side of the Garden we enter into a deep Valley filled with an uncommon variety of Trees, foreign, and native; the different tints of the green. foliage, surpassed every thing of the kind that I had ever before beheld – Here are several Bowers formed in circular arches

of shrubbery over your heads, through which, even in the hottest days of Summer the rays of the sun cannot penetrate. In one part of this Valley is a fish pound, surrounds with Rocks & Trees. After you have ascended out of the Valley, you come upon gravel walk, at the end of which is the old Church of Cole-Orton, a very curious piece of Antiquity; and to all these things the perfumes of the Atmosphere & the singing of Birds, rendering the Scene highly picturesque. It is quite out of my power to give adequate description of this charming spot. It reminded me of Martins Gay Picture of the beautiful Garden of Paradise. No wonder, that Sir George Beaumont has laid out his Grounds with so much taste; he was considered to be the first Amateur Artist

for Landscape in this kingdom. I have seen many of his Paintings at the Royal Academy. He very seldom omitted to send one of his eminent Productions every year, always much admired; but this is not at all surprising, when we consider, that many of the Professors of the fine Arts, could not excel him. After having passed a very pleasant day, we got to Loughborough about 8 o-clock in the Evening. As soon as I return to London, I must call in Pall Mall, to see the liberal Presents of Pictures, which Sir George made to the National Gallery, a short time before his death.

Her book: “A History of Kitchen Gardening” remains as the definitive work on this subject.

The meadow has finally received SSSI status. More information here.

Early on in lock down Gill and Paul Knight were walking near Gumley and Gill spotted this obvious walled garden. She rang in great excitement to tell us about it, but totally frustrated because Rowan and I were behind the red line and could not leave Leicester.

At the end of June Rowan and I were allowed out and were able to meet Gill in Gumley church yard with our coffee. We admired the garden from the field. Normally I would have plucked up courage and knocked on the door, hoping to speak to someone, but in view of virus we felt it an unnecessary intrusion. We tracked down the owner who was happy for us to visit, but, again we were prevented visiting in gardens. We just have to wait. The owner tells me that it now house a swimming pool. When you think of it it’s a good use of the space.

Elizabeth Bacon