THE MIRROR
OF
LITERATURE, AMUSEMENT, AND INSTRUCTION.
| Vol. 17. No. 483. | SATURDAY, APRIL 2, 1831 | [PRICE 2d. |
GROTTO AT ASCOT PLACE.
Here is a picturesque contrivance of Art to embellish Nature. Wehave seen many such labours, but none with more satisfaction thanthe Grotto at Ascot Place.
This estate is in the county of Surrey, five miles south-eastfrom Windsor, on the side of Ascot Heath, near Winkfield. Theresidence was erected by Andrew Lindergreen, Esq.; at whose deathit was sold to Daniel Agace, Esq., who has evinced considerabletaste in the arrangement of the grounds. The house is of brick,with wings. On the adjoining lawn, a circular Corinthian templeproduces a very pleasing effect. The gem of the estate is, however,the above Grotto, which is situate at the end of a canal runningthrough the grounds. Upon this labour of leisure much expense andgood taste have been bestowed. It consists of four rooms, but oneonly, for the refreshing pastime of tea drinking, appears to becompleted. It is almost entirely covered with a white spar,intermixed with curious and unique specimens of polished pebblesand petrifactions. The ceiling is ornamented with pendants of thesame material; and the whole, when under the influence of a strongsun, has an almost magical effect. These and other decorations ofthe same grounds were executed by a person named Turnbull, who wasemployed here for several years by Mr. Agace. Our View is copiedfrom one of a series of engravings by Mr. Hakewill, the ingeniousarchitect; these illustrations being supplementary to thatgentleman’s quarto History of Windsor.
We request the reader to enjoy with us the delightfulrepose—the cool and calm retreat—of the Engraving. Behe never so indifferent a lover of Nature, he must admire itspicturesque beauty; or be he never so enthusiastic, he must regardwith pleasure the ingenuity of the artist. To an amateur, thepursuit of decorating grounds is one of the most interesting andintellectual amusements of retirement. We have worshipped from dewymorn till dusky eve in rustic temples and “cool grots,”and have sometimes aided in their construction. The roots, limbs,and trunks of trees, and straw or reeds, are all the materialsrequired to build these hallowed and hallowing shrines. We callthem hallowing, because they are either built, or directed to bebuilt, in adoration of the [pg 226]beauties of Nature; who, in turn,mantles them with endless varieties of lichens and mosses. In theRookery adjoining John Evelyn’s “Wotton” weremany such temples dedicated to sylvan deities: one of them, to Pan,consists of a pediment supported by four rough trunks of trees, thewalls being of moss and laths, and enclosed with tortuous limbs.Beneath the pediment is the following apposite line fromVirgil:
Pan curat oves oviumque magistros.
Pan, guardian of the sheep and shepherds too.
Yet the building is not merely ornamental, for the back servesas a cow-house!
Pope’s love of grotto-building has made it a poeticalamusement. Who does not remember his grot