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A
VIEW of how the garden might have looked was given by Roger Pringle, director of
the Shakespeare Birthplace Trust, Stratford-upon-Avon,
in an interview for an article in the Sentinel Sunday
newspaper of May 2nd, 2004.
Mr Pringle, whose trust manages Stratford-upon-Avon's historic
houses and gardens, is quoted as believing
the Wilbraham family would have been using their estate to compete with
other members of the Elizabethan and Tudor elite.
"There was an
emerging view of the garden in Elizabethan times that it was a place of leisure and
recreation," said Mr Pringle. "This is reflected in
the designs of upper class gardens of the period. They really were an
exquisite treat for the senses and were made for sitting and relaxing in,
as well as taking exercise."
A
staple ingredient of the Elizabethan walled garden - including Townsend
House's - would be the arbor, a semi-secret sitting area, often covered
with climbing roses, crab apple and yew trees.
"The upper strata of Elizabethan society wanted their gardens to be a
series of separate areas, outdoor rooms almost. Covered walkways would
often link distinct sections - and every area of the garden had a specific
purpose," said Mr
Pringle.
'Knot' gardens were
very much in vogue in the late 16th century, rectangular shrub beds with
intricate geometric patterns of dwarf shrubs. Colourful stones or gravel
was used to create an area bursting with colour.
A herb and kitchen garden would be
well hidden from the more decorative areas of the garden. A house of the
import of Townsend House, with its banqueting house and stone columns, may
have had a bowling green, fountain, statues and sculpture - and even a
small maze. An orchard - complete with at least apple and pear trees, plus
a riot of wild flowers - would have graced the garden,
says the article.
Picture:
Pat Fulford on the wall (Sentinel Sunday
picture)
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