Ashburnham House - The Garden, ca.1882

From: Henry Dixon & Son

RA Collection: Art

"The Garden

The wall seen in the photograph, forming the northern boundary of the garden, is the wall of the Refectory of Westminster Abbey. The lower arcade with round-headed arches, remains of which are still visible in places, is of the time of Edward the Confessor or of the first Norman Kings, the upper is of the time of Edward III. In this magnificent chamber, extending the whole length of the South Cloister of the Abbey, the Commons not unfrequently assembled. "In the first instance the two Houses met in Westminster Hall, but they parted as early as the eleventh year of Edward I. From that time the Lords met in the Painted Chamber in the Palace, known also as King Edward's Chamber, the room where the Confessor died; and the Commons, whenever they sate in London, hence-forward met within the precincts of the Abbey. On a few occasions they were assembled within the vast oblong Hall of the Refectory. There, in a chamber only inferior in size and beauty to Westminster Hall, was impeached Piers Gaveston......In the same place they were convened several times during the reigns of Richard II., and Henry V." (Dean Stanley, Memorials of Westminster Abbey, pp.390, 391.)

The small summer house seen on the left is by Inigo Jones, and it is worthy of note, as showing the extraordinary value set on his smallest designs, that this little work has thrice figured; in the book by Ware mentioned above (pl.24), again by the same author in his Complete Body of Architecture, and a third time by Brettingham who gives it as his own design. (Matthew Brettingham, Plans, &c., of Holkham, 1773.)"

The above description, by Alfred Marks, has been taken from the letterpress which accompanies the photographs.