Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/816

 79^-^ COTTAGE, FARM, AND VILLA ARCHITECTURE. our ancient residences being close to towns and villages. Supposing, then, that the estate is bounded on one side by the great public road, about a mile from the house ; I would form a good parish road from the most convenient point in the public road, through a pretty enclosed country, watered by the stream from the park, which I should cross by a brido^e of one or two arches, near the parish mill, and thence gently ascend to the village, passing among the scattered farm houses and cottages, with their pretty gardens and orchards, crossing the village green, on which should stand the school-house shaded by lofty trees, to the other extremity of the village, where a handsome arched gateway should form the entrance to the park. Passing through the gateway into an open glade of oaks, the church would be seen at a little distance among the trees, through which the road is continued with a gentle ascent, till the house suddenly presents itself, with its stables and offices, backed by a woody eminence ; and, sweeping across the plain in front, through some scattered trees and hollies, you at lengtli reach the steps of the porch. 1678. Exterior Architecture and general Arrangement of the House. Before I describe the interior of the villa, it will be proper to say something of the style of the building, and of its external appearance. There are many reasons which lead me to give a preference to the mixed style of Architecture, called the old English style, for a gentle- man's residence in the country. For instance, it is more picturesque and ornamental ; it accords best with rural scenery ; and, as it admits of great irregularity of form, it affords space for the various offices and conveniences necessary in a country-house. It is also, I think, better suited to our climate than the Grecian style, which requires porticoes, pro- jecting cornices, and windows of moderate size, &c. ; all which circumstances tend to make the house gloomy, and intercept the light. The old style, also, allows more variety of ornament upon the roof, such as the stacks of chimneys, gables, pinnacles, turrets, and other things of importance to the general effect of a building to be seen at a distance : whereas, in the Grecian style, v^liich requires perfect symmetry of form, and the prevalence of straight lines, the offices and chimneys are commonly excrescences offensive to the eye of genuine taste. For these and other reasons, therefore, I should erect a villa in the old English style, and in that ornate manner of it called the Elizabethan, as being most adapted to the habits of refined and peaceable times. Of the various forms of houses of which we have examples in the old English style, that of a blunt H, is, perhaps, best suited to a villa residence of the second order. Supposing, then, that our villa be in the English style, and in the form above alluded to ; the front would present a centre and two projecting wings. The centre would contain the hall and dining-room, with a gallery and staircase behind them. One wing would be occupied by the drawing- room and library, with the saloon between them. The other wing might contain a sitting-room, and superior offices for servants ; the inferior offices being in the basement, or in a separate building in the kitchen-court. The principal front should be highly ornamented, and form a symmetrical whole. In the centre would be the porch of two stories, with its rich gable, small pillars, escutcheons, &c. ; the wall on either side (broken into compartments by pilasters, or handsome buttresses, and proper string courses) would contain large muUioned windows ; the whole supporting a battlement or a parapet, with its appropriate ornaments, such as busts, urns, heraldic animals, &c. The ends of the projecting wings would present each a bay window of two stories, square or semicircular .'n form, with balustrade or stone covering above ; the gables of the wings corresponding with that of the porch. The high and steep roof should be varied by ornamental c limneys, of different patterns, placed in their proper situations ; and, rising above them, the tower containing the grand staircase, appearing at a short distance behind the porch ; its wavy cupola roof terminating in a rich lantern, and supporting a weathercock or dwarf spire. The general effect of such a building would be dignified and imposing ; the projecting wings, the high roof, the numerous chimneys, and the lofty staircase tower rising in the background, all conveying an idea of magnitude which the edifice would not in fact possess. But, however beautiful the house might be in itself, it would require the aid of certain picturesque accompaniments to connect it with the site, and to make it harmonise with the surrounding scenery. 1679. Architectural and Gardening Accompaniments to the House. The superior taste of our early Architects led them to enclose their ornamented edifices in a rich framework of courts and gateways, balustraded terraces, and architectural gardens ; which the ruthless hand of modern improvement has swept away, as being inconsistent with the habits of more refined life. We should, however, soon learn the value of such embellishments, could we compare the effect of an Elizabethan mansion, in its ancient glory, with its present forlorn appearance, after suffering the mutilations of some levelling improver, who has robbed it of its gorgeous framework, and exposed its nakedness on a bald ex- panse of turf, where it frowns in sullen majesty, and communicates a gloom to all around it. Indeed, much of the gloomy effect so often observed in a handsome modern residence arises from this defect of architectural embellishment around the house j without which, I