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II. Windsor Great Park, 1529
W. A. Delamotte
1843
Wood-engraving
17.8 cm high by 9.6 cm wide, vignetted
Book the Third, "The History of the Castle," Chapter IV, "Comprising the Fourth Epoch in the History of the Castle; and showing how Saint George's Chapel was rebuilt by King Edward the Fourth," facing p. 163.
[Click on image to enlarge it.]
Scanned image and text by Philip V. Allingham.
The great park is approached by the magnificent avenue called the Long Walk, laid out, as has been stated, by Charles the Second, and extending to the foot of Snow Hill, the summit of which is crowned by the colossal equestrian statue of George the Third, by Westmacott. Not far from this point stands Cumberland Lodge, which derives its name from William, Duke of Cumberland, to whom it was granted in 1744. According to Norden’s survey, in 1607, this park contained 3050 acres; but when surveyed by George the Third it was found to consist of 3800 acres, of which 200 were covered with water. At that time the park was over grown with fern and rushes, and abounded in bogs and swamps, which in many places were dangerous and almost impassable. It contained about three thousand head of deer in bad condition. The park has since been thoroughly drained, smoothed, and new planted in parts; and two farms have been introduced upon it, under the direction of Mr. Kent, at which the Flemish and Norfolk modes of husbandry have been successfully practised.
Boasting every variety of forest scenery, and commanding from its knolls and acclivities magnificent views of the castle, the great park is traversed, in all directions, by green drives threading its longvistas, or crossing its open glades, laid out by George the Fourth. [ChapterIV, "Containing the History of the Castle from the Reign of Charles the Second to that of George the Third— With a few Particulars concerning the Parks and the Forest," p. 163]
Left: The first perspective of the park, View of the Castle, from the Great Park< (Book I, Ch. VIII. Centre: Delanotte's sketch of a later building, Private Chapel in the Great Park (Book III, Ch. IV). Right: Another interior sketch of the area, Scathed oak-tree in the Home Park (Book IV, Ch. VI). [Click on images to enlarge them.]
Ainsworth, William Harrison. Windsor Castle. An Historical Romance. Illustrated by George Cruikshank and Tony Johannot. With designs on wood by W. Alfred Delamotte. London: Routledge, 1880. Based on the Henry Colburn edition of 1844.
Patten, Robert L. Chapter 30, "The 'Hoc' Goes Down." George Cruikshank's Life, Times, and Art, vol. 2: 1835-1878. Rutgers, NJ: Rutgers U. P., 1991; London: The Lutterworth Press, 1996. Pp. 153-186.
Worth, George J. William Harrison Ainsworth. New York: Twayne, 1972.
Last modified 5 January 2018