Page 129 - cn - er - The Spirit of Belvoir Studio 25-10-2022 update concise version

‘Chatelaine, Elizabeth 5th Duchess’

‘Far from the busy world’s unceasing sound
Here has Eliza fix’d her favourite seat’
Oil on canvas: 30 x 40 inches

The Duchess Garden {initially known as the Ladies Garden} is positioned on the escarpment slopes of Blackberry Hill. Capability Brown had envisioned a ‘shady
seat’ in the wooded area.
However, Elizabeth wanted such a place as a secret garden that would be discovered after a walk through the newly established woods that ascended from the castle.
Between 1807—1820’s the Duchess and Hermit Gardens were being established and landscaped, whilst the new castle was still under construction. A ‘shady seat’
was placed on the terraced escarpment in the form of a‘Root and Moss’ House, its position afforded views out to the vale and pool in the Lower Gardens.
Elizabeth placed a column near the ‘Root and Moss’ house with her poem in celebration of the gardens inscribed. The Alter Realist composition superimposes the
pose of Elizabeth leaning against the column, as painted by John Hoppner {1758-1810}, which hangs in the Castle Ballroom with the present view of the same
location.
Today the Duchess garden is a mixture of Elizabeth’s Ladies Garden, and the Spring Gardens created by Violet the 8th Duchess in the early 1900’s and includes the
restoration programme carried out by Emma, the present Duchess.

Planted borders run along the Duke’s Walk Terrace, before merging into planting of shrubs and ornamental trees planted for spring and autumn colours, and
continues the themes of the Rose, Japanese and Spring Gardens that surround the castle.