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The Deep-dene, Surrey;

THE SEAT OF

THOMAS HOPE, ESQ.

THE Deep-dene, a spot distinguished by its natural beauties and delightful prospects, was selected as a retirement by the Honourable Charles Howard, an early patron of science, and younger son of Henry Frederick, Earl of Arundel and Norfolk, in the reign of Charles I., who here indulged his taste in developing the interesting scenery, by forming a succession of terraces, which attracted the admiration of his contemporaries, at a period before the art of landscape gardening had attained its celebrity in this country; since which time, the rich embellishments of art have been given to the simplicity of nature; -the grounds have been considerably augmented, and the Deep-dene, without rivalling the superb Villas of Lucullus or of Pliny, has equally become an asylum for the arts, displaying a tasteful arrangement of objects of more than ordinary curiosity.

The name of Thomas Hope, Esq. is intimately connected with all that is estimable in ancient art and classical antiquities. His magnificent Gallery of Statuary and Paintings, so well known and so highly appreciated, has added another charm to the metropolis; while some of his literary productions, with their costly embellishments, have contributed to found an era of classical taste, and have diffused a grace and propriety over the internal decorations of civil and domestic architecture. From the purest sources his authorities are drawn; and in a devotion of his time and fortune to the improvement of British taste, he has not only collected the rare specimens of ancient sculpture, of the most flourishing periods of its existence, but has distinguished himself by a zealous and liberal patronage of its contemporary professors. Canova produced a Venus to adorn his Gallery, and Thorwaldsen is indebted to him for opportunities of displaying his talents.

The Deep-dene is situated upon the south-west side of the town of Dorking, on the road towards Riegate, and was celebrated by our early topographers for its local attractions. In Camden's Britannia, edit. Gibson, it is thus described:-" Between Beechworth and Dorking stands Deep-dene, the situation whereof is somewhat surprising, by reason of the risings and uniform acclivities about it, which naturally resemble a Roman amphitheatre, or rather indeed a theatre; it is open at the north end, and is of an oval form. Now it is most ingeniously cast and improved into gardens, vineyards, and other plantations, both on the area below, and on the sides of the environing hills, with frequent grots here and there, beneath the terraces leading to the top, from whence one has a fair prospect of that part of Surrey and of Sussex, as far as the South Downs, for near thirty miles outright. The Honourable Charles Howard, Lord of half the manor of Dorking, is solely entitled to this ingenious contrivance." Col. 185. Aubrey, in his Antiquities of Surrey, vol. iv. p. 164, is more particular in description, and diffuse in his praise. "A long Hope, i. e., according to Virgil, deductus vallis, is contrived in the most pleasant and delightful solitude, for House, Gardens, Orchards, Boscages, &c. that I have seen in England; it deserves a poem, and was a subject worthy of Mr. Cowley's muse. The true name of this Hope is Dibden, quasi Deepdene.

"Mr. Howard hath cast this Hope into the form of a theatre, on the sides whereof he hath made several narrow walks, like the seats of a theatre, one above another, above six in number, done with a plough, which are bordered with thyme, and some cherry-trees, myrtles, &c. Here were a great many orange-trees and syringas, which were then in flower. In this Garden are twenty-one sorts of thyme. The pit, as I may call it, is stored full of rare flowers and choice plants. In the hill, on the left hand, being sandy ground, is a cave digged thirty-six paces long, four broad, and five yards high; and at about twothirds of the hill, where the crook or bowing is, he hath dug another subterranean walk or passage, to be pierced through the hill, through which you have the vista, over all the south part of Surrey and Sussex, to the sea. The south side of this hill is converted into a vineyard, of many acres of ground, which faceth the south and south-west.

"On the west of this Garden is a little building, which is divided into a Laboratory and a neat Oratory, by Mr. Howard. Above the hill, on this west side, is a thicket of black-cherry trees, with which the walks abound, as does the ground with strawberries. The House was not made for grandeur, but retirement; a noble hermitage, neat, elegant, and suitable to the modesty and solitude of the proprietor."

The Honourable Charles Howard here closed a well-spent life, in the year 1714, and was buried in the chancel of the church at Dorking. On his decease, Henry Charles Howard, Esq., his eldest son, became seated at the Deep-dene, and dying in 1720, was also buried at Dorking. By the death of Edward, Duke of Norfolk, without issue, in 1773, the hereditary titles of the illustrious family devolved upon Charles, eldest son of the above-mentioned Henry Charles Howard, Esq., of the Deep-dene. His Grace had a literary turn, and published "Historical Anecdotes of some of the Howard Family," in 1769; he was succeeded in 1786, by his son, Charles, the late Duke of Norfolk, who became possessed of this estate, and pulled down the house. His Grace erected a building, which now forms a small part of the present edifice. The Duke of Norfolk sold the Deep-dene, in 1791, to Sir William Burrell, Bart., third son of Peter Burrell, Esq., of Beckenham, in Kent, and uncle to the first Lord Gwydir. Sir William died here, in 1796; after which, his Lady resided at the Deep-dene till her death, when the whole estate was purchased of Sir Charles Merrick Burrell, Bart., by Thomas Hope, Esq. Mr. Hope has considerably enlarged the House, by additions, principally on the south, constructed by P. Atkinson, Esq., under his direction, and from his own designs, in which the more recently discovered Grecian antiquities make a prominent feature. He has also since added the estate of Chart Park, which he purchased of Sir Charles Talbot, Bart., to the grounds at the Deep-dene. Altogether the property consists of above four hundred acres of pleasure ground, so judiciously disposed, that a walk, admitting a pleasing transition of view, of upwards of twelve miles, may be undertaken, without retracing a step. The surface partakes of the greatest irregularity; and the ground, in general bold, sometimes hangs abruptly over the walks, and in others declines in gentle slopes to the level parts.

The Hill rises with a steep acclivity behind the House, and descends on the south side, at Chart Park; a beautiful walk, amid the Alpine trees of the wood, conducts to a Temple, which commands a view of the Deep-dene. It is composed of a Doric frontispiece, with wings, terminated by piers, crowned with antique masks, and forms the elevation of a seat, at the back of which is a large metal plate, containing an Arabic inscription. Towards the Deep-dene, from this Temple, is a most delightful view of Box Hill, Norbury Park, Denbies, the seat of W. J. Dennison, Esq., and the Guildford Hills, in the distance. The Flower Garden, situated in the valley beneath, is laid out with exquisite taste, and is viewed with great effect from this charming spot. On the other side of the hill is a view of a vast expanse of country, towards Riegate and the South Downs. Against the façade of the Temple, upon this side, is a pediment, supported by two plain Doric columns, and inscribed, "FRATRI OPTIMO. H. P. H." Many walks intersect the woods, but the descent to the Deep-dene is particularly admired. A spacious Mausoleum, with twenty columbaria, has been erected near the extremity of the Chart Grounds. Two sons of Mr. Hope are there buried. Descending the Deep-dene is a tablet, inscribed with verses in memory of the Hon. Charles Howard, who built an Oratory and a Laboratory on the spot, and died at the Deep-dene in 1714. The verses were written by Lady Burrell. The descent from hence is peculiarly tasteful.

The original Garden, consisting of a narrow dell, between the two high hills, crowned with majestic woods, makes a part of the present Pleasure Grounds; in new modelling which, some of the flues used in the Laboratory were found.

The principal entrance to the Deep-dene, from the Riegate road, is marked by a Lodge of peculiar design, exhibiting a pleasing combination of simplicity and elegance, in perfect harmony with the taste that pervades every object in this delightful domain. From hence is a fine view of the luxuriantly wooded knoll, on the sides of which are seen the upper parts of the House, with its ornamental parapets, and lofty turrets, rising amidst the foliage; and, nearer, the long front of the Stables, such as Vitruvius himself would have constructed. The Drive is entirely new, and rising gently from the entrance, is cut deep through the Hill, over which is a road conducted between the high embattled parapets of an arch, erected in the ancient castellated style, like the gateway of a baronial residence. It is machicolated on the outward front, and bears shields, sculptured with the arms of Hope and of Beresford, quartering Poër. The architecture on the inner side of the gateway differs a little, but on both are the armorial ensigns of the families. Behind a grove, on the right of the road, are the recently erected Stables and Coach-houses, a large and commodious building, commanding a fine view over the town of Dorking, of the adjacent hills.

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