guous to the Castle, In executing this pleasing task, it will be his sedulous aim to make himself so intelligible, that, aided by the GROUND PLAN OF THE DRIVES AND WALKS, a Visitor may first traverse, with ease, what might otherwise seem an intricate labyrinth; and then, from the PANORAMIC SKETCH, derive some knowledge of the surrounding Country. THE TOWN LODGE.* This is situated nearly due South from the Castle, not far from St. Edmund's Church, at that end of Dudley which leads towards Birmingham.On passing the Gate of that Lodge, the Visitor will be impressed with a Peculiarity, seldom attending Scenery of a similar kind; namely, the equal means to survey it, that are afforded to the pedestrian,— to the equestrian,-and to persons in carriages. The first, however, will boast an advantage in winding his way through some paths too precipitous or too narrow to admit a carriage: and though, on horseback, a person may safely traverse them, yet, being strictly intended as Walks, no Gentleman will ever ride on them. The Track-ways, therefore (as marked in the annexed Plate) are distinguished by DRIVES and WALKS.† Precedency in description, shall be given to the Drives; for the following reasons: Visitors, coming from a distance, may first be grati * See No. 1.-The Figures refer to the different Objects on the Ground Plan, + The more open Track-ways on the Plan denote the Drives,—the narrower ones the Walks. fied, by surveying the more open beauties of the Scene, on horseback, or in carriages; and then, after returning, by a circuitous road, almost to the Entrance-Lodge, may assign their horses and servants to rest, for an hour, at one of the comfortable Inns in the Town, while they themselves explore the more retired recesses of the Grounds and Castle. GUIDE TO THE DRIVES.* From the Town-Lodge, turn short to the right, down a gentle declivity, marked thus in the Ground Plan. At the bottom of the declivity, leaving an octagon Lodge on the right, proceed through a young Plantation at the foot of a richlyclothed woody steep, surmounted by a few lofty trees, fast approximating to that state of aged decay which marks the neighbouring Castle. These will carry back the pensive mind to "olden days," when dappled rangers were seen recumbent under those branches, which, now scathed and leafless, resemble the forky antlers of the vanished herd.On the same side, a little further, the antiquary will not be displeased to greet a few small fragments of the ancient Home Park Wall; which formerly crossed the Drive, and then turned, as the present perfect Wall runs, towards the Town; terminating, in that direction, where the octagon Lodge is situated. Thence it ascended the hill in * By denominating these Drives, it is by no means intended to imply that they are unsuited to the character of Walks. The Pedestrian will find them equally entitled to admiration with those less accessible parts, where a Carriage cannot, and a Horse ought not to pass.-The whole Distance (including Drives and Walks) which a person on foot will traverse, is three miles and a quarter: and the Time recommended to be allotted is not less than two hours. An additional hour will be claimed by the dark Caverns. a parallel line with the turnpike Road; which, till about the year 1780, went close to the Entrance Gate into the castle grounds, making a sharp dangerous angle to the left through the Town. From the Entrance-Lodge, the ancient Wall, after skirting the western side of the hill, mounted the steep ascent towards the north, and communicated with the Fragment-point just noticed in our progress through the Drives: so that the fine Limestone Wall, commencing at the Turnpike Lodge, and extending towards the Town, is a recent erection; for which, under permission of his late munificent Lord, the public are indebted to Mr. Downing, who suggested it, and judiciously superintended the work. Till that wall was built, the Castle and Grounds were open to the inroads of cattle, and disorderly persons more mischievous than cattle, breaking the trees, and committing the most wanton depredations even on the venerable Ruin itself! Whereas now, defended by that seemly enclosure, and guarded by a resident Constable of the Castle, no injury is ever done to any part of it.-Indeed its uncommon beauty, and the kind permission that is granted by its present Noble Proprietor freely to visit it, must inspire a grateful feeling in every mind, well-calculated to subdue the Spirit of Mischief, and to blend Obligation with Pleasure. Recalling attention to objects more immediately connected with the route we are pursuing, the eye will not require being directed either to the upland part of the Scenery, or to the rude romantic dell that lies below. Trees of various kinds form a mingled mass of shade and verdure, at once pleas ing and grand. If Spring be the season when the visitor is drawn hither, every bush and every tree is rendered vocal by unnumbered choristers; while the breath of hawthorns, which blend their snowy whiteness with the fresh green branches around them, fills the air with fragrance. Such vernal concomitants will remind him of the accuracy of the following sacred delineation of Nature, at that gladsome season: "Lo! the winter is past; the rain is over and gone; the flowers appear on the earth; the time of the singing of birds is come; and the voice of the turtle is heard in our land.". In Summer, the lengthened shade of this valley will be found most grateful, when, "vertical, the Sun Darts on the head direct his forceful rays. In Autumn, decked in the varied livery of the waning year, the foliage presents a picture which Imagination may conceive, but no pen can describe; and it is then, perhaps, that the whole Scene is most in unison with its principal Object, soon to be contemplated, the Ruins. Nor is even Winter here without a peculiar charm; not only when, over every tree, the God of Nature "casteth his hoar frost like ashes," and when the surface of the earth is crisped with the kindly rigours of the season; but immediately after a cessation of longcontinued rains, the Walks and Drives are hard and clean, in consequence of the absorbent materials of which they are formed. |