A book review by the WLHG
Published in Windlesora 16 (1998)
© WLHG
This lavish publicatin is the product of twenty years work by the Curator of the Print Room in the Royal Library at Windsor Castle. Text and illustrations together offer a very full account of the evolution of the Royal Parks, with division into two sections: the first part examines historical developments in different reigns, with a chapter on that most popular royal pursuit, hunting; the second is a topographical survey covering the farms and gardens of the Little Park and then the buildings and areas of the Great Park—Royal and Cumberland Lodges, Virginia Water, the village, the park gates, and so on.
Royal Landscape is not only a formidable reference volume, but it is readably written, its scholarship no barrier to enjoyment. However, if its writing is reader-friendly, its size is not: perusal will have to be at a desk or table for there could be no curling up with this mighty tome in an armchair. A good case could have been made for publishing it in two volumes.
Most will be tempted to dig into their piggy-banks just for the superb illustrations. A number are from private royal collections, never normally seen by the public: I noted in particular a charming water colour of the Long Walk by Queen Victoria’s second daughter, Princess Alice. The modern photographs are full of interest too, from fine colour studies of the Park’s mighty oaks to royal snapshots such as a series of Queen Mary picking daffodils and, surprisingly for such a grande dame, digging potatoes. Though expensive this book is unlikely to be superseded for many, many years: forego a new winter coat, give up that day-trip to Paris, and you will have an investment—and some change too.
Hester Davenport
ROBERTS, Jane Royal Landscape: The Gardens and Parks of Windsor, Yale University Press
1997, 608 pp. 372 b/w illus.+245 colour plates. ISBN 0 300 07079 9 £75.
Windsor Local History Group 