Friday 7th June 1929
A poem in the ephemera collection of Danny Howell. Dated Friday 7th June 1929.
The Old Garden At Bishopstrow House
In Wylye’s fertile valley, where towards the Azure skies
Rise the slopes of Battlesbury, Bishopstrow of Domesday lies.
Here the Tudor house of Temple, built in days of long ago,
Once stood beside the river near-by willows drooping low.
Tho’ replaced by modern mansion built in year of Waterloo,
Old-world gardens still remain here by the water rippling blue.
By a passage subterranean we approach this pleasance green,
“Neath the King’s Highway we traverse path by Cobbett never seen.
Nigh the greensward gently sloping to the banks of Wylye’s stream,
Are these gardens of Elysium, aye, the gardens of my dream.
Mellow walls and stone-carved sundials, temple and orangerie;
The perfume of herbs and roses draw from far the wand’ring bee.
Quaint old garden gay with flowers, quaint old garden gay with song,
Memories haunt thy leafy bowers like the birds that round them throng.
Sanctuary for all bird-life in this retreat is assured,
And to banks of Wylye’s river many species are allured.
May the calm of many centuries continue to look down
On this peaceful old-world garden, hard by Warminster town.
“EGO”
[Footnote by Danny Howell – “EGO” ~ the initials of Ethel Gertrude Olphert (nee Ludgate), the wife of Major Olphert. Major and Mrs. Olphert lived at Bishopstrow Farmhouse].