Northington Down

Northington Down, Northington
down

parish:
county:
coords:
Hampshire Downs
Northington
Hampshire
SU5537
refce: JandMN

description
Northington Down
The place is described in text Cobbett 1830

refce: Cobbett 1830
The latter [Alexander Baring] has enclosed, as a sort of outwork to his park, a pretty little down called Northington Down, in which he has planted, here and there, a clump of trees. But Mr. Baring, not reflecting that woods are not like funds, to be made at a heat, has planted his trees too large; so that they are covered with moss, are dying at the top, and are literally growing downward instead of upward. In short, this enclosure and plantation have totally destroyed the beauty of this part of the estate. The down, which was before very beautiful, and formed a sort of glacis up to the park pales, is now a marred, ragged, ugly looking thing. The dying trees, which have been planted long enough for you not to perceive that have been planted, excite the idea of sterility in the soil. They do injustice to it; for, as a down, it was excellent. Every thing that has been done here is to the injury of the estate, and discovers a most shocking want of taste in the projector. ...

   Old Hampshire Gazetteer - JandMN: 2001