Unknown Artist, Dove Cottage Garden

A very early sketch of the back gardens at of Dove Cottage. The sketch is fairly loose but well annotated. The artist marks the placement of grass, rocks, the walk way, the orchard and names many of the plants and trees. 'Walk 37 steps, 3 more naturally to higher terrace seats' indicates the length of the garden. The enclosed seller's notes record that most of the sketches 'seem to have been done on the spot in the Lake District in August 1850 by an accomplished draughtsman, possibly an architect.' Photographed: 21.01.2007 Alex Black. Inscription: Back of Wordsworth Cottage / at Grasmere 16 August 1850