ART SUNDAY - FOLLIES 1

"An Englishman never enjoys himself, except for a noble purpose." - Alan Patrick Herbert

I had a rather tiring couple of days this weekend as we decided to buy and install a gazebo in our back yard. About 20 years ago we had put in a small garden arch and as it was collapsing under the weight of the plants growing on it, it was high time to replace it. We went looking at various garden centres and we were surprised by the variety and wide spectrum of prices for these manifold structures that one can put up in the garden. We ended up buying a moderately priced gazebo in aluminium with a canvas roof and a surprisingly big area (as I found out after assembling it!).

I went through the usual rigmarole of trying to interpret the instructions, you know the sort: “Insert part A in the large hole of part B, using screw X and nut Y, taking care not to obstruct channel C or hole F through which you need to thread part D after attaching E and G with screw Z…). Nevertheless, I managed to erect the gazebo and at about 2:00 pm today we were able to sit in its shade and admire the garden while sipping a cold drink.

Quite apt for Art Sunday, therefore to consider the type of garden structure called a “folly”. This is a peculiar building, usually costly and ornamental with no practical purpose whatsoever, especially something like a tower or mock-Gothic ruin built in a large garden or park. The large English-style gardens of the 18th century were quite renowned for these follies and if one visits the English countryside and the various stately homes and gardens that abound there, one will no doubt see follies galore!

Many follies in England were constructed in imitation of renowned buildings of the continent, (especially Italian and Roman) which were constructed in miniature (of course!). This picturesque garden with a folly paying homage to the Pantheon s the work of Lord Burlington (1694-1753) and can be found on the grounds of Chiswick House, Middlesex (which was begun 1725).