S t o w e  G a r d e n s

T h e   E l y s i a n   F i e l d s

&

S e a s o n 's  F o u n t a i n

The Elysian Fields East

The woody approach down into the valley of the Elysian Fields, takes the visitor past the east banks of the Alder River, to the Seasons' Fountain. The little village of Stowe once stood here, with a road running north to south. The houses probably being destroyed during the civil war of 1642, although the church of St. Mary still remains, obscured by trees on the west bank.

The Elysian Fields is an attractive, wooded valley designed by William Kent in 1735. He set it out for Lord Cobham as a three-dimensional landscape painting, split into 3 parts, the first, contains the River Alder at the northern end and the Grotto at its head. Further south, the river is dammed by the Shell Bridge, (also by Kent), and there drops to a lower section known as the Worthies River or the River Styx. The Octagon Lake inlet is below a further dam, at the southern most point of the River. The Elysian Fields is so called, after the name given to heaven or paradise, as is believed in Greek mythology.

This fine little monument, the Season's Fountain, was erected here around the turn of the 19th century, possibly as late as 1808. It is thought to be constructed from two marble chimney, or even mantle pieces from the house. It has a small plaque made of brass, above the jet of water, with an inscribed quotation from the Poem by James Thomson, "Seasons", referring to a flow of "purest water".

Below: The riverbank by the Season's Fountain provides a good vantage point of the front of the Grotto, at the northern end, and the head of the river.

 

 

 

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