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© Lennoxlove House Ltd |
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Sketch of the south lawn
From at least the mid-15th century, the urban
community which has developed into modern Hamilton grew up alongside
the residence of the Lords (later Dukes of) Hamilton, and was very
much under their authority. From the late 17th century onwards,
that authority began to have an impact on the actual layout of the
burgh and its physical relationship to the nearby palace. It was
made manifest in a long process involving the removal of the townspeople
from the 'Hietoun' of Hamilton which was clustered around the palace's
western doorstep, and the consolidation of the area as private parkland.
This sketch of the south lawn of Hamilton Palace
shows proposals for the creation of walkways and shrubberies in
the areas to the south and west of the palace, recently made private
by a re-routing of the Edinburgh road (bottom) and by walling off
most of the 'Hietoun' (which stood roughly in the area occupied
by the north point and the sketched walkways). A recently created
drive leads to the palace from the Edinburgh road which swings across
the line of the great avenue (centre) to a bridge over the River
Clyde, instead of following a direct route across the front of the
palace to the Clyde ferry.
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The palace, about to be massively enlarged by
the 10th Duke (1767-1852), is shown
in its late 17th-century outline, with a conservatory sketched in
on the east side, close to the site of the old part-dismantled church
and burial aisle (not shown). The range running along the north
side of the enclosed kitchen garden (bottom right) is marked 'Peach
Houses, Vinery etc'.
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