One of the first objects of improvement should be, to adapt the character of the grounds to that of the house; and both should bear some proportion to the extent of property by which they are surrounded. "At STOKE, in Herefordshire, the house and park are as perfectly separated from each other by a turnpike road, as if they were the property of different persons; and both are seen from that road in the most unfavourable points of view. Of the house little is visible except the roof and chimneys; and, with respect to the park, which naturally abounds with the most pleasing shapes of ground, richly clothed with wood, the road passes so immediately at the foot of the declivity, that the whole appears foreshortened, and all its beauties are entirely lost. To divert the course of this road, therefore, becomes the first object of improvement" *.
*[This has been done, and the improvement to the place is equally felt by the proprietor, and conspicuous to every stranger who travels from Ledbury to Hereford. It seldom happens that both the public and the individual are benefited, by altering the course of a high road; but their mutual advantage ought to be studied. It often happens, that the basis of all improvement depends on removing a public road, of which examples occurred in the following places: ABINGTON HALL, ADLESTROP, BAYHAM, KENWOOD, PANSHANGER, GARNONS, HASELLS: these I mention in preference to many others, because the improvement is obvious to the public.]
