An inspired landscape feature that became an amusing and unexpected discovery.
If you have ever been to England, and went on a tour where you visited centuries old country estates, and even parklands, a tour guide may have pointed out a feature in one of those landscapes, known as the ha-ha. This landscape feature has been used in places like Royal Crescent in Bath, England and Greys Court in Oxfordshire, England.
Cross section of the garden ha-ha
The ha-ha wall, or sunken fence, was actually a combination of structure (a retaining wall) and graded earth that sloped toward the base of the wall creating a sunken area right in front of the wall. It developed during the 17th century when English garden design strived for a more natural style.
You might ask ‘what in the world was it used for?’ Well, centuries ago on large country estates there were two main outdoor elements: the elaborate gardens, and, the pastoral areas of the estate where the cattle and sheep grazed. The ha-ha was an innovative solution to keep the livestock from wandering too near the house and into the cherished tranquility of a private garden, or, the formal gardens.
When people were in the gardens, the ha-ha was undetectable from a distance because of its concealed construction. Sweeping and uninterrupted views were provided by the ha-ha, which eliminated the need for a conventional type fence. The viewer could sit in the garden and enjoy the far reaching grounds, as a continuous spread of land.
The fence, or wall, got its ha-ha name from the amusement that was produced when people would happen upon the structure, and realized the visual illusion that they had experienced earlier. Although someone chasing down a frisbee would have found it much sooner!
