What was Quebec?
What was 'Quebec' ?
The Quebec was an area of Studley Royal Water Garden, lying between the Lake
and the Temple of Piety. The area contained a pond and three small islands. On
one of these islands stood a stone column known as the Quebec Monument.
We have little evidence about this part of the garden other than maps from 1831,
1838 and 1870, and references in the estate's account books. We don't know when
the pond was initially constructed, but previous archaeological survey work has
given us some important chronological clues.
Both on the islands and around the shores there was a dense planting of trees.
During the Victorian times the trees had grown so much that it became dark and
enclosed.
We don't know exactly what happened but in the 1900s the then owner, the Marquis
of Ripon, decided to fill the pond in. It has remained much as it was then until
now.
Part of the difficulty with this area of the Water Garden is that it is often
flooded. Part of the conservation project will be to look at how we can improve
this.
The Battle of Quebec
The battle of Quebec took place on 12 September 1759 between the British and
the French. British troops, commanded by General Wolfe, climbed the Heights of
Abraham above the St Lawrence river, taking the French garrison by surprise. The
surprise attack ended seven years of fighting over the northern colonies of the
Americas.
General Wolfe became a national hero after his death and the battle an iconic
symbol of British military triumph. The battle was commemorated in a number of
Britain's gardens including Studley Royal.
