Drowned Hound

I took the boys and dogs to Petworth Park for a walk this morning (a few pictures here). A bit of a let down weather-wise today after such a lovely one in these parts yesterday but, hey, this is the UK.

I've been walking past this statue all my life and it has a rather sad story behind it. The 3rd Earl of Egremont (of the family who reside in Petworth House and very kindly let us wander round their lovely garden) placed several magnificent 17th-century urns throughout the park and built the boat-house. On the edge of the lake he had the Sculptor Carew erect a memorial to his favourite hound, which had drowned there. The sculpture was modelled on a Roman sculpture known as The Dog of Alcibiades.

PS - Son2 blipped a swimming grass snake!