"HA-HA" (landscape feature)

[Answerprancer]

I have recently become fascinated by this landscaping feature.
It typically consists of a sudden sharp slope that meets with a vertical rise.
There is a road near Woolwich called "Ha Ha Road" and there are the remnants of the original ha ha nearby apparently. I wonder if it got its name from the results of hapless individuals stumbling into one. I also wonder how many there are in this country and if there is one near me (I live in SW London).
Any thoughts ?

[Mamyalynne]

In its modern form, the concept and term are of French origin, with the term being attested in toponyms in New France from 1686 (as seen in modern times in Saint-Louis-du-Ha! Ha!),

[Mamyalynne]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Main_Page

[Mamyalynne]

oops

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ha-ha#Origins

[nungate]

There's a Ha Ha at Lennoxlove, just outside Haddington in East Lothian, where it's used to keep cattle away from the house if I remember rightly

[jno]

I think nungate's right - the idea was to keep the cattle from peering into your stately home, but without the use of a visually unappealing barrier like a fence. A sunken ditch was out of your sight but deterred the wildlife.

[nungate]

They have a breed of white cattle up at Lennoxlove that can be quite nasty -
I don't remember all the details though but I think they are quite an ancient breed - it's been a while since I was there

[andrew1707]

There is a Ha-Ha around Wollaton Hall in Nottingham.

[boxtops]

It's the ancient horticultural version of an infinity pool - make a barrier, but make it so that you can't see it.

[dotty.]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/...sside/article_1.shtml

don't think we have any here in Lancashire, not that survive anyway

[heathfield]

There's one at Glamis Castle in Angus that has 'listed building' status, and a superb example at Hopetoun House by South Queensferry - (second picture)...

http://www.scottish-p...res/moregpix1043.html

[boxtops]

Like these, nun?

http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/2376543

Sorry, AP, for that :)

[Mosaic]

Dotty - I think there might be one, or the largish remnants of one, at Levens Hall....but I suppose being Carnforth way that counts as Cumbria not Lancashire.

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for the inspiring answers. I think we might have one near me (at Ham House) I need to check it out.

[Anngel]

there is a ha-ha at Hylands House in Chelmsford.

[tenrec]

There is one near Sizergh Castle in Cumbria too.

[237SJ]

Just seen this. There`s one fairly near you at Lower Sunbury. You can see it from the park where people walk their dogs.