The wall initially made a complete semi-circle, blocking the view of the lake from the house. George Booth would often complain about this bad design; his sons James and Henry talked about changing it, but for whatever reason, George Booth resisted.
One day however, when their father was away on business, the sons decided to do something about the wall. They took sledgehammers and began knocking holes in the wall. By the time George Booth returned home they had made about a three foot opening.
George Booth told the boys they needed to finish what they started, and for penance, he also made them cut down a tree that also interfered with the view of the lake.