DOORS. [Illustration: 149.--DOORWAY, ABBOTT'S HOSPITAL, GUILDFORD, SURREY (1627).] Doorways presented another opportunity for the display of design. At Sizergh the door is merely a portion of the panelling on hinges, the porch in which it is hung gives it the requisite importance; but as a rule the doorways were surrounded with a large amount of decoration. In important houses they were flanked with columns or pilasters, were surmounted with a frieze and cornice, and often with a pediment; obelisks stood over the pilasters; the frieze was fluted or carved or adorned at intervals with heads; some convenient panel was filled with the owner's arms; nothing was omitted that an extravagant fancy could suggest (Plate LIII.). At Levens Hall, in Westmorland, there is a fine panelled room with a richly ornamented doorway (Plate LIV.), in which fantastic figures support a cornice whereon is set up a panel for the owner's arms, flanked on either hand by a contorted animal. In the same district, at Conishead Priory, there is a panelled room of even greater elaboration than this at Levens. Some of the panels are ornamented with mouldings mitred into various patterns, but most of them have niches with pediments or raised panels surrounded with mouldings curved and straight and breaking back in a bewildering manner, while here, there, and everywhere are cherubs' heads and bunches of fruit--the whole effect being rather too bizarre. [Illustration: PLATE LII. HARDWICK HALL, DERBYSHIRE. THE PRESENCE-CHAMBER.] [Illustration: PLATE LIII. DOORWAY IN A HOUSE AT BRISTOL.] [Illustration: PLATE LIV. LEVENS HALL, WESTMORLAND. A DOORWAY.] [Illustration: 150.--LATCH FROM ABBOTT'S HOSPITAL, GUILDFORD.] [Illustration: 151.--LATCH FROM HADDON HALL.] [Illustration: 152.--LOCK-PLATES, LATCHES, &c.] [Illustration: 153.--CASEMENT FASTENER FROM HADDON HALL.]