The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 1 of 2Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
History
The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 1 of 2
Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
Historic buildings -- England
Its situation, like that of so many structures of the same
date in England, is unfortunately low, and the difficulty of drainage
(it is liable at times to be flooded) offers some excuse for removal to
a more eligible site. The approach is through an avenue of finely-grown
trees, extending above three quarters of a mile. The first Court-yard
resembled that of Holdenby--a balustraded inclosure, with two grand
archways. The external front is the work of Inigo Jones, by whom also
much of the interior was considerably altered. Passing through this, the
visitor enters the principal Quadrangle (which forms the subject of Mr.
Richardson’s drawing). “On each side of the arched entrance are fluted
Ionic pilasters, with an enriched frieze and entablature; the arched
window above, opening upon a Gallery supported by consoles, has a
semicircular pediment, broken in the centre, and inclosing a bracket for
a bust, with the date 1638.” The window is, however, an insertion by
Inigo Jones; and being of a much later date than the other parts of the
front, sadly mars the effect of the architecture of old Thorpe. The
third story contains the motto and date “Je. Seray 1572, Loyal.” The
Garden front has a raised Terrace--now a corn-field--in which the slopes
and a few ornamental seats yet remain. This front supplies one of the
grandest examples of Elizabethan architecture existing in England. It
was built by Thorpe, and essentially agrees with the German School of
Architecture of that day--which the British Architect had evidently
studied. The Garden seats, vases, &c., of which there endure only broken
fragments, are in the style, and believed to be the works, of Inigo
Jones. The Garden was terminated by a remarkably picturesque little
bridge, ornamented with a balustrade and scroll work, now, like all
other objects about the structure, or connected with it, submitted to
the wanton assaults of every heedless passer-by. Modern Vandalism has,
indeed, been very busy everywhere within and around this venerable
Mansion;--a farmer occupies a suite of rooms, the decorations of which
would excite astonishment and admiration in a London Club-house;
farm-servants sleep surrounded by exquisite carvings; one room in the
south side of the Quadrangle, decorated with a fine old fire-place, in
which are the arms of the Lord Chancellor, served, at the time of the
artist’s visit, the purpose of a dog-kennel; and an elegant Chapel,
constructed by Inigo Jones, is entered with difficulty through piles of
lumber and heaps of rubbish.
Our initial letter is copied from one of the Finials, which crown the
pilasters and gables in the Quadrangle. They formerly held staves with
moveable vanes (in metal), “turning with every winde.”
[Illustration:
From a drawing by T. Allom Day & Son, Lith.ʳˢ. to The Queen.
]
WOLLATTON HALL,
NOTTINGHAMSHIRE.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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