The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 2 of 2Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
History
The Baronial Halls, and Ancient Picturesque Edifices of England; Vol. 2 of 2
Hall, S. C. (Samuel Carter)
Historic buildings -- England
which there is a flight of stone steps communicating with the moat;
there appears formerly to have been a terrace walk on this side of the
house, the situation of which is shown by the figure looking over the
wall. The pinnacles and ornaments from the Gables on this side of the
building are quite gone, the only ornament now remaining is the string
course round the whole building which still remains in good
preservation; and the window over the arch has some bold mouldings, it
occupies the space below the second gable in the woodcut. A large room
in the further Gable, now used as a Laundry, is said to have formerly
been the Chapel: we may imagine this to have been the case by the
window, which is different in size and shape from the others. On the
right of the arch is a doorway leading to the moat by the flight of
stone steps, also to the terrace-walk before mentioned, which is only
continued on one side of the building. On each side of this doorway is a
large stone seat, one of which is shown in the woodcut. The arch is
ornamented with a number of small mouldings, which, commencing at one
base, is continued through the impost and architrave to the base
opposite.
Two large oak doors open from the porch into an inner court of an oblong
form, in
[Illustration]
length about twenty-four yards, and in breadth about seventeen. Two
enormous and very venerable yew-trees still flourish here--now only
picturesque ornaments in keeping with the solemn character of the
structure; but in ancient times, no doubt, they answered the purpose of
equipping many a stout English bowman, and may have aided the victors of
Crecy and Poictiers. The principal windows of the mansion look into this
court; several of them yet retain their costly ornaments, and everywhere
there is to be found some indication that wealth and taste were lavishly
expended in decorating the noble and beautiful structure.
Passing down the principal lobby, we enter the Great Hall on the right.
It is very lofty; a fine oak wainscoting reaches from the floor to the
ceiling, which is of oak also, crossed by large beams, deeply moulded,
forming squares, which are again crossed, diagonally, by small moulded
ribs. The large Bay
[Illustration]
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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