The Cathedral Towns and Intervening Places of England, Ireland and Scotland:: A Description of Cities, Cathedrals, Lakes, Mountains, Ruins, and Watering-places.Silloway, Thomas W. (Thomas William)
History
The Cathedral Towns and Intervening Places of England, Ireland and Scotland:: A Description of Cities, Cathedrals, Lakes, Mountains, Ruins, and Watering-places.
Silloway, Thomas W. (Thomas William)
Great Britain -- Description and travel
Next we walk over the great lawn, to the greenhouse five hundred feet
away. We are invited there by the venerable gardener, but not without
hope of reward. Here is the celebrated Warwick Vase; and who, claiming
knowledge of art, has not heard of it? It stands on a pedestal six feet
high. It is of marble, now of yellowish tinge, but tolerably white. It
is remarkably rich in carvings, and of great age, its early history
being lost in antiquity. It appeared to be six feet in diameter, and
the same in height. It was years ago found in a lake near Tivoli, and
presented to the Earl of Warwick. All over the civilized world may be
seen copies of this vase, made by permission of the owner.
Standing at the door of this conservatory, and facing towards the
castle, a scene of wonderful beauty is presented. The spot is
somewhat elevated, and we look for miles over hills, velvet fields,
and woodlands. Conspicuous among the trees, making our picture's
foreground, are spreading cedars of Lebanon. The river meanders on
its quiet way; and the winding road, half hidden, adds its charm.
Bordering the lawn which makes our left foreground is the cheerful
castle, in color a sort of buff-tinged granite. It is by no means
ancient in appearance, but the reverse, except in its design. The
main tower is 128 feet high, and dates back full five hundred years.
There is another, 147 feet high, of uncertain date. Ivy has its way,
and covers parts of the great structure. The castle is colossal, its
outlines broken by octagonal and square towers. Let us visit the castle
itself. An additional shilling is to be paid to the young woman who
guides us, and who only commences her tour when the proper number of
visitors has accumulated. We pass through four or five large rooms,
of elegantly finished oak and pine, painted and gilded. The furniture
and upholstery are rich in design,--some ancient, some modern, but all
in keeping with the place. Pictures abound,--many of them are by the
Masters. Bric-a-brac is in profusion, much of it hundreds of years old,
presented to former earls by royalty. There is also a museum of armor.
In one room is a chimney, or open fireplace, with its cheerful fire.
It is some nine feet wide, projecting well into the room, and is high
enough to walk into.
What fine views from the rear windows! Beyond are the meadows and the
groves; and to the right, extending countryward, are the hills and
scenery before described.
The town was formerly walled, and there yet remains a gateway,
surmounted by a chapel. Half a mile up the main street is Leicester
Hospital, endowed centuries ago by the Earl of Leicester, and
charmingly described by Hawthorne. Here is the ancient chair, said to
be a thousand years old, accurate copies of which are for sale.
Near by is the church, built in 1693, with its massive tower of
delightful proportions. How charming are the old mansions with their
profusion of trees, all combining to make Warwick a most inviting place.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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