The Stately Homes of EnglandJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The Stately Homes of England
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Historic buildings -- England
Passing out from the dining-room, the visitor will next ascend
the stone stairs leading up from the Banqueting-Hall to the state
apartments. Arriving at the top of this short staircase he will find
three doorways, that to the left opening into the long gallery, or
ball-room; the one to the right giving access to the drawing-room, the
Earl’s room, &c.; and the third simply opening to a staircase to the
leads, &c. Passing through the door to the right the visitor enters the
DRAWING-ROOM, which is situated over the Dining-room just described.
It is a charming room, hung with grand old tapestry, above which is a
frieze of ornamented mouldings, in pargetting work. This frieze is of
five heights, each being decorated with a separate moulding of raised
festoons, fruits, flowers, &c.
[Illustration: _Ante-room to the Earl’s Bed room._]
To the left, on entering, is a beautiful recessed, or bay, window, over
the similar one in the Dining-room; and from this window one of the
most beautiful views of the terrace, the foot-bridge, the river, and
the grounds, is obtained. This window recess is wainscoted in panels,
which have originally been painted and gilt—portions of the colour and
gilding still remaining; its ceiling is in the form of a large star
of eight points, with intersecting segments of circles attaching the
inner angles to each other, and forming a geometric pattern of great
beauty. The ceiling of the room is also richly ornamented. Above and
around the fire-place the wall is wainscoted in panels, in a similar
manner to the recess. In the fire-place is one of the most curious
of existing grates, the alternate upright bars of which terminate in
_fleurs-de-lis_, and a pair of exquisitely beautiful fire-dogs; the
two bosses on each being of open metal-work, of the most chaste and
elaborate design and workmanship. They are of brass; and the bosses,
which are circular, are designed in foliage and flowers.
[Illustration: _The Ball-room, or Long Gallery._]
In these beautiful remains Haddon is especially rich; but the pair
in this room, and the two remarkably fine enamelled bosses in the
so-called “Chaplain’s Room,” are the most interesting and elegant.
Opposite to the recessed window, a doorway in the tapestry opens upon
the side gallery of the “Banqueting Hall,” and so gives access to,
and communication with, the apartments on the opposite side of the
quadrangle.
The opposite end of the Drawing-room from the entrance doorway is
occupied by a large window, of similar size to that in the Dining-room
beneath it, which overlooks the lower court-yard or quadrangle. In this
room are still preserved some pieces of ancient furniture. Near the
further window a doorway opens into what is called
The EARL’S DRESSING-ROOM, a small but remarkably pretty apartment, hung
with tapestry, and lighted by a recessed window. This room, as shown in
our engraving, immediately communicates with
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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