The Stately Homes of EnglandJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The Stately Homes of England
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Historic buildings -- England
The Hall is backed by a noble park, amply stocked with deer, and
containing trees of great variety and immense size, some of them
measuring above thirty feet in circumference. It comprises 1,800
acres, and encloses an area of about seven miles. The old approach,
long disused, was through an avenue of lime trees, consisting of four
rows, and extending more than half a mile in length from the dependent
village. The present entrance is through a red-brick, turreted
gateway, adjacent to which is the “LODGE.” On nearing the house, the
eye encounters a cedar of magnificent growth, and to the left are the
gardens, into which there are two terrace-walks—one from the great
gate, and another, at a considerable elevation, from the suite of
apartments which constitute the first floor. The view we have given
is the more ancient portion of the venerable edifice—the north wing,
with which the south wing mainly corresponds. They are, however,
connected by a centre, built by Inigo Jones; and this centre, which
consists of a façade with Corinthian pilasters, is out of keeping with
the quaint gables, octagonal turrets, ornamental doorways, carved
cornices, projecting mullioned windows, and elaborated chimneys,
which distinguish the earlier dwelling of the Cobhams. The structure
thus assumes the form of a half H, the wings being terminated by
octagonal towers; a sunken wall in front encloses a quadrangular
lawn, ornamented with vases and statues. The wings exhibit the dates
1582 and 1594, and retain all the characteristics of the later
Tudor style; although, as we have intimated, it has been materially
corrupted by the several alterations to which, from time to time,
the mansion has been subjected. The ordinary entrance is through a
vaulted passage, “built in the form of a Gothic cloister by James
Wyatt,” which contains the arms of the Cobhams, with the date 1587.
This passage leads to the grand staircase, and the several apartments
on the ground-floor. The first to which strangers are conducted is
the dining-hall, which contains an elaborately carved black-and-white
marble chimney-piece, having quaint and curious figures and buildings,
and a series of portraits of rare excellence. The Music-room, one of
the suite added to the ancient building, affords a brilliant contrast
to the sombre and solid character of the dining-room. It contains
but one picture—full-length portraits of the Lords John and Bernard
Stuart, sons of the Duke of Lennox—a _chef-d’œvre_ of Vandyke. The
chimney-piece is formed of the purest white marble, sculptured in
bas-relief after Guido’s “Aurora,” by the elder Westmacott, with fauns
life-size, as supporters. The ceiling was designed by Inigo Jones;
it is divided into several square and circular compartments, with a
deep oval in the centre, “superbly gilt and enriched by appropriate
ornaments, among which are twelve pendant coronets.” The apartment is
in length 50 feet, in breadth 36 feet, and height 32 feet! and although
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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