The Stately Homes of EnglandJewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
History
The Stately Homes of England
Jewitt, Llewellynn Frederick William
Historic buildings -- England
Although necessarily limited in our description of Cobham Hall, we
have sufficiently shown the rare treat a visit to it will afford those
who, “in populous city pent,” desire to convert occasional holidays
into contributions to intellectual enjoyment. The Hall and its contents
will amply repay examination; and the noble park is full of natural
treasures—thronged with deer, singularly abundant in singing birds,
and containing trees unsurpassed in magnificent size and graceful
proportions. A group of these trees, known as “the Three Sisters”
(why we cannot say), we have engraved. One of the walks conducts to
a hillock, from the summit of which there is a splendid prospect of
the adjacent country, commanding views of the Thames and Medway, and
taking in the venerable castle, cathedral, and town of Rochester, the
dockyards at Sheerness, and the whole course of the great English river
to its mouth at the Nore. The pedestrian, pursuing this route, will
pass the Mausoleum, an elegant structure, built conformably with the
will of the third Earl of Darnley, and designed for the sepulture of
his family. It was never consecrated.
But Cobham has other objects of interest: the venerable Church, and
no less venerable “College.” The “CHURCH,” dedicated to St. Mary
Magdalen, stands upon elevated ground at the entrance of the village.
It consists of a nave, aisles, and chancel, with an embattled tower,
entered by an antique porch. The tower is obviously of a more recent
date than the chancel; the former is very ancient. As in many of the
Kentish churches, the walls were formerly painted in fresco, of which
evidence may be easily obtained by those who examine them narrowly;
the steps of the altar are paved with encaustic tiles, of about the
period of Edward III., of various patterns, but most of them containing
the _fleur-de-lis_. The whole aspect of the place indeed supplies
indubitable proof of very remote antiquity. It has been recently
restored, but with sound judgment and skill, by the accomplished
architect, Sir Gilbert Scott, R.A.
[Illustration: _Interior of the Church._]
The roof of huge oak rafters, the Gothic arches, the brasses, broken
and entire, which cover the floor, the quaint monuments let into the
walls, the delicately-sculptured piscina, the sedilia of carved stone,
the singular font, the rude vestry-room with its massive oak chest, the
Scripture passages painted on the walls, all bespeak the antiquity of
the building.
“Nearly in the centre is the still beautiful tomb of Sir Thomas Broke,
the Lady Joan, and their ten sons and four daughters. It is of white
marble, over which, upon a black slab, lie the effigies of the knight
and dame. On either side are those of five of their sons, kneeling, and
wearing tabards, with their swords girded on. The figures of the four
daughters are carved on the east and west ends of the superb monument.
It bears the date 1561, under the arms of the Brokes quartered with
those of the Cobhams.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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