A still earlier example of domestic architecture is the Mano_Old English Mansions

East Barsham, Norfolk (Plate XXII), which was begun in the first few

years of the sixteenth century. It was built of red brick with

terra-cotta decorations, and it must have been a magnificent structure.

It fell into a ruinous state and was used as a farmhouse early in the

nineteenth century. Another East Anglian building which possessed

importance in Tudor times was West Stow Hall, Suffolk (Plate XXI). The

fine gatehouse shown in Müller’s drawing dominated the rest of the

building and survived in a habitable state long after the main edifice

had become useless. In a decayed state the place was used for

agricultural purposes.

Sawston Hall, Cambridgeshire (Plate IV), was for centuries the residence

of the “Ayntient and Rightworthy Famylie of Hodlestone,” the building

illustrated being erected about the year 1557. There is a tradition that

Queen Mary took shelter in the mansion which preceded this one, and was

conveyed thence on horseback to Framlingham. Her pursuers set fire to

the building and the Queen said, “Let the house burn; I will build

Huddleston a better.” It is now the seat of Mr. D. Lawlor-Huddleston.

Among the most notable buildings in England is Montacute, an interior of

which is illustrated here (Plate XXXI). Its name, derived from

_mons acutus_, explains that it is on a hilly site, from which it

overlooks the picturesque village of Montacute. The castle was of Norman

origin and was then owned by the Phelips family, the possessor of the

present mansion being Mr. W. R. Phelips. Montacute was built at the end

of the sixteenth century and gained a reputation for hospitality partly

by the inscription over the entrance,

“Through this wide-opening gate,

None come too early, none return too late.”

The place was sacked by Cromwell, who stayed there for a time. When

Richardson visited the house it was in poor condition, “stripped in a

great degree of its internal decorations and left to the mercy of time”;

but restorations have been carried out. It is noteworthy that while the

walls were richly panelled and decorated the ceilings throughout were

kept plain, as indicated in the illustration.

Among other interesting stone buildings erected in Somersetshire may be

mentioned Barrington Court (Plate XLI), built for the first Earl of

Bridgewater in the time of James I. This gabled mansion, with its

twisted chimneys and pinnacles, was once of great beauty, but it fell

into disrepair, and in a dilapidated state was occupied by a farmer. In

1907 it was acquired by the National Trust for Places of Historic

Interest or Natural Beauty, under whose directions restorations have

been effected. The house at South Petherton, in the same county (Plate

XXXVII), is an example of the use of tracery, now reserved for

ecclesiastical buildings, but once common in domestic architecture.

Dorfold Hall, Cheshire (Plates XXIX and XXX), the residence of Mr. H. J.

Tollemache, is a Jacobean mansion about a mile from Nantwich. It is a

brick building with stone dressings, the interior being decorated in

lavish style. The plaster-work of the ceiling in the Great Chamber was

especially ornate, though not so overwhelming, probably, as it seems to

be in Richardson’s drawing.

The illustrations of interiors which are included in this volume are

typical of many productions which expressed the fancy of designers and

decorators in olden times. Reference has been made to some of them

already, and a few more notes may be given in connection with the

others. Benthall Hall, Shropshire (Plate II), was built for William

Benthallin 1535 on the site of a former house. It was unharmed during

the Civil War, but was badly damaged by fire about a hundred years ago.

The view of the dining-room, re-peopled by the artist with some of its

former tenants, shows the oak fireplace extending to the enriched

ceiling. Charlecote, Warwickshire (Plate XVIII), was built in 1558 for

Thomas Lucy, who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth and whose portrait with

his family is shown in the picture by Jansen over the fireplace.

Charlecote is supposed to have been the scene of Shakespeare’s

youthful escapade, which, perhaps, brought him into the very room

depicted by J. G. Jackson. Coombe Abbey, near Coventry (Plate XIX), is

of ancient foundation, the first structure being a Cistercian monastery.

It came into lay hands in the time of Henry VIII and the place was

rebuilt. Since then it has been altered several times, notably from

designs by Captain Wynne, and in more recent times by Eden Nesfield.

Coombe Abbey, the seat of the Earl of Craven, was the home of the

Princess Elizabeth, only daughter of James I, through whose marriage

with the Elector Palatine the House of Hanover came to the throne of

England. Ford House, Devonshire (Plate XIII), was built for Sir Richard

Reynell in 1610 and was the scene of much fighting during the Civil War.

It has memories of Charles I and the Prince of Orange. Burton Agnes,

Yorkshire (Plate XLVI), the ancient home of the Boyntons, is still in

the possession of a member of the family, Mr. T. L. Wickham-Boynton. It

is a most interesting Tudor house, both as regards the interior and

exterior. Richardson’s view of the hall, with its semicircular arch

leading to the staircase, is obtainable still, though pictures are now

to be seen on the walls. Longford Castle, Wiltshire (Plate XLIX), the

seat of the Earl of Radnor, is probably the work of John Thorpe. It was

begun just before the advent of the Spanish Armada, and it is related

that the cost of the foundations was so heavy that the purse of the

client, Sir Thomas Gorges, was almost empty. Fortunately one of the

Spanish galleons was wrecked near Hurst Castle, the Hampshire fortress

of which Sir Thomas became Governor at the time of the threatened

invasion. It was in Longford Castle that Holbein’s Ambassadors was to be

seen for so many generations, before it was removed with other pictures

to the National Gallery, London, about a quarter of a century ago.

Among the illustrations are several showing the panelling which once

adorned, and in some cases still helps to furnish, the mansions erected

in other days. Some of the woodwork was kept in its natural state, and

some was gilt or otherwise embellished; but the craftsmanship was always

of supreme interest. The panelling surrounding the drawing-room at

Boughton Malherbe, Kent (page 7), was of various woods and was coloured.

The marquetry work in the dining-room at Gilling Castle, Yorkshire (page

13), was very elaborate and beautiful in its own way, like the other

decorations in this apartment, which measured 39 by 22 feet.

Exceptionally fine work was also placed in the drawing-room at Stockton

House, Wiltshire (Plate XXXV). The decorations of a room at Great

Yarmouth provided Shaw with inspiration (page 19), and so did those at

Blickling Hall, Norfolk (page 29). The latter name is associated with

the Boleyn family, and with the early days of the unfortunate Queen. The

residence of the Boleyns, however, must have been earlier than the

present one. The property was purchased in Queen Elizabeth’s

day by Sir Henry Hobart, whose descendant, the Marquis of Lothian, is

now the owner. The existing Blickling Hall was built in Jacobean times,

and it will be seen that the date on the chimney-piece is 1627.

Nothing less than a monograph on every one of the Old English Mansions

would suffice to do justice to their historic and artistic glories. A

great deal can be left unsaid, however, without minimising our

appreciation, and such implied praise may be taken for granted in the

present case. Imperfect though some of these old buildings may have been

in several ways, they are among the classics in architecture and their

appeal is continual. Generous in scale, well-built, decorated with

high-spirited talent, and occupied from time to time by people who, if

they do not always command our admiration, at least compel our interest,

these houses have become a part of the national life. If in some cases

they have suffered demolition or sacrilege, the fact should inspire us

to spare no efforts to keep the remaining examples intact and to leave

them as a heritage. They please because of their distant past, perhaps,

but they also attract for what they possess in value at the present

time. They are too precious to be sacrificed.

[Illustration: T. ALLOM

PLATE I. HADDON HALL. DERBYSHIRE]

[Illustration: J. C. Bayliss

PLATE II. BENTHALL HALL, SHROPSHIRE]

[Illustration: EWAN CHRISTIAN

PLATE III. INCH HALL, LANCASHIRE]

[Illustration: J. DAFFORNE

PLATE IV. SAWSTON HALL, CAMBRIDGESHIRE]

[Illustration: J. S. DODD

PLATE V. THE HALL I’ THE WOOD, LANCASHIRE]

[Illustration: J. S. DODD

PLATE VI. SMITHELLS HALL, LANCASHIRE]

[Illustration: J. S. DODD

PLATE VII. TURTON TOWER. LANCASHIRE]

[Illustration: A. E. EVERITT

PLATE VIII. THE OAK HOUSE, WEST BROMWICH, STAFFORDSHIRE]

[Illustration: A. E. EVERITT

PLATE IX. ASTON HALL, WARWICKSHIRE]

[Illustration: F. W. FAIRHOLT

PLATE X. FEERING HOUSE, ESSEX]

[Illustration: F. W. FAIRHOLT

PLATE XI. HOREHAM HALL, ESSEX]

[Illustration: H. GALTON

PLATE XII. SALWARP COURT. NEAR DROITWICH. WORCESTERSHIRE]

[Illustration: J. GENDALL

PLATE XIII. FORD HOUSE, DEVONSHIRE]

[Illustration: J. D. HARDING

PLATE XIV. KIRBY HALL, NORTHAMPTONSHIRE]

[Illustration: J. HOLLAND

PLATE XV. CHARLTON HOUSE, KENT]

[Illustration: F. W. HULME

PLATE XVI. PITCHFORD HALL, SHROPSHIRE]

[Illustration: F W. HULME

PLATE XVII. LOSELEY HOUSE, SURREY]

[Illustration: J. G. JACKSON

PLATE XVIII. CHARLECOTE, WARWICKSHIRE--THE GREAT HALL]

[Illustration: J. G. JACKSON

PLATE XIX. COOMBE ABBEY, WARWICKSHIRE--THE ELIZABETHAN ROOM]

[Illustration: J. G. JACKSON

PLATE XX. WROXHALL ABBEY, WARWICKSHIRE]

[Illustration: W. MÜLLER

PLATE XXI. WEST STOW HALL. SUFFOLK]

[Illustration: JOSEPH NASH

PLATE XXII. THE MANOR HOUSE. EAST BARSHAM, NORFOLK]

[Illustration: H. L. PRATT

PLATE XXIII. MORETON HALL, CHESHIRE]

[Illustration: H. L. PRATT

PLATE XXIV. THROWLEY HALL, STAFFORDSHIRE]

[Illustration: LAKE PRICE

PLATE XXV. HARDWICK HALL, DERBYSHIRE]