But the vicissitudes of life and fortune are sometimes curious. It is
well known that the Wharton property "never did any luck," and it is
quite possible Reagill Grange had to be sold under some strain as soon
as built, and it might be purchased by Dr. Daws just before he died. It
remained in the possession of this family up to 1700, at which time an
addition has been made to the north side, where there is a lintel of
a doorway bearing that date, with the initials T & E D., with a bird,
partly intended as heraldic. This must have therefore been done by
Thomas Daws, nephew of Lancelot. Soon after this, the Grange, with the
remaining half of the demesne, was sold to Sir John Lowther, to whose
descendants it now belongs, and has ever since been in the occupation
of the Thwaytes family as tenants.
(HERE THE TEXT ENDS).
[The view of the pleasure ground, no description of which was written,
is taken about half way from the entrance. The recumbent figure on
the right is Venus, which, with the lion, is now almost hidden by
bushes. Beyond was the "Shakespeare corner," with scenes from his
plays; facing the reader stands Sir Walter Scott, and below him three
bas-reliefs illustrating his characters. The paintings are gone, and
the arch is covered with a mass of ivy; it will be seen that one was
mounted even in the wall of the farm house.
To the left is a corner of the terrace, beyond which the lower lawn
continues between the two great vases. The panel below and to the left
of the further vase represents Science trimming the lamp of Life.
The grounds fall far short of their former glory: only an artist could
have kept them what they were; but though it misses "the touch of a
vanished hand," the quiet garden is still a place of great interest
and beauty.]