Gents Mag 1848 part 1 p.370
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Gentleman's Magazine 1848 part 1 p.370
[but]tressed at intervals, and in some parts discovering portions of scarped rock, revealing the foundations of the edifice. A narrow ribbed bridge over head at one point connects the terrace with the chapel, beneath which the road advances, and thence through the upper part of an old avenue, between the ruins of the castle and the hall, to the principal gateway, a low heavy tower, partially covered with ivy, through which peer out two or three most significant loop holes, giving assurance of and bearing winess to the warm reception unwelcome visitors might have got in the days of yore. Beneath the arch swings an ancient and most formidable pair of iron-studded oak-plank gates, four inches thick, with a small wicket for foot passengers. These gates are now so much dilapidated that they are suffered to repose against each side, and a modern, frail, barred gate usurps their ancient occupation. The old oaks in the avenue are getting stag-headed, and seem fast dying away, more's the pity, forming as they do so desirable an accompaniment, with their shattered and knarled branches twisted in all manner of fantastic forms, so delightful to the artist. What a strange charm there is in these stunted, doddered old trees, and still more so in the feudal and embattled halls of the ancient gentry, hoary with age and the war of elements and of man, with all their historic and romantic associations; crisp with partially decaying masonry, and tinted by lichen, mosses, and all the small vegetation which so much delights in old walls. Passing through the archway, the antiquary is delighted with the large venerable courtyard into which he thus gains admittance, surrounded by buildings of various ages, though none to appearance later than the time of Henry VII. and arranged in the most picturesque and irregular manner, partly covered with ivy, and the walls gray with the weather-stains of centuries. The edifice is in great part built of the limestone of the district, which assumes a variety of tone and colour after long exposure to the atmosphere. The windows, doorways, &c. are of sandstone. From this court a stone-groined arched passage beneath a tower large enough for carriages leads into a second court, appertaining to the offices, stables, &c. and having a clock tower, and another arched gatehouse leading into the park. The principal suite of apartments occupies three sides of the large court first entered, and in the centre a porch, embattled and with buttresses, admits through a most hospitable-looking archway into a sort of cloistered passage running along the entire front of this range of the buildings, and through it into the great hall, a magnificent apartment, and worthy to banquet the best of all its noble and learned owner's most distinguished friends. Its dimensions are from forty to fifty feet long by twenty wide and high, with an oaken roof resting on spandrils, the whole illuminated with gold and brilliant colours, lately renovated. The walls are paneled with napkin paneling some twelve feet high, and above hang demi-suits of armour, intermixed with weapons and stags' antlers. At the upper end of the hall is the fireplace, richly carved in stone, and beneath its wide yawning arch is a reredos and andirons or dogs, bearing the arms of Henry VII, for burning wood, Above are two full suits of armour, one bright, and the other allecret, and between them a beautiful demi-suit of bright steel inlayed with gold. Grouping with these military accoutrements are pennoncels and banners. In a recessed part of the wall, upon the court cupboard, stand various old pieces of silver-gilt plate and other matters of antiquity, and upon the paneling are suspended guns, old matchlocks, swords, and other weapons, which, from their family associations and interest, are hung low for greater convenience of examination; the most particular of which is the old Saxon horn, a very interesting relic, by possession of which some how or other the lands were anciently held. At the bottom of the hall is a screen of richly-carved oak, perforated; and here stand other three full cap-à-pie suits of bright armour; one a very fine suit, temp. Henry VI., another, a fluted suit, time of Henry VIII., and the third of Elizabeth's reign. The old flagged stone floor has been recently replaced by encaustic tiles, having the armorial devices of the family inlaid upon quar- |
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