S^6 



To the Editor of the Analyst, 



Btn, 



Conceiving that among your readers there may be many who 

 love to study the habits and fashions of our forefathers by 

 examining their architectural and monumental remains, I purpose, 

 should it meet your approbation, occasionally introducing to 

 their notice, such objects of antiquarian or historical interest as 

 have hitherto escaped the notice of the antiquary, or been but 

 briefly dwelt upon by our local historiatis. With this view 1 have 

 sent you a short notice of Porter's Mill, in the parish of Claines, 

 about three miles from Worcester ; and should it in the slightest 

 degree interest any of your readers, the wishes will be fully 

 answered of 



Yours, respectfully, 



H.E. 

 Worcester, Nov. 2*2, 1834. 



There are perhaps few spots to be visited in the neighbourhood 

 of Worcester that will better reward the lover of landscape, the 

 artist, or the antiquary, than Porter's Mill ; the rich and varied 

 scenery with which it is surrounded will delight the former, the 

 artist will be pleased with the picturesque outline of the house, 

 whilst the associations connected with it have an equal charm for 

 the lover of antiquity. That portion of the house which has been 

 spared from the hands of the improver is well worthy of attention, 

 as illustrating the style of residence of the middle gentry early 

 in the sixteenth century. Originally the house was constructed of 

 timber- framing, the intermediate spaces being lathed and plastered : 

 the west end is deserving an attentive consideration ; — the bold 

 projection of the upper stories of the house in advance of those 

 immediately beneath, had the two-fold advantage of preserving the 

 lower part from wet and producing a pleasing effect of light and 

 shade. The barge-boards and pinnacles which, no doubt, at one 

 time decorated the gables, cease to exist 3 there is, however, a good 

 specimen of a brick chimney very common in the counties of 

 Worcester, Warwick, and Stafford : — the plan of each shaft being 

 that of one square placed diagonally on another, presenting eight 

 right angles. Over a fire-place now used as a bakehouse, are the 

 arms of Elizabeth, and the five-leaved rose, one of the Tudor 

 badges. 



It in impossible to examine this or any of the domestic buildings 

 between the reigns of Henry VII. and Elizabeth, without being 

 struck with the ingenuity, which out of materials at first sight 

 so unfitted for the purpose of the picturesque, could produce 

 an eflfect so pleasing to the eye. A moulding is never seen 

 without its apparent use, or a carving that does not form part of 

 the design which could ill be dispensed with j the chininies which 

 moderns twist into every variety of form to conceal, are here 



