224 DERBY CEILINGS. 



historical title of "the great room in the Market Place." In each 

 panel is a handsome design of scrolls and flowers in plaster, in 

 bold relief. The design and the work are alike artistic. 



The whole of the flowers and scrolls are evidently modelled by 

 hand, and not moulded or cast in plaster, as no two scrolls or 

 flowers are exactly alike. The shields at either end were most 

 probably originally emblazoned with coats of arms. 



The Derby Mercury, of April 3, 1872, speaking of the visit of 

 the Pretender to Derby, says, " We have heard that the final 

 Council was not held in the Exeter House, but in the spacious 

 apartment, known as ' the great room in the Market Place,' then, 

 we believe, the residence of Alderman Smith, upon whom ' Old 

 Gordon, of Glenbucket,' was quartered. Our authority for this 

 statement, is not, however, now at hand ; and Mr. Cantrell's (the 

 Rev. Henry Cantrell, Vicar of St. Alkmund's, Derby, 17 12-1773) 

 letter says nothing about the Councils of War. There are good 

 substantial reasons, however, for believing that in this house an- 

 other Charles — the martyred first of that name — slept when he 

 visited Derby in 1635. On that occasion, according to the 

 sarcastic Hutton, the Corporation of Derby gave the Duke of 

 Newcastle a fat ox, a calf, six fat sheep, and a purse of gold, in 

 order that he might ' Keep hospitality ; that is, invite them to 

 dinner.' " 



PAINTED CEILINGS. 



Two other ceilings, worthy of note, are of a different character, 

 and are in the houses now occupied by Mr. Storer and Mr. 

 Haskew, in the Market Place, Derby. The two houses were 

 formerly one, which was the residence of Mr. Franceys, from 

 whose family it passed, by purchase, to the Storers, over two 

 hundred years ago. The two rooms in which the ceilings are, are 

 to the front, and adjoin each other, with double doors communi- 

 cating; the space between the latter is now bricked up. Both 

 rooms are oak panelled ; and the whole house bears evidence of 

 the means and taste of its builder. 



The two ceilings are painted in a bold style of some merit, but, 

 having been "cleaned," the originals have been somewhat 



