169 



Hamtjltngs of an ^nticittarj?. 



•'The Old Hall at Mickleover." 

 Bv George Bailey in The Antiquary, February, 1902. 



By W. J. Andrew, F.S.A. 



R. BAILEY commences the story of his ramblings 

 with a description (jf a little-known hall at Mickle- 

 over, within three or four miles of his home at Derby. 

 That he is no mean artist of his subject will be 

 apparent from his illustrations, which accompany this review, and 

 which are printed from blocks kindly lent by Mr. Elliot Stock, the 

 publisher of The Antiquary. The author takes us through the 

 picturesque half-timbered house, which, he tells us, is still in 



Fig. 2. — Inscription on the lintel, Mickleover Hall. 



excellent preservation. We pass between imposing gate-posts 

 of characteristic design, and facing us is the quaint porch, with 

 its ver)' uncommon feature of balustered and open sides. On 

 the lintel, deeply cut in solid oak, is the inscription " nisi 

 DEVS FRVSTRA 1648 4-"' (fig- 2), which, as Mr. Bailey reminds 

 us, also occurs on the battlements of Castle Ashby. Crossing 

 the inner threshold, we enter what, originally, had been the 

 hall, for on the right is the handsome oak staircase, and 



