62 



Besides this, they were a greater protection in case of storms, 

 and being obtained in the district at a time when transit was 

 difficult, they saved a deal of labour, and also harmonized both 

 in color and massiveness with the other portions of the structures. 



The glazing of the windows was in lead-lights with square or 

 diamond shaped panes fixed in with iron stanchions, and the glass 

 was sometimes tinted. 



In spite of defects of arrangement in some, such as passing 

 through one room to get into another, the lowness of the rooms ; 

 in others no provision for ventilation, draughtiness and insufficient 

 fireplaces, and occasional fantastic and incongruous details, yet 

 taken as a whole, they will compare favourably with our modern 

 work, and they still can supply us with many valuable hints for 

 our adoption, and furnish us with materials, that combined with 

 our modern conveniences, would greatly improve our present 

 domestic dwellings. 



TowNELEY Hall. 



The original site according to Dr. Whitaker appears to have 

 been a tall and stately knoll southward from the present man- 

 sion, and which is still called " Castle Hill," immediately 

 adjoining the farm called the "Old House." Here before the 

 Conquest, far beyond written memorials, was the Villa de Tunlay, 

 the residence of "one of those independent lords who preside over 

 every village. The present residence is shaped thus | [ and the 

 date of its erection cannot exactly be determined — the archi- 

 tectural features indicating about A.D. 1500. The north east 

 side (now open) which would complete the quadrangle, was 

 formerly occupied by an Entrance Gatehouse and Chapel. The 

 alterations made by Chas. Towneley in the time of Queen Anne 

 have destroyed the value of the Hall as indicating the progress 

 of Medieval Domestic Architecture. Judging fi-om the wealth of 

 the family, the Great Hall must have been one of great magnifi- 

 cence, but in 1725 it was gutted and converted into an Entrance 

 Hall, which is now a fine example of Ionic Architecture. As 

 the Hall now stands it presents a bold and castellated appearance 



the walls in the south wing being 6 ft. thick. The entrance 



door of oak enriched with tracery is dated 1530, and is inserted 

 in the porch which was erected in 1614. The most interesting 

 feature of the Hall is the Chapel, which is of extreme beauty, 

 and of great arch^ological value. Its length is 33 ft. and width 

 18 ft. The chancel is about one-third the length, lofty, and 

 elaborately panelled and carved, with a fine reredos with window 

 above it. The nave is about 12 ft. high with a flat ceiUng 

 shewing the richly moulded beams and joists. On the north 

 west side of the chapel is a small room for the priest. In the 

 side wings the walls are handsomely panelled in oak, and 

 throughout there is a profusion of fine oak furniture. 



