322 Notes on Spye Park and Bromham. 
stable building ; and this peculiarity, coupled with the occurrence of 
chimneys in that building, has induced some persons to suppose that 
it was the original house, or formed part of it, but I thmk errone- 
ously, for there is nothing about this latter building to show that it 
was not originally erected for offices. The view shows that the 
house itself had a goodly show of windows on the side next the 
park. There may have been a good practical reason why the windows 
were not on the prospect side. Our ancestors were as a rule far less 
fond of exposed situations than ourselves, therefore it is likely that 
the windows were put on the side least exposed to the wind. The 
old knight probably liked comfort, and Evelyn himself was excep- 
tional in the refinement of his taste; however, the pavilion shown 
in the view seems to imply that the beauties of nature were not 
entirely neglected. 
The passage which follows this description of the house will I 
think induce the most enthusiastic archeologist to admit that, in 
some respects, the present times are better than those that have 
gone before. It runs thus— After dinner they went to bowles, 
and in the meanetime our coach-men were made so exceedingly drunk, 
that in returning home we escap’d greate dangers. This it seems 
was by order of the Knight, that all gentlemen’s servants be so 
treated ; but the custome is a barbarous one, and much unbecoming 
a Knight, still lesse a Christian.” 
So far I have directed your attention to Dingley’s view, and the 
exactness with which it illustrates Evelyn’s description. .I must now 
state my reasons for holding that the house lately pulled down was 
the same building. It.will be remembered that, as the house lately 
stood, there was a portico to the front door. The doorway itself — 
seemed to have retained the same, or nearly the same, position as in 
Evelyn’s time. The whole front of the house, above the sunk story, 
had been converted at the same time as the portico was erected, by 
Sir Edward Baynton Rolt, the first baronet, about 1749. Evidence 
of such conversion, as regards the windows, was obtained compara- 
tively recently, in some alterations towards the west end of the front.* 
ie 0S oo <5 2. Ce 
1For this and other information most kindly supplied to me, I am indebted — 
to Mrs. Starky, of Battle House, Bromham. 

