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as it has opened up an older fireplace behind the present one. 
When the taste came in for closed fireplaces, in place of the open 
ones with dogs, a small grate was here inserted with marble 
sides and top, and the wider fireplace was blocked up; then all 
trace would be hidden by the panelling, which carried up the jams 
of the new fireplace in flattish wood pilasters, leaving a larger 
panel over the chimney-piece for a picture. Now that the wood- 
work has fallen, the older stone fireplace shows, simple but 
handsome. In the spandrels at the top is some moulding and the 
two initials, T. B. Whether there might have been a coat of 
arms in the middle we cannot now see. 
This illustrates well what Baring Gould says in his “‘ Old English 
Home” of the transition from the open hearth to the closed grate, 
though there is no trace of over mantle to be seen here before the 
panelling was put up. 
In another part of this room is a recess in the thick wall, 
behind the fallen panels; it still has some shelves and sort of 
pigeon-holes. 
To refer to Baring Gould again, he speaks of secret cupboards 
to be found behind panels for the safe keeping of deeds and 
jewels. Itis possible that this may have been got at from the 
passage on the other side, but I incline to think it was the 
cupboard of the room before it was panelled; and perhaps it 
was got at afterwards by pressing a spring in the woodwork. 
The East wall is a party wall put up I expect at time of panelling. 
I now pass on through a passage to another South room, longer 
than the last, out of which several doors open. 
On the North wall is another fireplace of freestone over 5 ft. 
7 in. high. The chimney-piece projects but a few inches from the 
wall with a moulded top and a square opening for the fire. 
Out of this room is the small closet mentioned before as part of 
the projecting end, and with the addition in which are the stairs 
stands out beyond the body of the house. 
