102 



fixed to the north wall of the chancel, in memory of Sir John 

 Stafford, Knight, Gentleman Pensioner to Queen Elizabeth, 

 and Constable of Bristol, who died 1624, attracted attention 

 by the peculiar, but clear and legible, characters of the 

 letters. From the Church to the Castle adjoining on the 

 south side was but a short distance, under the kind guidance 

 of Mr. Eichard Scarlett (the solicitor to the proprietor, Mr. 

 Howard), the various architectural details were pointed out. 

 Entering through the south gate of the court-yard, which is 

 surrounded by the outer loopholed walls, much of which is 

 standing, admission is gained to the inhabited parts through 

 a western Tudor gateway with socket for portcullis, and the 

 badges of the Stafford family — the golden Stafiord knot, the 

 silver swan, the blue ermined mantle, and the spotted 

 antelope — represented in the spanckells above ; and an in- 

 scription on labels stating that this gate was begun by 

 " Edw. Due of Bukkingha, Erlle," of Hereford, Stafford, and 

 Northampton, A.D. Mcccccxi, with the motto, " Dorens 

 avant" Shakespeare's — 



" Bounteous Buckingham, 

 The mirror of all courtesy." 



Though the principal remains of this Castle (a very good 

 example of the mixed architecture of the Castle and the Hall, 

 in which military and domestic conveniences were happily 

 blended) are those of the 16th century, yet a much more 

 ancient building once existed upon the site, built by Ealph 

 Lord Stafford, temp. Edward IH., of which apparently few 

 historical details exist. Permission having been courteously 

 given to pass through the interior — which has been most 

 comfortably adapted to modem wants, the old keep being now 

 turned into a dining-room — the Members were conducted to 

 the south front, so far-renowned for its magnificent bay 

 windows, and the elegant treatment of its moulded brick 



