The Architecttiral Eiitory of Longleat. 229 



alterations in the interior of this house, of an old wall that had 

 formed part of it, and that had been worked up into the frame of 

 the present house." 



You will observe that this is not consistent with his later theory, 

 that the place had been entirely re-built. 



He continues :— " At the same time, several coffins o£ rude work- 

 manship, containing skeletons, were found under the floor, near the 

 foot of the grand staircase. These were removed into Horningsham 

 churchyard." 



Canon Jackson's paper, on John of Padua, also contains further 

 notes on the history of the building of Longleat, in which he has 

 given us glimpses of matters of great interest, but glimpses only. 

 He hardly seems to have realifed the importance of publishing, as 

 far as possible, the original documents in full. He says, in one- 

 place, speaking apparently of the year 1559, that "the names of 

 persons employed in the work are given " in the original documents* 

 Unfortunately, he has not given them to us. The names of the- 

 same persons might be found, sooner or later, elsewhere; and any- 

 how it would be better to have them.^ He does, however, notice- 

 an original contract, with William Spicer, of Nunney, in 1559. It 

 occurs to me that this may perhaps be the same "William Spicer,. 

 who was surveyor of the works, at Upnor Castle, Kent, for Queen. 

 Elizabeth, in 1559 and 1560; was appointed, by the Earl of 

 Leicester, to succeed Rowland Johnson as surveyor of the works 

 and fortifications at Berwick, in 1584- ; had a grant of the office of 



' As an illustration of this— in Parker's Domestic Architecture (vol. iii., p. 

 295), is given the plasterer's contract, between Sir Thomas Kytson, of Hengrave 

 Hall, Suffolk, and Eobert Watson, " ruler of his building in Hengrave," and 

 Thomas Neker of Great Fransham, Norfolk, dated January 20th, 29th of Henry 

 YIII. (1538). 



The Record Office furnishes (Court of Wards Deeds, Bag 94, D.) evidence of 

 the following bonds or debts, owing to Sir William Sharington, in 1548, viz. : — 

 Ap. 24. 2 E. v] Eobert Watson & Alex Chapman of Norwiche £20. 

 Ap. 24. 2 E. vi Robert Watson k John FTowell £20. 

 It is probable that this is the same Robert Watson and that there is a reference 

 to building transactions. Alexander Chapman may have been a relative of the 

 Lacock and Longleat carver, whose Christian name Canon Jackson has given as 

 John, but without fully quoting his authority. 



