HAMPTON HOUSE. 23 



edifice under whose roof the family of Beauchamp and their 

 guests were now reposing. 



Bampton House was a large, long building, with gable 

 ends, situated at the extreme end of a fine avenue of magni- 

 ficent beech and elm trees of immense proportions ; showing 

 the excellence of the soil from which they sprang, not only by 

 their large dimensions, but the altitude of their steins, which 

 can only be attained on superior land. Over the entrance was 

 an old-fashioned portico, reached by a flight of steps on either 

 side, and closed in the front. The hall was lofty and spacious, 

 with an old carved oak staircase, leading up from the centre, 

 and branching off on either side, and a huge fire-place, with old 

 iron dogs, on which large logs of wood were piled, reflecting 

 sufficient heat almost to roast an ox. An antiquated brass 

 chandelier, shining like gold, was suspended from the centre of 

 the ceiling ; and from the oak panels were suspended the 

 portraits of many generations past, long since mingled into 

 dust. The heads and antlers of stags and fallow deer (the 

 park containing both species) were tastefully arranged over the 

 fire-place and doors, with old-fashioned guns, cross-bows, and 

 armour disposed in the intervals between the family pictures. 



The drawing-room, with its painted glass windows, was 

 upwards of forty feet in length, thirty wide, and lofty in pro- 

 portion, with a high massive stone chimney-piece, elaborately 

 carved, on which were emblazoned the family arms, with their 

 numerous quarterings. 



Old oak cabinets, with curiously carved and worked high- 

 backed chairs of the same material, inlaid tables, and a motley 

 assemblage of other furniture of very ancient date, with a 

 splendid display of old china, helped to fill up the vacant places 

 in this finely-proportioned apartment, giving it an air of 

 comfort and sociability, not often found in rooms of this size. 

 The dining-room was of longer dimensions, though not so wide, 

 and being an older part of the house, not so lofty, but the 

 ceiling was divided into compartments by elaborately-carved 

 oak beams. At the lower end stood a sideboard, extending 

 nearly from wall to wall, of the same old dark wood. 



The library was of smaller size, containing a fine collection 

 of books, and the favourite resort of Mr. Beauchamp and his 

 family, when there were no visitors staying at Bampton. The 

 building which comprised the stables, coach-house, &c, was a 

 splendid structure, faced with finely-polished stone, having 

 stalls and loose boxes for thirty horses ; and over the centre 



