2io ROUNDCHIMNEYS. 



being forced to take refuge with his wife, Elizabeth, at the house 

 of her father, Sir John Drake, at Ashe, Devonshire, and to 

 compound for ^446 i8s. In 1661 he was chosen member for 

 Weymouth, and soon after Fellow of the Royal Society. He 

 was author of " Divi Britannici," or " Remarks on the Lives 

 of all the Kings of this Isle." (London, 1675.) In 1663 he was 

 knighted, and died in 1688, leaving his property to his surviving 

 son, John, born at Ashe House, 1650, who was afterwards the 

 celebrated Duke of Marlborough. Sir Winston, before his 

 death, in 1685, sold the manor and estate of Newton Monteacute 

 to Dr. Simon Wellman, of Poundisford, Somerset.* 



It remained in the possession of the Wellman family for 154 

 years, when it was purchased of Thomas Wellman and Charles 

 Noel Wellman, his son, in 1839, by James Charles Dale, father 

 of the present owner. The Mansion House, called from the 

 form of the chimneys Roundchimneys, and, in olden times, 

 Golden Grove stands on the north-east side of the parish, 

 about a mile from Glanvilles Wootton Church. The north side 

 of the house, which included the offices, was taken down some 

 years ago, and the remainder repaired by Mr. Thomas Wellman. 

 On a stone over the door, and over windows on a house taken 

 down near it, was the date 1632, the two middle figures being 

 reversed 1932. One of the chimneys bears the date 159-, the 

 fourth figure being defaced. Upon another chimney is a device, 

 perhaps a mason's mark x + x . It was one of the best planned 

 and most comfortable houses of the age of Elizabeth, and when 

 complete must have been a most excellent gentleman's residence. 

 The situation is pleasant, and the surrounding grounds appear 

 to have been formerly laid out into garden, fish ponds, and 

 every convenience for the residence of a man of fortune. Neither 

 painted glass nor arms remain in the windows or upon the 

 walls. The annexed considerable and very improvable estate 



* On the deed are the seals and signatures of Sir Winston Churchill mid 

 Dome Elizabeth, Ldfd and Lady (Sarah) Churchill, and (Admiral) George 

 Churchill. 



