liv. THE MID-PIDDLE VALLEY. 



the Chantry Chapel of St. Mary Magdalene, and the lovely stained- 

 glass window put in by Mr. A. C. de Lafontaine. 



On leaving the church the PRESIDENT offered the thanks 

 of the Club to the Vicar and to the Rev. J. G. Brymer (lord 

 of the manor) for their kindly offices. 



The drive was continued to 



ATHELHAMPTON HALL. 



Mr. de Lafontaine had, with his habitual courtesy, readily 

 acceded to the request for leave to view the exterior of the 

 house and the gardens, and he was there to receive the Club in 

 person. The house has been preserved with jealous care and 

 restored with unerring judgment ; and the collections of 

 furniture, armour, weapons, and objets d'art which are seen 

 within it are a delight to visiting connoisseurs. The pleasure 

 gardens, which, with their lawns and bowers, their terraced 

 walks and playing fountains, Mr. de Lafontaine has created 

 around the house, form an exquisite setting to a noble house, 

 and make the visitor feel that the present owner is the right 

 one into whose hands such a priceless relic of medievalism as 

 this house should have fallen. 



Although unprepared to speak, Mr. DE LAFONTAINE good- 

 temperedly yielded to the request of the officers of the Club, 

 and in an effective impromptu speech, told them the history 

 of the place and of the families who had successively held it, 

 and mentioned its chief features. He then invited the 

 members to inspect the hall, which is the crowning glory of 

 the house. In this, the magnificent roof (dated by Prof. 

 Parker c. 1508) with its cinqf oiled wind-braces, forms a striking 

 feature. The quaint Elizabethan gardens were duly appre- 

 ciated, and the site was pointed out of the old Tudor gate- 

 house, the stones of which have been carefully preserved by 

 Mr. de Lafontaine with a view to its re-erection. Thanking 

 him for his kindness, the members proceeded on their way. 



