TUDOR HOUSES IN DORSET. 67 



STAIRCASES. 



The early ones were in small turrets, the steps winding 

 around a central newel, and the treads of stone or oak as at 

 Woodsford, Winterborne Clenston and Tomson, Athelhampton 

 and Wolfeton. These were then replaced by wooden stair- 

 cases with short runs of steps from landing to landing. The 

 newel posts were tall, and often surmounted by heraldic beasts, 

 and balusters or fretwork used, all elaborately treated. 



DOORWAYS. 



These were treated to match the mantel pieces and panelling. 

 One of the finest and most typical is in the drawing-room at 

 Wolfeton (Gotch). 



KITCHEN. 



On account of the large exercise of hospitality, this room was 

 of ample dimensions, and the fireplace extremely wide, as at 

 Canford. At Melplash the bread oven in the wall, the smoke 

 jack and ancient settle may still be seen. 



WINDOW GLASS. 



In the fourteenth century shutters only were used for the 

 windows as at Stokesay. In 1567 Queen Elizabeth granted a 

 licence to certain Frenchmen for establishing a factory of 

 broad or window glass. Sussex, on account of its woods, had 

 been an early centre of local manufacture. In 1623 Abraham 

 Bago had a glass house in Purbeck where Mansel's works had 

 failed. The Renaissance subjects embraced foliage, vases, 

 candelabra, scrolls and animals; but for houses heraldic work 

 predominated. It was customary for ancient families to insert 

 in the windows of the great hall, presence chamber and long 

 gallery as large a number of shields as possible, displaying 

 their matches and quarterings. In the Harl. MSS. is a list of 

 such heraldic glass existing in Dorset houses in 1600; but very 

 little of this has survived, See an illustration of such shields 



