SUTTON PLACE 309 



features in peculiar combination with the best Italian 

 art of the Renaissance. And lastly, it is one of 

 the rare examples of a pre- Reformation house in 

 which, by tradition of the owner's family, the Mass 

 has been celebrated, openly or in secret, without 

 interruption, for 350 years." 



The simplest explanation with regard to the 

 designer of the house seems to be that it was 

 planned by some one who had seen a great deal of 

 foreign architecture, especially in France, such as 

 the Chateau of the Loire, slightly earlier in date 

 than Sutton. Possibly that person was Sir Richard 

 Weston himself, who attended Henry at the Field 

 of the Cloth of Gold. Whoever the builder was, 

 he was certainly helped in the design and details 

 by Girolamo da Trevizi, often called Trevisano, 

 who introduced both terra-cotta and moulded brick- 

 work into England. 



Aubrey, in his " Natural History of Antiquities 

 of Surrey," mentions Sutton Place. " The place," 

 he says, ''is a noble seat, built of Brick, and has 

 a stately Gate-house with a very high Tower bear- 

 ing a Turret at each angle. In it is a square court. 

 The windows are made of baked earth of whitish- 

 yellow colour (like Flanders Bricks). The mould- 

 ings within the House are adorned with Pendants 

 of fruit and flowers. The Fabrick was erected by 

 Sir Richard Weston, Master of the Court of 

 Wards." 



