SMITHILLS 

 . . HALL, 



LANCASHIRE 



RICHARD H. AINSWORTH 



WITHIN some three miles or the busy l.ancash re 

 town of Bolton-le-Moors, noisy with the luiin "t 

 the spind'e and the rattl- of the shuttle in the 

 loom, stands ancient Smilhills Hall. :ipart in its 

 .lens, .ind preserving its old-time splendour 

 undimmed. In these ; eral ol the black and white or 



"nv . -metimes called - ti nlvr-work ! 



Lancashire have been depicted. We might dwell upon the 

 charmsof that old Hnghsh style, which h.iste\v finer rxempl.it s 

 than the house ol Smittiill*, but it is perhaps unnecessary to 

 reter again to the general chiricter of such places. What is 

 specially gratifying in regard to this antique hous- is tint, 

 though it lies so near to a manufacturing town, it is maintained 

 mething even greater than its pr stine charm. Such 

 additions as have been male to tit it for a modern habit.ition 

 are in admirable list.-, and the stone enlargements .ire in 

 exc.llent harmony with the whole structure. 



urul gardens and a good park are the setting "f 



the place. Their .ha-acter i^ broad and simple, an.l without 

 el.iKiration, as \\ill be seen from the pictures, and the elicit 

 is eminently s.itis'.u tory. In the ancient courts ard there is 

 a pleasant arran^em.-nt of tl-iwer-heds. The Ion.: lawns \vhuh 

 are upon the south front form a raised terrace-, and there is 

 nothing to detract Ir 'in the architectural prop.itmns ..r the 

 harmony of the structure. At the miter ed^e t tins terrace 

 runs a low wall without any balustrade, and tlu re are three 

 simple descents, with stonework mar.-nis and the n!d adonr 

 cit stone balls. 



I he stairways lead down to a long walk, with .1 line 

 flower b > dcr under the wall, and .1 i;rass m.n^ui 0:1 the 

 other hand, beyond wliich is another low stone wail with 

 ^i.is> lying helow. I he garden m.isniry is e\.er\. \heiv 

 e\crlie-it, as may be noticed in the illustration of the .i^cnt 

 l> the mount. That mount is a feature in the -ard n, and 

 it has been conjectured that it was the mound or h.i'e of a 

 fortified tower, which it is believed anciently stood up- 



THE UOMbSTIC CHAPtl AND GUSPbL HALL. 



