f >. 



HADSOR, . . 



DROITWICH. 



THE RESIDENCE 

 or 



LADY HINDLIP. 



THE pleasant county of Worcester is famous for its many 

 fine houses, great churches, and picturesque vil! 

 It is a county of orchards, gardens, and cornfields 

 though there are now fewer of these than of yore 

 where the rustic cottages are garlanded with flowers, 

 and the great houses stand bravely in the midst of great 

 domains. Its rural fame of rare productiveness is of ancient 

 . for William of Malmesbury describes it thus: "A hind 

 rich in corn, productive of fruits in some parts by the sole 

 favour of Nature, in others by the art of cultivation, enticing 

 even the lazy to industry by the prospect of a hundredfold 

 return ; you may see the highway clothed with trees that 

 produce apples, not by the grafter's hand, but by the nature 

 of the ground itself, for the earth of its own account rears 

 them up to fruit in excellence of flavour and appearance, many 

 of which wither not under a year, nor before the new crops 

 are produced to supply their place." Robert of Gloucester, 

 too, referred to the rich fruitage of Worcestershire where he 

 describes the character of various places in England. 



Here stands the fine house of impising aspect which we 

 depict, plain in its classic severity, but expressive both of 

 domestic comfort and of cultured leisure. It is a place of 

 some antiquity, altered and modernised by its present owner, 

 Major Hubert George Howard Gallon, R.A., or his predecessor. 

 The Amphletts wore former owners here ; and of them several 

 monuments may be seen in the village church, which is a 

 fine Decorated structure possessing some ancient glass. Here, 



also, is a memorial brass <>f the late J\r\ Howard Gallon <>( 

 Hadsor Hall. The churJi stands near the house, as was the 

 custom in olden times, wh-n it was otten but a stone's throw 

 from the cradle of the child to the pl.uo where his aged bones 

 should lie. Mr. Gallon did a gte.it d;-al to beautify Hadsor, 

 and his fine taste may Iv se.-n in many parts of the structure 

 and its surroundings. Within is a line and valuable collection 

 of pictures, including admirable portraits by Reynolds ot the 

 sixth Duke of Hamilton and Irs wile, one of " tlu- beautiful 

 Miss Gunnings." There are examples at Hadsor also of 

 Vandyck, Rembrandt, Velasque/, M\ tens, Cuyp, Berghem, 

 Morland.and many more; as well as sculpture by Ihorwaldsen 

 and Canova. These, and the rich plenishings of the stately 

 rooms, are beautiful featuies at Hadsor ; but they are rivalled 

 by the attractions without, where the gaiden is a most 

 successful example of harmonious grouping, very charming 

 and reposeful in character. 



There were old gardens and pleasure grounds here, but 

 the late Mr. Gallon remodelled them entirely, and they were 

 laid out with the assistance of eminent gardeners. The 

 situation was favourable for good garden <lti\ts, for the 

 sheltered position and deep rich soil tavour the growth of 

 tender things ; and it will he seen that in tubs and vases 

 palms are finely grown. A broad and ample terrace extends 

 before the house, excellently laid out with flower-beds. Let 

 it be noticed how appropriate is the character. There is no 

 gulf between the mansion and its gardens, and we pass from 



THE WEST WALK. 



