GARDENS OLD AND NFAV. 



covered with a mass of plaster. The plaster was 

 removed, and the excellent details of the window- 

 sills, the herring-bone brickwork and the linen 

 pattern carving were brought to light. 



The noble gatehouse, with the panelled 

 octagonal towers which have been alluded to, the 

 richly-moulded arch and the excellent details of 

 friezes, battlements, fretted chimneys and crocketed 

 pinnacles, has richness and charm both in colour and 



striking feature at the very outset of the survey of 

 this interesting place. 



The quadrangle which we now enter is singularly 

 beautiful in its varied features of date and style. The 

 red brick of the gatehouse we have passed through is 

 contrasted with the plain upright timber-work, and 

 again with some later features opposite, in the shape 

 of windows with sashes of the time of Queen Anne. 

 The area of the court is paved with flags, and a 



f f 



delightful 



s 



HENRY VII. GATEWAY. 



form, and the red brick contrasts delightfully with 

 the green things that grow thereabout. This gate- 

 house is attributed to the time of Henry VII., and 

 its venerable oaken doors, which are carved with the 

 linen pattern in panels and are 5in. thick, are still 

 closed each night as in former times. On the right 

 as we pass through is a guardroom, in which was 

 recently discovered a fine Tudor fireplace. The 

 ancient doorways to both wings of the mansion are a 



e e c t 



obtained by disposing 

 about its enclosure beau- 

 tiful flowering plants in 

 tubs and boxes. The 

 admirable chimney shafts, 

 the dial, the clock and 

 the details of carving and 

 adornment are all delight- 

 ful in this beautiful 

 enclosure. Opposite to 

 us is the porch entrance, 

 which brings us to the 

 Great Hall, and is perhaps 

 as beautiful as anything 

 in the place. There is a 

 fine Tudor moulded arch, 

 with trefoil ornaments in 

 the spandrels, over which 

 rises very rich timber- 

 work, with an oriel 

 window supported on 

 brackets, while above is a 

 gable, with vine-pattern 

 carving on its barge- 

 board. 



Entering through the 

 porch, we reach the 

 Great Banqueting Hall, 

 separated by a lobby 

 from the kitchens and 

 butteries. It has a lofty, 

 open, hammer-beam roof 

 of timber, with richly- 

 carved bosses and traceried 

 panels. A fine staircase, 

 a room of ancient Flemish 

 tapestries, a wainscoted 

 chamber, are other 

 interesting interior 

 features. 



There are beautiful 

 gardens also, with lawns 

 and fine trees, and an 

 abundance of floral adorn- 

 ment to give the final 

 charm to this very 

 remarkable house. Mr. 

 Brittain, owing to his 

 advanced age, has lately 

 generously given the 



estate to his son and heir, Mr. Russell K. Brittain, 

 reserving the mansion and garden for his own 

 possession and enjoyment. It is exceedingly gratifying 

 to find ancient and beautiful houses recovered from the 

 influences of decay, restored to their high estate, and 

 brought into conditions of perfection to which their 

 worth entitles them. Mr. Brittain has accomplished 

 a most admirable thing in re-creating Giffords Hall, 

 and we warmly congratulate him upon his success. 



