MNil IIMI 





was enriched w.th main v!.issu features, including 

 antiques from Athens, Pompeii and Kgypt. Mr. 

 Thomas I.cgh employed Mr. Lew.- \\ \.itt upon this 

 -., and the oast front was again altered. The 

 soiith front is imposing, with its fire Ionic po- 

 with fluted columns, pediment aiul statuary, raised 

 upon a rusticated luxe, and h.i\:n^ from its windows 

 enchanting prospers ,,\cr the artificial water to the 

 icd reaches of' the park. This is entirely the 

 work 't Leorii. The most interesting feature of' the 

 exterior is the centre of the frontage on the north 

 side, where the original work peeps out in the porch 

 already mentioned. There is a round entrance 

 archway, with a curious arrangement of windows and 

 columns over it, surmounted by a pediment, wherein 

 are displayed the arms of" the Ixrghs, the whole being 

 flanked by solid masonry formed in shallow niches. 

 Atx>ve these features are other windows and columns 

 giving place for a clock-dial, over which, in a semi- 

 circular arching, is a large shell ornament, the cresting 

 of" the whole being the seated figure of" Minerva, 

 enframed by a curved and open pediment. It is a 

 medley of the style of" the two ages of" the house, 

 interesting historically and pleasing enough aestheti- 

 cally. There is variety on the east side, as seen from 

 the raised terrace, where the figures of' Diana and 



\it.r. .n .re upon the crest, much of" this Inring the 

 work of' Mr. Ix-wis Wyatt ; and also on the west 

 front, where project the two shallow wings. Within 

 the courtyard, where Ixroni worked upon the old 

 structure, the rustu an.ade of' the ground floor, the 

 asient to the pedimented doorway on the east, the 

 windows, pilasters and cornice give a very attr.utivc 

 appearance to the court. The house stands some 

 what high and exjmsed, which gives great value to 

 the fountain garden sunk and sheltered with pro 

 (citing walls to north and east, and hemmed in on 

 the south by the splendid tree ilad hank, which Mr. 

 I .at ham has sei/.ed at so charming a sunlit moment. 

 Nestling Ixrlow the high wall on whuh stand* the 

 great classic pile, its geometric ih.ir.utcr is in excellent 

 and well-devised contrast to the natural as|>ect of the 

 timber-clad hill and open parkland In-yond. Its 

 fountain plashes pleasantly into the still water of" its 

 stone-rimmed basin, and the knotting of its trim plats 

 carries us back to the gardening which came into 

 \i>^i:c- when Sir Piers was building his hall, while 

 serpentined lake and tree-planted knolls remind 

 us of" the landsi.ipe sch<x>l which Bridgeman was 

 founding while l.eoni was .it work at I .vine, and 

 which Kent and Capability Brown were, after him, 

 to develop and popularise. 



CUT J\ M.lKHLh. 



