BAMPTON HOUSE. 23 



edifice under wliose roof the family of Beaucliamp and tiiuir 

 guests were now reposing. 



Bampton House was a large, long building, with gable 

 ends, situated at the extreme end of a fine avenue of -mao-ni- 

 ficent beech and elm trees of immense proportions ; showing 

 the excellence of the soil from which they sprang, not only by 

 their large dimensions, but the altitude of their stems, which 

 can only be attained on superior land. Over the entrance was 

 an old-fashioned portico, reached by a flight of stej/S on either 

 side, and closed in the front. The hall was lofty and spacious, 

 with an old carved oak staircase, leading up from the centre, 

 and branching ofl" on either side, and a huge fire-place, with old 

 iron dogs, on which large logs of wood were piled, reflecting 

 sufiicient heat almost to roast an ox. An -antiquated brass 

 chandelier, shining like gold, M-as suspended from the centre of 

 the ceiling ; and from the oak panels were suspended the 

 portraits of many generations past, long since mingled into 

 dust. The heads and antlers of stags and falloAv deer (the 

 park containing both species) were tastefully arranged over the 

 fire-place and doors, with old-fashioned guns, cross-bows, and 

 armour disposed in the intervals between the family pictures. 



The drawing-room, with its painted glass windows, was 

 upwards of forty feet in length, thirty wide, and lofty in pro- 

 portion, with a high massive stone chimney-piece, elaborately 

 carved, on which were emblazoned the family arms, with their 

 numerous quarterings. 



Old oak cabinets, with curiouslv carved and worked hiQ:h- 

 backed chairs of the same material, inlaid tables, and a motley 

 assemblage of other furniture of very ancient date, with a 

 splendid display of old china, helped to fill up the vacant place* 

 in this finely-proportioned apartment, giving it an air of 

 comfort and sociability, not often found in rooms of this size. 

 The dining-room was of longer dimensions, though not so wide, 

 and being an older part of the house, not so lofty, but the 

 ceiling was divided into compartments by elaborately-carveci 

 oak beams. At the lower end stood a sideboard, extending 

 nearly from wall to wall, of the same old dark wood. 



The library was of smaller size, containing a fine collection 

 of books, and the favourite resort of Mr. Beaucliamp and liis 

 family, when there were no visitors staying at Bampton. The 

 building which comprised the stables, coach-house, &c., was a 

 splendid structure, faced with finely-polished stone, having 

 stalls and loose boxes for thirty horses ; and over the centra 



