1647.] CHIPPENHAM PARK. 6i 



double alliance had been formed between his family and the 

 Cromwells ; his grandson, Sir John, having married the Pro- 

 tector's youngest daughter, and one of his grand-daughters 

 being married to the Protector's son Henry. Sir William 

 Russell died in 1663, and was buried at Burwell ; his son and 

 grandson successively inherited the title, but enjoyed it only 

 a short time, the latter dying in 1669. Sir William Russell, 

 son and heir of Sir John, having ruined his fortune by raising 

 troops at the Revolution, sold his estate at Chippenham to 

 the brave Admiral Russell (nephew of William, Duke of 

 Bedford), who for his splendid victory at La Hogue, was 

 created Baron Shengay and Earl of Orford. The noble 

 admiral built a fine mansion at Chippenham, where he enter- 

 tained George I. during his Ma'esty's visit to Newmarket 

 races, on the 4th of October, 1717 ; by his will, dated 1729, 

 he bequeathed his estate at Chippenham to his niece. Lady 

 Tipping, whose daughter and heir married Samuel Sandys, 

 Esq., of Ombersley, in Worcestershire. Mr, Sandys was 

 created a peer in 1743. A few years afterwards he sold his 

 estate at Chippenham, which, by successive purchases, has 

 been the property of Crisp Molineux, Esq., George Mont- 

 gomery, Esq., and Drummond Smith, Esq., from whom John 

 Thorp, Esq., great-grandfather of the present proprietor, bought 

 it in 1790. The mansion erected at Chippenham by Lord 

 Orford was pulled down in 1780, and the materials sold, when 

 Mr. Smith constructed a villa venatica on the site of that 

 mansion ; this has been recently demolished by Montagu 

 Thorp, Esq., the present popular lord of the manor, who is 

 now putting up a new house, " replete with all modern im- 

 provements." 



The visit of the Grand Duke of Tuscany to Chippenham 

 Park, in May, 1669, is thus described by his Serene Highness's 

 remembrancer : — 



" With a view of enjoying the beauty of the country 

 during the fine weather, his highness went with his attend- 

 ants on the morning of the lOth, from Newmarket to 

 Chippenham, a country-seat of Sir John Russell, of the family 

 of the Earls of Bedford, who is married to my Lady Frances 



