INTRODUCTION 



one of the Parry family, pilgrimaged to 

 Bacton and New Court, and describes the 

 latter place as being a dreary, ruinous farm- 

 house. It had once been moated, according 

 to the custom of our ancestors. In two of 

 the rooms, which seemed to have been bed- 

 rooms, were remains of carved oak wains- 

 cotting, and an old carved staircase betrayed 

 evident traces of the splendours of past times. 

 An upper room had been curiously painted, 

 some of the figures yet remaining on the 

 walls. The ceiling appeared to have been 

 arched ; the Gothic window remained to 

 determine the architectural character of the 

 old mansion. Mrs. Burton speaks with en- 

 thusiasm of a magnificent variegated oak, and 

 describes the remains of the terraced gardens, 

 with its ruined summer-house. The old 

 farmhouse was replaced by a modern build- 

 ing shortly after this visit; and New Court and 

 Moorhampton are now farmhouses of the most 

 ordinary (I mean commonplace) description. 



The absolute disappearance of all traces of 

 Rowland's irrigation works, and of the great 

 buildings necessary for the housing and 

 employing of his community, can only be 

 attributed to the civil wars, which raged 



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