342 THE OLD MANOR HOUSE 



terrific ; but the builders of the old Manor Houses 

 built for eternity or something like it, and the 

 massive walls do not shrink from their Atlantean 

 burden. 



On the interior of the house I cannot dwell at 

 length. The hall as in most old Manor Houses, 

 is its distinguishing feature ; indeed, it was itself, in 

 olden times, "the House," and answered for almost 

 every purpose. The windows above the high 

 panelling admit only a subdued light ; but the 

 larger windows of the Tudor oriel, which is a later 

 addition to the room, are aglow with light and 

 colour. The date of the oriel is fixed, I think, by 

 the character of its traceries, and by the coloured- 

 glass medallions in the windows, of Philip and 

 Mary, who are said to have visited the place, 

 Their arms, the royal arms of England are 

 proudly quartered with those of France, of Castile, 

 of Aragon, and of Leon ; while the lesser medallions 

 contain the arms of the Binghams, quartered with 

 those of other old county families, some of which, like 

 the Horseys of Melcombe Horsey, and theTurbevilles 

 of King's Bere the ill-fated Tess, now the most 

 famous of them all among them, have been long 

 submerged. The old oak chairs, and chests, and 

 cabinets, the settle, and the long dining-room table 



