A GOOD ESTABLISHMENT 109 



being over the stables, generally a considerable 

 quantity of corn and fodder was kept for some 

 weeks' consumption. There was accommodation 

 for about fifty horses, with harness rooms, and 'ostry' 

 as it was called, being the office and store room for 

 the ostler, with stove and waiting room for the post- 

 boys, and capacious chaise and coach houses. The 

 whole of this establishment covered from five to 

 six acres. It may well be imagined, therefore, that 

 a considerable amount of capital was employed by 

 the proprietor of a large respectable old-fashioned 

 country inn. The servants comprised, besides the inn- 

 keeper and his industrious wife, a housekeeper and 

 barmaid, man cook, waiter and under waiter, kitchen 

 maid, scullery maid, chamber maid, laundress, house- 

 maid, nurse, boots, ostler, tap-boy, first turn post- 

 boy, and generally an extra woman, making fourteen 

 persons besides the family to feed and lodge daily. 

 The expenses must necessarily have been very 

 heavy. Many old inns had curious legends and 

 histories attached to them, and one of remarkable 

 historic interest belonged to the 'White Hart.' I 

 have the authority of Clarendon for its authenticity, 

 which I have already described. The large dining- 

 room and apartments, with sleeping rooms over, 

 formed a very picturesque garden front, and bore the 

 date on the gable, in iron figures, of 1663. 



As an instance of the importance attached to 

 this old hostelry, it will be necessary to give the 

 names of some of the rooms on the ground floor. 

 On one side of the gateway was the ' Change,' 



