Harlaxton Manor. 331 



projections and gable ends, ancient chimney tops, &c., give the 

 whole a very picturesque and venerable appearance. The 

 entrance is through an arched gateway, of the form and cha- 

 racter of the time of James I., into an outer grass court, sur- 

 rounded by a raised terrace-walk of earth, in which grow large 

 trees, which, branching close to the grass (as Mr. Gregory does 

 not allow this court to have cattle turned into it for grazing), 

 give to the building an umbrageous and retired character, 

 and one in harmony with its venerable colour and antiquity. 

 Immediately opposite is the entrance to the second court, 

 through a gateway formed by pilasters of stone, bearing lions 

 supporthig the escutcheons of the family arms, and a screen of 

 arcaded masonry 7 ft. high, of very beautiful design and delicate 

 workmanship. Through this inner court there is a broad 

 pavement of stone which leads to the porch of the house, over 

 which is a rich entablature of masonry, bearing the family arms 

 of De Ligne. A gallery of 90 ft. long on one side, and offices 

 to the same extent on the other, both of which have fallen down, 

 reached from the present house to the screen described, and 

 formed the inner court. 



On the south front is a garden surrounded by a moat, with 

 remains of yew hedges and grass slopes, and also presenting 

 some interesting architecture of the date of the reign mentioned. 

 It is upwards of sixty years since the house was inhabited by 

 any of the family. 



Part of the interior of the house is evidently of great an- 

 tiquity. The hall, which contains a raised floor, or dais, at one 

 end, is hung with old armour, arms, family portraits, and various 

 other objects. There is a large wooden staircase, with turned 

 balusters and carved pendants, &c. ; and the walls of the two 

 principal apartments are covered with tapestry, and still con- 

 tain antique furniture, pictures, &c. 



Mr, Gregory, having determined to build a new family man- 

 sion, informs us that he studied the subject for several years 

 previous to commencing it. He visited almost every part of 

 Europe, and part of Asia ; and, having determined to adopt the 

 style of James I., and there being, at the time he commenced, in 

 1822, few or no books on the subject, he examined personally 

 most of the houses in Britain in that style, or bearing a close 

 analogy to it. Among those which he visited, it may be useful 

 to others to mention the following : — Berkshire : Bramshill, 

 Littlecote. Cheshire : Brereton. Derbyshire : Hardwick. Herts : 

 Hatfield. Kent : Knowle, Cobham. Northamptonshire : Burgh- 

 ley House, Castle Ashby, Dean, Rashton, Kirby, Apthorpe. 

 Nottinghamshire : Wollaton. Suffolk : Blickling. Sussex : 

 Cowdray. Wiltshire : Longleat. Worcestershire : Westwood. 

 Yorkshire : Temple Newsham. Besides these, Mr. Gregory 



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