368 Britten's Illustrations of Toddington. 



provements of this royal palace been carried into effect, Windsor Castle would 

 be as much superior to what it is at present as it is now compared to its state 

 in the days of George the Third. If the sums that were recklessly and taste- 

 lessly expended on the Pavilion at Brighton, the new palace at Kew, and that 

 architectural bauble called ' the Cottage,' in Windsor Forest, had been judi- 

 ciously applied to the improvements of the castle now referred to, it might have 

 been rendered all that the good sense and good taste of Englishmen could 

 have desired. Though much has been effected, there are many things still 

 left undone ; and although the modern architectural details are far removed 

 from the true castellated character, it must be admitted that the whole 

 building is more appropriate, and better adapted to the domestic accommo- 

 dation of a court, than could have been obtained from any ancient castle or 

 modern imitation. 



" Alton Towers, Staffordshire, the mansion of the Earl of Shrewsbury, 

 demands notice as the most remarkable seat in Great Britain, for the singu- 

 larity of its scenery, and the varied incongruous buildings which are applied 

 to the mansion, to stables, towers, a bridge, &c. As demonstrative of the 

 eccentricity of the late nobleman, who directed most of the works, we find a 

 Gothic bridge without any water beneath, lakes on eminences, towers in the 

 vales, a lofty Gothic tower or temple, masses of rock raised on end and 

 sustaining other blocks, said to imitate Stonehenge, and stables in the form 

 of a castle. These works were commenced in 1814 by the then proprietor, 

 who consulted many architects and also other artists, but does not appear to 

 have followed the advice, or carried out the designs, of any one of them. 

 The present nobleman has consequently had much to do and undo, in order 

 to remove and remedy glaring defects, and to improve a place where nature 

 presented many capabilities, which good taste might have rendered full of 

 picturesque beauties and architectural grandeur. Aided by the skilful advice 

 of Mr. A. W. Pugin, the noble owner of Alton Towers is making many and 

 great improvements to the buildings of his seat; and we may confidently 

 expect these will be in conformity to the principles of ancient monastic ar- 

 chitecture. 



" Ravensivorth Castle, Durham, the seat of Lord Ravensworth, ranks 

 amongst the most distinguished of modern Gothic mansions, and therefore 

 challenges particular notice and comment in this place, from being chiefly 

 executed under the directions of an amateur architect. The Honourable 

 Thomas Liddell, son of the noble owner, has devoted some jears to the 

 pleasing and arduous task of superintending these works, and, I am well in- 

 formed, has manifested both architectural skill and taste in the different parts 

 of the mansion, which have been raised from his designs. The building was 

 commenced in 1808, from drawings made by the late John Nash, who, ac- 

 cording to the language of the learned historian of Durham (Mr. Surtees), 

 adopted a ' selection from the castle architecture of various periods, not, 

 however, too remote to be brought into contact ; the various towers and 

 facades produce pleasing combinations in every point of view.' Not having 

 seen the building, and having vainly sought to obtain an inspection of the 

 plans and drawings, I am unable to furnish a fuller account. 



" At Margam, in South Wales, Mr. Hopper has built a house for C. R. 

 Mansell Talbot, Esq., in the decorated Tudor style; and, judging from the 

 ground plan and drawings, I am inchned to think he has been eminently suc- 

 cessful in adapting the old forms and character of collegiate architecture to a 

 modern mansion. The same architect has designed and erected another 

 handsome mansion for Sir Benjamin Hall, Bart., M.P., at Lla never- Count, 

 Monmouthshire, in imitation of the houses of James the First's time. 



_ " At Cossey, in Norfolk, Mr. J. C. Buckler has built a large seat, with a 

 highly decorated chapel, for Sir George Jerningham, Bart. The latter is ex- 

 pressly adapted for the rites and ceremonies of the Roman Catholic religion, 

 and the whole mass of buildings, in the old EngUsh domestic character, is at 

 once creditable to the professional talents of the architect and to the good 

 taste and liberality of his patron. 



