T 3 2 BREADSALL PRIORY. 



gables, though rather spoiled by modern copings and " Gothic " 

 finials, have a very picturesque effect, appearing, as they do, 

 over the roofs of the later additions, as seen in the accom- 

 panying views of the east and south sides of the house. 



It is interesting to speculate, but impossible to speak 

 definitely, upon its original plan. The internal partitions would 

 almost certainly have been of timber, but they are now replaced 

 by brick walls. A careful consideration of the plans and study 

 of the old drawings lead to the conclusion that the general 

 internal arrangements are not much altered, though completely 

 modernized. The entrance would probably be in the centre 

 bay, and would be approached from the ground by a flight 

 of steps, as the floor level is considerably above the remains of 

 the external plinth. This entrance is shown in Ravenhill's 

 engraving of 1791 as then closed up with a bay window, and 

 a new entrance seems to have been made in the added 

 " Georgian " wing. Over the entrance was a coat of arms, now 

 in the garden (shown in the accompanying photograph), which 

 Dr. Cox has kindly described for us, as follows : — 



This shield represents Bentley impaling a quartered coat of six, pertaining 

 to the Cheshire family of Legh or Leigh. It runs thus, in heraldic phraseology, 

 the colours of course not appearing on the stone : — Or, three bends sa. (Bentley) 

 impaling (1 and 6), Or, a lion rampant gu. (the old coat of Leigh of High 

 Leigh) ; (2) Az., a chevron between three crowns or (Corona, or De Corona, 

 of Adlington) ; (3) Az., two bars over all a bend gu. (Leigh of Adlington) ; 

 (4) Arg., a cross fleury sa. (another Leigh of Cheshire coat) ; (5) Gu., three 

 cross crosslets fitchy or (Arderne, Cheshire). The fifth quartering is now 

 nearly illegible. It would require a long pedigree and notes to explain the 

 right of Sir John Bentley's second wife to these various Leigh quarterings. 

 The best pedigree of Leigh of Adlington, with a full account of their various 

 marriages, is to be found in Earwaker's East Cheshire. Three of these coats 

 appear in an old quartered shield of stained glass in the east window of the 

 north aisle of Prestbury Church, Cheshire. 



The carved panel above this coat of arms has been dis- 

 covered, in its original position, which is now inside the house, 

 but exposed to view. A section of it is well shown in the 

 accompanying photograph, and appears very characteristic of 

 the unsophisticated work of the country masons of the period. 



