SION 
the famous eighteenth-century architects, and is a fine monument 
to their genius, particularly to that of Robert Adam, who, says 
Colonel Balfour, ‘‘ drew his inspiration straight from Italy, where he 
studied for several years. He succeeded in adapting with great 
elasticity and considerable originality the later Roman style to 
English uses. His plan had included a central dome over the 
quadrangle, and a fine entrance and staircase in the north side, as 
well as a beautiful bridge in the grounds.” These plans were 
never carried out. But the elegant gateway on the Isleworth and 
Brentford Road—which is so familiar to passengers on the Hampton 
Court trams—was completed, and remains as a_ characteristic 
example of Adam’s work. “It certainly possesses,” says Colonel 
Balfour, “‘ all the delicate qualities for which Adam was remark- 
able, the fine mouldings, the chaste composition and the slight 
relief of the severe but well-cut ornament. We must never seek 
in Adam’s work the boldness of great projection. He belonged to 
the school of reaction against the fashion of Rococo, with its huge 
undercut twists and scrolls, and its heavy cornices. But in dealing 
with his masses Adam was never weak, and he clearly acted on the 
principle of subordinating ornament to proportion.” . . . With all 
this I am in cordial agreement, and the gateway, as Colonel Balfour 
says, ‘“‘ forms a very dignified and fitting entrance to the flat but 
finely timbered park, which stretches, with its broad avenues, 
between the public road and the river.” . 
Many historical associations cluster around the walls of Sion 
House—and they are chiefly tragic ones. The Protector Somerset 
did not long remain in the enjoyment of his beautiful estate— 
indeed, in one way his possession of it contributed to his undoing ; 
because his great building-works at Sion and elsewhere were 
brought up against him in his attainder. By the machinations of 
his enemies he was found guilty, not of treason, but of felony, and 
was executed in 1552, and in the following year Sion was bestowed 
upon his arch-enemy, John Dudley, quondam Earl of Warwick, 
who had already contrived to secure the vast estates of the Karl- 
dom of Northumberland, then in abeyance, owing to the death, 
in 1537, of the last Earl without children, and the attainder of his 
brother, Sir Thomas Percy. 
Dudley not only received the estates, but a dukedom with them, 
and thus it will be seen that the first holder of the title of Duke of 
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