DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE 



balustrade is carved in bold scrolls from a solid plank running length- 

 wise ; fine examples of this remain at 25 High Street, Guildford, and in 

 the shop in the Marketplace, Kingston, formerly the Castle Inn. 



The main staircase in the Warden's house at Abbot's Hospital at 

 Guildford is a fine piece of work, with carved newel tops and carved 

 arcaded balustrade ; like everything in this house it is of the best 

 character. The general shape of this newel top was largely used in the 

 neighbourhood ; at Shoelands near Putten- 

 ham is an example (Fig. 20), and rougher 

 specimens may be found in many old farms. 

 A similar stair to that at Abbot's is in the 

 house next the church at Godalming. 



Many good examples occur of stairs 

 with the ordinary turned balusters, and 

 balusters of flat section cut and pierced, but 

 these are in no way peculiar to any county. 

 At Milton Court near Dorking is a curious 

 specimen with the newels carried up as 

 posts and turned in very bold style. The 

 original gates at the foot of the stairs for 

 the purpose of keeping dogs from the upper 

 floor are still to be found at Slyfields and at 

 Abbot's Hospital. 



There are probably but few remains of 

 such early internal fittings as those at Crow- 

 hurst Place, where the panelling, or rather 

 the wood lining, is part of the structure 

 (Fig. 21); similar boarding is however occa- 

 sionally to be found in cottages. In spite of 

 the ravages of collectors there is plenty of 

 panelling left and many examples of carved 

 mantelpieces. Of the latter there are fine 

 examples at Loseley and Barrow Green, and 

 one at Reigate Priory that was designed by 

 Holbein, and was formerly at the royal 

 manor of Blechingley, one of Anne of 

 Cleves' principal residences. At Levyl's 

 Dene, Merrow, is a good chalk and oak 



mantel brought from the old mansion of the Onslows at Clandon, and 

 another with small well-designed figure subjects in chalk at the Town 

 Hall, Guildford, brought from Stoughton Grange. Of a less pretentious 

 kind are two at Rake House, some at Leigh Place, two at Abbot's Hos- 

 pital, two at Ham farm, Blechingley, and elsewhere. The carving for 

 these mantels, and also on friezes and panelling generally, is of the simple 

 sunk kind, and generally of a refined design. Such work is often found 

 unexpectedly in farmhouses and cottages in the Weald that have been 

 modernized' externally. In several of these houses the long table 



477 



Fig. 20. 



Staircase at Shoelands, 

 mear puttenham. 



