320 



jtotes on %ge ^ ark anfo JSromJam, 1 



By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 



(Read before the Society at Devizes, September 9th, 1874.) 



September 11th, 1868, T visited the old house of Spye 

 Park, then in course of demolition. There was little in its 

 appearance at first sight to make a visitor suppose that it could be 

 of any antiquity ; and I do not think that many persons were aware 

 then, or perhaps are aware now, that it was other than a modern 

 erection. However, what I saw on that occasion left no doubt on 

 my mind that this was the house which Evelyn visited and described, 

 and an older building in reality than by simply reading Evelyn's 

 account we should have concluded. 



Remains of two kinds came to light : first — the ancient features 

 of the original building, which had long been concealed : secondly — 

 ornate fragments of another building, no doubt Bromham Hall, 

 which were found re-used as walling material in the walls of the 

 more modern part of the house. 



Fortunately an old view of the front of the house towards the park 

 is extant. It is dated May 1st, 1684,and was drawn byThomas Ding- 

 ley, 2 in his very interesting manuscript, in the possession of Sir Thomas 

 Winnington, which has been published in facsimile by the Camden 

 Society under the title " Dingley's History from Marble/'' This 

 shows the house as it must have been in Evelyn's time ; and if it 

 had been drawn for the express purpose of illustrating Evelyn's 

 description, it could not have agreed with it more exactly. 



Evelyn visited the house on the 19th of July, 1654. He says in 



1 The paper contained a description of Brombam Church, the publication of 

 which is postponed. 



2 Dingley's History from Marble, part i., p. xxxvii. My thanks are due to the 

 Council of the Camden Society for permission to reproduce this sketch in the 

 illustration, which is prefixed to this paper. 



