By C. H. Talbot, Esq. 



323 



Below this, the sunk story with its range of low windows shown in 

 Dingley's view remained, and^bore out Evelyn's description, as all 

 its windows but one looked towards the park. 



A drawing room on the south or prospect side, will be remem- 

 bered as the handsomest room in the house. This, which projected 

 from the old part of the house, was also built by Sir Edward Baynton 

 Rolt ; l and I understood that it was in the walls of this part that 

 the fragments, which must have been brought from Bromham Hall, 

 were found. Passing into the cellar under this room, through an 

 arch in the wall of the old house, I observed that it had evidently at 

 one time been an external doorway, as the best side was that towards 

 the cellar, and therefore originally the outside of the house. The 

 arch was four-centred, and appeared to be of the time of Henry VIII. 

 In the south wall of the old building I saw the jamb of a fire-place 

 in situ, with a moulding of late Perpendicular character. This would 

 be on the second floor, counting the sunk story. There were also 

 remains of the' jamb of a doorway, elaborately moulded, lower down. 

 This was all I saw in situ. There were some remains of square- 

 headed windows ; but, whether these were in situ when taken down, 

 or materials brought originally from Bromham Hall, I was unable 

 to ascertain. 



I think that, if the building before being demolished had been 

 carefully examined, and some measurements taken and drawings 

 made, the plan might probably have been made out, and the date at 

 any rate fixed beyond a doubt. The impression on my mind, at the 

 time, certainly was that the building was older than the seventeenth 

 century, and probably of the time of Henry VIII. This, of course, 

 is contrary to Evelyn's assertion that it was built by the Sir Edward 

 Baynton of his day ; but it often happens that a person is described 

 as the builder of a house who, in reality, only altered it. It appeared 



1 Two other rooms, on the south side of the house, were believed to have been 

 built by the mother of Sir Edward Baynton Rolf., the heiress Anne Baynton, 

 who married first, Edward Rolt, Esq., and secondly, James, Lord Somerville ; 

 and some rooms were added by Dr. Starky, who also pulled down a small 

 detached building floored with marble, of which Dingley has given a sketch 

 below that of the house, and which he has marked " a privat room in the 

 grove." 



