By T. H. Baker. 



253 



Lucy died 1802, and Woodlands fell to her daughter, Elizabeth 

 Meyrick, who died 1816, unmarried, and, being entailed, the estate 

 devolved on her cousin, Owen Lewis Meyrick, Eector of Hols- 

 worthy, who died 1819, and was succeeded by his son, Eev. 

 William Meyrick. From him the estate came to Meyrick Bankes, 

 Esq., of Winstanley Hall, near Wigan. He died 1881, and his 

 representatives still hold the property. 



Mr. C. E. Pouting, F.S.A.,in 1888 wrote the following description 

 and report on the then condition of Woodlands House : — 



" The manor house (of which only the hall remains) and the chapel 

 appear to have been erected in the latter half of the fourteenth 

 century, probably 1370 — 80, during the period of ' transition ' from 

 ' Decorated ' to ' Perpendicular,' of which we have a beautiful and 

 authenticated example in Edington Church (1361). The work at 

 Woodlands presents the same curious mixture of the details of both 

 styles ; thus the east window of the chapel has mouldings which 

 are characteristic of the earlier period, with the tracery of the latter 

 fairly fully developed. The window on the north side of the 

 sacrarium has similar mouldings, while the tracery is of an earlier 

 or 1 flowing ' type, but there is no lack of evidence that both are 

 coeval with the rest of the building. 



" The building forming the chapel is of two stories, but as there 

 are no original windows in the lower storey, nor a doorway as 

 early as the walls, I conjecture that it was only constructed for 

 the purpose of raising the chapel to a higher level than that of the 

 hall, and it appears not to have been otherwise utilized. The chapel 



a frock, and both children in all respects. However, they put the maidservant's 

 gown on Lady Lucy Pitt, and she was married to the eldest Mr. Meyrick, and 

 Miss Cholmondeley to his brother. They were stepping into the vessel to sail 

 away when they were all seized by Lady Essex Cholmondeley and her party. 

 The boys were sent abroad, and the girls carried back to London and severely 

 reprimanded and locked up. Poor children, they were perfectly miserable. If 

 the clergyman had not delayed in regard to Lady Lucy, the parties would have 

 sailed for France. This extraordinary affair was the cause of the ' Marriage 

 Act,' the two young couples being of such high rank and haviug immense 

 property. Some years afterwards the marriages were solemnised properly in 

 England with the consent of all the relations aud friends. (Copied by -per- 

 mission from the papers of Vale Royal, the seat of Lord Beta mere,)" 

 (From an old newspaper cutting. — T.H.B.) 



VOL. XXIX. NO. LXXXVTTI. T 



