The Vale of War dour Excursion. 



21 



The ground plan seems to have been a hexagon, with two massive 

 square towers flanking the entrance towards the east. This part of 

 the building remains intact as regards the walls, which are of great 

 height and solidity. The windows of the hall from the upper story- 

 are over the entrance. The interior has an open court, from which 

 are approaches to the living-rooms and staircases. The main features 

 of the building are easily to be traced, and the whole forms an 

 interesting study of a large residence of the early Perpendicular 

 period. Wardour was attacked by a powerful force under the com- 

 mand of Sir Edward Hungerford, in May, 1643, and at a time when 

 Lord Arundell was in attendance on King Charles the First at 

 Oxford, but his lady, Blanche, refused to surrender, and, with her 

 little garrison of twenty-five men, most heroically withstood the 

 onslaught of 1,300 soldiers and a bombardment which lasted five 

 days. After defending the castle as long as it was tenable, she 

 capitulated on honourable terms ; but the republican leader having 

 once gained possession, did not scruple to violate his engagements, 

 and to plunder the mansion of its most valuable contents. It was 

 then garrisoned by the Parliament, and placed under the command 

 of General Ludlow, bnt it did not long remain in the hands of its 

 captors. In the course of the summer Lord Arundell and Sir 

 Francis Doddington invested it, and compelled Ludlow to surrender, 

 after a gallant defence. 



The party left the ruins, and, crossing the park, visited the 

 new castle, through the drawing rooms and noble picture galleries 

 of which they were conducted by Lord Arundell himself. The por- 

 trait of Lady Blanche Arundell, by Angelica Kauffman, the heroic 

 defender of the fortress, naturally attracted great attention, as did 

 also the noble rotunda staircase. The chapel was also visited, and 

 the company having partaken of refreshments, Mr. Swayne tendered 

 their cordial thanks to Lord Arundell for his kind and hospitable 

 reception. 



From Wardour the party hastened on to Tisbury, where a short 

 time was spent in an inspection of the church. It was intended to 

 visit Place Farm and Fonthill Gifford Church, but there being no 

 time to spare, they passed on to Fonthill, where they received a 



