By Harold Brakspear, A.E.I.B.A. 



331 



f a fifteenth century window of four divisions with heavy centre 

 million and pointed arched heads to the lights, without cusps. 

 Chere are scanty evidences of a similar window in the outside wall 

 f the same room. There are also two or three original arched 

 loorways in this part of the house. But the most interesting 

 eature of the fifteenth century is at the other end of the hall, where 



litill remains the great arch of the oriel, which, unlike those at 

 Wraxall and Chalfield, went the full height of the building. The 

 iTch is four- centred and panelled on the soffit ; but there are no 

 •emains of the oriel itself. Opposite this arch on the other side of the 



I lall is a corresponding panelled arch of smaller dimensions opening 

 .nto a square recess lighted by a four-light window similar to that 

 in the kitchen wing. In the wall to the left of the window is a 

 small arch panelled like the rest, which led to the staircase. The 

 ^opposite wall of the recess has been cut through to form a modern 

 passage at the back of the hall. 



j The staircase dates from the seventeenth century (though probably 

 loccupying the position of the original one), and is lighted by a 

 •couple of two-light double-transomed windows stepped to follow 

 | the stairs and one of a single-light in the angle next the recess just 

 j described. There is evidence' that the adjoining building continued 

 ! further north and has since been pulled down. 



To the east of the fifteenth century house is a good-sized house 



of the seventeenth century, which — although now detached — is 

 i supposed originally to have been connected with the main building. 

 | It is of three stories in height, and is entered through an arched 

 | doorway in the centre of the front with a three-light window on 

 ; either side. There is a handsome contemporary fireplace in one of 

 ; the upper rooms. 



On the north side of the house, enclosing the gardens, is a high 

 ! coped wall, with circula-r bastions at each end battlemented at the 

 .' top, with a walk all round on the inside. In front of the house is a 

 ! large walled forecourt in the south wall of which are the principal 

 j entrance-gate piers, surmounted by richly-carved urns on which arc 

 j shields of arms of Speke impaling and quartering Mayney. In tho 



lower part of each pier on the inside is a quaint little recessed seat in 



