282 



Notes on "Places. 



his Somersetshire estate, which is still standing 1 : — 



" Ou the other side of the valley of the Parrett, W., a long stretch of high 

 ground rises. On an escarpment of these heights stands the ' Parkfield monu- 

 ment,' commonly known as the ' Burton Steeple,' a column 140ft. high, crowned 

 by a funeral urn, erected by the Earl of Chatham to the memory of Sir William 

 Pynsent. ... To the 1. stood the mansion of Burton House, now almost 

 entirely destroyed. For many years this estate was the seat of the Pynsents, 

 but in 1765 Sir William Pynsent, the last of that ancient family, having no issue, 

 bequeathed it to William Pitt, Earl of Chatham, to whom he was an entire 

 stranger, ' in his veneration of a great character of exemplary virtue, and un- 

 rivalled ability,' and also on account of Pitt's opposition to the cider tax. The 

 story goes that Sir William on more than one occasion attempted to make his 

 way into Pitt's house to let him know his intention, but was turned back by the 

 servants on account of his disreputable appearance. . . . The grounds once 

 contained a funeral urn, dedicated to his (Chatham's) memory, by his Countess, 

 1781, who made this her permanent home after her widowhood, and died here, 

 April 3rd, 1803. This urn was removed to Stowe, 1831. On the dispersion of 

 the objects collected there the urn fell into the hands of strangers, but was re- 

 covered by Mr. Banks Stanhope, and now stands in his gardens at Revesby 

 Abbey, Lincolnshire." {Murray's Handbook for Wilts, Dorset, and Somerset, 

 4th edition, 1882, p. 443.) 



At Conock in the last century lived John Powell, Esq., and 

 Gifford Warriner, Esq., who married Anne, sister of Richard Long, 

 of Rood Ashton. The property is now owned by Henry Ernie 

 Warriner, representative of the Ernie family, to some of whom there 

 are fine monuments at All Cannings. 



At Weddington, now known as Wedhampton, lived ■ 

 Titchbourn, Esq., in the last century, and J ames Long, " of the 

 Chiveral branch of the antient family of Long, who died 21 Oct., 

 1768, set. 74," as the monument at Erchfont records. He gave, or 

 was instrumental in procuring, the land dedicated to the public use 

 for straightening the main road between Tinkfield and Lydeway. 

 The line of the old highway can still be easily traced, and the great 

 benefit thus conferred on the public was thought at the time to 

 justify the erection of a monument recording the action of James 

 Long in the matter on the roadside nearly opposite Stert village. 

 This was passed on the homeward drive, after leaving Manningford 

 Bruce — or " Crucis," as it is called on an old map — I know not why. 



At Rushsall, or, more correctly, Rushall Park, was formerly a 

 country mansion, the seat of the Poore family. The house has 

 entirely disappeared, but its site is still marked by the fine old elms 

 and park-like meadows. 



