566 Report of the Senior Steivmd of Implements at NottiwgJiam. 
building, notwithstanding that labour was cheap, and without the Talue of 
the stone, was in those days four-score thousand pounds. 
Sir Francis Willoughby seems to have lived in some state, for when 
Queen Elizabeth, who was his second cousin, announced a visit to him at the 
old house of VVollaton, it was not considered fitting that less than fifty- 
gentlemen should form his retinue ; the directions for the marshalling of the 
hall and buttery, and other household ari-angements, also point to wealth, but 
it appears that the new Hall was not wholly furnished for long, and a portion 
was burnt not long after it was completed. 
Sir Francis's married life was unhappy. He only left daughters, the 
eldest of whom married Sir Percival Willoughby ' de Kent ' of the house 
of Eresby, the direct ancestors of the present Lord Middleton. 
Wollaton has been much altered internally, by Geofl'ry Wyatt, who has 
deprived the interior of much of its Elizabethan character; the great hall 
remains intact, save that the sixth lord stripped it of its panelling, which he 
testifies was worm-eaten. The second wife of the builder Sir Francis, and 
the beautiful widow of the fourth lord, each in her day took care that very 
little of interest or value was left, the former, among other things, carrying 
off one hundred pieces of silver plate, and the latter removing all but the 
worst of the furnishing plate, pictures, jewels, &c. Had not her heirs, and 
her own conscience (by will) returned a little, Wollaton itself would be the 
only record of past possessions. 
Henry, sixth Lord Middleton, altered the outside gardens, &c., and spent 
large sums, which in these days of agricultural woe make one stare : the 
Lenton Lodge and the large Camellia House on the terrace having each cost 
10,000/. He was a great employer of labour and a most popular man, and 
spent his wealth right royally. 
The Willoughbys of Wollaton seem to have been devout; many bequests 
appear in the family wills of jewels and other gifts to the Church. 
It is believed that the papers stored in the muniment room contain much 
of interest, historical and otherwise, among other things deeds of the time of 
the kings of Mercia ; but it would take much time to search out worthy 
matter from the bulk of papers and parchments that crowd the shelves. 
Besides the loan of the site of the Show ground, innumerable 
concessions were made by Lord Middleton, and assistance of the 
most valuable kind was rendered by his very efficient agent, Mr. 
Wright, and others acting under him. There was also nothing 
wanting on the part of the Local Committee, who were at all 
times ably represented by their indefatigable Secretary, Mr. 
Barron. 
The yard was admirably arranged, and for convenience cer- 
tainly an improvement on all previous ones. The extent of 
shedding for implements this year was 10,743 feet, compared 
with 8,217 at Newcastle in 1887, and the number of implement 
entries 4',717 as against 3,616 at Newcastle. The charge for the 
shedding for Agricultural articles has been lowered, and is now as 
nearly as can be ascertained the cost price to the Society. 
The following statement, showing the number of feet taken 
of each description of shedding, and the number of articles 
exhibited in the Implement Department during the last eight 
years, may be useful for purposes of reference : — 
