32 
NATURE NOTES 
hang them up. A hole can then be made in any odd morsels of suet or, fat with 
a skewer or piece of wire, so that the string can be passed through until the 
suet rests on the disc. W. 
ARCH.^:OLOGICAL NOTES. 
A Bit of Old Shropshire. — Wilderhope, a fine old house, built of grey 
stone, is situated seemingly among the less frequented ways of Shropshire, for 
it appears to be little known outside its immediate locality. To admirers of 
picturesque old architecture and old world associations, however, it is well worthy 
of a visit. ..JiS 
It stands lonely, amid wide spreading fields, dropped down, as it were, for no 
apparent purpose, unless that of obscurity. The house is of an imposing appear- 
ance, with handsome mullioned windows; its most striking characteristic is the 
turret stairway opening from the outside, which communicates with the second 
Photogra/ih by the Rev. K. Collett, Jib. A.] 
Figure 13. \Vi i.ttERitoPK, Front View. 
and upper floors. The turret stairway, I am told, is a rare feature in Shropshire. 
Indeed, is very uncommon anywhere, and therefore of greater interest. 
There is a dining hall of nolde propoilions, from which two lesser rooms 
open, one out of the other. They are all devoid of ornament, having bare plastered 
walls and ceilings, excepting one small portion over the window recess, which 
bears a coat-of-arms (wrought in the plaster), it is supposed of the Smalman family. 
J. E. S. V. in a heart (shield?), fleur-de-lis, portcullis, rose, and the I’rince of 
Wales’ feathers. According to authorities on Shropshire history, the family of 
Smalman dates back over 700 years, but the lands of Wilderhope were acquired 
by Francis Smalman about 1583, and it is assumed that he built the house, as the 
initials of F. S. and F. S. (his wife) appear several times on the ceilings in 
addition to the other initials, hut it is said that if he did not build the house he 
renovated it, the latter more likely. There are various dales in and about the 
house ; a small ]>anelled room bears date 1672, while over the porch is 1601. 
I have nowhere seen it staled, but from the character of the building 1 should 
say that it dates from a much earlier period than 1583, as it bears a close re- 
semblance to St. John’s House, Warwick, which was built by the Knights' 
Hospitallers, so that this may have been originally a religious house of some 
sort ; moreover, the Abbeys of Much Wenlock and Huildwas are in the 
immediate neighbourhood, and their lands extended for a considerable distance. 
