estate passed by marriage to the Lincoln and Lancaster Earldoms 
for short periods, but early in the reign of Edward III. it was 
in the hands of the Crown. It was then given, with the title 
of Earl of Salisbury and many honours, to William de Monteacute 
for special and dangerous service at Nottingham. From 1337 till 
1428, with a short interval of a few months in 1400, the Canford 
Estate remained in the hands of the Monteacutes, and, therefore, 
it could not have been held (as tradition asserts) by John of Gaunt, 
who lived 1340— 1399- Mr. Brownen was disposed to assign the 
so-called “ John O’Gaunt’s ” kitchen at Canford with its large 
fireplaces and significant 14th century architecture to William 
de Monteacute, the second Earl (1344—1397), who died in Christ¬ 
church Castle and was buried in Bisham Abbey, Berks. It was 
suggested that the two noblemen were not only of about the 
same age but were politically and dogmatically Lollard or 
Wickliffite in sympathy, so that possibly John O'Gaunt was a 
visitor to Canford. The turbulence of the Wars of the Roses 
destroyed the family of Salisbury and their right of inheritance— 
passing first to the Crown by successive attainders, and then to 
private hands; it was obtained by purchase by the ancestor of 
the present owner. Lord Wimborne. 
After leaving the Church the party went into the Park, where 
lunch was taken. The chief object of interest in it is a very remark¬ 
able Spanish chestnut tree, 1,100 years old. Suckers had grown 
up round the parent stem and formed one enormous gnarled 
trunk. Some idea of its huge growth may be formed from the 
fact that it took 12 members, with joined hands and extended 
arms to encircle it. 
The Nineveh Court was then visited. This is a portion of 
a wing of the mansion, built expressly to house a part of the 
celebrated relics of ancient Nineveh, discovered by Sir Henry 
Layard and placed in this court in 1851. The relics consist of 
a great winged bull and lion, and several bas reliefs, which were 
examined with great interest. 
The party then proceeded to the ancient kitchen, with its 
great fireplace and its arch, unquoined or keyless, but large 
enough to roast an ox. The members were then permitted, by 
special permission, to inspect the fine suite of rooms in the 
house. It was a gracious concession to the Society on the part 
of Lady Wimborne, as it had not been open to visitors for many 
years. In the noble hall, with its lofty roof, the upper part was 
hung with fine Gobelin tapestries, while the lower portion was 
panelled with carved oak. The grand staircase also contained 
richly carved work. The magnificent suite of rooms was hung 
with fine pictures by old Masters, and among other treasures 
was a collection of rare Oriental china. 
1 he party then returned to Wimborne and partook of a good* 
tea at the Griffin Hotel, and left by the 5.3 p.m. train for Bourne¬ 
mouth. 
