494 Present,State of Bayham and Penshurst. [Jan. 1, 
on the long majestic nave, terminating 
in the distant altar, without the feelings 
being powerfully interested by the view. 
The trimmed box, and neat gravel 
walks, however, which decorate the 
space within, offend the taste, and cer¬ 
tainly appear rather inconsistent with 
the dignity of a gothic ruin. As a re¬ 
lic of ancient architecture, although it 
cannot be compared with Tintern and 
Neeley, it possesses many claims to the 
admiration of the common observer, 
as well as of the antiquary. This abbey 
was amongst the number of religious 
edifices abolished by Henry VIII. and 
having been dismantled of its orna¬ 
ments, was abandoned to the destruc¬ 
tive effects of time and neglect. The 
only attention which it now receives, 
(as the visitor is informed) is by an 
annual sum expended in the repair 
of its ruins ! At a short distance, stand 
the remains of a large gateway, once 
surmounted by the papal cross, under¬ 
neath whose spacious arch runs the 
road to the monastery. The mansion, 
which closely adjoins the ruins, and is 
reflected in a beautiful basin of water 
in front, is built in the gothic style, 
and thus preserves a strict uniformity 
with the abbey. This property was 
purchased by Lord Chief Justice Pratt, 
afterwards Earl Camden; and from 
him has descended to the present Mar¬ 
quis, to whom it gives the title of Vis¬ 
count Bayham. 
PENSHURST PLACE. 
This ancient and venerable mansion, 
the seat of the noble family of the 
Sidneys, stands within an extensive 
park at a few miles distance from 
Tunbridge Wells. It was built in the 
reign of William the Conqueror, and 
passed successively through the fami¬ 
lies of Penchester, Pulteuev, Devereux 
and Fitzwalter, until it was forfeited 
to the crown in the reign of Edward VI. 
by the attainder of Sir Ralph Vane. 
The youthful monarch bestowed it as 
a mark of his peculiar favour and es¬ 
teem on Sir William Sidney, (cham¬ 
berlain and steward of the household 
of Henry VIII.) in the possession of 
whose descendants this splendid gift 
has ever since remained. On the death 
of Sir William Sidney, the estate de¬ 
scended to his son Sir Henry, the bosom 
friend of Edward VI. and the father 
of the gallant Sir Philip Sidney. This 
illustrious hero, whose untimely death* 
* He was mortally wounded at the battle 
of Zutphen, in Guelder land, between the 
was a source of so much grief to the 
court of Elizabeth, and to the whole 
British nation, was born here in the 
year 1554, on which memorable occa¬ 
sion an oak was planted in the park. 
From him the domain came into the 
possession of his brother. Sir Robert 
Sidney, afterwards created by James I. 
Lord Sidney, Vicount Lisle and Earl 
of Leicester. Penshurst was also the 
birth-place and residence of the cele¬ 
brated Lady Dorothy Sidney, Countess 
of Sunderland; (the Sacharissa of 
Waller) and of the Earl of Leicester’s 
son, the patiiotie Algernon Sidney, 
who was beheaded in the reign of 
Charles II. on a charge of being con¬ 
cerned in the Rye House Plot. The 
house is extensive and commodious, 
and is a specimen of the union of the 
Saxon and gothic orders of architecture. 
It hears evident marks of antiquity, 
and some of its outer courts are in 
ruins; but the whole edifice has, within 
the last few years, undergone a tho¬ 
rough repair, and received several 
material improvements, under the in¬ 
spection of its present proprietor, Sir 
John Shelley Sidney, bart. The inte¬ 
rior is spacious and magnificent, though 
the splendour of its decorations is now 
rather faded from the effects of time. 
Many of the rooms are ornamented 
with fine pictures and family portraits, 
by Titian, Guido, Corregio, Teniers, 
Holbein, Vandyke, Hemskirk, Janssen, 
Lely, Luders and Kneller. Among 
those particularly worthy of observa¬ 
tion, are an elegant picture of Charles I. 
on horseback, by Vandyke, and por¬ 
traits of the Earls of Leicester, Sir 
Philip Sidney, the Countesses of Sun- 
derlaud and Pembroke, and Algernon 
Sidney. Some fine specimens of an¬ 
cient tapestiy are also to be seen in 
some of the apartments. The park is 
thickly studded with trees, among 
which we now in vain look for the oak 
planted to commemorate the birth of 
Sir Philip Sidney. The gardens are 
spacious and beautiful, and extend from 
the house to the banks of the Medway. 
% The other places in the vicinity of 
the Wells, which merit the attention of 
the visitor, are Eridge Castle and Park, 
the noble domain of the Earl of Aber¬ 
gavenny; Knowle, the seat of the 
Flemish and British, September 22, 1586. 
His noble act of self-forbearance in the 
hour of intense suffering, and his exemplary 
humanity to the dying soldier, will ever 
endear his memory to posterity. 
Duchess 
