. aA 
Oe: 
Since that period a very small part of it 
only has been habitable; but from the 
strength and solidity of its original fabric, 
its remains will probably lone defy the 
destructive hand of time, and will exhibit 
for centuries to come, a melancholy mo- 
nument of the architectural taste of the 
era of its erection. 
The transient view which we had 
caught of Sudeley, as we approached 
Winchcombe, excited our curiosity, and 
although the evening was advancing, we 
resolved to take a nearer survey of this 
interesting pile, After crossing a brook 
at the extremity of the town, we followed 
a foot-path that brought us directly to 
the castle. Here the sombre foliage of 
the venerable oak, or the spreading elm, 
apparently coeval with the prosperity of 
the place, is no longer to be seen. A 
few trees however of modern growth, 
form an agreeable relief to the heavy 
portal near which we entered the gar- 
den. From this spot we had at once a 
complete view of the ruin.- The chapel 
was immediately before us, and to the 
right extended a long line of buildings in - 
various stages of decay. The horizon, 
skirted with dark clouds, increased the 
gloom, which the Sober tints of twilight 
threw over the massy towers and the tot- 
tering arches, while the deepening shades 
beautifully harmonized the rambling ivy 
with the Gothic tracery of which it seem- 
ed to form a part, as its fantastic 
branches clothed the dilapidated win- 
dow, or entwined the shattered pin- 
nacle. 
The chapel.is indeed a most beautiful 
ebject, and appears originally to have 
been a very complete specimen of ar- 
chitectural excellence. 
less and desolate, its decorations are 
entirely defaced, and its very walls seem 
to be apheld by the profusion of ivy with 
_which they are covered. At the west 
end is a window, ornamented on each 
side with a beautiful canopied niche, and 
surmounted by a square turret. In a 
small side chapel, to which some endow- 
ment is annexed, divine service is still 
once a fortnight performed. ~ ; 
Proceeding from the garden through 
the: portal, which is surrounded with 
battlements, and in very good preser- 
vation, we entered a‘ square court, in 
which there appeared to be'no object 
that claimed particular attention. It 
merely seems to have contained the 
accommodations necessary for the nu- 
merous domestics and retainers, which a 
Letters from Cheltenham. 
lt is now roof-: 
[July 1, 
baronial residence of such magnitude 
required. From hence we advanced to 
an inner court, which once enclosed the 
state apartments, and in which many 
splendid relics of former grandeur still 
remain. Although now converted into 
a farm-yard, and its original extent with 
some diiliculty explored, it may still be 
perceived that at each corner stood a 
tower, and that one side was occupied 
by the great hall, whose magnificent 
window, even in its present half demo- 
lished state, exhibits a model, that for 
lightness and elegance has perhaps sel- 
dom been equalled, and probably never 
surpassed. The ox is now stalled and 
the horse fed, where the voice of mirth 
was wontto be heard; where the sons of 
power and the daughters of pleasure were 
wont toassemble. Here the proud and 
aspiring Seymour planned schemes of 
agegrandizement that were fatally frus- 
trated, and here. too the amiable but 
unfortunate Katherine, after escaping 
the caprice of a tyrant, whose tender 
regard involved almost certain destruc- 
tion, at length fell a victim to the am- 
bition of him with whom she had fondly 
hoped to enjoy that happiness, which the 
possession of a crown had failed to 
confer. 
The square tower to the right of this 
court is still known by thename of the 
water-tower, and may be supposed once 
to have contained a reservoir for the 
general supply of the castle. Attached 
to the prison-tower is a considerable 
building, the gloomy apartments of 
whieh, from their size and strength, may 
very naturally be concluded to have 
formed a necessary appendage to thevar- 
bitrary system of feudal tyranny. The 
turret itself is traditionally reported to 
have had no entrance but from abeve. 
The unhappy victims must therefore- 
have been lowered withseords into this 
dreadful abode of darkness and despair. 
When an opening was some years ago 
burst into it, a human skeleton, perhaps 
that of its !ast sad inhabitant, is said to 
have been found. The watch-tower may 
still be ascended, although some of 
its steps are destroyed. It has a light 
appearance, and is of an octagon shape, 
and through the apertures at the top, the 
country may be reconnoitered in every 
direction. 
The views round Sudeley are, for the 
most part, confined and uninteresting. 
The park, with its ornamental timber, is 
totally destroyed. On one side, however, 
an 
~ 
