The Natural History of Wiltshire Part 26

Little-coat, in the parish of Rammysbury, is a very great house. It was Sir Thomas Dayrell's, who was tryed for his life for burning a child, being accessory. It is now Sir Jo. Popham's, Lord Chief Justice. [The murder here alluded to is said to have been committed in Littlecot-house. The strange and mysterious story connected with it is recorded in a note to Scott's poem of "Rokeby," and also in the account of Wilts.h.i.+re, in the Beauties of England. - J. B.]

Longleat, the dwelling place of the Thynnes, a very fair, neat, elegant house, in a foul soile. It is true Roman architecture, adorned on the outside with three orders of pillars, Dorique, Ionique, and Corinthian.

Tocknam [Tottenham] Parke, a seate of the Duke of Somerset, is a most parkely ground, and a romancey place. Severall walkes of trees planted of great length. Here is a new complete pile of good architecture. It is in the parish of Great Bedwin. [The domain comprises the whole extent of Savernake Forest. - J. B.]

Wardour Castle, the seate of the Lord Arundell, was kept by Col.

Ludlow: a part of it was blown up by Sir F. Dodington in 1644 or 1645.

Here was a red-deer parke and a fallow-deer parke. [Some of the ruins of the old castle still remain. The present mansion, belonging to the Arundell family of Wardour, was erected about seventy years ago.

- J. B.]

Knighton Wood, the Earle of Pembroke's, is an exceeding pleasant place, both for the variety of high wood and lawnes, as well as deer, as also the prospect over the New Forest to the sea, and the whole length of the Isle of Wight It is a desk-like elevation, and faces the south, and in my conceit it would be the n.o.blest situation for a grand building that this countrey doth afford.

PART II.-CHAPTER XX.

DRAUGHTS OF THE SEATES AND PROSPECTS.

[I HAVE thought it desirable to print the concluding Chapter of Aubrey's work verbatim. It is merely a list of remarkable buildings and views, which he wished to be drawn and engraved, for the ill.u.s.tration of his work. The names attached to each subject are those of persons whom he thought likely to incur the expence of the plates, for publication; and his own name being affixed to two of them shews that he was willing to contribute. It is impossible not to concur in his closing observations on this subject, or to avoid an expression of regret that he was not enabled to publish such a "glorious volume"

of engravings as would have been formed by those here enumerated.

- J. B.]

MY WISH. - AN APPENDIX.

"Multorum manibus grande levatur onus."-Ovid.

ADVICE TO THE PAINTER OR GRAVER.

1. Our Ladies Church at Salisbury; the view without, and in perspective within: and a mappe of the city. - Bishop Ward. And of Old Sarum from Harnham hill. - (Sir Hugh Speke gave to the Monasticon Angliae the prospect of Salisbury Church, excellently well done by Mr.

Hollar. Quaere, who hath the plate? I doe believe, my Lady Speke.)

2. Prospect of Malmesbury Abbey; and also (3) of the Town, and (4) a Mappe of the Town. - Mr. Wharton, &c.- Sir James Long. (Take the true lat.i.tude and longitude of Malmesbury.)

5. And also King Athelston's tombe. [See ante, p. 116.]

6. Prospect of the borough of Chippenham. - Duke of Somerset.

7. The Castle at Marleborough, and the prospect of the

8. Town. - D. of Somerset.

9. The Ruines of Lurgershall Castle. - Sir George Brown.

10. Bradstock Priorie. - James, Earle of Abingdon.

11. Wardour Castle. - The Lord Arundel of Wardour.

12. Lac.o.c.k Abbey. - Sir Jo. Talbot.

13. Priory St. Maries, juxta Kington St. Michael.

14. Ivy Church.

15. Sturton House. - The Lord Sturton.

16. Wilton House, and (17) Garden: sc. from the House and from Rowlingdon Parke. The garden was heretofore drawn by Mr. Solomon de Caus, the architect, that was the surveyor of it, and engraved [ante, p. 86]; but the plates were burnt in the Fire of London. - E. of Pembrok

18. Longleate House and Garden. - I have seen a print of the house: it was engraved after Mr. Dankertz' painting. Quaere, Mr. Thompson, the printseller, for it? Perhaps he hath the plates. - Lord Weymouth.

(Desire Mr. Beech, the Lord Weymouth's steward, to enquire what is become of the copper plate that was engraved after Mr. Dankertz'

painting of this house; also enquire of Mr. Rose, my Lord's surveyor, for it).

19. Longford House. - Lord Colraine. (Engraved by Thacker. Quaere, my Lord Colraine, if he hath the plate or a copie.)

20. The Duke of Beauford's house at Amesbury. - His Grace.

21. Tocknam Parke House. - E. of Alesbury.

22. Funthill House. - Mr. Cottington.

23. Charlton House. - Earle of Barks.h.i.+re.

24. Lavington House and Garden. - Earle of Abingdon.

25. Mr. Hall's house at Bradford. - J. Hall, Esq.

26. Lidyard-Tregoze House and Scite. - Sir Walter St. John.

27. Sir John Wyld's House at Compton Ba.s.set. - Sir Jo. Wyld.

28. Ramesbury House. - Sir Wm. Jones, Attorney-General.

HOUSES OF LESSER NOTE.

29. Edington House. - .... Lewis, Esq.

30. Sir Jo. Evelyn's House at Deane. - Earle of Kingston.

31. Dracot-Cerne House. - Sir James Long, Baronet.

32. Cosham House. - .... Kent, Esq.

33. Lakham House. - .... Montague, Esq.

34. Cadnam House. - Sir George Hungerford.

The Mannour House of Kington St. Michael. - .... Laford.

The Mannour House at .....- Sir Henry c.o.ker.

Gretenham House. - George Ayliff, Esq.