Old England: A Pictorial Museum (page 1/53)

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569.—Staircase in the Conventual Buildings, Canterbury

“Look at Canterbury [Cathedral]. How many changes of architectural taste are not there visible; how many different periods of architectural history may not there be traced: yet is the effect anywhere discordant?—Oh, he were indeed presumptious who should say so. Is it not rather in the highest degree grand and impressive, conveying at once to the mind that sense of subline repose which belongs only to works of essential unity? We need not subjoin any detailed architectural descriptions. The Cathedral is pleasantly situated in an extensive court, surrounded by gardens, [more...] [$]

67.—Circular British Shield.

“It is equally difficult to determine the date of those valuable relics which have been found in various places, exhibiting a taste for symmetry and nice workmanship in the fabrication of their weapons, offensive and defensive, and the ruder decorations of their persons. Such are the [...]Flintshire, now in the British Museum (Fig. 64). Such are the shields (Figs. 65, 66, 67), of one of which (Fig. 67) Sir Samuel Meyrick, its possessor, says, “It is impossible to contemplate the artistic portions without feeling convinced that there is a mixture of British ornaments with such resemblances to the elegant designs on Roman works as would be produced by a people in a state of less civilization.” (p. 22) [more...] [$]

424.—Peverel Castle

“One of the most grandly situated of castles is that of Peveril of the Peak (FIg. 424), built by a natural son of the Conquerer [i.e. a son of William the Conquerer], whose name it bars. This was some centuries afterwards in the possession of William Peveril, a valiant knight, who had two daughters, one of whom, Mellet, having privily resolved to marry none but a knight who should distinguish hiself for his warlike [...] [more...] [$]

Floriated initial capital letter “S”

This decorated drop cap “S” has vine leaves intertwined with the letter. [more...] [$]

Hall at Ockwell’s, Berkshire.

Coloured in the original book.

“The old manor-house of Ockwells is situated about one mile westward from bray, in Berkshire. It is one of those mansions built chiefly of timber framework, of which many yet remain in England, some of them almost as large as palaces and little less magnificent, picturesque without, with their bay windows and ornamented gables, and righ in timber-roofs, oak panneling, and carved furniture, within. Sixty or seventy years ago [as of 1845] a large part of Ockwells manor-house was burnt down. Of the part which remains, now converted into a farm-house, the gables are striking and richly carved. The panneling of the hall and the fine oriel window divided by mullions into six lights yet remain, but the timber roof has been covered up and formed into a flat ceiling. The upper windows are still filled with the original painted glass. The mansion was built by John Norreys, lord of the manor of Ockholt in the parish of Bray, who in 1465 left a considerable sum by will for the completion of the building. The paintings in the windows consist of coats of arms of the Norreys family, and those of Henry VI., Margaret [more...] [$]