Nooks and Corners of Old England

A recent glance over some old Ordnance Maps, the companions of many a ramble in the corners of Old England, has suggested the idea of jotting down a few fragmentary notes, which we trust may be of interest.

Upon a former occasion we wandered with pencil and camera haphazard off the beaten track mainly in the counties surrounding the great Metropolis; and though there are several tempting "Nooks" still near at hand, we have now extended our range of exploration.

We only trust the reader will derive a little of the pleasure we have found in compiling this little volume.

A. F.

CONTENTS

PAGE NOOKS IN HUNTINGDONSHIRE AND NORTH NORTHANTS 1 SOME SUFFOLK NOOKS 22 NOOKS IN NORFOLK 40 NOOKS IN WARWICKSHIRE AND BORDERLAND 59 SOME NOOKS IN WORCESTERSHIRE AND GLOUCESTERSHIRE 78 NOOKS IN NORTHERN WILTSHIRE 102 EASTERN AND SOUTHERN SOMERSET 123 IN WESTERN SOMERSET 147 IN DEVON AND DORSET 162 HERE AND THERE IN SALOP AND STAFFORDSHIRE 181 IN NORTHERN DERBYSHIRE 200 NOOKS IN YORKSHIRE 225 INDEX 269

LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS

QUEEN ELEANOR'S CROSS AT GEDDINGTON Frontispiece THE BELL, STILTON Facing page 8 KIRBY HALL 18 WOTHORPE MANOR-HOUSE 18 DOORWAY, KIRBY HALL 20 GATEWAY, KIRBY HALL 20 ERWARTON HALL 36 WALSINGHAM 42 WALSINGHAM 42 EAST BARSHAM MANOR 44 FONT CANOPY, TRUNCH 44 WYMONDHAM 52 HAUTBOYS HALL 52 CHASTLETON 64 PIRTON COURT 80 THE WHITE HOUSE, PIXHAM 80 SEVERN END 82 SEVERN END 82 RIPPLE 86 STANTON 86 STANWAY HOUSE 90 STANWAY HOUSE 90 POSTLIP HALL 98 STOCKS, PAINSWICK 98 NAILSWORTH 100 BEVERSTONE CASTLE 100 GATE-HOUSE, SPYE PARK 104 LACOCK 104 LACOCK 106 BEWLEY COURT 106 LACOCK 108 LACOCK ABBY 108 CORSHAM ALMSHOUSE 112 CORSHAM ALMSHOUSE 112 CORSHAM ALMSHOUSE 114 CASTLE COMBE 114 YATTON KEYNELL MANOR 116 BULLICH MANOR-HOUSE 116 SHELDON MANOR 118 SHELDON MANOR 118 SOUTH WRAXALL MANOR-HOUSE 120 SOUTH WRAXALL MANOR-HOUSE 120 THE GEORGE, NORTON ST. PHILIP 124 THE GEORGE, NORTON ST. PHILIP 124 CHARTERHOUSE HINTON 128 WELLOW MANOR-HOUSE 128 OLD HOUSE NEAR CROSCOMBE 130 BECKINGTON CASTLE 130 CROSCOMBE CHURCH 132 CROSCOMBE 132 LYTES CARY MANOR-HOUSE 134 LYTES CARY MANOR-HOUSE 134 ANCIENT SCREEN, CURRY RIVEL CHURCH 136 FIREPLACE, LYTES CARY 136 BARRINGTON COURT 138 HINTON ST. GEORGE 140 SANDFORD ORCAS MANOR-HOUSE 140 MONTACUTE HOUSE 144 MONTACUTE PRIORY 144 CROWCOMBE 148 OLD HOUSE, CROWCOMBE 148 COMBE SYDENHAM 152 COMBE SYDENHAM 152 CROWCOMBE CHURCH 156 DUNSTER 156 BINDON 168 BINDON 168 WYLDE COURT 170 THE GOLDEN LION, BARNSTAPLE 170 MAPPERTON MANOR-HOUSE 172 MELPLASH COURT 172 WATERSTONE 174 ATHELHAMPTON 174 ATHELHAMPTON 176 ATHELHAMPTON 176 MONMOUTH'S TREE 178 SERVANTS' HALL, CHIRK CASTLE 182 SERVANTS' HALL, CHIRK CASTLE 184 MARKET DRAYTON 190 MARKET DRAYTON 190 BLACKLADIES 198 GREAT HALL, HADDON 202 GREAT HALL, HADDON 202 COURTYARD, HADDON 204 DRAWING-ROOM, HADDON 204 WITHDRAWING-ROOM, HADDON 206 WITHDRAWING-ROOM, HADDON 206 DOORWAY, HADDON 208 INTERIOR COURTYARD, HADDON 208 GREAT HALL, HADDON 212 HARDWICK HALL 212 GARLANDS, ASHFORD CHURCH 220 GATEWAY, KNOWSTHORPE HALL 240 TOMB, DARFIELD CHURCH 240 LEATHLEY STOCKS 244 STOCKS AT WESTON 244 MIDDLEHAM CASTLE 252 SWINSTY HALL 252 QUEEN'S GAP, LEYBURN "SHAWL" 254 BELLERBY OLD HALL 256 BOLTON CASTLE 256 ASKRIGG 260 NAPPA HALL 260 RICHMOND 266 EASBY ABBEY 266

NOOKS IN HUNTINGDONSHIRE AND NORTH NORTHANTS

At Huntingdon we are on familiar ground with Samuel Pepys. When he journeyed northwards to visit his parental house or to pay his respects to Lord Sandwich's family at Hinchinbrooke, he usually found suitable accommodation at "Goody Gorums" and "Mother" somebody else who lived over against the "Crown." Neither the famous posting-house the "George" nor the "Falcon" are mentioned in the Diary, but he speaks of the "Chequers"; however, the change of names of ancient hostelries is common, so in picturing the susceptible Clerk of the Admiralty chucking a pretty chambermaid under the chin in the old galleried yard of the "George," we may not be far out of our reckoning.

But altogether the old George Inn is somewhat disappointing. Its balustraded galleries are there sure enough, with the queer old staircase leading up to them in one of the corners; but it has the same burnished-up appearance of the courtyard of the Leicester Hospital at Warwick. How much more pleasing both would strike the eye were there less paint and varnish. The Inn has been refronted, and from the street has quite a modern appearance.