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CHASTLETON

MANOR HOUSE

-OXFORDSHIRE

Excursions.

EXCURSION TO BARTON-ON-THE-HEATH, THE ROLLWRIGHTS,

AND CHASTLETON.

June 15th,
15th, 1888.

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was

HE First Excursion of the year was attended by twenty-nine members of the Section, including several ladies. Proceeding by Midland and Great Western Railways, Moreton - in the Marsh reached by eleven o'clock, from whence carriages were taken for Barton-on-the-Heath, where Barton House and the Church were visited. Barton Church was seen to be a small Norman edifice, retaining the chancel arch, south and north doorways, and two interesting windows of that period. A south chapel, and a western tower were added in the fourteenth century; the latter a very simple but interesting example, with a gabled roof. The walls are built with the faces slightly battering, a local peculiarity, which is rather pleasing, and especially so when, as in this instance, there are no buttresses. On the floor of the chancel is a dilapidated brass to Edmund Bury and his wife. The effigy of the lady is lost, and the other parts sadly disarranged.

Barton House, close to the church, is an interesting specimen of a country gentleman's house of the Jacobean period, containing a fine oak staircase, some good panelling, and a few pictures; but none calling for any special remark. The drive was then continued to Long Compton, where an excellent mid-day dinner was served at the "Red Lion;" after which, and a drive of about two miles, the celebrated Rollwright Stones came into view. These stones have been described by very many writers from Stukely downwards. In Mr. C. P. K. Jackson's account of the antiquities scheduled in the "Ancient Monuments Bill," it is stated that the circle is "107 feet in diameter from north to south, and 104 feet "from east to west." Many of the stones are not more than a foot above the

68 Excursion to Barton-on-the-Heath, the Rollwrights, and Chastleton.

general level of the soil, and the highest is not more than 7 feet 6 inches. This is said, by Beesley, to stand at "23 degrees west of the north point of the arca, and opposite to it, at about 23 degrees east of the south point of the 'area, are the remains of some large stones, which were originally set together "in that part just within the circle." The most striking group of stones stands about 390 yards due east of the circle, and is called "The Whispering Knights," "The tallest of which is eleven feet in height." "At a distance of 150 feet from "the circle, on the other side of the public road, stands a fine monolith called "the King's Stone." Professor Ferguson thinks "They are memorials of a battle field; probably of the conflict of Hook Norton, fought early in the tenth "century, between Rollo the Northman, and Edward the Saxon King." It need, however, hardly be said that this is not the prevailing opinion. It is, perhaps, worthy of note that the diameters of the circles of Stonehenge and of The Rollwrights are very nearly the same. Very little more than a hasty glance. could be given to the monument by most of the party, owing to the heavy rain which had fallen ever since they left Long Compton, and for the same reason the drive to Chastleton, via Little Compton, through beautiful scenery, could not be well enjoyed. All were, however, much struck by the grand effect of the great square mass of the mansion, as approached through the village. Chastleton House is a massive and large stone building, belonging to Miss Whitmore Jones, the lady of the manor. The house is interesting from the fact that Catesby, of Gunpowder Plot notoriety, to whom the manor once belonged, sold it in order to find funds to carry on the plot. The purchaser was Mr. Walter Jones, by whom the present mansion was built, between the years 1603 and 1620. The "plans" and "view" make any general description unnecessary, and a detailed account of each apartment would require many more pages than can here be given. It will be noted that the ground plan is, in general outline, a perfect square, with two tower-like projections from the line of the entrance front, and a larger tower on the eastern and on the western sides, which contain the staircases, one only of which is ancient. The rooms on each of the four stories surround a very small open quadrangle for light and air, and it is remarkable that only the outer walls and the walls of the quadrangle, or court, are of stone; all the intermediate partitions dividing the rooms and passages are framed in oak. The hall is a fine apartment, occupying the height of two of the ordinary stories, with a fine oak screen of five divisions; two of which are arched openings. The divisions are marked by disproportioned Corinthian columns carrying an entablature enriched with scroll and strap ornaments, and surmounted by fantastic pierced "strap" work and pinnacles. The walls are wainscotted to a height of seven feet, some of it being curiously carved. A door at the back of the dais leads to a charming parlour, wainscotted to the ceiling with characteristic Jacobean arched panelling; the chimney-piece being of the same character. The "Great Parlour," also on this floor, is a fine wainscotted room

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