The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-21 00:00:00

THE FORD ABBEY DEMESNES

are to be traced back to a very distant day, and they hays ever since
maintained their proud superiority over
EVERY OTHER MONASTERY IN ENGLAND,
It is a splendidly grand and unique building, altogether realising
Lord Byron's glowing description of Norman Abbey—

An old, old niouastry once, and now
gtill older mansion, of a rich and rare
Ailed Gothic, such as artists all allow
Few specimens yet left us can compare.

Its classic front
EXTENDS TO NEAR THREE HUNDRED FEET.
The order of architecture is in the Tudor style, and may be dated
about the time of Henry VIII. • but to describe it as it deserves is
felt to be far beyond the reach of the limited capacity of the com-
poser, and even much wiser heads would bo puzzled in the attempt
to do it justice—it is indeed

THE GREAT LEVIATHAN OF THE WEST.
'ts fame has been bell in the highest veneration from generation to
generation, and it is now avowed to have no successful rival amid
the vast variety of monasteries to be found throughout the country.
The first impression on beholding this

ANCIENT AND CLASSIC PILE
the writer feels can never be obliterated from his memory; his
mind on the instant seemed to be subdued into a most devout and
religious state—one of absolute wonder—mixed up with bound-
less admiration ; it WAS a joyous spectacle, but Mr. Robins cannot
too earnestly invoke all those who possess a soul congenial with ob-
jects of antiquity to go to the Abbey, and then judge for themselves ;
they will, with one accord, proclaim how absolutely impossible it is
to convey in suitable terms the panegyric which wo►tld be awarded
to it. However, these preliminary remarks must arrive at a conclu-
sion; the form prescribed to the length of au announcement will not ad-
mit of more, but the writer promises, in his printed particulars, to
go into a little historical statement that will be acceptable, at least
to the learned, and all such as are well versed in our history ; and
he is fortunately enabled, by the assistance of a very highly talented
lady, to aid the historical account of Dugdale by selections of her
own, and ,guided by a judgment and cleverness that has never been
held in doubt To gratify the learned and the curious in distant
parts, Mr. Robins has determined to append to the explanatory par-
ticulars of the several farms and lands a plan of the whole, wills a
beautiful drawing of the Abbey.
The situation of this monastery is familiar to most of us. It is on
the borders of the three fine counties of Dorset, Devon, and Somerset,
15 miles from Taunton, 3 from Chard, about 50 miles from Bristol
and Bath, and 'within a delightful ride of 53 hours from London,
which the approaching railway through Chard will reduce to about
4 hours, and also bring it within fifty minutes' rii e- of Exeter. The
county in which the Abbey is placed will not yield to any other.
The reader needs not be reminded that, in days of yore, the taste of
the monks in the selection of their lands was never questioned, and,
amidst all the good things of this world, they were remarkable for
the accuracy of their judgment.
In selecting the best of everything, even
THE FAT OF THE LAND
was not

ACCOUNTED TOO GOOD FOR THEIR REFINED TASTE.
This princely propetty is all freehold of inheritance, surrounded by
lawns and pleasure-grounds, with gravelled walks between rows of
umbrageous trees of great size and stateliness, interspersed with
ornamental waters, cascades, and waterfalls sparkling with foam, aud.
her? and theTe a statue to Versify the vette.. 'r Park, which is
one if, great ,beant.v. t, ,s* wed with aiitr. ulson Us. cih-
tronert the highest celebrity i;or its fatness and line 11ft,our, while the
soft smiulating foliate of its magnificent and

TIME-lIONoURED TREES
is perpetually deluding the eye into a belief that it was of almost
boundless extent. and Imparting just such an air of tempered wild-
ness as would gratify the lover of scenery, without offence to those
who are inclined to lock rather fo: the evidences of the superintend-
ing hand of care and cultivation. Indeed everything seems to in-
crease the charms of a spot so rich in nature's beauties. Of the
ornamental waters in front of the Abbey it is recorded—
Before the mansion lay a lucid lake,
Broad as !ransparent, deep and freshly fed
By a river, which its softened way did take
In currents through the calmer waters spread.
TIIE RIVER AXE,

so renowned by the disciples of Isaak Walto❑ for its piscatory plea-
sures and delicious trout, winds, in serpentine beauty, through the
fair demesne.

Lost for a space through thickets veering,
But broader when again appearing.
:t was here that

The branching stag swept down with all his herd,
To quaff a brook which murmured like a bird.
It may be asked,
" WHAT MORE CAN MORTALS DESIRE ?"

The sporting qualities extend to everything a gentleman's heart
can contemplate; by the way,

TILE -MONKS." CELEBRATED WALK
is in high preservation. And to omit a pangyrie upon

THE ANCIENT TAPESTRY
THAT ADORNS THE S FATE ROOMS

would approach sacrilege

It really and truly may be accounted the

WONDER AND ADM IIiA7TION OF THE WORLD.
It fearlessly challenges a rival ; and the writer is exceedingly
desirous that the reader should not for one moment charge this
description with being too vivid. lie may rest assured here is no
flight of fancy, but a veritable and unassuming report. This descrip-
tion, it is perceived, has already extended beyond the limits pre-
scribed, and therefore (with lament) the writer ends this very im-
perfect recital, merely observingthat the terms used by the foundress
of the abbey when she tendered to the holy fathers her manor of
Thorncombe, in exchange fur the barren lands of Brightley, stating
it to be " well wooded and fertile," aro trebly appropriate in the
present day, in proof whereof it may be stated that the Messrs.
Fowler, of Grainge Farm (the principal estate), bred a horn ewe in
1833, which weighed lest. 41b., and for size and beauty it has never
been equalled. The tenantry arc very respectable, and without one
guinea of arrear; indeed the latter word could not find a place in
their vocabulary. The rent is exceedingly low. The demesne ex-
tends to nearly

TWELVE HUNDRED ACRES OF RICA

MEADOW, PASTURE, ARABLE, AND WOOD LANDS,

MOSTLY TITHE-FREE, AND TAXES MODERATE.

Seeing tho abundance of unemployed capital (in spite of
the railway mania), and the little value of money, the pre-
sent is a most influential opportunity of possessing an invest-
ment in land which is preferable to all others— for, as it regards the
alteration in the corn-laws, it has been observed by Mr. Robins, in
another notice of sale, a fact which every day renders more and more
certain, that
" WE HAVE ALL BEEN MORE FRIGHTENED TITAN HURT."
And this fact has been demonstrated in a manner not to be misunder-
stood, for slue this assertion was in type, Mr. Robins has verified it
by the sale of two properties exceeding 150,0001., at 30 and 33%
years' purcha, e, on rack rentals.
There are