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 have 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 monastry once, and now
Still older mansion, of a rich and rare
3lix'd Gothic, such as artists all allow
Few specimens yet left us can compare.

Its clank 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
Mt to be far beyond the reach of the limited capacity of the com-
poser, and even much wiser heads would be puzzled in the attempt
to do it justice—it is indeed

THE GREAT LEVIATHAN OF THE WEST.
its fame has been held 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;
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
teo 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 would be awarded
to it. However, these preliminary remarks must arrive at a conclu-
sion; the form prescribed to the length of an 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, with 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 5) 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 property 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, mid
here and there a statue to diversify the scene. The Park, which is
one of great beauty, is stocked with deer, whose venison has ob-
tained the highest celebrity for its fatness and fine flavour, while the
soft undulating foliae of its magnificent and
TINIE-HONOURED FREES
is perpetually deluding the eye mto a belief that it was of almost
boundless extent, and imparting just such an air of tempered wild-
seas as would gratify the lover of scenery, without offence to those
who are inclined to look rather for 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 transparent, deep and freshly fed
By a river, which its softened way did take
In currents through the calmer waters spread.
THE RIVER 'AXE,
so renowned by the disciples of Isaak Walton for its placatory plea-
sures and delicious trout, winds, in serpentine beauty, through the
fair demesne.

Lost for a space through thickets veering,
But broader when agaiu 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,
•. .

"IviinT MORE CAN MORTALS DESIRE ?"
The sporting qualities extend to everything a gentleman's heart
can contemplate ; by the way,
THE MONKS' CE'LEBRATED 'WALK .
is in high preservaion. And.to omit a pangyric upon
THE ANCIENT TAPESTRY
THAT ADORNS THE S CATE ROOMS
would apbroactr•sacrilege. It'really and truly may be accounted the
WONDER AND ADMITtArION OF THE WORLD.
It fearlessly challenges a rival ant the writer is exceedingly
desirOus that the reader shonld *not 'for one moment charge this
description with being too vivid. He may rest assured here is no
flight of fancy, but d Veritable find uriiiinming report. This descrip-
tion, it is perceived, has alre4dy eitefided beyond the limits pre-
scribed, and therefore (with lament)* the writer ends this very im-
perfect recital, merely observing that the terms used by the foundress
of the abbey when she tendered to the holy fathers her manor of
Thorncombe, in exchange•for theatarrea lands of Brightley, stating
it to be " well wooded and fertile," are trebly appropriate in the
present day, in proof -whereof it may be stated that the Messrs.
Fowler, of Orainge farm (the principal estate), bred a horn ewe in
1533, which weighed 18st. 41b.-, and for size and beauty it has never
been equalled. The-tenantry srevery 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 RICH
MEADOW, PASTURE, ARABLE, AND WOOD LANDS,
MOSTLY TITHE-FREE, AND TAXES MODERATE. '
Seeing the 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 THAN HURT.:,
And this fact has been demonstrated in a manner not to be misunder-
stood, fur slice this assertion was in type,. Mr. Robins has verified it
by the sale of two properties exceeding 150,0001.,
.at 30 and 33%
years' purchase, en rackreutals. .
Tijere are . .
MANORIAL RIGHTS. AND RRIVILEGES
_ • _ . .

of conslderable extent, and the principal part of tha estate is within
a ring fence.. The neighbourhood is highly respectable ; many Lords
and Nobles are amongst those :who prefer tp domesticate in this ad-
mired county, and within a few miles of the abbey, in the adjoining
county cf Somerset, are the splendid seats of Earl Poulett and Lord
Bridport. Markets are everywhere abundant; in fact, Mr. Robins
has taxed his ingenuity in vain to try to discover a fault.
The full descriptisn, with plans and a drawing of the famed Abbey,
are ready, and may be had at the White Lion Inn, Bristol ; White
Hart, Baths Castle, . Taunton ; Chard Arms Hotel, Chard ; Mr.
Whitaker. solicitor, .12, Lincoln's Inn-fields, London; Mr. Paul,
solicitor, The Close, Exeter ;Mr. Salter, solicitor, Chard; the Auction
Mart; and at Arr. George Rubins's offices, London, at One Shilling
each, (this tieing with the sole view to prevent a useless and unpro-
fitable distribution of the full particulars.) ,