The Sun.
London, England, 1846-08-14 00:00:00

THROUGHOUT ENGLAND.

And in the description that necessarily must follow, Mr. Robins,
without the slightest affectation, proclaims that he approaches the
task with fear and trembling. The only saving clause by which he
can well seek to soften the reproaches of an enlightened and dccply-
read community is to be found in the liberty the composer will
take with authors so highly gifted, that he must indeed be a bold
man who will not yield assent to his researches. Dugdale is no
mean authority, and with this, and a few introductory facts, the
herculean task must be approached.

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 deseriptiox of Norman Abbey—
" "

An old, old monastry once, and now
Still 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 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; 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 would be awarded
to it. However, these preliminary remarks must arrive at a conclu-
sion; the form prescribed to the length of an announcementwill 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 hidtory ; 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 514 hours from London,
which the approaching railway through Chard will reduce to about
4 hours, and also bring it within fifty minutes' rife 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, and
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 foliate of its magnificent and
TIME-HONOURED 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-
mess 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 aim 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 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.
It was here that
The branching stag swept down with all his herd,
To quaff a brook which murmured like a bird.
It may still be asked,
" WHAT MORE CAN MORTALS NOW DESIRE?"
The sporting qualities extend to everything a gentleman's heart
can contemplate; by the way,
THE MONKS' CELEBRATED WALK
is in high preservation. And to omit a pangyric upon
THE ANCIENT TAPESTRY
THAT ADORNS THE STATE ROOMS
would approach sacrilege. It really and truly may be accounted the
WONDER AND ADMIRATION OF THE WORLD.
charge
thia
desirouslt fearlessly e
thats ly challengesth
the
reader
shouldr vft ;
is
st
exceedingly
description with being too vivid. He may rest assured here is no
noatndfor the
one writermo moment
en
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 observing that the terms used by the foundress
of the abbey when she tendered to the holy fathers her manor of
Thorneombe, in exchange for 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 18st. 41b., and for size and beauty it has never
been equalled. The tenantry are 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 RICH
MEADOW, PASTURE, ARABLE, AND WOOD LANDS,
MOSTLY TITHE-FREE, AND TAXES MODERATE.
Such is a faithful narrative, that it needs not to be observed is very
uncommon; indeed, seeing the abundance of unemployed capital (in
spite of the railway mania), and the little value of money, the
present 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."
There are
MANORIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
of considerable extent, and the principal part of the estate is within
a ring fence. The neighbourhood is highly respectable ; many Lords
and Nobles are amongst those who prefer to domesticate in this ad-
mired county, and within a few miles of the abbey, in the adjoining
county of 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 description, with plans and a drawing of the famed Abbey,
are ready, and may be had at the White Lion Inn, Bristol ; White
Hart, Bath; 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 Mr. George Robins's offices, London, at Two Shillings
each, (this being with the sole view to prorrimt a ueelees and unpro-
fitable (Ustributivu of the tall pearticuluo.)