The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-18 00:00:00

FORD ABBEY, IN DORSETSHIRE,

THE GREAT AND PROUD FEATURE OF THE COUNTY, THE
FORD ABBEY ESTATE, WITH ITS NEVER-ENDING DE-
LIGHTS, THE INVALUABLE FISHERY,. ABUNDANCE OF
GAME, AND SPORT OF EVERY DESCRIPTION, AND,
THOUGH LAST NOT LEAST IN OUR DEAR LOVE," THE.,
MAGNIFICENTLY FINE ABBEY, PRESENTING BY F yg
TIIE :HOST CLASSICAL AND CELEBRATED MONAST'Arty
THROUGHOUT ENGLAND. THE PRESENT LOW RF
ARISING FROM THIS FINE PROPERTY, INCLUDif4G. THE
VALUE OF THE ABBEY AND LANDS IN HAND, AND ,1N
LEASE FOR LIVES, IS ABOUT 2,0001. A YE.4ft, IT IS
NEARLY ALL TITHE-FREE, AND THE TENA.Y4rRY BOTH
WEALTHY AND RESPECTABLE. AN IMPER/iuvE SALE.
MR. GEORGE ROBINS feels mach gratitica-
tion in having been preferred to OFFER for PUBLIC COM-
PETITION, at the Auction Mart., London, on THURSDAY, the 9th
Of July, at Twelve o'clock, and in One Lot, by direction of the trus-
tees for absolute sale, one of
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT FREEHrAD INVESTMENTS
THROUGHOUT ENC,LAND.
And in the description that nece.ssar4 must follow, Mr. Robins,
without the slightest affectation, proclaims that he ap-
proaches the task with fear and trembThlg. The only saving clause by
which he can well seek to soften the r.eproaches of an enlightened and
deeply-read community is alone tbe teund in the liberty the 'com-
poser will take with authors so hi gidy gifted, that he must indeed be
a bold man who will not yield, assent to his r--curdles. Dugdale
Is no mean authority, and with. this, and a few introductory facts, the
herculean task must be approached.
THE FORE. ABBEY DEMESNES
are to be traced back to a v,*ry distant day,- and it has ever since
maintained its proud superi mity over
EVERY OTHER MONASTERY IN ENGLAND.
It is a splendidly grand. and unique building, altOgether realising
Lord Byrou's glowing de! ,cription of Norman Abbey—
An old, oh'{ monastery once, and now
Still old er mansion, of a rich and rare
• Mix'd Gothic, such as artists all allow
Few specimens yet left us can compare.
Its classic front

EXTENDS T 0 NEAR THREE HUNDRED FEET.
The order of filer lecture is in the Tudor style, and may be dated
about the time (.jr Rent'. VIII.; but to describe it as It deserves is
felt to be far bet'iond the reach of the limited capacity of the com-
poser, and even much wiser heads would be puzzled in the attempt
to do it justic is indeed
TI {E GREAT LEVIATHAN OF THE WEST.
Its fame ha's been held in the highest veneration from generation to
generation , and it is now avowed to have no successful rival amid
the vast eariety of monasteries to be round throughout the country.
The firs*, impression on beholding this
ANCIENT AND CLASSIC PILE
the tc"., titer feels can never be obliterated from his memory; his
mind. on the instant seemed to be subdued into a most devout and reli-
gia' 48 state—one of absolute wonder—mixed up with bound-
le'ds 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 ofan 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 ass:stance of a very highly
talented lady, to aid the historical account of Dugdale by e dections
of her own, and guided by ajudgment and cleverness that has never
been held in doubt. To gratify the learned and the curious in distant
parts, Mr. Robins has determined to appei.d to the explanatory par-
ticulars of the several farms and lands a plan of the whole, with a
beautiful drawing of the Abbey, to be ready six weeks antecedent
to the sale.

The situation of this monastery is familiar to most of Is. It is
on the borders of the three line counties of Dorset, Devon, and
Somerset, 15 miles from Taunton, 3 from Chard, about 50 miles
from Bristol and Bath, and within a deligh ful ride of 5)4 hours
from London, which the approachint railway through Chard will
reduce to about 4 hours, and also bring it within fifty
mmutes' ride of Exeter. The county in which the Abbey
is paced will not yield to any other. The reader needs not
be remind( cl that, in days of yore, the taste of the monks
In the selection of their lands was never questiored, 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 or THE LAND