The Sun.
London, England, 1846-05-30 00:00:00

SALES BY AUCTION.

FORD ABBEY, IN DORSET SHIRE.
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 FAR
THE MOST CLASSICAL AND CELEBRATED MONASTERY
THROUGHOUT ENGLAND, THE PRESENT LOW RENTAL
ARISING FROM THIS FINE PROPERTY, INCLUDING THE
VALUE OF THE ABBEY AND LANDS 'IN HAND, AND ON
LEASE FOR LIVES, IS ABOUT 2,000/. A YEAR. IT IS
NEARLY ALL TITHE-FREE, AND THE TENANTRY BOTH
WEALTHY AND RESPECTABLE. AN IMPERATIVE SALE.
t:
ra
mß;ionGiEn
hoa,ll..Gg
beEenßpOrefßerrlNed
tB. feels
RmfouCAELactic
r
PETITION, at the Auction Mart, London, on TnnasDav, 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 FREEHOLD INVESTMENTS
THROUGHOUT ENGLAND.
And in the description that necessarily must follow, Mr. Robins,
without the slightest affectation, proclaims that ho ap-
proaches the task with fear and trembling. The only saving clause by
which he can well seek to soften the reproaches of an enlightened and
deeply-Teed community is :lune to be found in thev liberty the com-
poser will take with authors so highly gifted, that he must Indeed be
a bold man who will not yield assent to his researches. Dugdak
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 it has ever since
maintained its proud superiority over
EVERY OTHER MONASTERY IN ENGLAND.
It is a splendidly grand and uniquo building, altogether realising
Lord Byron's glowing description of Norman Abbey--
An old, old monastery once, and now
Still older mansion, of a rich and tare
Mix'd 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 reli-
gious 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 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 assistance of a very highly
talented lady, to aid the historical account of Dugdale by selections
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 append to the explanatory par-
ticulars of the several farina 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 rs. 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 delightful ride of E.% hours
from Loudon, which the approaching railway through Chard will
reduce to about 4 hours, and also bring it within fifty
minutes' ride 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 TIIEIR 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 or-
namental 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 foliage 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 witti-
ness as would gratify the lover of scenery, without offence to thoie
who are Inclined to look rather for the evidences of the superintend-
ing hand of care and cultivation. Indeed everything scorns to In-
crease the charms of a spot so rich in nature's beauties. Of the orna-
mental 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 Isaakliralton for Its placatory
pleasures 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 panegyric 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.
It fearlessly chaßanges a rival ; and the writer is
d t f
ex-
ceedingly
desirous that
d seri tion withsh beingno or
too vivid.e
moment charge this e p
t e reader ou on
but veri-
table This description, it is perceived, has
and unassuming report.
limits prescribed, and therefore (with
He may rest assured here is no flight of fancy, a
already ex tended beyond the .
lament) tile writer en
when she tendered
that the ter ms used by the foundress of the abbey
for the
barren the holy fathers her manor
of Thorncombe, i'n exchange
ds this very imperfect recital, merely observing
the present day, in proof whereof it mad
barren lands. of Brightley, stating it to be " well wooded and fertile,"
are trebly al Ipropriate i
be stated tha t the Messrs. Fowler, of Grainge Farm (the principal
estate), bred tc horn ewe in 1833, which weighed 18st. 41b., at id ibr
size and beauty it has never been equalled. The tenantry are very
respectable, and guinea o f without one , latter
arrears
word could mot find a place in their vocabulay.
thaly low. The demesneAßAßLE, RICH
extends to nearly
TWE
MOST
TITHE-PRE' , AND
MEADOW' PASTUR ,
Such is a faithful l'Ey
mante abundance of unemployed Hrent is exceed-
prprtunity of possessing
TAAxNI):SW3OIOODDELRAANTDES:
), and the little Vai
seeingtnarrative, that it need not be observed is very on-
, erable to all
scritemoonf ;tiheie•zedtil;ra
ipintreernseetgnatin
talhaeinida.',ost influential o
rds
-laws it has been '
se
aotothers—for,
e .mclanpfel:tr,a I,
thecai (in
.`.ewrahtilochn in thie
ale, a fact which every daa
yn
renders
enavde
el-
:se:Tuned
Th.:
Mr. Robins, in azgother notice of sale
MORE FRIGHTENED Tluo
TowreEaunAdvmEorAeiTzertßaEinE,
Nth
aPrrtßelsopTeictithiCileXte is within
OtenßltA,
aLndßtlhGellpTisncAipNalDp
There are
of consideraMblelell
a ring fence. The neighbourhood is highly
and Nobles are a inongst those who prefer to domesticate many Lords
admired county, Mal 'within a few miles of the abbey,cate in this
joining county of Sorc tercet, are the splendid seats of Earl 1H
the
ads Poulett and
Lord Bridport. Mari lets are everywhere abundant ; in fact, Mr
Robins has tared his ingenuity in vain to try to discover a fault. .
The full de.seriPtie 11, with plans and a drawing of the famed
Abbey, are ready and may be had at the White Lion Inn, Bristol;
White Hart, Bati:, ,' Castle, Taunton ; Chard Arms Hotel, Chard ;
Mr. Whitaker, solh ttor, 12, Lincoln's Inn-fields, London ; Mr. Paul,
solicitor, ihe Close, EXF,ter ; Mr. Salter, solicitor, Chard ; the Auction
Mart ; and at Mr.. George Robins's offices, London, at Two Shill-
ingsleach, (this hein, g with the sole view to preTent a useless and urkprp-
Moble distribution t 4' tltu full parliculurs).