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

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 unique building, altogether realising
Lord Byro,i's glowing description of Norman Abbey—
An old, old monastery once, and now
Still older mansion, of a rich and rare
Mix'd Gothic, such as artists all allow
Few specimens yet left us can compare.

:ts classic front
EXTENDS TO NEAR THREE HUNDRED FEET.

The order of architecture is in the Tudor style, and may be dated
a)out the time of Henr VIII.; but to describe it as it deserves is

felt to be far beyond the reach of the limited capacity of the com-
poser, end even much wiser heads would be puzzled in the attempt
to do it justice—it to 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 he 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 suitab e terms the panegyric which would tie 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 selections
of her own, and guided by afudgment and cleverness that has never
been held in doubt. To gratitY the learned anti the curious in distant
parts, Mr. Robins has determined to append to the explanatory par_
ti c ulars 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 ~s. It is
on the boi dens of the three fine counties of Dorset, Devon, and
somerset, 15 :.ilea from Taunton, 3 from Chard; about 50 miles
font Bristol and Bath, and within a deligh ful ride of 5% hours
from London, which the approaching railway through Chard will
reduce to about 4 hours, and also bring it within fifty
mites' ride of 4x, ter. The county in which the Abbey
is paced will not yield to any other. The reader needs not
be remind d that, in days of yore, the taste of the monks
in the selection of their lands was never questh Ted, 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 REFINEp 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 tine flavour, while the
soft uneulating foliage of its rnaggificent and
TIME -HONOtIRED TREES
is perpetually deluding the eye into a belief that it was of almost
boundless extent, and inirarting just such an air of tempered wild-
ness 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 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 Isaak Walton for its piscatory
pleasures and delicious trout, winds, in serpentine beauty, through
the Mir 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 st'll he asked,
" WHAT MORE CSN 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 tb•
WONDER AND ADMIRATION OF THE WORLD.
It fearlessly challenges a rival ; and the writer is ex-
ceedingly desirous that the reader should not for ono
moment charge this description with being too - vivid.
He may rest assured here is no flight of fancy, but a veri-
table and unassuming report. This description, it is perceived, has
already extended beyond the limits prescribed, and therefore (with
lament) the writer ends this very imperfect 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 the
barren 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 Gramme Farm (the rrinclpql
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,w and without one guinea ti arrear; indeed, the latter
ordAmfec.EousAlTDlOnot find a place in their vocabulay. The rent is exceed-
ingly low. The demesne extends to nearly
TWELVEMEADOW
Ai u
ItE ,HUNDREDARAL
EA, CARNi A
DO
WOOD
°Rol Co
a failrthfTuilTnriarEra-rtinveE,EthaAtNitln)eeTdAnXotE
Such Is
common ; indeed, seeing bSe oMbs°eDryliEjteLdAAiNsTvDEeSry: un-
common
of the railway mania),
the abundance of unemployed capital (in
present is a most intlmania), and the little value of money, the
ment in land, which is opportunity of possessing an invest-
It regards the alteration ins preferable to all others—for, as
Mr. Robins, in another notice the corn-laws it has been observed by
more and more certai of
sale,
a fa.. wEHAVE ALL B 1,1, that ct which every day renders
LEN MO
There are RE FRIGHTENED TITANHURT."

MANORIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGE'S
of considerable extent, and the principal part of the estate is within
a ring fence. The neighbourhood is highly respectable ; many Lords
and
refer to domesticate In this
admired
few
miles of the abbey, in the ad-
gwsti thtihnos a ewho p
plendid seats of Earl p oilett and
m iNredoblecs county,
arety:
amnodu amongst
joining county of Somerset, are the s
Lord Bridport. Markets are everywhere abundant • in
Robins has taxed his ingenuity in vain to try to discover a bin' Mr.
The Hill description, with plans and a drawing of the famed
Abbey, will be ready six weeks antecedent to the sale, and may be bad
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, Ile Mee, Exeter ; Mr. Salter, so-
licitor, Chard ; the Auction Mart ; and at Mr. George Robins's
offices, London, at Two Shillings each, (this beingwiththe soleview to
prompt A ;Dim said unprofitable distribtitiou of the full particulars).