The Sun.
London, England, 1846-06-25 00:00:00

SIR PAUL BAGOT,

conceived the restoration and extension of the Mansion In the Olden
style of architecture, and, with
THE ASS STANCE AND EXPERIENCE or

Slit .TEFFERY WYATTVELLE,
reared a most beautiful structure but it was left to tote present pfo-
prietor to alter, improve, and bring to perfbction, for Its size, the
most elegant and complete chateau that can he found amongst
England's boasted beauties. 01 the exterior it is impossible to speak
too much in praise ; its ivy-mantled tovv,rs and walls, noble Oriel
windows, turn ted embattleinents and cloistered avenue, form a
tout ensemble whict cannot fail to please the mind's eye of the.most
fasti 'thus in classical architecture ; whilst in the interior the effect,
is one of surpassing elegance and variety, combining taste with
comfort, and nobility with simplicity ; from each window the most
lovely and diversifying scene is presented, and from those of

THE NOt3LE CORRIDOR THE '.MONK'S GARDEN
is seen in all the quietude and repose necessary for contemplation.
The family arrangements leave nothing to •be desire I ; the bed-
chambers are ample and most delightful, and • he reception rooms of
singular elegance ; whilst the noble dlning•hall cannot fail to be
admired.

.....
THE GROUNDS WHICH ENCOMPASS THE MANSION
are cl,lightfully disposed, ornamented with noble trees of every
description gracefully feathering to the ground, parroutarly many
time-honoured oaks, and a row of remarkable sycamores, which add
their importance to the scene, and from

THE RAS' lONS OF THE ATTLEMENTED TERRACE
the most lovely and extended view, unsurpassable for richness of
foliage andverdant pasture, is presented, whil,t at all times a health-
ful and dry promenade is afforded. The Garden is well laid out, and
a walk, clothed with the choicest evergreens leading to some extent,
lends its aid io vary the attractions.
Tne Ofti..es may be pronounced perfect, and the Court-yard, enclos-
ing the Carriage Houses and Stabling for eleven horses, is most ex
cellent, the Farm Yard close at hand.
THE DONIAINEX f.NDS TO 231 ACRES

- _
the whole being adinir ,ble pasture, and woods watered with
numerous springs and ponds, of delicious water, and capable of
feeding to almost any extent, and consequently rendering the estate
not only one of importance but of prod ; a stone wall, judlciciously
screened from view, encompasses the property, and it may fearlessly
be added, an objection does not exist whi h can militate a Must the
true enjoyment of it ; if the purchaser be inclined to polities,

A SEA FOR THE BOROUGH OF STROUD
may fairly be calculated upon. Pews in the parish churches of
Stroud and Risley appertain to the property, and the outgoings are un-
usually moderate. Ab‘o. the extensive and
VALUABLE MANORIAL BIGHTS

connected with the estate.
A lull description of the internal arran ,ement of the mansion will
be given in the particulars of sale, which will be realty twenty•eight
days prior to the sale, and may be had, at Is. each, with lithographic
plan and vignette drawings, at the Geonie Inn, Stroud; Royal
Hotel, Cheltenham; Bell and King's Head, Gloucester; White Lion,
Bristol ; and White Hart, Bath ; of Mr. Addison, solicitor, Gloucester ;
at the Auction Mart ; and at Mr. George Robins's offices, Covent-
garden.

• 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 FAR
THE MOST'CLASSIC ‘L AND CELEBRATED MONASTERY
THROUGHOUT ENGLAND. TEE PRESENT LOW RENTAL
ARISING FROM THIS FINE PROPERTY, INCLUDING THE
VALUE OF THE ABBEY AND LANDS IN HAND, AND i.N
LEASE FOR LIVES, IS ABOUT 2,0001. A YEAR. IT IS
NEARLY-ALL-TITHE-FREE, AND THE TENANTRY BOTH
WEALTHY AND RESPECTABLE. AN IMPERA.IIVE SALE.
MGEORGE ROBINS feels much gratifica-
tion in having-been preferred to OFFER for PUBLIC COM-
PETITION, at the Auction-Mart, Lordon, 011 THURSDAY, the 9th
of July, at Twelve o'clock, and in One Lot, by direction of the ti%;.S-
tees for absolute sale, one of
THE MOST MAGNIFICENT FR
ENGLAND. EEHOLD -INVESTMENTS
And in the description that necessarily must follow, Mr. Robins,-
without the slightest affectation, proclaims that he ap-
proaches the task with fear and trembling. The only saving clause by
which he can well seek to soften the reproaches of amenlightened and
deeply-read community is alone to be found In the liberty the corn-
-mmer win take- with &whore so highly allied. that he must indeed be
a bold man who will not yield assent to 14N7r.-earehes. --.rvoeaato
Is no mean authority, and with ani 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 unique 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 I are
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 he dated
about the time of. Henr= VIII.; but to describe it as it deserves is
felt to be far beyond the reach of the lintited capacity of the corn•
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 round 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 adiration ; it was a joyous spectacle, but Mr. Robins cannot
too earnestly invoke all those who possess a soul conyental with ob.
pets 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 su•tab'e terms 11w panegyric which would he 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 printe I 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 lade, to aid the historical account of Dugdale by • ilectione
of her own, and guided by ajudgment and cleverness that has never
been held in doubt. To gratify the learned anti tho curious in distant
parts, Mr. Robins has determined to appe, d to the explanatory par-
ticulars of the several farms and lands a plan of the whole, with a
beautiful drawing of the Abbey.
i'he situation of this monastery is familiar to most of s. It is
on the bo ders of the three fine counties of Dorset, Devon. and
.somerset, 15 miles from Taunton, 3 tl-om Chard, about 50 miles
from Bristol and Bath, and within a deligh ftiL 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' ride of Ex: ter. The county in which the Abbey
is paced will not yield to any other. The reader needs not
he remind• d that, in days of yore, the taste of the monks
in the selection of their lands was never quest! red, and, amidst all
the good things of this world, they ware remarkable for the accuracy
of their judgment. , .

:n selecting the best of everything, even
THE FAT or 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 ;ravelled walks between rows of
umbrageous trees of great size and , tateliness, Interspersed with or,
namental waters, cascades, and waterfalls sparkling with foam, and
here and there a statue to diversity the scene. The Park. which is
one of great beauty, is stocked with deer, whose venison has ob-
tained the highest celebrity for its thtness and fine flavour, while the
soft nneulating foliage of its magnificent ant
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-
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 fair demesne. . .

_
Lost for a space through thickets veering,
But broader when again appearing.
It was hero that
The branching stag swept down with-all his herd.
To quaff a brook which murmured like a bird.
It may %Cll 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
ADORNS
It
t reallyTliE
THE ANCIENT TAPESTRY
would approachTH sacrilege.lTbe accounted the
andSTAliTuEly
mayROOMS
WONDER AND ADMIRATION OF THE WORLD.
It fearlessly challenges' a rival :- and the writer is ex-
ceedingly desirous that the reader should not for one
moment charge this description with being too vivid.
Ile 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 th- limits prescribed, and therefore (with
lament) the writer ends this very imperfect recital, merely observing
that the terms :tied 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 lie " well wooded• and fertile,"
are trebly appropriate In the present day, in proof whereof •it ma,
be stated that the Messrs Fowler, of Grainge Farm (the crincip il
estate), bred a horn ewe in 1833, which weighed 18st. 41b., and tbr
size and beauty it has never been equalled. The tenantry are very
respectable, and without one guinea of arrear ; indeed, tie latter
word could not find a place in their vocahulay. The rent is exceed-
ingly low. The demesne extends to nearly
TWELVE HUNDRED ACID OF RICH
MEADOW PASTURE, ARABLE, AND WOOD LANDS,
aithful narrative, that it need not be observed is very un-
such3iisoSaTfLY TITHE-FREE, AND TAXES MODERATE. i
common ,
the raila •ay media), and the little value of money, the
• indeed, seeing the abundance of unemployed capita (in
d which is pref.rable to all others—for, as
inent hi
lan
'lteration in the corn-lews it has been observed by
spitepres Mt ofis a mot t influential opportu, ity of Possessing an invest-
it regards the a
In that
more and more certa , , _ __RE
FRIGHTENED
THAN
HURT."
" WEHAVE ALL BEEN
Nu
Mr. Robins' iu. tthother notice of sale, a fact which every day renders
There are
principal part of the estate is within
of considerable extent,
and
the
- d is highly respectable : many Lords
a ring fence. The neighbourhood
who Prefer to domesticate in this
and Nobles are amongst those
of the abbey, in the ad-
admired county, and within a few miles
seats of Earl Poulett and
MANORIAL RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGIIIS
. Joining county of Somerset, are the splendid
Lord Bridport. 3larkets are everywhere
discover a ,famed
The has taxed his intenuity In vain to try to
of the famed
The Ibil description with plans and a drawing
Lion Inn Bristol:
Abbey, are ready and may hadat the White '
be
white Hart, Bath ; Castle, Taunton ; Chard Arms
Mart ; and at air. George abundant ;in tact, Mr.
Mr. Whitaker, solicitor, 12 Lincoln's' Inn-flelds, LondOn ; Mr. Paul,
solicitor, .he Clo.'e, Exeter ; Mr. iler, solicitor, ('hard ; the Auction
Inge each, (this being with the sole view to prevent a ta;1088 and ul3Pr°-
titable distribution of the 11111 particular')
Robins's offices, London, at Two Shill-