Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1873-01-14
Boscobel, England Interesting Ac-
count of the Place, and it's His
tory.

debted to DIR. Joseph Hobbins Of
Madison, Wis, gentleman holding
a very high position, not only in the
medical profession, but also in
the esteem OF all with whom he
comes in contact, for the snbi)ned
communications. Dir. Hobbins Is an
Englishman, we believe, and gives
the account from his own travels and
! ser7ations, thinking it may inter.
st those who are interested 10 our
own town Of the same name. Ii
might al. be stated that the word is
Of italian origin, boSco meaning q
grove and BEL, beautiful.
isCoBEL HOUSE.
There are several ways Of consid-
cradle lrsvel leading into be vicini-
ty of Bosoobel. two only of which
however lead directly to the House
The one, q new lane, or rather phi.
vate road running through the farm
yard, so that even now as of old Bos
cobel '1s q lone house in the borders
Of SUaffJrdshire, removed from the
highways; having no neighbors and
exceedingly well calculated for hid.
ing place in troublous times. The
way | made choice Of, my route be-
ing directed into North Wales. was
through Al0righton from off Holy
head Road. This is little cIrcul~
tous, but to the pedestrian o miles
walk is nothing TO q beautiful scene,
and the entrance of this road TO Bos.
cobel is by far more beautiful than
any other. 1t is delightful walk
from Wolverhampton through the
pretty village Of TatenhilI, a place
Of considerable antiquity built under
the declivity Of . high aud steep hill
OF sandstone. It's little church by
the roadside is we'll worth visit, az
being part Of college which existed
here prior TO the Conquest. Tue
name Of the place too is not q little
curious, being OF Danish origin and
signifying "the Hall of Nations."
Rising the bill from Tatenhill
through deep cutting of the r. ck,
turn tor moment and you have a
Gne view OF Wolverhampton in the
distaGee--of the village below-and
of the gen ly rising ground covered
with villas between the two places.
The road now becomes level and
soon reaches Lord WrottesIey's Park
under whose stone wall and overs
hanging trees you walk for consd-
cradle distance. Leaving the Holy
head for the Albrlghton road on the
right but short distance beyond the
Park, and gaining the top Of the hill,
which is here wild buI limited COM
mon or waste, the whole valley of
Aibrighton opens at once to the eye
in the most beautiful manner con,
ceivable The view is indeed re-
msrkably fine and not less pleasing
to the memory than to the sight. La
The vale below il B )scobel House the
object of my visit. Immediately be.
fore entering the village Is the by
path already mentioned, which lead
ing through some fine meadow lands
aud turning to the right, conducts
you TO the House by a nearer and
pleasanter walk than does the ordin-
airy road.
Boscobel is situated on an emil
hence which gradually lifts itself up
from the valley and commands 8
view Of all The neighborhood. The
entrance to it is ever an extensive
old-tashioned green" which covers
the summit of the hill. 1t is cele-
braled in history as the place to
which Charles the Ss3ond retreaied
after the battle of Worcester. WAS
here that be not only successfully
concealed himself from the search
made by the Parliamentary soldiers,
but also found shelter in "Lhe oak"
ever since honored and veneratcd as
king Charles Oak" The story is
more familiar than dignifed-how
when Cromwell's troops were
searching tor the King in a little
wood contiguous to the House, sn
owl flew out and diverting the atten-
ton Of the soldiers thus saved bis
ma esty. The tree IN which his
msjesty hid was long surrounded by
u brick wall--useless attempt 70
prevent vandallsm-for the tree
gradually disappeared under the inc
vading attacks of the knives of wor-
| shipping visitors. An acorn howev-
er from The old tree was planted in
the same spot which has grown into
| noble representative, and which
bearing on its body suitable iu.
scriptlon in metal plate and surround
ed 10y a proper fence bids fair 70
last tor ce tnrles to come.
The House itself is q very inter.
esting specimen of wood and brick
or plastic architecture, style which
was very common before and even
during the reign ofHenry the Eighth
but which af erwards from the de-
struction Of the forests and the more
general Introduction OF stone and
brick Became obsolete. 1t is small,
well preserved and a. the present
time belongs to Miss Z ans, maid
en- lady of barley Dale, Derbyshire,
though whether she retains "he
gloves and the carriers" lett by
Charles in the hurry of his fight,
history does not say but 1t does say
that they were held by the former
pTop-;etors for generations. Passing
through the kitchea, you are led by
small entry into the dining room, over
the Ere place of which is az old por.
trait of Charles, the hero Of the place
The room is plainly fashioned, low
aud having an oak wainscoting.
10 little room adjoining is the por,
I RAFT of quite another gentleman,-
Iron Diver" II re also, on the
chimney piece is preserved the plate