Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1885-03-08
Sandringham.

Our simple task Is tC give our readers
some idea of the surroundings of the
Prince Of Wales and his family when IN
the country quarters of which he is go
fond. Sandringham is rather more than
three miles from the sea; south OF it lie
the parishes OF West Newton, Appleton
and Babingley, and between it and the
sea SaDdringham Warren and the village
of WolfertOn, which, with part of Der
sIngham, constitutes the estate. A chain
OF hills runs from north to south between
WOltertOn and SAndringham, command
ing on one side the rich marsh meadows
dotted with cattle, aud on the other the
wild and picturesque heath broken by
plantations. Sea, heath, hill and wood
land combine with well-ordered villages
TO give the estate a charm of variety.
The principal gate by which Sandring-
ham is entered-a fine specimen of mod
ern wrought irOn-Opens on 10 an avenue
Of large llraes, ending at but not faced by
the house. A special and charming fea-
ture of this avenue is that 1t forms part,
not of the park, but of the garden. The
house stands east and west; the east
front with broad gravel space before the
principal door, looking ON the lawn,
walks and strawberries. Beyond the west
garden and stretching southwark is the
park, which is surrounded by wall, and
within or closely adjacent are some we'll
parsonage and the residence OF the Comp
trOler OF toe Household and other Off
cials. A lake lately made near the cen
tire of the palk is Overhung with trees,
and crowned by centre island. AnO her
pretty LAKE adOrns the west garden, while
one ofthe broad shrubbeTy walks on the OPP
pOsite side If the house winds betw cen rare
pines and garden shrubs to the spacious
tables, near which are a long series of
for ror % RnllanfOH frns " MI
GUS countries, while two big black bears
in a pit hard by attract the notice of
every stranger. On the east side of the
house is the kitchen garden, with its ex
cellent ranges Of fruit houses and glazed
walls. and beyond are the Princess dain-
ty dairy and the home farm.
Many of the oaks in the park are fine
old trees which for centuries have detied
the wintry blasts which are so trying in
the eastern counties. The deer add much
to the beauty OF the park, while in the
plantations, which at once shelter and
embellish the roads in the neighbOrhood of
the house, the bird cherry and wild crab
peep out from behind the frs and cross
the silver stems OF the beech trees. The
old manor house was pulled down In
1869, being alike inadequate for the re-
quirements of the royal household, and so
modernized as to have no associations
with the past. The present house, which
occupies the same site and has the same
aspect, is q g0Od-looking red brick house,
with white stOnework windows of mod
ern form, and picturesque irregular out
line. A suite Of drawing-rOOms faces the
lake and parterres, and q broad corridor
uDites these rooms to the entrance hall.
A beautiful c0lored drawing, by NJ. Zlchy,
gives a sketch of the saloon with its il
lustriOus inmates at afternoon tea. At
the top Of this picture is painting Of
Sandringham Hall; beneath 1t the
Princes escutcheOn, and six Vignettes,
divided by brOnzed and green branches OF
foliage, represent the occupations and
amusements OF the day. Two Libraries
occupy the chief space between the saloon
and the corner of the house next to the
lime avenue. Cheerful windows light up
the interiors, which are models Of COM
fort and good arrangement, and on the
shelves are TO be found choice collection
of standard English works, many of the
French and German books, and some
English county histories, which are al-
most as little studied as blue books,
though affOrding an almost equal amount
of useful information.
What we have said will suffice to show
that the Sandringham estate Is q model
one, and the houses OF the la50rers might
we'll be initiated elsewhere. The church
OF st. Mary Magdalene, approached
through the garden by an avenue Of old
trees, is of the late perpendicular style,
with battlements round the walls and
tower, and stands nobly on a rising
ground. 1t was fret restored in 1855 by
Lady Harriet COwpeT, wife OF the Hon.
Spencer CoWper, to commemorate their
only child, but has been much beautified
since the castle came into the Prince Of
Wales hands.