The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1889-01-04
10iScrllaucnuS.
ADAY ATTApLOw COURT, ENGLAND
A Fine Old English Mansion House
SIu.- HINT

Z
LONDON, ENGLAND Dec. 18Th, 1888.
We hnd Il good scni-of on the steamer
! Celtic from New York, with bright sunshine
| favorable wind and II smooth sea. These
| lasted until the fifth day, when the sky be
| came overcast, the Thermometer fell the sea
rose higher and higher under s,itf gale, YET
| the Celtic kept plowiuG her way through the
mighty waves rs they broke over her. This
continued To the end OF the voyage, nine
days the longest one | have made in the
last ten years. The storm was so great We
could not enter Queenstown harhOr, hut con.
uuucd on to Liverpool arriving there Noyem.
Der 9th.
| Amongst our passengers was Mr.. VIM II
| Greniel, OK. VI. p. and his wife, II niece OF
| Earl COwper. He was returning from II
shooting tour in British America They
| kindly invited the Judge and myself for The
/ Tuesday after our arrival to stag hunt at
| their home, TuplOw Court about "a miles
| from London Mr.. Grenfell being the master
| of the hounds.
| Tuesday morning at 0 o'clock found us at
| Puddington Station OF the Great Western
! Railroad, taking tickets for TaplOw. After
| passing through low, fist country for about
| Is miles every foot of which is in the highes,
/ sra'e OF cultivation, we came into view OF
!
| overlooking the surrounding country for
miles. The next stop was TaplOw.
Nj, Greniell met and drove us in his
| wugunettc to TapIOw Court, two miles dis
tant, over spleGdd road.
| The mansion is Of brick, in fine old Saxon
architecture, 200 feet long by 100 in width,
and about GO feet high, with many bow
windows and turrrts and large tower on
the northwest corner; the front facing west,
all situate in park beautifully laid out,
with many flower beds. This park is on IA
! levc Plain about 100 feet above the river
! Thames, which winds around the estate, and
the entire buff on the west of ii is skirted
with grove Of splendid Old trees, among
tnem many cedars of very large size. The
grass is kept cut close and is of dark green
color.
The entrance to Taplow Court is through
a gate in high brick wall, with
the porters lodge on the right hand
Passing through this gate you drive
over gravel circle to the entrance
of the mansion, which is at the rear of the
building. On the left, after you enter this
gate, is high brick wall, with an archway,
through which the way leads TO the stable
and buildings for the servants of the house
hold, SO cOucealing such buildings from sight,
acommun omission in our country homes.
Entering under covered porch 10 feet
wide in tie centre Of the rear of the house
on the east side, We come to an antcroom
40 feet square; then to the right into a room
about 90 feet square, which is Mr.. Grenfelps
Office. On the walls are painted terrestrial
aud celestial maps, which may be consulted
from amy part OF the room. Here is transact
ed the business Of the estate, which embraces
many farms and many nants.
pussiuu towards the west ihrpurI a lnnr.
way you reach the library, about so feet
long furnished with book cases on either wall
filed with well selected books. The western
end is one large hay window, looking upon
n beautiful lawn, aud beyond is the woods
skirling the river Thames. This room is
furnished with low arm chairs, sofHs &C..
iuXurcusly upholstered, and any number of
low small tables, with all kinds of writing
utensils Textbook cases are in oak and leather
tinishings. Passing to the southwark
through double folding doors we enter the
drawing room, 100 by 40 feet, finished in oak
and Old golG, the ceilings in heavy oak
panels, large bow window on the
The western side, having the same view as
The western window Of the library. This
room is furnished in gilt aud crimson bro.
Cadc silk Across a hall 20 feet wide is the
dining room, with its lofty ceilings and the
same view to the west cut of another large
bow widow. This is finished in oak with
oak furniture and leather trimmings. Pass
ing from thence Caitcrly we reach the grano
stair case, made of oak, 20 feet wide, leading
to the rooms above. Thence under an arch
way to the smoking room, 60 feet by 40, fitted
up in polished mahogany with innumerable
easy chairs and seats in leather, small tables
and all the paraphernaia for smokers.
Around the ceilings, against the wall, form
II small shield attached 10 each, giving the
weight and date of killing. All these were
shot by Mr.. Grenlell. TO the south of this
room is u smaller one, some 10 feet square,
which is the gun room, fitted on the side
with gun racks, filled with guns Of every
description. Indeed, it is small armory.
Walking from the smoking room into the
auieruOm, from which we first started, we
pass to the westward through an archway
into the court or hall, 100 feet long by 90
feet wide and 90 feet high from the ground
floor ~ the dome, covered or rooted with
glass. Large doorways from each of the
rooms We have passed through open into
this court, so that the entire ground floor
may be opened up as one vast room, of which
this court is the centre. This cOut is filled
with paintings and cabinets containing silver
cups, medals, silyerware prizes, &c won by
Mr.. GrClfrll. Also the oar he used when he
won tie Oxford prize aud the oar that he
pulled crossing lhe English Channel. he
being NJ of the crew which first crossed in
shell boat From hcse trophies it is evil
dent that Mr.. Grentell is an athlete of no
mean claim.
Mrs Grenfel, habited in black silk dress,
with pulled sleeves, large black velvet hat,
brnud brimmcd, low crown, trimmed with
ostilch feathers and jet beads, received us in