Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1891-10-04
England under Richard IL, the others be-
ing Sir Richard Radcliffe and Viscount
Lowell, giving rise to the memorable distich:

England under Richard III, the others be-
| ing Sir Richard Radcliffe and Viscount
Lowell, giving rise to the memorable distich:
The rat, the cat and Lowell. our dog,
| Rule all England under the hog
the ''hog'' being an allusion to King Rich
ard having adopted boar as one of the
heraldic supporters upon his regal escutch-
| con. For this poetlcal libel Colling bourne,
| its author, was expeditiously
| CHANGED, BEHEADED AND CHARTERED"
on Tower Hill, London.
Sir William Catesby obtained grants of
| various forfeited manors and lucrative
wardships and attending King Richard in
| last expedition against the Earl of Rich
| mond, he was taken prisoner in Bosworth
! Field, fighting valiantly for his master, and
| three DAYS after was beheaded at Leicester.
| His lands were escheated TO the crown and
granted to Sir James Blount, but were re-
stored by act Of parliament to his son
George in 1896. George Catesby, Esq, was
succeeded by his son William, minor, who,
dying without issue, the estates descended
TO his younger brother, Richard, who was
member from Warwickshire in the famous
parliament which proved SO destructive TO
the English monasteries.
Sir William Catesby. grandson and sue
cessor to Richard, was cited with others
before the infamous court of star chamber
in 1851, charged with harboring Jesuits
and being present at secret celebration Of
the mass, of which offenses they were con-
victed. Sir Robert Catesby, his son and
successor, who originated the gunpowdcr
plot on these grounds, lived, until pursued
and shot to death at Holbeach, Stafford
shire, in 1905, in this picturesque old manor
house.
Catesby's estates having been confscated
by the crown, the lordship and advowson
of the manor were granted, in 1911, to Sir
William Irving in fee. They were subse-
quently sold by Irving to Brian Hanson and
Ann, his wife, with whose descendants they
continued until li05, when they were pur-
chased by Joseph Ashby, ESD, and from
him they descended to the late Lady SEN
house, who. dying in lS5U, left the property
to her only surviving child, Capt. William
SenhOuse. q bachelor and confirmed womau-
hater. On his decease, in 1884, Mai.
Humphrey Pockington Scnhouse was called
from his estates in Cum oerlaud to act as
executor. and found to his surprise That the
splendid old property had been devised 10
him. This is q long search or ABS tract
of title,' as the real estate lawyers would
call it, But what grand historic sweep
it has! What q host OF men in armor and
''ladyes fare it marshals from the dim
and knightly days! What sacred Pilgrim
ages, bloody wars, desperate and victori-
Gus dynasties, kingly pa@eants and horrid
plots il summons for solemn review, and
how glorious historic romance could be
wrought within Ashby St Ledgcrs'
GRIM AND GuosTLY OLD WALLS!
Approaching the place along the highway
from the southwest, you suddenly come
upon the daintiest and most flowers pangled
village in England. 1t is 4 tiny collection
of dependencies upon the manor; but there
can nowhere else be found such iiOwer-em-
powered homes. just at the northern edge
of this, the whole forming striking back
ground to TIE side broidery of one Of the
finest wide, high over-lrchings of ancient
ash trees have ever seen, first appears
huge wall, high, thick, ivy-hung aud messy.
Surrounding this Is wonderfully plctu-
rescue old gatehouSe with two stories Of
chambers and an attic-the verita5le meet
ing-room of the conSplratorS-oVer capa-
cious archway, which formed the ancient
sole entrance|to the domain, Ill the good Old
days, there also being eifigies of saints at
the archway sides and convenient inches in
which mendicaut travellers could sit and APP
peal to passerS fer aims. Behind this are
other venerable outbuilding, half 4 thou
sand years old and In perfect maze To the
right and higher, shows a grim, square
Norman tower and the messy roof OF the
parish church, whose living is within
the GIFT OF the lord of the manor. Behind
and above all are the many massive gables
of this most splendidly fantastic manor
house within the England midland shires.
The church itself is Il study in ancient
English ecclesiastical architecture, is ex-
traordinarily rich in monuments and
brasses and possesses many evidences of
having been largely restored and beautifed
by John de Catesby about 14l2 It's age,
however dates from many hundred years
before that time. Many monuments of the
Catesbys are found in the chancel which
escaped destruction, from the place being
SO sequestered a one, at the time of the ter
4ls.f al
sou of Robert Catesby. But 4 portion of |
its floor are covered with flags, q sugges- |
ton of extraordinary antiquity, as well as !
of the beautiful village ''rushbearingH pro- |
cesSiOnalS, which were certain to have an |
nually been seen within it. its traditional |
south porch is as quaint study as that of !
ancient GraSmere church in Westmorcland. |
And Us from time immoral has been the |
custom with English parish churches I'M !
der memorial and demesne benetces, pri- |
vate way leads TO the hall of
THE LORD OF THE MANOR.
At Ashbv st. Ledgers it passes through |
the ancient courtyard wall ana winds |
across noble terraccd lawn and garden.
At the rear of these, marking the boundary |
of the highway, is majestic line of ash
trees Half way between the manor house
and these stands the historic tulip tree of |
St. Ledgers, indeed, if not of England. Its
girth at four feet from the ground is six
teen feet and two inches. just above this |
it breaks into three forks with girths OF
eight feet two inches, seven feet seven
inches and seven feet six inches. Its
greatest spread of branch is lightweight
feet from north to south, seventy-siX feet
from east to west, and its height is seven
ty-seven feet.
The mauor house is believed to be nearly |
seven hundred years old. Its south and
west frouts certainly date from the time of
Edward III. They retain their original
character. and are finished with gables and
an open parapet The east front IS modern
lied. In the hall of the most ancient por-
ton every oak panel bears a now almost
painting of head or an
armorial device. Many portraits of the
are still intact. The entire in
terror is labyrinth of wainscoting. curious
sunken and secret repositories, dark old
wondrously carved chimney
pieces and fantastic staIrways, balustrades
and landings 1t is believed thai the cellars
contain walled-up secret passages to distant
places of exit, and in one l found huge
stone altar where formerly Christian Eng
and compelled the pious to worship for
fear of the gallows of Tower Hill.