Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1892-11-12

quaintancv ana subsequent friendly inter.
course with the shy poet, who then lived
with his mother anu aunt Ia West End cot
tage, nbont mile distant are preserved In
the romantic incidents so fclicitou,ly re-
lated In Grnys Factions poem OF the
"Iong Story"
The new Stoke Hall was built 10y John
Penn from designs by Wyatt. 1t is chiefly
Of brick, succeed, aud comprises u large
square center and two wings. The entrance
front il CrnamCutcd by u cOlonpade NJ ten
Doric columns, approached by imposing
flights Of steps, leading to tho famous oval
central Marble Hall. The south front. also
adorned with IA culunnudc, hnstyelvc 1utrd
DOrlc columns, and IL l06 feet Ia length.
Many visitors here mistake the old manor
house at the north OF tue church FOR Gray's
former home IL Is u beautiful and pic.
turcsquc hLlf ruin. occupied by the keeper
OF Stoke Park. Its chimueys are the largest
] have seen In any old English manor house,
and there are undoubtedly today more
bricks In these ivy covered mementos ot
old time cheer than wcru originally re-
quired In the entire construction Of tho
walls.
John Penn built the modest yet noted
mansion Of Solitude, still standing on the
bank OF the Schuylkill, opposite Fair.
mount, In Philadelphia. Much OF the rev.
enue from remaining Pennsylvania "pro.
prietary" interests WAS expended here.
VAST sums were used upon new Stoke Hall
and It's library. statuary md paintings.
lie also rescued from oblivion the actual
burial place of Gray by placing the me
mortal slab against the church wall he
meath the yestry window, and erected 40
his own expense tho huge monument e.
the poet which dominates all tho slumbct-
Gus scene.
On tho death Of John Penn, Stoke Manor
was inherited by his younger brother. Gran.
Vile Penn, who died at Stoke in 1874, He
was an author aud was admitted 70 be one
of the most learned English lnymon OF his
time. His oldest sou, Granville John Penn,
not only "restorcdn but practically rebuilt
Gray's house, West End Cottage, on the
West End Road, II was converted into IL
sumptuous ElizabcthRn mansion, with ey-
ery accessory Of ornament and beauty. In
1850 II was sold to u gentleman named
Darby, but was Afterward purchased 10y a.
Allhnusen, Esq, whose family and heirs
still possess It., and with II the right OF use
Of the Gray family pew In the southwest
corner OF the south aisle OF the old Stoke
Poges church.
a curious illustration Of the docadcnce Of
great families, as well rs OF vast fortunes
even In England, IL found in the final cx.
| tlnction OF this the most eminent branch OF
| the Penn family, and tho diversion OF their
once great estates. Every one il familiar
| with the escheating Of William PENIS
| American possessions, In which the estate
ofdhe late proprletaries was vested In tho
| Commonwealth" thepayment by Pcnnsyl.
vRnia Of Al3O,O00 sterling TO the devlsees
and lcgatees, Tin remembrance OF the en-
terprising spirit OF tho Boundor,n and the
| granting by the English parliament, in
1890, OF an annuity OF $4,000 ohis heirs and
descendants, All this was IN addition to
the rich English possessions Of the Penns.
which included the manor Of Stoke. And
yet on March -. 1861, Granville John Penn.
lord Of the manor OF Stoke, died in his chair
with an unsigned will in his hands. An hil
properties We're inherited by his brother.
Thomas. That gentleman, who was IN
clerical orders and man OF extraordinary
learning, was subsequently declared insane
and Incapable OF managing his estates
These passed into the tAntacles OF that
great English octopus, the ohancery court.
and finally, after the death OF tho unfor.
tunate Thomas, got into the possession Of
William Stuart gentleman, OF Alderman
Abbey, In the shire OF IIorts. Today the
Penns Of Stoke poges are no more. mo
romplng children VI county squire hays