The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1892-10-23

manor house are still standing a few rods
northwest OF the old church.
Aside from its poetic associations the
manor came to have peculiar interest to
Americans when, in 1850, it was purchased
from the noble family of Gotham by
Thomas Penn, second son Of the great
founder Of Pennsylvania by his second
wife, Hannah Caliowhill. The grave Of
William Penn is but nine miles distant,
besides the quaint old Quaker meeting
house at Jordan's; aud all of Penn's de-
scendants through the family line Of this
son, Thomas, who have since deceased are
lying in the Penn family vault 10 the old
Stoke Poges church. Thomas PENIS oldest
son, the last John Penn and grandson Of the
founder, was "a virtuoso, builder and orna-
menter OF fine residences and also an
author He built the great house in Ken
sington Gardens, and, in 1889, the present
noble mansion of Stoke hall. which stands
few hundred yards to the south of the
church, and the old Stoke manor house. At
the time of Gray's residence at Stoke Poges
old Stoke hall was the home of Lady Cob
ham, whose antics TO secure acquaintance
and subsequent friendly intercourse with
the shy poet, who then lived with his mother
and aunt in West End cottage, about mile
distant, are preserved In the romantic incl
dents 80 felioitousIy related in Gray's face
tious poem Of the Long Story"
The new Stoke hall was built by John
Penn from designs by Wyatt. It is chiefly
Of brick, succeed, and comprises large
square center and two wings. The entrance
front is ornamented by colonnade of ten
Doric columns, approached by imposing
flights Of steps. leading 10 the famous oval
central Marble hall. The south front, also
adorned with colonnade, has twelve fiuted
Doric columns, and is 1876 feet in length.
Many visitors here mistake the old manor
house at the north of the church for Gray's
former home. 1t is a beautiful and plot
uresque half ruin, occupied by the keeper
Of Stoke park. Its chimueyS are the largest
l have seen in any old English manor
house, and there are undoubtedly to-day
more bricks in these ivy covered memen-
toes of old time cheer than were originally
required in the entire construction Of the
walls.
J Ohm Penn built the modest, yet noted
mansion of Solitude, still standing on the
bank Of the Schuylkill opposite Fairmount,
in Philadelphia. Much of the revenue
from remaining Pennsylvania "proprie-
tRryn interests was expended here. Vast
sums we're used upon new Stoke hall, and
its library, statuary and paintings. Ae also
rescued from oblivion the actual burial
place of Gray by placing the memorial
slab against the church wall, beneath the
vestry window, and erected at his own OK
pense che huge monument to the poet which
dominates ali the siumberous scene.
On the death Of John Penn, Stoke manor
was Inherited by his younger brotherGran-
vile Penn. who died at Stoke in 1874. He
was an author and WAS admitted to be one
Of the most learned English laymen OF his
time. His Oldest son, Granville John Penn,
not only restored" but practically rebuilt
Gray's house, West End cottage, on the
w est End road. 1t was converted into q
sumptuous Elizabeth8n mansion with every
accessory of ornament and beauty. In
1850 il was sold to d gentleman named
Darby; but was after ward purchased by A.
Allhausen, Esq, whose family and heirs
still possess it, and with it 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 deoadence of
great families, as we'll as Of vast fortunes
even in England, is found III the final ex-
tinction of this the most eminent branch of
the Penn family, and the diversion OF their
once great estates. Every one is familiar
with the escheating of William Penn's
American possessions, in which the ESTATE
Of the late proprietaries was vested In the
common wealth. The payment by Penn
sylvania of el30,09U sterling to the
devisees and iegatees lin remem-
brance of the enterprising spirit OF
the founder,n and the granting by the
ga 1000 to his heirs and descendants. All
this was 10 addition TO the rich English pos
sessions OF the Penns, which included the
manor of Stoke. And yet, on March 20.
1867, Granville john Penn, lord Of the
manor Of Stoke died. died in his chair with
an unsigned will in his hands. All his prop
critics were inherited by his brother Thomas.
That gentleman, who was in clerical orders
and a man Of extraordinary learning, was
subsequently, declared insane and incapable
of managing his estates.
These passed into the tentacles Of that
great English octopus, the chancery court,
and flnally, after the death OF the unfortu-
nate Thomas, got into the possession OF
William Stuart, gentleman, OF AIdenham
Abbey, in the shire of Herts. To-day the
Penns of Stoke Poge5 are no more. The
romping children OF q country squire have
banished the tender wraiths that peopled
the home and haunts Of Gray at West End
cottage. While the lord OF the manor
whose parkkeeper now uses as farm house
the ancient home of the Cobhams the CokeS
and the lordly house Of Hastings, where
Queen Elizabeth was royalty entertained,
and whose own present princely habitatlon
was once the palatlal seat Of the PeGns-ls
maker Of matches in London!
Sul no one can come to the sweet old
place without being touched by the tender
spirit of repose which broods not alone upon
Stoke PoRes church and ohurchYRrd, upon
the entire Stoke manor where, half hidden
beneath sylvan Ghades appear rhe very
place where they poet lived and sang, the
picturesque old ruin where once disported
lords and ladies aud even royalty itself, and
the grander seat of the Penns, but upon the
entire historic parish.
All its environment strangely stirs the
heart and memory. Over to the south is
royal Windsor, through whose successive
epochs the whole vast book Of English
history may be written, from the Victorian
era TO the time of Arthur, his knights and
the Table Round. Milton wrote his "L'Al-
legro" at Horton, just below. Cooper's
hill. consecrated to the muse OF Denham, is
nearer still. Herschel made his first great
discoveries in astronomy in that old red
brick mansion just beyond Slough
on the highway to Windsor Edmund
Burke and Edmund Waller lived at
near Beaconsfield. Not two hours walk
distant is the grave Of William Penn, and
quite as near are the famous Burnham
beeches, discovered by Gray himself when
upon his first visit to the region which his
genius was destined TO make one of the best
loved spots of earth. / visited these as will
all who come TO this spot where the "Elegy"
was written But no pen can again 50
deliciously tell Of Burnham beeches, and
the lauguid. lazy, asy-gong Gray himself,
as did Grav's in this bit from one OF his
charming letters to his friend Horace Wall
pole: .,-
my uncle is a great hunter in imagina-
-. = NNaea