New-York tribune., 1901-08-29
AT HOLLLNGBOURNE MANOR.
A PICTURESQUE ENGLISH HOME OF HIS
TORIC INTEREST-BEAUTIFU
TAPESTRIES

OF the many ancient and picturesque homes OF
England Hollingbourne Manor in Kent is OF
the most interesting The present structure was
built during the reign OF Elizabeth but the ruined
north wing dates back 10 the thirteenth century
The great oak door. studded with nails and
pierced by a peep shutter gives admttance TO the
hall. The ceiling is crossed with oak beams, the
floor is solid oak. and there is a wide open Are
place with stone Jambs and beautiful herringbone
brick work The dark oak paneIled dado sets or
the quaint paper, which forms a background for
pictures and for portreits. A fine piece OF old
English tapestry covers the wall at the far end
OF this room. and behind this two OF the Sc
cret hiding places for which the house has been
famous from the earliest times. One Of these
The Priests Shaft" communicates with the
story above, the other with the ruined chapel be-
low Hollingbourne has always been loyal and
prosecuted persons and Royalsts in the days OF
the first Charles sure OF sanctuary within its
walls. And this IN alegorical sense for Sc
cret placer come easy TO walls that four feet
thick
An oak door opens from this room into the
ruined north wing. One step down and the visi-
stands IN the chapel OF the thirteenth century
monastery that preceded the house.
The old dining han. used sitting
room. is distinguished by panelling OF dark oak
and a magnificent carved screen surrnounted by
frieze OF equally fine carving Its ceiling Is
cross beamed and the windows mulIioned. but
the most striking feature OF the hall is a pointed
archway OF solid stone. thirteenth century IN
date. that has recently been brought light by
some alterations. II is supposed 10 have been a
doorway OF the original monastery. The fireplace
has iron back that bears the date 1853 and
the initials ct c." that indicate the Sir Thomas
Culpeper who then owned the property There
are many mementos OF this family at the Manor.
the present owner Gerald Arbuthnot has pre-
served the oldtime atmosphere as much as pos
slble The needle room IS especially interesting
In this connection In that loom the four Ladies
Culpeper. daughters OF John. Lord Culpeper. who
was exiled for his devotion to King Charles spent
so much Of their time in making tapestries that
one OF the sisters became blind from the effects
OF her close application. Among the pieces pre-
served IS a magnificent altar cloth presented by
the sisters to the parish church For two and a
half centuries a needle left by the fingers of the
worker remained sticking In a corner OF the clotn
but was stolen about two years ago 10y some one
Ia party OF anuquarians visiting the Manor.
AZ the top OF the house f. the Long Gallery. a
quaint room which was the guest chamber In
Eizab abethAn times. This is proved ~ the Hobein
stehciLHS In tho adjoining passage, at dime
!issf part OF the gallery. the intervening .,@u-
tlon helng comparatively modern This steu~'iIng
consists or araoe5Gue work done In black outline
duced. one being tl.at OF John M5se,ey, rector OF
whole OF the walls on this foor were probably en-
!tched IN tLe same style, for II the custom Of
OF OF II the neiighborins sentlefolk. Some years ago
met ike those o worn tg rISi by GeTe IN he
gun a sIf iIoi',,a ieet loIg I were found there.
Out put IN carrier anu more imaginative certurics il
was fald that Henry Wits unhappy Lueen.
AttheIlhe howard. whose mother was ii Cul-
pePer. used 70 revisit the room she had often oc-
cuple1 IN girlhood, and roam about with her head
under Re.
The cnly part OF the house which can be said to
nave Deen 'iestureo' TO any appreciHbe degree
is the L-shnped drawing room on the ground tioor.
me maIhoned windows both sides, the wide
stone Hrt place ana the panelllng from floor to
Seliihg are All characteristically Tudor. but SOM
oIe oth gives place here To color. The pan
e.AnR Is green, with charming stick and ribbon
nCuding- Old Venetian candle OF gilt
Hoi-WoTk decorate ths walls, and the furniture IS
surety Louis Seize. Mrs Arbuthnots harp oc-
Outside is an old fashioned Italian garden with
pilm box bordered beds and a sun dial. y rose
garden and grape tbor lie beyond and cad to an
avenue created by the yew trees DIanted by
queen Elizabeth while visiting Holngbourne.