Essex County herald. [volume] (Guildhall, Vt.) 1873-1964, 1902-08-01
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has been his guest on innumerable oc.
SOns when Prince of Wales but
only once since he succeeded to the
throne.
Hatfield House, In which the Mar.
quis of Salisbury will in future spend
most of his time and where he Will
doubtless entertain nis friends as re
gally as OF yore, is brick struc.
ture Of vast extent. 1t was built be.
tween the years 1905 and 1911 by Rob-
ert Cecil, first earl of Salisbury. Later
1t suffered from neglect, but was re-
stored and beautified In the middle OF
the last century by the sixth earl In
1885 great part of the west wing
was destroyed by fire, in which the
dowager Marchioness Of Salisbury lost
her life. After the fire a general res.
toration of the building took place.
The house forms three sides OF a
square, the hollow part turned toward
the south. The center is looked upon
as fine specimen of the Palladian
style and, although of mixed archi-
lecture, is highly pleasing to the eye.
The wings are massive and compara-
lively plain, supported at each corner
/ by square turrets seventy feet high.
There is a central tower over the grand
entrance, which is also seventy feet
high.
The third story of the central tower
contains a clock and the armorial bear
ings of the founder, with the date 1911,
in which year the present house was
finished. The southern front is 800
feet long, and the center is 40 feet.
The wings are so feet wide and project
100 feet from the center.
The hall is spacious and lofty. 1t
leads to the gallery. in which many in
teresting relics of former days are pre-
served, including the saddlecloths used
by Queen Bess and by Sir Robert
Cecil the first earl of Salisbury. One
of the most notable parts Of the pala-
tial house is the grand staircase. 1t
occupies space of 80 by 21 feet and
has five landings. On the walls are
portraits of the Cecils by Lely, Sneller,
vandyke, Zucchero, Reynolds and 9TH
ers. A marble bust of Lord Burleigh
is over the entrance to the dining
hall.
The dining hall In which Lord Sails.
bury dispenses hospitality is one Of the
most splendid banqueting halls In the
kingdom. 1t is of noble proportions,
hung with fine pictures, and In the past
has seen many O great gathering Of
notable people.
The marble hall, so by 80 feet In d.
mensions, paneled with oak, lined with
rare old tapestry and Lit by an oriel
window, is another notable feature of
the house. Here among the armorial
bearings, badges, decorations and relies
are two banners presented to the own
er Of Hatfield by the Duke Of yelling
ton. They were part of the spoil
brought from Paris in 1914.
In the library are the oak cradle of
Queen Elizabeth, the original procla'
nation Of Sir Robert Cecil declaring
James of Scotland king of England, a
purse once the property Of James l.
and hundreds Of equally interesting
relics of the days when Hatfield was q
favorite retreat for royalty.
In the days when the insolence OF
John Brown made Windsor castle un.
comfortable for them the Empress
Frederick of Germany and her hus
band. Kaiser Frederick. were frequent
visitors at Hatfield House. At al
times since the present owner became
the lord Of the place an invitation tc
Hatfield House has been most highly
priced.