Part 14 (2/2)
Bacton pa
Ixworth 9
76
758
+--+----------------+-------------------------+-----+-------+
[A] BABWORTH. The hall is the seat of the Hon. J.B. Simpson; it a plain white-fronted edifice, the surrounding grounds which are very beautiful, were laid out by the celebrated Repton. Babworth church is a neat gothic building, with a small steeple; it is worthy of remark, that there are two trees growing out of the roof of the south porch. Near this village the ground begins to rise, and displays the most enchanting scenery of woods, lawns, glades, heaths, cultivated farms, and ornamental seats.
The late Paul Sandby, Esq., R.A., who died on the 8th of November, 1809, was descended from a branch of the Sandby family, of Babworth, and was born at Nottingham, in 1732. In 1746 he went to London, and having an early bias towards the arts, he got introduced into the drawing room of the Tower. After two years he was appointed draughtsman, under the inspection of Mr. David Watson, who was employed by the late Duke of c.u.mberland to take a survey of the Highlands. During this excursion he made several sketches from the terrific scenery of that romantic country, from which he afterwards made a number of small etchings, which were published in a folio volume. From this circ.u.mstance, perhaps, we may account for the bold and striking style by which the paintings of this excellent artist are so peculiarly distinguished. In 1752, he quitted this employment and resided with his brother at Windsor. Several of the most beautiful views in the neighbourhood of Windsor and Eton, now became the subject of his pencil; here also he obtained that skill in depicting gothic architecture which gave so beautiful an effect to those landscapes that Sir Joseph Banks purchased them all at a very liberal price. Mr. Sandby published several prints in ridicule of the inimitable Hogarth's ”a.n.a.lysis of Beauty,” but he afterwards declared, that had he known the merits of that exquisite painter at the time, he should not have dared to depreciate them. On the inst.i.tution of ”the Royal Academy,” he was elected one of the Academicians. He was afterwards appointed chief drawing master of the Royal Academy at Woolwich, and held the office with honour and credit to the day of his death.
[Sidenote: Trees grow out of the roof of the church.]
[Sidenote: Paul Sandby, Esq.]
[Sidenote: Sandby the painter.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+----------------------+--------+------------+-----------+ 28
Badby[A] pa
Northamp
Daventry 3
Banbury 14
39
Baddesley-Clinton pa
Warwick
Warwick 7
Solihull 6
39
Baddesley-Ensor pa
Warwick
Atherstone 3
Tamworth 6
16
Baddesley-North pa
Hants
Romsey 4
Wincheste 8
16
Baddesley-South[B] ham
Hants
Lymington 2
Yarmouth 5
7
Baddiley[C] pa
Chester
Nantwich 3
Malpas 9
7
Baddington to
Chester
2
Tarporley 9
14
Baddow (Great)[D] pa
Ess.e.x
Chelmsford 2
Witham 10
+--+---------------------+---------+------------+-----------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+----------------------+--------+------------+-----+-----+ 28
Badby[A] pa
Northamp 13
75
583
39
Baddesley-Clinton pa
Henley in A. 6
97
110
39
Baddesley-Ensor pa
Coles.h.i.+ll 9
108
568
16
Baddesley-North pa
Southampton 7
70
297
16
Baddesley-South[B] ham
Beaulieu 6
88
...
7
Baddiley[C] pa
Tarporley 9
167
267
7
Baddington to
Malpas 11
166
132
14
Baddow (Great)[D] pa
Maldon 9
31
1719
+--+----------------------+---------------------+-----+-----+
[A] BADBY. This extensive village is situated on the brow of a hill, in the large uninclosed district of Badby-Down. Here are numerous springs, and several quarries of flag-stone, which, from its excellence, is very extensively employed for the purposes of building and paving. On the summit of Arbury Hill, in this parish, is a large encampment, which is attributed to the Romans: the ramparts are very steep, and the whole is encompa.s.sed by a very wide and deep foss.
[Sidenote: Quarries.]
[B] BADDESLEY. This village was celebrated a short time ago for a singular tree it contained, from which was frequently heard to issue groans as though uttered by a person in acute agony. The tree was an elm, young, vigorous, and to all appearance perfectly sound; and what is most wonderful, naturalists could a.s.sign no physical reason for the phenomena. Its fame spread far and wide; a pamphlet was written with an account of it, and persons came miles to visit it. The tree, however, it would seem with the fickleness attendant too often upon those who have gained celebrity, would not always groan, yet no cause could be a.s.signed for its temporary cessations, either from seasons or weather. Many superst.i.tious tales were raised by the country people and alleged as reasons for this singular occurrence; and for eighteen or twenty months it continued an object of considerable interest; a gentleman of the name of Forbes, making an experiment to discover its cause, by boring a hole in its trunk, put a period to its agonies, it never groaned again. It was afterwards rooted up with a further view to make a discovery, but in vain. It is universally believed that there was no trick in the affair, but that some natural cause really existed, though never understood.
[Sidenote: The groaning tree.]
[C] BADDILEY. A parish in the hundred of Nantwich. This place is princ.i.p.ally remarkable for its church, standing on a small green surrounded by farm buildings. It consists of a small nave and chancel, and was constructed entirely of English oak; it is of the most remote antiquity, and presented a most unique specimen of ecclesiastical buildings of timber, previous to the introduction of stone; the upright timbers being much decayed were cased with brick in 1811, it having stood so many centuries that it was in danger of falling; the roof and ceiling are still in fine preservation. In the chancel are remains of some ancient stalls, and two elegant marble monuments, erected to the Mainwaring family, who were lords of the manor. Baddiley Hall, the former residence of this family, was a very old irregular building of timber and plaister, but has been lately pulled down.
[Sidenote: An oaken church.]
[D] BADDOW. (Great). This extensive, populous, and genteel village, from its peculiarly delightful situation, has become the residence of a considerable number of highly respectable families. Previous to the conquest, the manor was part of the possessions of Algar, Earl of Mercia. In consequence, however, of the rebellion of his son and successor, Earl Eadwine, who was slain in battle, this lords.h.i.+p, with other estates, was granted by King William to the monastery of the Holy Trinity at Caen, in Normandy. In the reign of Henry I., the crown was again possessed of it, and about the same period, the Earls of Gloucester became its proprietors; from which time, after having been vested in many n.o.ble families, it is now in the possession of the family of Houblon. Two chauntries of some value were formerly in the church.
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+----------------------+----------+-------------+--------------+ 14
Baddow, Little[A] pa
Ess.e.x
Chelmsford 5
Witham 6
33
Badger pa
Salop
Bridgenorth 6
s.h.i.+fnal 6
15
Badgington pa
Gloucester
Cirencester 4
Northleach 9
15
Badgworth pa
Gloucester
Cheltenham 4
Painswick 8
34
Badgworth pa
Somerset
Axbridge 3
Bridgewater 12
36
Badingham pa
Suffolk
Framlingham 4
Halesworth 6
21
Badlesmere[B] pa
Kent
Faversham 4
Charing 6
36
Badley pa
Suffolk
Needham 2
Stowmarket 2
15
Badminton, Great[C] pa
Gloucester
Sodbury 6
Tetbury 10
+--+---------------------+-----------+-------------+--------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+----------------------+------------------------+-----+--------+ 14
Baddow, Little[A] pa
Maldon 7
34
548
33
Badger pa
Madeley 6
134
142
15
Badgington pa
Cheltenham 12
93
167
15
Badgworth pa
Gloucester 5
98
859
34
Badgworth pa
Wells 12
133
352
36
Badingham pa
Saxmundham 6
91
866
21
Badlesmere[B] pa
Canterbury 11
48
135
36
Badley pa
Bildeston 8
71
82
15
Badminton, Great[C] pa
Malmesbury 10
106
529
+--+----------------------+----------------------+-------+--------+
[A] BADDOW, (Little). The church at this place contains a rich and splendid monument to the memory of Sir Henry Mildmay, Knight, who died in October, 1639. He is represented in a full suit of armour, reposing under a dome, which rests upon black marble pillars; two female figures kneel at his feet; the one elderly, and dressed in a scarf and hood, the other young, and magnificently attired in the fas.h.i.+on of the time. The head of the knight is supported by a pillow. From a latin inscription upon an oval tablet, we learn that Sir Henry having served as a soldier in the Irish wars, was for his gallantry knighted in the field. The carved effigies of two female figures, said by tradition to have been sisters and founders of this church, occupy recesses in the south wall of the centre aisle. Upon examining the two graves in which it was supposed that the corpses of the persons whose figures stood in the niches were interred, in one of them were found three skeletons, and two in the other, but without the slightest vestige of wood, linen, coffin, or any other covering to the bodies. In the year 1817, Edward Bullin, Esq., bequeathed 196 acres of land, and a wood containing thirty-six acres, for the purpose of clothing and educating the children in this parish and that of Boreham.
[Sidenote: Sir Henry Mildmay.]
[Sidenote: Skeletons found.]
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