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WANSTEAD-HOUSE, THE SEAT OF WILLIAM POLE TILNEY LONG
WELLESLEY, ESQ.

by a ball-room, which measures 64
feet by 24. The superb furniture
that meets the eye in this double
suite of state apartments; the em-
blematical and allegorical ceilings
that grace these rooms, painted by
Kent, Cassali, and other eminent art-
ists, coupled with the grandeur of the

with the first-rate English mansions.

THIS magnificent mansion was designed by Colin Campbell, in the year 1705, and built under his direction for Sir Richard Child, afterwards Earl Tilney. It ranks decidedly among the highest class of English mansions, as regards its style of architecture, finishing, and magnitude, or its interior decorations. It ex-building, qualify Wanstead to rank tends in front about 260 feet, while the depth is 80 feet. It consists of a centre, with two uniform wings; the former embellished by a noble pediment, supported by six columns of the Corinthian order, resting on a bold projecting basement. This communicates by a double flight of steps to the great hall and saloon, magnificent in size and splendid in decorations: these again communicate with the state apartments, which extend along the entire front. The whole of the south front is occupied Vol. III. No. XVII.

Beneath the grand entrance is the entrance to the sub-hall, supported by eight stone pillars of the Ionic order: this communicates right and left with the offices on the ground-floor,

The principal or western front is further embellished and assisted in its imposing effect by stone parapets and detached obelisks, which, as viewed from the grounds, have a fine appearance. The Tilney arms in bold basso-relievo grace the tympanum of the pediment: while a medalLL

lion portrait of the architect, cut in stone, is placed over the door to the great hall.

The eastern front has, as well as the western, a central pediment; but this, in accordance with the best specimens of Italian edifices, is subordinate to the principal front, being raised on six three-quarter columns, with a stone terrace, inclosed by a balustrade, which extends only in front of the grand saloon."

This edifice occupies the site of an ancient house, which ranked royal and noble inmates among its proprietors; for it had been possessed by Sir William Mildmay, George Marquis of Buckingham, King James I. Charles Blount, Earl of Devonshire, and Robert Rich, Earl of Leicester. This house being found inadequate to the domestic establishment of Sir Richard Child, he caused it to be pulled down, and replaced by the present splendid structure, which too can boast of its royal and noble occupants; for it afforded a retreat for the present royal family of France during their exile. It was here the Prince Regent, with a noble party, met to congratulate the Marquis, now Duke of Wellington, on his return from the glorious campaign in Spain and Portugal.

The whole of this property came into the possession of the Wellesley family by the marriage, in 1812, of Mr. Long Wellesley to Miss Catherine Tilney Long, daughter and heiress of Sir James Tilney Long, Bart. Besides the Wanstead property, this lady possessed in her own right fine and extensive estates in Essex, Wilts, Hants, Yorkshire, and Dorsetshire.

The park is spacious and well wooded, particularly to the east, where its forest-like appearance has a fine effect, breaking away into the

distant country. The home scene is rich in fine timber, and the immediate vicinity of the house gay and fragrant with flowering shrubs. A fine vista extends from the eastern front to the river Roding, a pleasing stream, that adds considerably to the beauty of the grounds, being formed into a spacious sheet of water in the midst of the woods: an extensive grotto decorates the margin, and is said to have cost upwards of 2000l.

Our View of this fine Mansion is from the west, near the principal entrance to the park: the avenue from this entrance is intercepted by the circular piece of water shewn in the view, around which, on either side, the drive continues to the house.

In the year 1735, a Roman tesselated pavement was discovered in this park in high preservation: it was composed of brick tesseræ, of various sizes and colours. In the centre was the representation of a man on a beast. Several coins were found with it: some of the Emperor Valens. It measured about 16 feet by 20. Not far distant from the pavement were discovered some brick foundations, with fragments of urns, Roman coins, pateræ, and other specimens of ancient art.

We have described this splendid mansion as it appeared when our view of it was taken: it is now no more. The house itself and the magnificent furniture were soon afterwards ordered by the owner to be sold by public auction. Mr. John Robins of Regent-street, late of Warwickstreet, began the sale the 10th June, 1822; it ended 23d July, and produced 41,3801. Os. 3d. The mansion was sold also by auction by the same gentleman, on the 12th May, 1823, and produced 10,000. It has since been pulled down.

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