1041
THE ESTATES GAZETTE
June 17, 1890.
rooms have double doors. There is a bath room and secondary staircase on this floor, and on the story above are four good sleeping apartments, in addition to store rooms, cupboards, etc. The domestic offices on the ground floor are conveniently planned and arranged, and inolude a very pleasant and comfortable servants’ hall. Adjoining are offices and sheds for fuel and the like, also a deep water well with picturesque high-pitched roof, thatched. Cellarage accommodation is provided in the basement.
The stabling, which adjoins the south wing, comprises a double coaoh-house, harness room, and two-stalled stable, with loft over. Near by is a large rain-water tank with force pump attached, which oonveys the water to a cistern at the top of the house.
The great charm of the Grange is its beautiful gardens, in the laying out of which the fine natural advantages of the land have been effectively made use of. The grounds may be described us having been so arranged as to merge imperceptibly into the wild and rugged scenery surrounding them, and it is almost needless to add that, whilst being so charming in themselves, they command at every turn prospects of great beauty. Long winding walks, often upon a natural terrace, with rustic bridges over depths and declivities, trend by rich shrubberies and woodland, and are frequently embowered with rosts clambering over rustic arches. Fine timber flourishes everywhere around— pine, beech, oak, birch, holly, white beam and dogwood—and the beautiful wildness of indigenous vegetation forms a picturesque charm. The more severely cultivated portions of the gardens comprise a large tennis lawn, entirely encircled by pine plantations, and a capital kitchen garden. The entire property covers an area of nearly 21 acres, and some of the outlying portions might be disposed of as building sites without any detriment to the residential advantages of the property. More land could be bought if desired.
A New Light Railway.—׳The L. and S.-W. Railway have commenced their new Light Railway to Amesbury Military Camp. It is about eleven miles long, and runs from tire maim Exeter line between Poiton and Grate-ley to Shrewton, across the heart of Salisbury Plain, leaving Amesbury on the south and in full view and under three-quarters of a mile from Stonehenge. There will be three stations, at Newton T'oney, Amesbury, and Shrewton. The contractors are Messrs. Firbanle and Go., of London, and Mr. Arthur Wallington, F.S.I., of Basingstoke, has been retained by the company to purchase the land.
P. and O. West-end Office. -We understand that Messrs. Debenham, Tewson, Farmer and Bridgewater have purchased Edison House Northumberland avenue (opposite the Hotel Metropole), on behalf of the Peninsular and Oriental Steam Navigation Company, who will shortly move their West-end branch to thoso premises.
Property at Highgate.—On Monday Mr. Thomas G. Rogers, of Highgate Station, sold by auction two small freehold cottages iu Archway-road, let at £26 each for the satisfactory price of £1,020. A house at Dalston, of £36 rental value, held on a short lease, also fetched £350. A residence in Orouch-end, though offered at a low reserve, did not attract a purchaser, and may now be acquired privately for occupation to advantage.
A New Estate.—Mr. Albert Kingwell, of 103, Cheapside, informs us that he has purchased on behalf of a client the beautiful freehold estate, known as Beech Hill Park, near Hadley Wood, Barnet, comprising 260j acres, and the Duchy leasehold building estate adjoining, comprising 220 acres, together with the 63 houses thereon, for a trifle over £200,000, and the development of the property will now be most energetically pursued. This estate once formed part of old Enfield Chase. As a buildiDg estate it is unique.
Protection op Mansions against Fire.— It is an interesting fact that many owners of country mansions are now giving the important question of fire protection the attention which it should undoubtedly receive. The manual power fire engine, which seems to have hitherto *׳ crowned ” the fire apparatus appertaining to most residences, is now being recognised as a poor means on which to depend for fire extinguishment in comparison with the up-to-date steamer. This view was evidently also held by Viscount Badcliffe, who has recently purchased a powerful Merryweather “ Greenwich ” steam fire engine for the protection of his beautif nl mansion near Lincoln, wherein are stored maDy invaluable works of art.
The ©range, HINDHEAD, SURREY.
HE incomparable English scenery of the Lake District has doubtless always had its enthusiastic admirers ; but it was not till the early years of the present century, when Wordsworth, Southey, and Coleridge resided there, that the locality became classic ground. The glories of its streams, its mountains, and its valleys, enshrined as they are in immortal verse, have henceforth an irresistible hold upon our imagination. To a less extent the same remark applies to the beautiful scenery of hill and vale surrounding the quaint and picturesque old Surrey town of Haslemere, around which, of late years, has clustered a remarkable group of men of genius—scientists, poets, and novelists. Aldworth, the beautiful home of the late poet laureate, is probably the most famous of the shrines of the locality. It was at Aid-worth that Lord Tennyson received many of his most distinguished contemporaries—■ royal personages, statesmen, artists, aotors, and men of letters. It was there that much of his later work was written, and finally, it was upon A'dworth that the eyes of all English-speaking people throughout the world were turned in October, 1892, when the great poet lay dying. In 1893 the attention of the world was again directed to that neighbourhood, when one of the greatest scientific men of the century, Professor Tyndall, met with his tragic death at Shottermill. In this delightful region at the present day are the homes of many distinguished men, and the district has become known far and wide as quite an artistic settlement.
To attempt to adequately describe the glories of the scenery of this delightful corner of Surrey, verging on the Hampshire boundary, within the modest compass of this article, would be futile. The rich expanse of pine-clad hill, of common gilded with the bloom of gorse and heath, of peaceful vale, and of terraced summits, is perfectly well
THE GRANGE—SOUTH FRONT.
known to travellers along the main Portsmouth road by Hindhead or the Hog’s Back ; whilst the exhilarating climate which the great altitude (some 800ft. above sea level) ensures is likewise a favourable circumstance that is universally recognised. The district has also great social advantages.
Lying just to the north of the Portsmouth-road and bordering the pretty thoroughfare branching off at the bottom of Hindhead-hill to Greyshott and Headley, which many a tourist and cyclist knows, lies the beautiful Grange estate, which is now in the hands of Messrs. Debenham, Tewson, Farmer and Bridgewater, of 80, Cheapside, E.C., for disposal by private oontract.
The residence, whioh is designed after what is known as the Elizabethan style, is a picturesque structure, partly covered with ivy, roses, clematis and other climbing plants, and occupying an elevated position, a sort of jutting table land, from which on three sides the land falls away steeply into richly wooded valleys. From the windows of almost any of the rooms maybe enjoyed views of exceeding beauty, and extending far over the richly diversified scenery which is characteristic of this part of England. The house was built by the owner for his own occupation, and no pains and expense have been spared to lay under contribution every advantage which its fine position and beautiful natural surroundings have allowed. Every scheme for artistic perfection has now ripened ; and the Grange presents to-day a residential property that in everyway is possessed of attributes that are almost unique.
The house is approached by a drive, about three furlongs in length, winding through beautifully timbered land of a park-like character, with rich plantations of choice conifers interspersed here and there. The entrance is by a span roofed porch into the minor or outer hall. Thenoe is attained by a massive pair of doors the inner hall, or music room, an apartment whioh, by its ample proportions and rich design, at once attracts notice and awakens appreciation. Around two sides extends a finely arcaded gallery, with which the grand staircase communicates. The walls are panelled up to the level of this gallery and the roof is finely timbered, the principal beams being arcaded and springing from stone corbels ; the apartment is lit by leaded stained glass windows.
At one end of the hall is an ample ingle nook, with dog grate and hood, and on one side is the organ recess lit by a painted window and having a richly decorated ceiling. Double folding doors communicate with the verandah without, over which roses clamber in rich profusion. The dining and drawing rooms adjoin; each is lighted by a noble bay window, with a smaller triangular bay or oriel window forming a pioturesque feature. The dining room has an ingle nook, with panelled end. On the first floor are five principal bed rooms with dressing rooms attached, all of whioh command views across the magnificent scenery around, principally to the south-west; these
was unanimously elected first president, and thereupon received the honour of knighthood. No artist ever worked harder than Sir Joshua, who was at his easel by nine in the morning. During the next 15 years Ee exhibited 147 works chiefly portraits,, hut, including such pictures as the “Strawberry Girl,” and “Fortune Teller.” He was fond of entertaining ; Burke, Johnson, Boswell and Goldsmith were among his guests ; while many titled ladies, with all the famous actresses of the day, and the acknowledged beauties Nelly O’Brien and Kitty Fischer were among the crowd who rustled up the broad staircase with its bulging iron balusters.
In 1782 Sir Joshua had a slight attack of paralysis ; but, recovering, worked harder than ever, ■as he exhibited 15 pictures at the Academy that year, and six years later attained to his maximum number of 18 exhibits. But during 1789 he experienced a more severe attack, and finishing the pictures he had in hand, he exhibited for the last time in 1790, bringing up the total of his Academy pictures to 245.
Sir Joshua’s literary productions included, besides •his celebrated addresses to the Royal Academy, afterwards collected under the title of “Discourses on Painting,” three papers to the “Idler” upon kindred subjects, an account of his visit in 1781 and 1783 to Flanders and Holland, and notes to Johnson’s edition of Shakespeare, and to Mason’s translation of Du Fresnoy’s “Art of Painting.” Reynolds and Johnson were on terms of great intimacy, the former’s purse being ever open to his friend, who, on the day before his own death, said to the painter, “ I have three requests to make ; forgive me £30 whioh I borrowed from you ; read the Scriptures ; and abstain from using your pencil on the Sabbath day.” Reynolds, who promised and kept his word, died on February 23, 1792, in Leieester-square, and was buried in St. Paul’s Cathedral.
The historic and poetic subjects painted by Reynolds exceeded 130 ; while his portraits were almost innumerable, as׳ he employed other artists to fill in the draperies and backgrounds.
For “Hercules Strangling the Serpents,” a commission from the Empress Catherine of Russia, Sir Joshua received 1,500 guineas, beside the gift of a gold snuffbox. For his New-port-street portraits ibis prices ranged from 10 to 40 guineas ; for his earlier portraits in Leieester-square, he obtained from 15 •to 60 guineas accordingly as they were merely heads or full-lengths ; his later figure was 20 guineas for heads. Since his death and up to the present time, the value of his works has continually increased. Thus the portrait of Mr. Matthew Wynn Ellis, which was sold by auction for £945 in 1876, realised £4,620 at the Montrose sale in 1894. At the Goldsmid sale the portrait of the Countess of Coventry fetched £3,990 ; “ Silvia ” sold for £1,627 in 1895, went up to £1,890 when again •offered in 1897. In 1894 “ Lady Betty Delm¿” realised £11,550 at Christie’s, whereas the highest price during the painter’s lifetime for a portrait was £735. The Duke of Rutland paid Reynolds £1,260 for the “ Nativity,” this being his highest figure in England.
The National Gallery possesses 22 of Reynolds’ works, including the portrait of Lord Heathfield, esteemed the finest of his heroic works ; also “ Robinetta ” and ■his own portrait. Among them also is the “Infant Samuel,” repeated at the Dulwich Gallery, which likewise contains the famous “ Mrs. Siddons as the Tragic Muse,” one of his finest ideal subjects, and three others. The Soane Museum has the celebrated “Snake in the Grass.” Reynolds’diploma picture at Burlington House is likewise one of his characteristic works, the wide luminous eyes being especially effective.
About 700 plates •have been engraved after Reynolds, and in 1895 a■ proof of “ Mrs. Pelham Feeding Chickens ” realised 300 guineas.
Not• only is Sir Joshua esteemed the greatest portrait painter whom England has produced, hut he is ranked among the seven supreme colourists, the other six being Titian, Giorgione, Correggio, Tintoretto, Veronese and Turner. His pictures have a peculiar grace and elegance from •the artistic pose of the figures and the happy arrangement of accessories.
Owing to his use of bituminous colours and his experiments with fugitive mediums, many of his pictures have lost their freshness. Mason, who was present during a series of sittings, records that the painter laid on a ground of white, and, without drawing an outline, scumbled together on his palette flake white, lake and black, producing in about an hour a likeness, sufficiently intelligible, but cold and pallid to the last degree. At the second sitting he added a little Naples yellow to the three colours previously used. The drapery he not only painted hut glazed with lake. This drapery lasted well, hut the face soon faded. Horace Walpole, in one of his witty sallies, suggested that such portraits should he paid for by annuities so long as they lasted.
Frances Reynolds, the youngest of the sisters, | who used to join in the burnt-stick sketches in the old parsonage at Plympton, kept house for her great brother several years in London ; and became a respectable miniature painter, and was highly esteemed by her contemporaries for her historical subjects. She also amused herself by copying her brother’s works.