DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.52829#0040
. __
SECTION IL
“ In the 16th century the noblemen’s mansions began to relax from fortified castles into social
halls; and as self-defence was not so immediately the object of thought, convenience
took its place: happily, the manners of the baron visibly softened as his windows en-
larged ; the vigilant warder no longer attended his gate, and his dungeon became
untenanted and useless.”
The following ^3IcllI, Plate I., is an attempt to combine modern con-
venience with the splendour of an ancient quadrangular form. The
windows, instead of looking into a court, as they were wont, for security,
and when the charms of landscape were not felt, or if felt, disregarded,
are turned outwards, and the chief apartments so arranged as to allow
each to have its proper aspect. The suite, which forms three sides of a
quadrangle, comprises a private room, library, great chamber or drawing-
room, music-room, parlour, hall or dining-chamber, (with a minstrel’s
gallery* over the recess for the “ cupboard,”)! house-keeper’s room, &c.
all opening into a corridor, continued as an open cloister on the fourth or
east side, and thus completing the figure. The domestic offices are on
the north side in a lesser court: their extent would of course be regulated
by the scale of the proprietor’s establishment. Care must, however, be
* So late as the reign of Elizabeth, minstrels were retained in the houses of the great
families. It appears by the Northumberland household-book, that the earl kept three, viz.
“ a taberett, a luyte, and a rebecc.” Though unnecessary in our time, owing to the change of
manners, this gallery is not only ornamental, but applicable to other useful purposes.
t See observations on furniture, Section V.
SECTION IL
“ In the 16th century the noblemen’s mansions began to relax from fortified castles into social
halls; and as self-defence was not so immediately the object of thought, convenience
took its place: happily, the manners of the baron visibly softened as his windows en-
larged ; the vigilant warder no longer attended his gate, and his dungeon became
untenanted and useless.”
The following ^3IcllI, Plate I., is an attempt to combine modern con-
venience with the splendour of an ancient quadrangular form. The
windows, instead of looking into a court, as they were wont, for security,
and when the charms of landscape were not felt, or if felt, disregarded,
are turned outwards, and the chief apartments so arranged as to allow
each to have its proper aspect. The suite, which forms three sides of a
quadrangle, comprises a private room, library, great chamber or drawing-
room, music-room, parlour, hall or dining-chamber, (with a minstrel’s
gallery* over the recess for the “ cupboard,”)! house-keeper’s room, &c.
all opening into a corridor, continued as an open cloister on the fourth or
east side, and thus completing the figure. The domestic offices are on
the north side in a lesser court: their extent would of course be regulated
by the scale of the proprietor’s establishment. Care must, however, be
* So late as the reign of Elizabeth, minstrels were retained in the houses of the great
families. It appears by the Northumberland household-book, that the earl kept three, viz.
“ a taberett, a luyte, and a rebecc.” Though unnecessary in our time, owing to the change of
manners, this gallery is not only ornamental, but applicable to other useful purposes.
t See observations on furniture, Section V.