DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.32037#0077
WOLTERTON MANOR HOUSE, NORFOLK.
53
PlATE IV.-SoUTH PoRCH.
This porch forms the principal entrance to the house, the door opening
directly into the hall. The date of its erection is fixed to a certain period,
by the arms of King Henry VII., distinguished by the supporters, a grifiin and
a greyhound, and his badge, the portcullis.* A smaller shield, beneath the
royal arms, is supported by an angel; and on two others, in the spandrils
of the arch, are the arms ofFermor without any impalement. The elevation
is here restored to its original appearance, although the upper parts have
been much injured, and the roof reduced to a shed or lean-to. It is altogether
of a good design, but seems rather at variance with the other details of the
front in its arched window, and the high point of the arch in the doorway.
The plan is shewn separately, and also some details of mouldings, &c. which
are described on the Plate.
Plate V. — Bay-Window of the Hall, &c.
The hall of this mansion did not form a distinct house, f but was merely
a spacious room, having other apartments over it, not distinguished ex-
ternally from the general mass of building. On the south side was a
spacious recess of an oblong plan, lighted by a bay-window, represented in
this Plate. This window was richly embellished with stained glass, of which
nothing now remains but the description recorded in Blomefield’s “ History
of Norfolk.” The Latin motto, “ SUtfKWg Jm’ttnm jttfcat,” J was repeated
* All the English sovereigns from Richard II., who was the first that added supporters to his
arms, down to James I., who introduced the unicorn of Scotland as a companion to the lion of
England, adopted different supporters. Henry VII. used a red dragon, the ensign of Cadwallader,
the last king of the Britons, from whom he claimed descent; and a white greyhound, in right of his
queen, Elizabeth of York, she being descended from the family of Nevile, to which it belonged.
The porteullis was borne by him in right of his mother, who was of the house of Beaufort.
Henry VIII. supported his arms with a dragon and a greyhound, the same as his father had done,
in the beginning of his reign; but afterwards laid aside the greyhound, and adopted a lion, which
all the succeeding sovereigns have retained.
f The term house was formerly applied to any portion of a large building which had a separate
roof, in which sense we find the word used in many old surveys. See the “ Glossary” appended
to “ Specimens of Gothic Architecture.” In this sense the halls of Eltham and Croydon palaces
formed houses.
J “ Fortune favours the bold.”
53
PlATE IV.-SoUTH PoRCH.
This porch forms the principal entrance to the house, the door opening
directly into the hall. The date of its erection is fixed to a certain period,
by the arms of King Henry VII., distinguished by the supporters, a grifiin and
a greyhound, and his badge, the portcullis.* A smaller shield, beneath the
royal arms, is supported by an angel; and on two others, in the spandrils
of the arch, are the arms ofFermor without any impalement. The elevation
is here restored to its original appearance, although the upper parts have
been much injured, and the roof reduced to a shed or lean-to. It is altogether
of a good design, but seems rather at variance with the other details of the
front in its arched window, and the high point of the arch in the doorway.
The plan is shewn separately, and also some details of mouldings, &c. which
are described on the Plate.
Plate V. — Bay-Window of the Hall, &c.
The hall of this mansion did not form a distinct house, f but was merely
a spacious room, having other apartments over it, not distinguished ex-
ternally from the general mass of building. On the south side was a
spacious recess of an oblong plan, lighted by a bay-window, represented in
this Plate. This window was richly embellished with stained glass, of which
nothing now remains but the description recorded in Blomefield’s “ History
of Norfolk.” The Latin motto, “ SUtfKWg Jm’ttnm jttfcat,” J was repeated
* All the English sovereigns from Richard II., who was the first that added supporters to his
arms, down to James I., who introduced the unicorn of Scotland as a companion to the lion of
England, adopted different supporters. Henry VII. used a red dragon, the ensign of Cadwallader,
the last king of the Britons, from whom he claimed descent; and a white greyhound, in right of his
queen, Elizabeth of York, she being descended from the family of Nevile, to which it belonged.
The porteullis was borne by him in right of his mother, who was of the house of Beaufort.
Henry VIII. supported his arms with a dragon and a greyhound, the same as his father had done,
in the beginning of his reign; but afterwards laid aside the greyhound, and adopted a lion, which
all the succeeding sovereigns have retained.
f The term house was formerly applied to any portion of a large building which had a separate
roof, in which sense we find the word used in many old surveys. See the “ Glossary” appended
to “ Specimens of Gothic Architecture.” In this sense the halls of Eltham and Croydon palaces
formed houses.
J “ Fortune favours the bold.”