DOI Seite / Zitierlink:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.65478#0084
In 1679 the chapel was “ hung with five pieces of crimson velvet and
damask,1 with gold and silver fringe.” At the end of the chapel, opposite
the door, was the altar with a piece of crimson velvet above it in place
of a painted altar-piece; the altar had a cover of crimson velvet with gold
and silver fringe and tassels, and upon this lay “one great Bible cover’d
with crimson velvet.” On either side of the door is a large single seat,
covered with crimson velvet, fringed with gold and silver, and these single
seats were called “ Their Graces Two Pews.” The velvet was protected
by “Case Covers” of crimson “ sarsnet,” and there were large footstools
in each pew. On the walls were brass sconces for candles, the sconces
ornamented with gold-coloured silk cords and tassels.
The chapel was provided with thirteen Common-Prayer Books, so
that the services conducted in it must have been those appointed by the
Church of England. The prayer-books are fine old folio volumes, with
the Duchess of Lauderdale’s coronet and monogram on the covers.
Besides these ordinary prayer-books there is a beautiful Book of
Common Prayer which was given to William Murray, father of the
Duchess of Lauderdale, by Charles I. It is a folio volume, covered
with embroidery. The Royal Arms are embroidered in gold and silver
on the covers, and any blank spaces are filled with patterns executed in
silver. Some of the embroidery is carried out in the stuffed and
raised stitch called basket-stitch, introduced into England from Spain by
Catherine of Arragon.
Three marriages have been celebrated in this little chapel. One was
that of a sister-in-law of the fifth Earl of Dysart; the second was in 1832,
when Maria Tollemache was married to the first Marquess of Ailesbury;
and in 1868 the bride of 1832 was present at the marriage of Ada
Tollemache to the fourth Baron Sudeley.
In a small room beyond the chapel the celebrated picture of The
Battle of Lepanto was hung in 1679; h now on the wall of the great
staircase. This picture was bought from the Royal Collection when
Charles I.’s pictures were sold by order of the Parliament. A piece
was then cut out of it, but it was afterwards very skilfully replaced.
The Battle of Lepanto picture has been at Ham House ever since its
compulsory sale, and it is strange that neither Sir William Stirling
1 The original Damask, or Dommasco, was
named after the city of Damascus from whence
it came. It was made either of silk only, or of
silk and flax woven together, in designs of
flowers and figures.
24
damask,1 with gold and silver fringe.” At the end of the chapel, opposite
the door, was the altar with a piece of crimson velvet above it in place
of a painted altar-piece; the altar had a cover of crimson velvet with gold
and silver fringe and tassels, and upon this lay “one great Bible cover’d
with crimson velvet.” On either side of the door is a large single seat,
covered with crimson velvet, fringed with gold and silver, and these single
seats were called “ Their Graces Two Pews.” The velvet was protected
by “Case Covers” of crimson “ sarsnet,” and there were large footstools
in each pew. On the walls were brass sconces for candles, the sconces
ornamented with gold-coloured silk cords and tassels.
The chapel was provided with thirteen Common-Prayer Books, so
that the services conducted in it must have been those appointed by the
Church of England. The prayer-books are fine old folio volumes, with
the Duchess of Lauderdale’s coronet and monogram on the covers.
Besides these ordinary prayer-books there is a beautiful Book of
Common Prayer which was given to William Murray, father of the
Duchess of Lauderdale, by Charles I. It is a folio volume, covered
with embroidery. The Royal Arms are embroidered in gold and silver
on the covers, and any blank spaces are filled with patterns executed in
silver. Some of the embroidery is carried out in the stuffed and
raised stitch called basket-stitch, introduced into England from Spain by
Catherine of Arragon.
Three marriages have been celebrated in this little chapel. One was
that of a sister-in-law of the fifth Earl of Dysart; the second was in 1832,
when Maria Tollemache was married to the first Marquess of Ailesbury;
and in 1868 the bride of 1832 was present at the marriage of Ada
Tollemache to the fourth Baron Sudeley.
In a small room beyond the chapel the celebrated picture of The
Battle of Lepanto was hung in 1679; h now on the wall of the great
staircase. This picture was bought from the Royal Collection when
Charles I.’s pictures were sold by order of the Parliament. A piece
was then cut out of it, but it was afterwards very skilfully replaced.
The Battle of Lepanto picture has been at Ham House ever since its
compulsory sale, and it is strange that neither Sir William Stirling
1 The original Damask, or Dommasco, was
named after the city of Damascus from whence
it came. It was made either of silk only, or of
silk and flax woven together, in designs of
flowers and figures.
24