Methley Park, Yorkshire;

THE SEAT OF THE

EARL OF MEXBOROUGH.

THIS ancient Mansion is seated in a beautiful and verdant Park, well stocked with deer, on the slope of a hill, between Wakefield and Leeds, five miles northeast from the former place, and about six from the town of Pontefract. It was originally built in the reign of James I., but many alterations have subsequently been made, giving the house, in appearance, a modern character. It is surmounted by a bold cornice and balustrades, and the Arms of the Family of four quarterings, with the supporters and crest, adorn the Pediment of the front. The House is not very large, but its interior is exceedingly handsome and well arranged, containing upon the ground-floor a spacious hall, a dining-room, thirty-seven feet by twenty-seven, not including the large bow-window; an elegant drawing-room, thirty-seven feet by twenty-five, its ceiling in ornamental compartments, green, gold, and white, and the walls hung with crimson damask, with gilt mouldings, &c.; the chimney-piece is a handsome entablature, supported by Ionic columns of Sienna marble. The chambers above are equally elegant in their decoration: the principal are, the green velvet bed-room, nineteen feet by eighteen; the entablature of the chimney-piece is here supported by Corinthian columns of Sienna marble, with gilt capitals. The crimson damask room, twenty-three feet by eighteen, the ceiling in compartments of white and gold, round the room are gilded festoons, disposed with taste; it has a small dressing-room adjoining. The chintz room, twenty-five feet by eighteen, in which are two Indian figures, three feet high, in glass cases; this also communicates with a dressing-room, eighteen feet by twelve, neatly as well as richly fitted up. The Mansion is altogether considered to be much better finished, in respect to the decoration of the interior, than most of its size in the kingdom. In the Park is a remarkably fine piece of water, and a great variety of beautiful prospects; the views from the House are both pleasing and extensive.

The Saviles are a very ancient family in this county, where they have constantly resided even prior to the year 1300. From Sir John Savile, of Savile Hall, descended Thomas Savile, who married the daughter and heir of Sir Richard Tankersley, Knt., by whom he had two sons, Sir John Savile and Sir Henry Savile, who, about the year 1300, married Ellen, daughter and heir to Thomas Copley, of Copley, in Yorkshire, and in her right possessed that lordship. Nicholas Savile, his fourth son, settled at New Hall, whose son, John Savile, Esq., had a third son, Henry Savile, Esq., who was seated at Bradley, near Halifax, in Yorkshire. Sir John Savile, his eldest son, was appointed a Baron of the Exchequer 26th Eliz., he was knighted in 1603, and died 1606. His eldest son, Sir Henry, was of Methley, and was created a Baronet in 1611. At his death, in 1633, the baronetage expired. John Savile, Esq., his half brother, succeeded to the estates at Methley, &c. His direct descendant, John Savile, Esq., was Member of Parliament for Hedon, in Yorkshire, in 1747, and installed a Knight of the most honourable order of the Bath in 1749, and in 1753 was created Lord Pollington, of Longford, in Ireland; and, 27th December, 1765, was advanced in the Peerage as Viscount Pollington and Earl of Mexborough, of Lifford, in the county of Donegal. He died 12th February, 1778, and was succeeded by his eldest son, John, second and present Earl of Mexborough.

Kippax Park, Yorkshire;

THE SEAT OF

THOMAS DAVISON BLAND, ESQ.

KIPPAX is situated at the distance of nine miles south-east from Leeds, and five from Pontefract, in a fine open country. The Park is large and beautiful, rising to the Mansion, which was originally founded by Sir Thomas Bland, Knight, in the reign of Elizabeth. A part only of the ancient front still remains in the centre of the building. The fabric was much enlarged about the latter end of the seventeenth century, and many additions have subsequently been made. The principal front, including the offices, now extends six hundred feet in length; the whole built of yellow stone.

The family of Bland was anciently seated at Bland's Gill in Yorkshire; a younger son of which house was Robert Bland, Esq. of Leeming, in the NorthRiding, whose posterity continued the principal line; the male issue of the chief house of Bland's Gill soon failing. Robert Bland, Esq., was the father of Richard Bland, Esq. of Great Leeming, whose eldest son, Sir Thomas Bland, Knight, settled at Kippax Park in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, under whom, and her successor King James I., he faithfully discharged several offices and employments. He married Elizabeth, only daughter and heiress of Thomas Estoft, Esq. of Redness, in Yorkshire, who brought him a good estate, as well as alliances in blood, being descended from many ancient families in the county of York, which is evident from her family quarterings; thus marshalled-Ward, Hotham, Ufflet, Waterton, Mowbray, Blyke, Wroughton, &c. Sir Thomas Bland died 26th December, 1612, and was buried at St. Gregory's, London: his son, Sir Thomas Bland, was knighted by King James I. at Whitehall, May 30th, 1604, and had in marriage Catherine, eldest daughter of John, Lord Saville of Pontefract, by whom he was father of Sir Thomas Bland, who bore a part in several brave actions performed by the Royalists, being major of horse; and was one of the Yorkshire gentlemen who seized the Castle of Pontefract for the King, and afterwards defended it so well. His eldest son, Thomas Bland, Esq. having been likewise active in the service of his Prince against the Parliamentarians, was, in consideration of his own and his father's loyalty and services, advanced to the degree of a Baronet in the lifetime of his father, August 30th, 1642, and having suffered much in his fortune by sequestrations and compositions for his estate, on account of his loyalty, died in 1657, having left issue by Rosamond his wife, daughter of Francis Neville, Esq. of Chevet, in Yorkshire, Sir Francis Bland, Bart., who married Jane, daughter of Sir William Lowther, Knight, of Great Preston, in Yorkshire, and left two sons, Sir Thomas and Sir John, both successively Baronets. Sir John Bland, Bart., only surviving son of the last-mentioned Sir John, who died 25th October, 1715; went in the retinue of the Bishop of London, the Lord Privy Seal, and her Majesty Queen Anne's Plenipotentiary, to the Congress of Utrecht, in the lifetime of his father: he was also M.P. for the county palatine of Lancaster, and died in 1743, leaving two sons, Sir John, who died in France unmarried, and Sir Hungerford Bland, who also succeeded to the title of Baronet, and died a bachelor, when the title became extinct. The Estate descended jointly to his two surviving sisters, Anne and Elizabeth, who, both dying unmarried, devised it to Thomas Davison Bland, Esq. grandson of Thomas Davison, Esq. of Blakiston, in the county of Durham, by his wife Anne, daughter of Sir John Bland, Baronet, their grandfather. He married, in 1776, Anne, daughter and co-heiress of Godfrey Meynell of Yeldersley, in Derbyshire, and died on the 27th of April, 1794; when the present possessor, Thomas Davison Bland, Esq. succeeded to the property and estate. In 1812, he married Apollonia, daughter of the late Charles Philip Lord Stourton.

Wentworth House, Yorkshire;

THE SEAT OF

WILLIAM WENTWORTH FITZWILLIAM,

EARL FITZWILLIAM.

THIS noble residence is situated between Barnsley and Rotherham, at the distance of four miles from the latter town, in the midst of a beautiful country, and in the centre of a Park, that is one of the most exquisite spots in the kingdom. The mansion, for extent and magnificence, is not excelled; it consists of an irregular quadrangle, enclosing three courts, with two grand fronts; the principal one, to the Park, extends in a line upwards of 600 feet, forming a centre and two wings; nothing in architecture can be finer than this front. A noble Portico 60 feet long, projects 20 feet; it is supported by six magnificent Corinthian columns on pedestals, with a balustrade enclosing the area; on the pediment are three very light Statues, and in the tympanum are the arms and supporters of the Marquis of Rockingham, by whom it was erected. Statues are also placed at the angles of the centre, upon the balustrade which surmounts it, with vases between them, producing an architectural effect, at once pleasing and magnificent, in which lightness vies with grandeur, and simplicity with elegance.

The Grand Hall is 60 feet square, and 40 feet high, with a Gallery 10 feet wide, carried round the whole, leaving the area a cube of 40 feet; this justness of proportion gives it an advantage over every room of the kind. The Gallery is supported by 18 fluted Ionic columns, the shafts of Sienna, with the bases and capitals of white marble. In niches between the columns are marble Statues, over which are medallions, containing relievos from the designs of Athenian Stuart; above the Gallery the Roof is supported by Corinthian pilasters connected by festoons, and the ceiling is admirably executed in ornamental compartments.

To the left of the Grand Hall is a noble suite of apartments, consisting of a Supper Room, 40 feet by 22 feet; the chimney-piece, of white marble, contains in the frieze a plain shield, supported by a Gryphon and Lion, the columns festooned and finely sculptured: a Drawing Room, 35 feet by 23 feet: a Dining Room, 40 feet square; here are medallions, in wreaths, of Theocritus, Hector, Agamemnon, Hyacinthus, Hamilear, and Troilus. On the other side of the Grand Hall are a suite of apartments, comprising an Ante-Room, 30 feet by 20 feet; a grand Drawing Room, 36 feet square; a Dressing Room, 30 feet by 25 feet; a State Bedchamber, 25 feet square; and another Dressing Room, 16 feet square. The Gallery is 130 feet long, by 18 feet wide. The Mansion contains many other splendid apartments, which are adorned with a collection of pictures, formed with great judgment and taste. We select a few subjects particularly striking :Diana and Endymion, by West-Cymon and Iphigenia, by the same master -An Equestrian Portrait of George the Second-A sleeping Cupid, by Guido -The Death of Lucretia, by the same-The Portrait of an Old Servant by Stubbs-Horses by Ditto-The Descent from the Cross, An. Caracci-A Magdalen, by Titian,—and, the celebrated Picture of the Earl of Strafford and his Secretary, by Vandyck, said to be the finest Picture by that Master. A copy of this, by Lady Fitzwilliam, is at Milton.-The Library is 60 feet long, by 20 feet wide, and contains a selection of valuable works; particularly books of prints, architecture, and medals; of the last his Lordship has one of the largest collections in England. The disposition of the apartments is excellently contrived, and attached to the mansion are the stables, forming a large quadrangle, and enclosing a court of 120 feet square, with a very elegant front to the Park.

The Park comprises upwards of 1500 acres, richly clothed with wood, and adorned with spreading waters; many ornamental temples also break on the eye at every angle. On an elevated situation, about a mile from the principal front, is a Mausoleum, 90 feet high, erected in 1788 to the memory of that true and inflexible patriot, the Marquis of Rockingham, which forms a noble object, not only from the