Sproughton Chantry, Suffolk ;

THE SEAT OF

CHARLES STREYNSHAM COLLINSON, ESQ.

SPROUGHTON Chantry is situated about two and a half miles from Ipswich, of which it commands a most interesting view. It is so called, from its being erected on lands given by Edmund Daundy, for the endowment of a Chantry, for the benefit of the Choristers of the Church of St. Lawrence, in Ipswich. The mansion was originally built by Edward Ventriss, Esq. Master of his Majesty's Court of Chancery, of whose heirs it was purchased by the late Sir John Barker, Bart. and from his heirs again by Metcalfe Russell, Esq. who added considerably to the edifice, the outside of which is now of a composition in imitation of Portland stone. Mr. Russell dying without issue, the estate descended to Michael Collinson, Esq. his nearest relative, and afterwards to his son, Charles Streynsham Collinson, Esq. who has considerably increased the landed property originally appertaining to the estate. The House, from its elevated situation, commands an extensive and picturesque view of the adjacent country, enriched and adorned with a variety of objects. The hall is 24 feet in height, 29 long, and 22 in width. The other apartments consist of a Library, two Drawingrooms, and an Ante-room, Saloon, and Dining-room; containing some fine paintings, by Canaletti, Berghem, Tavernier, Paul Veronese, Zuccharelli, Marlow, Neef Frank, Vanderveld, Teniers, Scott, and a fine picture of Mrs. Collinson and her two eldest daughters, at full length, by Sir M. A. Shee. The Library contains a valuable collection of scarce books, in natural history, &c. &c. besides cabinets of rare and curious shells, fossils, minerals, ores, and other productions, from different quarters of the globe, collected by that eminent naturalist, Peter Collinson, Esq. of the Royal, Antiquarian, Berlin, and Sued. Societies, and his immediate descendants. This room commands a most beautiful view of the country to the northward of the house, rising like an amphitheatre, with the river Gippen gliding through a part of the grounds towards the distant villages.

In front of the House is a sloping lawn, towards the river, on the opposite side of the Hadleigh Road, which is concealed by a sunk fence. The grounds are interspersed with ornamental clumps, forest trees, and extensive plantations. The estate, comprehending about 500 acres, is situated in the Samford Hundred. The whole of the premises are beautifully undulated, and laid out in a pleasing and tasteful manner; at the extremity, which is bounded by the road leading to Colchester, stands a handsome Lodge, of the Doric order, by Thompson, which is much and generally admired. From this lodge the approach to the house through the premises extends about three-quarters of a mile by a large sheet of water, by groves, &c. We remarked, amidst the variety of scenery which presented itself to our view, a number of fine oaks, and one in particular, a pollard, of great antiquity; the branches extending about 50 feet upon an average each way, in circumference 22 feet, and containing 12 load of timber.

At one point of view, in our walk we were particularly struck with a very fine grove of beech and lime trees, near the margin of a stream of water, producing a grand and most pleasing effect, while the mansion attained an additional lightness of appearance by comparison. The gardens here are particularly deserving of attention, from their extreme neatness, and the variety and luxuriance of the exotics with which they abound.

In the year 1801, Mr. Collinson was appointed by his Majesty High Sheriff for the county of Suffolk.

THE SEAT OF THE

REV. GEORGE ANGUISH.

In the time of the Conqueror this Manor was possessed by William, Earl of Warren and Surrey, who died in 1138. It was afterwards in the family of Fitz Osberts, with other large estates, in whom it remained till 1230, when one moiety of their possession descended to Isabella, the widow of Walter Jernegan, daughter of Sir Peter Fitz Osbert, as sister and co-heiress of Roger Fitz Osbert, son of Sir Peter, and the other moiety descended to John Noion, the son and heir of Alice, the other sister and coheiress of Roger; and, on a division of the property, Somerleyton was settled on Sir Peter Jernegan, the son of Walter and Isabella, who removed from Horham, in Suffolk, and made this the principal seat of the Jernegan family, and so it remained till 1627, when Jerningham, the son of Frances, the widow of Thomas Bedingfeld, Esq. of Oxburgh, the daughter and heiress of Sir John Jernegan (who was the last male of that branch of the family, and the last resident here) by Henry Jerningham, of Cossey, Esq. her second husband, sold this estate to Sir Thomas Wentworth, Knight, who resided here, and who held it till 1669, when it was purchased by Sir Thomas Allen, of Lowestoft, the Admiral, who, during the Protectorate of Oliver Cromwell, remained stedfastly attached to the royal cause, and, after the Restoration, obtained a command in the royal navy. On the commencement of the war with the Dutch, he fell in with their Smyrna fleet, and, after an obstinate engagement, made prize of four of the richest, killed Van Brakett, their commodore, and drove the remainder into Cadiz. In the engagements off Lowestoff, 1665, and the North Foreland in 1666, Sir Thomas bore a distinguished part. Sir Thomas was Member for Dunwich in 1661, and was in 1672 created a baronet, and passed the remainder of his life at this seat. Sir Thomas left one son, Sir Richard, who dying a bachelor, devised Somerleyton to Richard Anguish, Esq. who married his sister, on condition that he took the name and arms of Allen, which he did, and in 1699 was advanced to a baronetage. In his descendants it remained till 1794, when Sir Thomas Allen died unmarried, and the baronetcy became extinct; but the estate descended to Thomas Anguish, Esq. as his heir at law, who, dying in 1810, it devolved on the Rev. George Anguish, a prebendary in Norwich cathedral, his eldest brother and heir.

The Hall was most probably erected by Sir John Jernegan, the last resident of that family. It is constructed of brick with stone pilasters and cornice; the dressings to the windows, and the quoins also are of stone, having a high roof with dormers; the centre is bold, the pediments at the extremities of the building are curved, and terminate in scrolls of uncommon size; a walled court formerly led to the entrance. In the windows are both figures and armorial bearings, which relate to the possessors of the Mansion.

2. The Effigy of Isabella Fitz Osbert, with the Arms of her two husbands, Sir Henry Walpole and Sir Walter Jernegan.

3. The Effigy of Frances Jernegan, and the Arms of her two husbands, viz. Thomas Bedingfeld, Esq. and Henry Jerningham, Esq.

4. The Arms of Sir John Wentworth and his Lady.

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5. The Arms of Thomas Garneys, Esq.

6. The Arms of Sir Thomas Allen, Bart. and his second lady, Elizabeth Anguish.

In the Lower Tier are,

7. The Arms of Sir Thomas Allen als Anguish, Bart.

8. The Arms of Thomas Anguish, Esq. and of the Rev. G. Anguish, the present Lord of this Manor. 9. The Arms of Thomas Angnish, Esq. Accountant-General of the Court of Chancery, and of his wife, Sarah Henley, (of Docking, Norfolk,) parents of the last.

10. The Arms of his Grace Godolphin Osborne, Duke of Leeds, K. G. and his first Duchess, Amelia, Baroness Conyers in her own right.

11. The Arms of his Grace Francis Godolphin Osborne, Duke of Leeds, K. G. and his Duchess, Catherine, daughter of Thos. Anguish, Esq. and Sarah (Henley) his wife, who died Jan. 3, 1807. 12. The Arms and Quarterings of Lord Sydney Godolphin Osborne, only son of his Grace the Duke of Leeds, by his Duchess Catherine (Anguish.)

The Grounds are well disposed, and, referring to the general beauty of its situation, Fuller remarked of this place, that "it well deserved the name of Summerley, because it was always summer there, the walks and gardens being planted with perpetual greens."