THE RESIDENCE OF THE LATE JAMES WATT, Esq.

ASTON HALL is situated about two miles north of Birmingham, on an eminence which rises from the river Tame, and is seen from the road through a fine avenue of trees. The Park was originally enclosed by Sir Thomas Holt, Bart. who commenced building the house in April, 1618, which, it appears, was not finished until the year 1635. Dugdale, in his History of Warwickshire, speaks of it as "a noble fabrick, which for beauty and state much exceedeth any in these parts." It consists of a large and handsome centre with projecting wings, enclosing three sides of a court, in which is a circular grass-plat. It is open to the east. Each portion of the building has a lofty square tower, terminated by a curved spiral roof and a vane, which give an air of considerable grandeur to the edifice. The gables exhibit the usual scroll-form of the houses built at this period, and the eastern extremities of the wings are adorned with high bay windows with mullions, and surmounted by a rich perforated parapet; the porch at the entrance is of the Doric order, two columns on pedestals support an ornamented entablature, over which is an inscription surmounted by the family arms of Holt. The Great Hall is old and handsome; it was formerly adorned with the full-length portrait of the founder, and with that of his Lady, Anne, daughter of Sir Edward Littleton, Bart.

Sir Thomas Holt was a gentleman highly esteemed in the county of Warwick, of which he was High Sheriff in the reign of Elizabeth, and received the honour of Knighthood, at Grimstone, in Yorkshire, from King James I., when he arrived from Scotland, in his way to London, to take possession of the crown of England. He was afterwards further advanced by that prince to the dignity of baronet, November 25th, 1612. He was also by King Charles I., nominated as ambassador to Spain, but on account of his great age was excused the office. Upon the breaking out of the civil war, he heartily assisted the king with his purse, and entertained him here. His Majesty slept at Aston Hall two nights, about six days before the memorable battle of Edgehill, which was fought Oct. 23, 1642, and the Room in which the King was concealed upon the advance of the Parliament army is still shewn. Sir Thomas Holt's loyalty to his Sovereign being so decided, and his son actually in the service, he suffered greatly. His house was plundered during the war, several cannon balls were fired at the building, one of which has been preserved, and the marks of it shewn on the balustrades of the Staircase, which are exceedingly massive. Sir Thomas himself was imprisoned, and his estate decimated; the damage he altogether sustained was computed at no less a sum than 20,000l. He died in the eighty-third of his age, in the year 1654.

The Gallery at the back of the House is of large proportion, and of great length, and was formerly hung with portraits of the Holt family, as was also the Dining Parlour, in which was the large picture of King Charles I., sitting with his children; and among other curiosities was a Bedchamber, the hangings of which were all worked by " Sarah Holt, spinster, 1744, aged 60 years;" they displayed views of this House, and of Brereton, in Cheshire, another seat then belonging to the family.

The manor of Aston was originally purchased of Maud de Grimesarwe, in 1367, the 40th of Edward III., by John atte Holte of Birmingham, and it remained in the possession of the Holt family for upwards of four hundred years. The last occupier of that name was Sarah, Lady Holt, relict of Sir Lister Holt, to whom she was married in 1754. She died advanced in years, April 9th, 1794, when the estate devolved to the Honorable Heneage Legge, fourth son of George, third Earl of Dartmouth.

The present occupier is the son of the late James Watt, Esq., F.R.S., &c. the great improver of the Steamengine to whose genius mankind are indebted for one of the greatest benefits ever conferred, and whose useful life was terminated August 25th, 1819.

Charlecote House,
House, Warwickshire ;

THE SEAT OF

THE REV. JOHN LUCY.

THIS Mansion is a noble specimen of the domestic style of architecture which prevailed in the reign of Elizabeth. It was erected by Sir Thomas Lucy, Knt., the alleged prosecutor of Shakspeare for stealing his deer, who, in the spirit of retaliation, depicted the character of Justice Shallow; and, by his allusions, evidently pointed at the Lord of the Manor of Charlecote.

The House is situated five miles and a half from Warwick, and four miles from the town of Stratford, and upon the eastern bank of the river Avon, which winds gracefully through the luxuriant grounds of the extensive Park, rendered peculiarly interesting from its connexion with the history of our immortal bard. It is shaded with deep and lofty woods, and enlivened with herds of the finest deer.

Within the Park, and immediately south of the House, the river Hele, which rises at Edgehill, flows beneath a beautiful Rialto bridge, and drops into the Avon. Jago sings

"Charlecote's fair domain,

Where Avon's sportive stream delighted strays
Thro' the gay smiling meads, and to his bed
Hele's gentle current woos, by Lucy's hand

In every graceful ornament attir'd,

And worthier such to share his liquid realms."

"EDGEHILL," a Poem.

Immediately without the Park pales, north-east, stands the Parish Church of Charlecote; and though its exterior presents no remarkable appearance beyond the neatest rusticity; yet it is adorned within by a series of several grand monuments to the memory of different members of the Lucy family. Shakspearians do not omit to particularize the knightly figure of the Poet's reputed Prosecutor, and his Lady, which are here well preserved in alabaster.

The Mansion in its principal front still preserves its antique grandeur, notwithstanding various alterations have taken place. The material is brick with stone dressings, and its plan is that of a spacious centre with two projecting wings. The stone Porch of entrance is elaborately ornamented; over the door is the Arms of Queen Elizabeth; and on the summit of the whole, at the angles, are the royal supporters, represented sitting, each with an upright banner in his claws. This was added in compliment to the Queen, who visited Sir Thomas Lucy here, on her return from Kenilworth Castle. The four principal angles of the pile are flanked each by a lofty octagonal turret, with a cupola and gilt vane. The great Gate-house, standing at a small distance from the front, remains in its original state, the upper story forming a large Banqueting Room; the Great Hall has the Gallery, occupied by a large and well-toned Organ: it is adorned with Family Portraits, and the great Oriel Window contains the armorial bearings of the Lucys, and their matrimonial alliances.

This family is of great antiquity, and, through a long succession of generations, was greatly distinguished by its wealth and influence in the County. The Lady of the present proprietor of Charlecote is lineally descended from Mrs. Lane, the preserver of Charles II. after the battle of Worcester: she now possesses the watch presented by that monarch to his deliverer; it is of gold, richly chased, with the King's portrait, beautifully introduced in enamel on the dial, and encircled with diamonds. George Lucy, Esq., the eldest son, was M. P. for Fowey. Hampton Lucy, a village on the west side of the Avon, which presents a bold and picturesque view of its ancient Church, Parsonage, and endowed Free School, is the living of the Rev. John Lucy, jun. the second son of the proprietor of Charlecote, who, as Rector here, has the peculiar and paramount jurisdiction over this and three other adjoining parishes.

THE SEAT OF

SIR GEORGE THROCKMORTON, BARONET.

COUGHTON is situated between the Icknield Street and the river Arrow, about two miles from Alcester. In the time of the Conqueror it, was in the possession of Turchill de Warwick. It was afterwards held by a family who assumed their surname from hence. Simon de Cocton, or Coughton, left two daughters, one of whom, Joan, was married to William de Spineto, whereby this lordship came, by partition, to the Spiney family. Guy de la Spine left issue two daughters, one of whom, Alionore, married John, the son of Thomas Throckmorton, Esq.; by which marriage, this lordship of Coughton, coming to the line of Throckmorton, hath continued therein to this day. This John died in 1455.

The original seat of this family was at Throckmorton, in the parish of Fladbury, in Worcestershire, which is still in their possession. Some part of the House at Coughton was built when held by the Spineys. It was a quadrangle built round a court, and surrounded by a moat. The tower was erected by Sir George Throckmorton in the reign of Henry VIII. The entrance formerly was over a bridge, which crossed the moat, and through the Gateway of the Tower into the quadrangle. Considerable alterations were made in the building, by Sir Francis Throckmorton, in the time of Charles II. It had been previously plundered by the Parliament forces, and the proprietor, Sir Robert, the first Baronet, was ejected, and resided at Worcester. About the year 1780, Sir Robert Throckmorton took down one side of the quadrangle, filled up the moat, enclosed the gateway, fitting it up as a Hall, and made several alterations in the building. In this Hall are painted on the windows the arms of the Throckmortons, impaling those of several families connected with them.

Coughton Court is situated in a finely wooded country, diversified by hills, and watered by the river Arrow.