Compton Verney, Warwickshire;

THE SEAT OF

HENRY PEYTO VERNEY,

LORD WILLOUGHBY DE BROKE.

COMPTON VERNEY is situated in a beautiful vale, about two miles from the small town of Kineton: it was anciently called Compton Murdak; of which names, the first part is derived from its low situation, Coom signifying a vale, and the last from its two most distinguished possessors.

Of Murdak, the more ancient of the two families; the first who obtained possession of this estate was Robert Murdak, in the reign of King Henry I., from whom it was transmitted to his descendants until the reign of Edward III., when it was granted to Alice Perers, the king's mistress, afterwards the wife of Sir William Windsor. On the marriage of one of his daughters to Robert Skene, of Kingston upon Thames, the estate was transferred to him, who soon afterwards disposed of it to Richard de Verney, the ancestor of the present family. In the twentieth year of the reign of Henry VI. he built a noble Manor House here, wherein, besides his own arms, with the matches of his ancestors, he then set up, in a fair canton window, towards the upper end of the Hall, the arms of King Henry VI., Queen Margaret, Humphrey Earl of Stafford, afterwards created Duke of Buckingham, Henry Beauchamp Duke of Warwick, and the Lord Zouch, with some others; by which it appears he adhered to the House of Lancaster in the Civil Wars between the rival houses ; a descendant, Sir Richard Verney, in 1691, claimed and obtained the ancient title of Baron Willoughby de Broke, in right of his maternal ancestor, who was sister to Sir Fulk Greville, Lord Brooke.

The House was rebuilt under the direction of John Peyto, Lord Willoughby, the father of the present Lord, by Adams, about the year 1751. Its exterior is spacious and handsome. A Corinthian Portico leads to the entrance Hall, which is a noble room, of ample dimensions and just proportions, embellished with paintings on the panels by Zuccarelli, representing views in Italy. Adjoining the House is a domestic Chapel, designed, as well as the bridge over the water, with great taste, by Launcelot Brown. Here is an excellent portrait of Sir R. Heath, by Cornelius Jansen; a curious picture of Queen Elizabeth; and also of Sir Fulke Greville, Lord Brooke, and some good family portraits.

The Pleasure Grounds are extensive, comprising a pleasing variety of ground, wood in abundance, as well as water; they were laid out by Brown, and do him great credit. The present Lord has added considerable plantations, and an expanse of water called Combrook Water. The whole forms a most pleasing scene. There are some fine cedars of Lebanon, and a few curious trees in the garden.

THE RESIDENCE OF

THE REV. HENRY WISE.

AMONG the various beautiful seats that embellish this part of the county of Warwick, Offchurch, in the hundred of Knightlow, and within a short distance of the admired and fashionable town of Leamington, is remarkable for its extremely picturesque appearance, and could not fail of arresting our attention; the view of it is taken from the church-yard which it adjoins. It is situated on a small eminence most agreeably secluded amid a grove of encircling trees, and is surrounded by a scene displaying at its openings all the beauties of varied cultivation. The House itself, though not very large, is commodious, and substantially built of stone, with rustic quoins, having its principal front almost covered with the branches of the luxuriant vine, which is also trailed over the veranda which forms the entrance.

The reverend and highly respected possessor, who is one of the justices of the peace for the county, and in possession also of considerable landed estates, together with an ancient mansion near Warwick, called the Priory, has justly preferred this retired spot as most convenient for the discharge of his pastoral duty, in the exercise of which, as well as the important office of Magistrate, he sets a laudable and dignified example.

He is descended from Henry Wise, Esq., of Brompton Park, and of the Priory at Warwick, a gentleman much celebrated for his skill and taste in Horticulture, who died December 15th, 1738, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Matthew Wise, Esq., who dying unmarried, September 12th, 1776, his brother, Henry Wise, Esq., became his heir: he died a few years after, leaving his eldest son, Henry Christian Wise, Esq., his heir, and devised the advowson of Charlewood, in Surrey, a living which had been purchased of Lord Aungier, in 1716, to his son, the Rev. Henry Wise, who is the present owner and rector of that parish, as well as Offchurch, where he resides; he has since succeeded his brother, H. C. Wise, Esq., who died January 14th, 1805, in the Priory estate at Warwick.