Hardwick-Grange, Shropshire;

THE SEAT OF

LORD HILL.

HARDWICK GRANGE is situated six miles from Shrewsbury, in a pleasant part of the county, amid beautiful eminences abounding with wood. It has lately been rebuilt in the Gothic style, by Thomas Harrison, Esq., of Chester, under the direction of Lord Hill: the design evinces much propriety of taste, and the plan comprises every desirable convenience: there are two projections connected with the centre by an arcade or cloister, the ends of the front terminate in a gable; but much of the principal edifice is embattled. This Mansion is adorned by some beautiful painted windows, the work of that ingenious artist Mr. David Evans, of Shrewsbury; which are unique in design, produce the most brilliant effect, and are of very elaborate execution. In the Dining-room is a Portrait of the Duke of Wellington, by George Dawe, Esq., R.A., as also a full-length Portrait of Lord Hill, by Sir William Beechey, R.A. The Pleasure Grounds have a varied surface, and admit a succession of the most pleasing views.

It appears, by the visitation of Shropshire, made in the year 1623, that the family name of the noble proprietor was originally written Hull, from their residence at a place so called in this county. Hugh Hull, living in the reign of Edward II., married Eleanor, the daughter and co-heiress of Hugh de Wlonkeslow, and was the father of William Hull, Esq., of Hull and Wlonkeslow, who flourished in the reign of Richard II.

Humphrey, his grandson, was commonly called Hill, as his descendants have since been. He resided at Buntingdale, and married Agnes, the daughter and co-heiress of John Bird, of Charlton, by whom he had three sons: William, ancestor to the Hills, of Hill Court, in this county; Thomas, seated at Malpas and Hodnet, father of Sir Rowland Hill, Knt., Lord Mayor of London, 4 Edward VI. ; and Ralph, father of William Hill, of Blechley, who also had three sons, of whom, William, the eldest, became ancestor to the Hills of Blechley and Soulton.

Rowland Hill, the eldest son and heir of Humphrey Hill, of Blechley, was living at Hawkstone, in Shropshire, anno 1592; he had one son, Rowland Hill, Esq., who died in 1644; father of another Rowland Hill, Esq., of Hawkstone, a gentleman who was remarkable for his great piety, charity, and wisdom; he suffered very much in the beginning of the civil wars of King Charles the First's time, by coming to the relief of his father, whom the parliamentarians had detained prisoner in the castle near Hawkstone. His grandson, Rowland Hill, Esq., was created a baronet, 20th January, 1727; and by Jane, the daughter of Sir B. Broughton, Bart., he was father of Sir Richard Hill, second baronet, who represented the county of Salop in five successive parliaments, and died in 1809, æt. seventy-five; and Sir John Hill, who was M.P. for the town of Shrewsbury for eleven years, and succeeded his brother, as third baronet. By Mary, the daughter of John Chambre, Esq., of Petton, in this county, he was the father of Lord Hill, who has so gallantly distinguished himself in the service of his country. To commemorate his achievements, his grateful countrymen have erected, at Shrewsbury, a Doric Column, surmounted by a statue of his lordship. On the north side of the pedestal is the following Inscription:To Lieutenant-General Rowland Lord Hill, Baron Hill, of Almarez and Hawkstone, G.C.B., not more distinguished for his skill and courage in the field, during the arduous campaigns in Spain and Portugal, the South of France, and the memorable plains of Waterloo, than for his benevolent and paternal care, in providing for the comforts and supplying the necessities of his victorious countrymen, and for that humanity and generosity which their vanquished foes experienced and acknowledged the inhabitants of the town and county of Salop have erected this column and statue as a memorial of their respect and gratitude to an illustrious contemporary, and an incitement to emulation in the heroes and patriots of future ages. A.D. MDCCCXVI.

THE SEAT OF

SIR EDWARD JOSEPH SMYTHE, BART.

THE principal Front of this Mansion, represented in the annexed engraving, exhibits a noble elevation, constructed of fine white stone, having in the centre a boldly projecting lonic portico of four columns, surmounted by a pediment; under this is the carriage entrance, with niches for statues, &c. On the left the domestic offices extend, and on the right of the view is seen the tower of the old Church. Behind the Mansion is the Deer Park, situated on an eminence, very finely wooded, affording one of the most beautiful prospects in the county. Adjoining the Mansion is a smooth and verdant lawn, bordered by shrubberies. It is situated in the hundred of Condover, about eight miles from Shrewsbury, and seven miles north-west from Wenlock, in the midst of a beautiful domain, which came into the possession of the family of its present worthy owner in the reign of Charles II., when Sir Edward Smythe, the youngest son of John Smythe, descended from William Smythe, of Stainton, in the county of Durham, married the daughter and co-heiress of Sir Richard Lee, Bart., of Acton Burnell and Langley, in this county, of a most ancient family. Sir Edward Smythe, who was of Eshe, in Durham, was created a Baronet, 23d February, 1660, and was succeeded in the title by his eldest son, Sir Richard Smythe, second Baronet, who married the daughter of Carrington, Esq., niece to Lord Carrington, by whom he had only one daughter, Clare; and, dying in 1737, was succeeded by his brother, Sir John Smythe, third Baronet, who married Constantia, the daughter of George Blount, Esq., and sister of Sir Edward Blount, Bart., of Sodington, by whom he had Sir Edward Smythe, fourth Baronet, who married Mary, the daughter of Peter Giffard, Esq., of Chillington, in Staffordshire, by whom he had an only son, Sir Edward Smythe, fifth Baronet, who married Catharine, the daughter and heiress of Peter Holford, Esq., of Wootton Hall, Warwickshire: he died 18th April, 1811, æt. 53, and was succeeded by his only son, Sir Edward Joseph Smythe, the sixth and present Baronet, who married the daughter of Sir Edmund Bellew, Bart.

The Arms of the family are Sable, three roses, argent; Crest, a buck's head gorged with a chaplet of laurel proper; Motto, Regi semper fidelis.

Acton Burnell is celebrated for the remains of an ancient Castle, in which king Edward I. held his parliament in 1283. The Statutum de Mercatoribus, enacted here, is better known by the name of the Statute of Acton Burnell. The Castle is a quadrangular building, with a square tower at each corner. Its founder, or, more probably, its restorer, was Robert Burnell, bishop of Bath and Wells. His successor at Acton Burnell Castle was Sir Edward Burnell, Knight, son and heir of Philip Burnell, and Maud, the daughter of Richard, Earl of Arundel. Sir Edward Burnell served in many actions in Scotland under Edward I., and always appeared with great splendour, attended with a chariot decked with banners, on which were depicted his arms, Argent, a lion rampant, sable, crowned, or. In 1346 the Castle came into the possession of Nicholas, Lord Burnell, who died in the year 1382, and is buried in Acton Burnell Church, under an altar tomb, inlaid with his effigy in brass.

In the reign of Henry VI. the Lovell family were in possession of this estate, which was forfeited by Francis, Lord Lovell, in consequence of his adherence to king Richard III.

Henry VII. being seated on the throne, granted Acton Burneli to Jasper Tudor, Earl of Bedforú, together with other estates in this county; but he dying without issue, they reverted to the crown, and king Henry VIII. granted them to Thomas Howard, Earl of Surrey, distinguished for his valour at Flodden Field.