Garnons, Herefordshire;

THE SEAT OF

SIR JOHN GEERS COTTERELL, BART., M.P.

THE modern part of Garnons consists of a fine embattled Mansion, situate about eight miles from Hereford, and twelve from the Hay, in a southern aspect on the side of Bishopstone Hill. The surrounding plantations formed by the present proprietor and his father, add greatly to the beauty of the spot. The views from the House are various and extensive, displaying many meanderings of the river Wye; the banks of which are remarkable for the variety of the Seats of the nobility and gentry situated thereon.

Garnons, though a modern structure, having been built by the present proprietor under the superintendance of Mr. Atkinson, yet bears a perfect resemblance to the old baronial Mansions of the thirteenth century, and of which Sizergh Hall, in Westmoreland, is a good specimen. The annexed Plate exhibits a view of the carriage front of this noble Edifice, the principal feature of which is the large square embattled Tower rising from the centre. It stands on two raised Terraces, under the upper one of which the entrance is formed through a handsome Tudor arch.

The walks and drives are of a very considerable extent; as also the gardens and shrubberies, which are laid out with much taste. In the house is a very good Museum, possessing scarce and valuable articles; and a Library containing many choice books. Amongst the curiosities is a large Glass in a superb frame carved by Gibbons, and a singularly rare carved oak Bedstead, on which tradition tells us the unfortunate Charles slept after the battle of Worcester, and which was removed to Garnons, from Hatfield, another seat belonging to this family, situated on the borders of the county.

Sir John Geers Cotterell was for many years Colonel of the Herefordshire Militia, which was the first regiment that volunteered for service abroad, and in the year 1798, Sir John took his regiment to Ireland, to aid in suppressing the rebellion. He had been long known to the country in a civil as well as military capacity, when in 1802 he came forward at the general election, and was by the freeholders returned as Knight of the Shire, since which time he has continued as its Representative. At a period of public difficulty Sir John raised two battalions of volunteers, consisting of two thousand men, and this force being afterwards transferred into two battalions of local militia, he was appointed their Colonel. On the 5th of October, 1805, Sir John received a patent of Baronetage, as Sir John Geers Cotterell of Garnons, in the county of Hereford. Sir John is Lord of the Manors of Mansel, Gamage, Shutton, Brobery, Kilkington, Bridge, Sollers, and Hatfield, in the County of Hereford. The worthy Baronet married in January, 1791, Frances Isabella, only daughter and heiress of Henry Michael Evans, of Cowley Grove, Esq., and has issue eight children. Lady Cotterell died in July, 1813.

The family is descended from Edward Cotterell of Saintbury, in the county of Gloucester, Esq., whose only daughter, Anne, married John Brookes of Broadway, in the county of Worcester, Esq., whose son John Brookes, Esq., assumed the name and arms of Cotterell (pursuant to the will of his uncle, Thomas Cotterell, of Saintbury, Esq.), and married Mary, daughter of Thomas Jackson, Esq., of Welsbourn, in the County of Warwick, by whom he had issue Sir Brookes Cotterell, Knight, who by Anne, only daughter and heiress of John Geers, of Garnons, Esq., had issue the present Baronet. Arms:-Quarterly or, and argent, a Cross engrailed, per pale, sable and gules, between three escallops, two in the sinister chief, and one in the dexter base quarter, of the second, over all a bend, also of the second.

Crest: An Arm in armour supporting a Shield, argent, charged with a Talbot's head, sable.

Garnstone House, Herefordshire ;

THE SEAT OF

SAMUEL PEPLOE, ESQ.

GARNSTONE House is a modern erection, built by the present proprietor, from designs furnished by Mr. Nash. The style of architecture is the Gothic, and the whole building presents a fine castellated appearance. The annexed View shews the principal front, with its mullioned windows and handsome lancet-formed doorway, flanked on either side by an octagon Turret. Over the door is a neat oriel window. The interior decorations exhibit a corresponding degree of taste and elegance. The picturesque scenery also by which the Mansion is surrounded, contributes to render Garnstone one of the prettiest seats in this part of the country.

The House and Grounds of Garnstone are situate about a mile south of Weobly, in the vicinity of the Foxley-hills. This part of Herefordshire is singularly picturesque, and abounds in remains of antiquity. The whole is a fine wooded country, extending southwards to the river Wye, whose banks have furnished Gilpin, and other admirers of landscape scenery, with so many subjects for the pencil and pen. Lady-lift, appropriately called the Queen of Hills, is one of the many beauties with which Garnstone is surrounded; and from the summit of this hill, the view opens in an extensive manner, including within its range Credenhill Camp, which encloses a space of nearly thirty acres. Whether this is the site of a British or Roman camp, is still a subject of dispute with antiquaries.

Under the Plantagenet kings, the Town of Weobly appears to have been a place of considerable importance. According to Leland, there was in the feudal ages a Castle here, which was the chief Lordship of the Devereux family; who likewise became possessed of the Castle of Leonshall or Lenshall, about two miles from Weobly, the ancient demesne of the Marburges by an heiress of that noble house.

Garnstone formerly belonged to a family named Birch, and descended from them to the father of the present possessor who took the name of Birch. Colonel Birch, so repeatedly mentioned by Clarendon and other writers upon the great Rebellion, belonged to this family, and was possessed of this Estate. Samuel Peploe, Esq., the present proprietor of the Garnstone Estate, married a daughter of Sir George Cornewall of Moccas, in this county, Baronet.