Kamsbury Manor, Wiltshire:

THE SEAT OF

SIR FRANCIS BURDETT, BART., M. P.

THIS Mansion was the residence of Sir William Jones, who succeeded Sir Francis North, afterwards Lord Guildford, in the office of Attorney-General to Charles II. in 1674. Having purchased Ramsbury Manor of the Earl of Pembroke, he erected the present structure on the north bank of the Kennet, from a design by John Webb, the nephew of Inigo Jones. The Front is handsome, and the apartments convenient. It stands about five miles and a half from the town of Hungerford, in a beautiful and varied Park, through which flows the river Kennet, forming in its passage an island, and spreading into a fine expanse of water which has the effect of a lake; the Grounds, environed by rich meadows, and abounding in some parts with timber and plantations, rise from the sides of the lake in easy sloping lawns. The Estate came into the possession of the present noble-spirited and independent proprietor in right of his mother, who was the daughter of the late William Jones, Esq. Through the taste of Lady Jones, her sister, many very considerable improvements were effected in the re-arrangement of the grounds, a bridge was then thrown over the river, and the entrance gateway to the Park was built.

The name of Burdett is found in the celebrated roll containing "the names of such Nobles and Gentlemen of Marque as came in with the Conqueror," formerly suspended in the Abbey of Battle; and William Burdett, Lord of Lowesby, in the county of Leicester, founded a priory at Aucote, near Seckington, in Warwickshire, in the time of Henry II. Sir Robert Burdett, his descendant, settled at Arrow, in Warwickshire, so called from the adjacent river, a manor which came to him in right of his wife, Elizabeth, daughter and heir of Sir Gerard de Camville, and in the 7th Edward III. by a special patent, had license to impark his woods at Arrow, and so to hold them to himself and his heirs for ever. Thomas Burdett, a lineal descendant, in the time of Henry VIII. settled at Bramcott, which his son Robert made his usual residence. Thomas Burdett, of this place, was created a Baronet by king James I. 25th February, 1618. He added to his former possessions the Manor of Foremark, and a good estate in Derbyshire, by his marriage with Jane, daughter and heiress of William Francis, Esq., which seat has since that time been the principal residence of the family.

Sir Francis Burdett, the present Baronet, was educated at Westminster school, and for a time assumed his mother's name of Jones, on inheriting this estate. In 1793 he married Sophia, youngest daughter of the late Thomas Coutts, Esq., and in 1797 succeeded his grandfather in his title and estates. In 1796 he commenced his parliamentary career as representative for Boroughbridge : in 1802 he was returned, after an extraordinary contest, for the county of Middlesex ; and since the year 1807 has been one of the Members of Parliament for Westminster. In the House of Commons, Sir Francis Burdett has uniformly vindicated the cause of those who have suffered from an undue stretch of power, and has preserved through many a session a high character of independence.

Lacock Abbey, Wiltshire;

THE SEAT OF

JOHN ROCK GROSETT, ESQ.

LACOCK ABBEY, one of the most perfect remains of a monastic habitation in the kingdom, is situated in a part of the county which is remarkably level and productive, adorned with venerable trees, and the beautiful windings of the Avon. The ancient buildings of the Nunnery are preserved with the greatest care, while the Residence is not found to be incompatible with the comforts and refinements of modern times. It is related by Dugdale, that Ela, the only daughter and sole heiress of William De Eureux, Earl of Salisbury, married William Long Espee, a natural son of Henry II. by Fair Rosamond, who thereupon became Earl of Salisbury, and died 1226; and that Ela, his Countess, having continued seven years a widow, purposed to found a Monastery for the health of her soul, as also for the soul of her husband, and all her ancestors; and that at length having received a revelation that she should do it in a certain place, called Snailes Mede, near unto Lacock, to the honour of our Lady and Saint Bernard, this noble lady began the foundation of Lacock, in 1233, the seventeenth year of the reign of Henry III. and afterwards took upon her the habit of a Nun there. In 1240 she was elected Abbess, being then fifty-three years of age. After she had continued Abbess for eighteen years, finding herself debilitated with age, so that she could not undergo the government of the house as she desired, she resigned, and, departing this life five years afterwards, was buried in the choir of the Conventual Chapel; at the destruction of which, the tomb-stone was removed to the cloister, where it now lies.

The Monastery and estate, at the dissolution, were granted by Henry VIII. to Sir Henry Sherrington, Knt. the representative of an ancient family of Lancashire, who converted the ancient building to a residence, the remains of which are duly venerated and kept in the best repair: many alterations have, however, been made in subsequent periods. On the carriage front, a view of which is given, the principal compartment of the edifice is flanked by octangular turrets, crowned with cupolas, as seen in buildings of the reign of Henry VIII. and the roof partially concealed by an ornamented open parapet; the principal entrance is by a double flight of steps; on the left is a range of building, having two pointed windows, with buttress and battlements, and, beyond, a high gable-roofed building; on the right angle is a large octangular tower, ornamented with balustrades, and a staircase turret, crowned with a cupola.

LACOCK ABBEY, WILTSHIRE.

The garden front shews the large tower, at the south-east angle, with a curious old gabled building, having a twisted ornamental chimney. On the east side are the remains of the chapterhouse, vestry, and old kitchen. The ancient cloister, a remarkable feature in the edifice, extends round three sides of the quadrangle; on the fourth side are the hall and cellars. Several parts of the mansion bear a modern character in their construction. It stands about nine miles from Calne, and four from Chippenham, within three miles of the celebrated seat at Corsham, the residence of Paul Cobb Methuen, Esq.

Olivia, the daughter and heiress of Sir William Sherrington, Knt. of Lacock, married John Talbot, Esq. of Salwarpe, in the county of Worcester, which marriage brought this estate into the family of Talbot, who long held possession of it.

John Talbot, Esq. died in the year 1572, and was succeeded by his son, Sherrington Talbot, Esq. who resided at Lacock Abbey, and died in 1640: by Elizabeth, daughter and heiress of Sir Thomas Leighton, he left issue Sir John Talbot, who died in 1714, leaving two daughters, coheiresses :-Barbara married Henry Yelverton, Viscount Longueville, father of Talbot Yelverton, created Earl of Sussex in 1717: Anne, the other daughter, married Sir John Ivory, Knt. who had issue John Ivory Talbot, Esq. of Lacock Abbey, M. P. for Luggershall, in this county, in the year 1714; who by Mary, the daughter of Thomas Lord Mansell, of Margam, left issue three children : John Talbot, Esq. of Lacock, M. P. for Marlborough, 1747, who died unmarried; the Rev. Thomas Talbot, father of Thomas Mansell Talbot, Esq. of Margam; and a daughter, who married Davenport, Esq. father of Davenport Talbot, Esq. of Lacock.

Lacock Abbey is now the residence of John Rock Grosett, Esq.

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