Some account of domestic architecture in England from Edward I. to Richard II. : with notices of foreign examples, and numerous illustrations of existing remains from original drawings

Preface

Soon after the completion of the first volume of this work, Mr. Hudson Turner, whose health had for some time been failing, was cut off by consumption in the prime of life. Those who knew him best can most fully appreciate the loss which Archaeological literature has thereby sustained : few persons have ever possessed such full and accurate knowledge of the Public Records contained in the various offices in London, or knew so well where to find exactly what was wanted for the elucidation of any particular point. The importance of the series of extracts from the Records which he collected, translated, and published in the first volume of this work has been universally admitted ; but he unfortunately trusted too much to his extraordinary memory, and has left few written memoranda or references. The materials which he had collected for the present volume were so slight, and in so imperfect a state, that no one who had not been previously acquainted with the plan of the work, or what they were intended to illustrate, could have made any use of them. Under these circumstances the present Editor, who had all along directed his labours, undertook the task of arranging and digesting

IV

TREFACE.

his few scattered materials, and thereby was led into editing the volume himself. In this he relied greatly on the experience he had acquired in preparing the successive editions of the Glossary of Architecture; but if he had not known that he could safely calculate upon much valuable assistance from others more competent than himself, he could never have ventured to have undertaken it at all. It is now his pleasing task to acknowledge the assistance he has received : — from Mr. W. Twopeny and Mr. Blore, with whom the work in a great degree originated, and to whose suggestions, as well as the loan of their beautiful drawings, its success is mainly to be attributed ; — Mr. Richard C. Hussey, who originally engaged to be the editor, and, though compelled to relinquish this by the increase of his professional engagements, has continued his advice and assistance throughout; — Mr. Duffus Hardy, who has given many valuable suggestions, and directed the careful examination and selection from the Records, since the death of Mr. Turner, — and the Rev. James Raine of Durham, who has furnished much information in matters relating to the north of England. — His thanks are also due to Mr. A. Nesbitt, for the use of many of his drawings, and much valuable assistance throughout the work ; — the Messrs. Buckler for the free use of their extraordinary collection of drawings, the result of the labours of three generations ; — the Duke of Northumberland, for the drawings of the remarkably early oriel at Prudhoc, prepared originally for the work on the Castles of the Percys, which

PREFACE.

V

Mr. Hartshorne has in hand for his Grace, but very handsomely given up to the present work, as belonging rather to the general history of Domestic Architecture, than to any local work ; — M. Viollet Le-Duc, and M. Didron, of Paris, M. de Caumont, and M. Bouet, of Caen, for either the notices themselves, or directions where to find the existing remains in Prance, and M. Verdier, for those in Italy, — and many other friends who have supplied information respecting the existing remains in the several localities with which they were acquainted.

It is not without anxiety that the Editor now takes leave of a volume which has occupied every spare moment for many months, for which he may truly say that he has often consumed the midnight oil, and for the preparation of which he has travelled many hundred miles, never being contented to take from other sources anything which he had the opportunity of verifying for himself.

Turl, Oxford.

Chapter I

General Remarks. — Reign of Edward i. — Connection of France and England. — Change in the style of architecture. — Edward n. and hi. — William ofWykeham. — Richard n. — Existing Remains. — Country houses in England. — Town houses in France. — Plan of manorial houses. — Contract for building the house of Sir John Bishopsden of Lapwortli in 1314. — Roofs covered with wooden shingles. — Royal manor-houses. — Sale of unnecessary houses of Edward in. — Houses with towers. — Pele towers. — Tower-built houses. — General appearance castellated. — The moat. — Survey of Newcastle, and survey of Conway castle. — Fortified manor-houses. — Illuminations in HSS. obviously truthful. — External decoration of houses. — The Round tower at Windsor called La Rose, painted externally with roses. — Works at Windsor. p. 1 — 32

CHAPTER II. The Hall

General arrangement. — The roof. — The windows. — The hearth. — The louvre. — Fire-places and chimneys. — The dais. — The high table. — The screens. — The minstrels’ gallery. — The spur. — The lavatory. — The side-board.

vm

Contents

Paintings on tiie wales, at Winchester, Westminster ; — represented in the Luterell Psalter ; — described in the Romance of Guigamar, and by Chaucer; — ordered by Bp. Langton at Lichfield in 1312.

Tapestry. — Arras. — Specimen in Berkeley castle; — represented in the Luterell Psalter; — bequeathed by Edward the Black Prince ; — charged in wardrobe accounts of Edward n. ; — made in London and Norwich. — A tapiser mentioned by Chaucer. — Hangings, bequeathed by earl of Arundel in 1392.

— Hangings in Warwick castle, with story of Guy, earl of Warwick, granted by Richard n. to earl of Kent. — Arras bequeathed by duke of Lancaster in 1397; — described by Froissart ; the favourite ornament of the day, carried with them by the nobility.

CHAPTER III. The Cqambers

I. The CnATEL. — The sacrarium the whole height. — The nave divided by a floor, as at Markenfield, Hendred, Studley, Godstow, Maxstoke. — Instances from Liberate rolls. — Wenham. — Chepstow. — Chichester. — Lyte’s Carey. — Oratories at Chepstow. — Brougham. II. Tiie Oriel. — The upper room of

CONTENTS.

IX the chapel. — Instances from Liberate rolls. — Same namo applied to a gallery and loft. — Passages from Romances. — Matthew Paris. — William of Worcester. III. The Solar. — The parlour. — Fire-places and Chimneys. — The lord’s chamber. — The lady’s chamber. — Furniture of chambers. — Wainscot. — Windows. — Doors. — Ring-knockers. — The bed-chamber. — - Beds. — Bedsteads. — Curtains. — Carpets. — Rushes and green leaves. — Extracts from Romances and Chaucer. — Baths. — Iron-work.— Clocks. — Lamps and torches. IY. The wardrobe. — Extracts from the Liberate rolls. — From wills. — Chests. — The Garderobes or Privy Chambers. — The garden. — Fountains.

CHAPTER IY. The Offices.

TnE Kitchen. — Penshurst. — Raby. — Bishop’s Auckland. — Bamborough. — Durham. — Fontevrault. — Chichester. — Glastonbury.— Martock. — Bolton castle. — Illuminations of the Luterell Psalter and Romance of Alexander. — Liberate rolls. — Inventory of Edward hi. — Frying-pans. — Gridirons. — Spits, &c. — Plates. — Pots. — Kettles. — Tankards. — Barrels. — Vessels of wood or metal, and pottery. — Forges. — Trades carried on in baronial mansions. — Provisions and cooking. — Drinks. — TnE Bcttert. — The Pantry. — The Larder. — Carriages. — Roads. — Mills. — Barns. 118 — 152

CHAPTER V. Medieval Towns

Origin of towns. — Plan of towns. — English towns in France, of remarkably regular plans. — Bastides. — New towns. — Free towns. — Ville-neuve and Ville-franche very common names in France. — Winchelsea, new town, regular plan. — Hull, founded by Edward i., situation similar to Libourne also founded by him. The Free Towns. — Foundation. — Mode of proceeding.

b

X

CONTEXTS.

— Ville-franche de Rovergne. — Ville-neuve d’Agen. — Libourne. — Sauveterre. — Monsegur. — Molieres. — La Linde. — Sainte- Foy. — Bazas. — Beaumont. — Montpazier. — Important influence of the Free Towns on civilization. Guilds. — Houses of guilds. — Guild-halls. — Town-balls. — Hotels de ville. — Halls of the inns of court. — Guesten hall at "Worcester. — Bel fry- towers attached to halls in the Low Countries. — Ghent. — Tournay. — Laon. — Jacobean town-halls. — AVeobley. — Leominster. — Boss. — The king’s hall. — Winchester. — Westminster. — Halls for guards attached to monasteries. — Caen. — Mont S. Michel. — Merchants’ halls in London. — Houses in towns had the lower story vaulted and half under ground. — Gerrard’s hall. — General aspect of a medieval town, from Illuminations in MSS. — Upper stories usually of wood. — Views of Constantinople and Venice from MSS. — Houses in Venice painted on the exterior, as described by Philip de Commines. — Covered ways, or piazzas. — Gate-houses. — Gateway towers. — Of castles. — Abbeys.— Houses. — Colleges. — Hospitals. — Almshouses.

CHAPTER VI. Existing Remains

§ 1. Counties of Northumberland and Durham. — Castles. — Religious houses, Chibburn. — Towers or peles. — Ancient farm-house.— Cottages. — Elsdon rectory. — Bamburgh. — Alnwick. — Dunstanborough. — Belsay. — Prudhoe. — Corbridge. — Raby. — Bishop’s Auckland. 195 — 210

§ 2. Cumberland and Westmoreland. — Naworth. — Carlisle.

— Dacre. — Yanwath. — Brougham. 211 — 225

§ 3. Yorkshire, Lancashire, and Cheshire. — Bolton. — Middlebam. — Markenfield. — Spoflbrth. — Dalton. — Baggily. 225 — 237

§4. Derby, Nottingham, and Lincoln. — Southwell. — Lincoln.— Market-Deeping. 237 — 243

CONTENTS.

XI

§ 5. Stafford, Leicester, and Hutland. p. 243 — 4

§ 6. Warwick, Northampton and IIcntingdon. — Kenilworth.— Warwick. — Maxstoke. — Coventry. — Caludon. — Temple Balsall. — Woodcroft. — Norborough. — Aid winkle. 244 — 257

§ 7. Worcester and Gloucester. — Bredon. — King’s Norton.— Malvern. — Broadway. — Dudley. — Standish. — Tetbury. — Beverstone. — Berkeley. — Gloucester. — Stanley Pontlarge. — Bishop’s Cleeve. — Evesham. 257 — 9

§ 8. Oxfordshire, Buckinghamshire, and Berkshire — Bampton. — Broughton. — Woodstock. — Shirburne. — Marlow. — Burnham. — Creslow. — Donyngton. — Windsor. — Bisham. — Hurley.— Sutton Courtenay. — Cumnor. — Brimpton. 260 — 275

§ 9. Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, and Middlesex. 275 — G

§ 10. Norfolk and Suffolk. — Cambridgeshire and Essex. — Yarmouth. — Ely. 276 — 7

§ 11. Kent, Surrey, and Sussex. — Penshurst. — Nursted.

— The Mote. — Leeds castle. — Battle hall, Leeds. — Charing. — Great Chart. — Salmstones. — Nash court. — Canterbury. — Wingham. — Monkton court. — Sandwich. — Aldington. — Thorne. — Southwark. — Farnham. — Guildford. — Croydon. — Buckworth. — Bodiham. — Chichester. — Battle. — Lewes. — Pevensey. — Amberley. — Crowhurst. — Mayfield. 277 — 293

§ 12. Wiltshire and Hampshire. — Laycock. — Bradenstoke.

— Salisbury. — All Cannings. — Stanton St. Quentin. — Beaulieu.

— Bishop’s Waltham. — Southampton. — Winchester. 293—6

§ 13. Somersetshire and Dorsetshire. — Nunney. — Meare.

— Martock. — Compton Dundrum. — Lyte’s Carey. — Crewkerne.

— Clevedon. — Chapel-Cleeve. — Weymouth. 296 — 303

§ 14. Devonshire and Cornwall. — Exeter. — Darlington. — Inceworth. — Earth. 304 — 5

§ 15. The Marches of Wales, Shropshire, Herefordshire, and Monmouthshire. — Ludlow. — Shrewsbury. — Haughmond. — Goodrich. — Weobley. — Grosmont. — Chepstow. — Caldecot.

305- 12

XU

CONTENTS.

§ 16. North and South Waxes. — The Edwardian castles. — Pembrokeshire. — Picton. — Pembroke. — Carew. — Manorbeer. — Llawhadeu. — Upton. — Lamphey. — Brecon. — St. David’s.

CHAPTER VII. Fokeign Examples. France

Provins. — Rouen. — Poitiers. — Bayeux. — Soissons. — Noyon. — Paris. — Pois3V. — Coulmier-le-sec. — Laon. — Mont S. Michel. — Riom. — Mout-Ferran. — Limoges. — S. Yriex. — Beaumont. — Cahors. — Villefranche d’Aveyron. — Caylus d’Aveyron. — St. Antonin. — Cordes. — Itodez. — Meude. — Langogne. — Cluny. — Carcassouue. — Montreale. — Perpignan. — Flaviguy. — Perigueux. — Blanquefort. — Douvres. — Cully. 335 — 344

Flanders.

Bruges. — Ypres. 345

Germany.

Italy.

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.

CHAPTER I. General Remarks. Page

Interior of the hall at Penshurst, Kent . . . Frontispiecj

Dacre castle, Cumberland . . . . .11

External staircase, Belsay castle, Northumberland . .13

Drawbridge and wooden palisading, from a HS. . . .14

Castles with towers and drawbridge, from a MS. . .15

Belsay castle, Northumberland, general view . . .17

View of Venice in the fourteenth century, from a MS. . .26

Part of the old cloisters, Windsor castle, and barge-board, Wing-

Interior of the hall, Sutton Courtenay, B<.rks. . . .32

CHAPTER II. The Hall Interior of the hall, Great Malvern

Window in the hall, Meare, Somersetshire

Windows in the gables of halls at Southwark, Northampton, and

St. David’s ....

The louvre, Westminster hall

Fire-place in hall, Meare, Somersetshire .

The dais and high table, from a MS.

ib.

Wooden spurs to doorways at York

Side-board in a house at Lincoln .

.

Water-drain, Dacre castle, Cumberlanl .

Cistern and lavatory, Battle hall, Leeds, Kent

Seat in the hall, from a MS.

The dining-table, from a MS.

Ancient salt .....

Domestic bearing the ship

.

Mazer-bowl with cover, 1345 — 81

ib.

temp. Ric. n.

Minstrel, from the Luterell Psalter

XIV

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.

Page

External staircases, from MSS. ....

. 76

Porches, from MSS. .....

. 78

CHAPTER III. The Chambers. East end of chapel, Broughton castle, Oxfordshire

. 79

Section of chapel .....

. 80

The solar, from a MS. .....

. 86

The solar, Sutton Courtenay, Berks.

. 87

Chimney, Burford, Oxfordshire ....

. 88

Fire-places, Lincoln and Edlinghaui

. ib.

Fire-place with dogs, and chimney, from MS.

. 89

Chimneys, "Woodstock and Grosmont

. 90

Southwell, Norborough, Exton, Lincoln, Moteombc

. 91

Furniture: tables and chair, from MSS. .

. 93

Windows with seats .....

. 94

Bedstead and cradle, from a MS.

. 96

A bath, from a MS. .....

. 102

Iron-work, from MSS. .....

103, 105

Chest, Huttoft, Lincolnshire ....

. 112

Garderobes, Langley castle, Northumberland

. 113

Southwell palace, Notts.

. 114

Fountain, from a MS. .....

. 116

Garden, from a MS. .....

. 117

CHAPTER IV. The Offices. The Abbot’s kitchen, Durham

. 119

Plan of the same .....

. 120

Interior of the same ....

. ib.

Cooking in the open air, from a MS.

. 122

Servants carrying up the dinner, from a MS.

. 124

Boiler and pot-hook, from a MS. .

. 125

Pottery found in Carey-street, London

. 126

found in Oxford, and at Lewes, Sussex .

. ib.

Forging and grinding, from MSS.

. 128

Baking, from a MS. .....

. 129

Churning, from a MS. .....

. 138

State carriage, from the Lutorell Psalter .

. 141

LIST OF ENGRAVINGS. XV

Page

Chariot, from a MS. of the Romance of Alexander . .144

Mode of carrying provisions; wheelbarrow and truck, from MSS. 145 Water-mill, from a MS . . . . .150

Wind-mill, from a MS. . . . . . .151

Abbot’s barn, Pilton, Somersetshire . . . . ib.

CHAPTER Y. Medieval Towns.

House in the principal street of Cordes, Languedoc . .153

Plan of the town of Montpazier, and view of the covered way

round the market-place . . . . .154

House at Yriex, near Limoges ..... 156 Plan of the town of Winchelsea ..... 158 Bird’s-eye view of the town of Hull . . . .164

The palace of the Pope at Cahors . . . .181

View, plan, and details of the crypt of Gerrard’s hall, London . 185 Imaginary view of Constantinople, from a MS. . . .187

Timber-house, Weobley, Herefordshire . . . .188

Houses in the market-place, Alby, Languedoc . . . 190

Exterior, interior, and plan of the treasury, Merton coll., Oxford 193

CHAPTER VI. Existing Remains. View of the chapel, and plan, Chibburn, Northumberland . 197

Oriel window, Prudhoe castle, Northumberland . . . 206

Plans of Raby castle, Durham, upper and lower stories . . 208

Carved wooden ceiling, Naworth castle, Cumberland . .211

Staircase, Carlisle castle, Cumberland . . . .212

Plans and view of lower story, Dacrc castle, Cumberland . 215

Plans and view of Yanwath hall, Westmoreland . . .217

Water-spout on tower of the same . . . .218

Chimney and watch-tower of the same . . . 219

Gate-house, Brougham castle, Westmoreland . . . 220

Gateway, Brougham hall, Westmoreland . . . 222

View of Markenfield hall, Yorkshire .... 230 Back view of Markenfield hall .... 233 Plans of upper and lower stories of the same . . 234

Interior of Baggily hall, Cheshire . . . .236

Xvi LIST OF ENGRAVINGS.

Page

Part of the archbishop's palace at Southwell, Notts. . . 237

Chantry house, Lincoln ...... 239

Market-Deeping, Lincolnshire, interior and window of parsonage 242 AVoodcroft house, Northamptonshire .... 249

Norborough hall, Northamptonshire .... 252

Plans of the same ...... 254

Exterior of the hall, Great Malvern .... 258

Remains of Hampton castle, Oxfordshire .... 260

Broughton castle, Oxfordshire, south front . . .261

Ground-plan and groined passage in the same . . 262

Grated opening in chapel, and view of guard room . . 264

Gate-house of the same ..... 266

Plan and south view of Sutton Courtenay, Berks. . . 272

Low side window in the hall of the same . . .273

Exterior of the hall, Penshurst, Kent .... 278

Nursted court, Kent, exterior . . . . .281

interior ..... 282

Exterior of the palace, Mayfield, Sussex .... 290 Interior of the hall of the same .... 292 Plans of Meare, Somersetshire ..... 297 North-east view of the same .... 298

The Fish-house, Meare, exterior and interior . . . 300

House at Chapel Clceve, Somersetshire . . . 303

View of Clevedon Court, Somersetshire . . . . ib.

Timber house at Weobley, Herefordshire . . . 307

Caerphilly castle . . . . . . .314

House at Pembroke, South Wales . . . .321

Langley castle, Northumberland, view and plan . . . 332

CHAPTER VII. Foreign Examples

House at Caj lus, Guiennc ..... 337 House of the chief huntsman, Cordes, Languedoc . . 339

The abbot’s house, at Cluny, Burgundy .... 340 House at Caudebec, Normandy . . . . .341

DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE OF THE FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

Chapter I. General Remarks

The reign of Edward the First was one of the most brilliant and flourishing epochs in the whole history of England. At home the people enjoyed peace and prosperity, and made rapid progress in civilization. Abroad some of the finest provinces of France owned their obedience to the English crown. These happy results were in no small degree due to the personal character of the monarch ; bred up from his earliest youth in the French wars, and early entrusted with the government of the important province of Aquitaine, he shewed all the qualities of a great king, his prudence and sagacity equalled his valour, and he succeeded in attaching the people firmly to his cause by the wisdom and the liberality of his measures.

The good effects of his policy may be traced for above a century after his time in the hearty adherence of the natives of Gascony and Guienne to the English cause; far from feeling themselves to be degraded vassals, they were proud of belonging to the English party, and even to this day the people have a fond tradition of the flourishing days of the English rule3. Nor was his government at home less marked by wisdom and firmness, or his people less flourish-

* In proof of this we need only riches, quand nous sommes Frangais nous quote the popular proverb, “ Quand nous sommes toujours gueux.” sommes Anglais nous sommes toujours n ingb. At that period France was more advanced in civilization than England, and Edward laboured to introduce and encourage the arts in England by bringing over choice workmen and artists from France. A marked change in the style of architecture took place, and this change was evidently of French origin, though the new style was brought to greater perfection in England. The window tracery in geometrical forms, which is the most striking feature of the new style, appeared in France some years before it was introduced into England, but once introduced here it soon took root and flourished in a most wonderful degree0. Simultaneously with the rapid development of Ecclesiastical Architecture, similar progress was made in Domestic buildings ; not only were the halls enriched by the introduction of the new style of windows, but the plans of the houses themselves were improved and enlarged, and the number of offices increased.

The reigns of the Second and Third Edwards are scarcely less distinguished in the annals of architecture than that of the First. There is abundant evidence that these monarchs all took a warm interest in its progress, more especially of Domestic architecture, and there can be no doubt that their personal influence was generally felt. The favours, the honours, and the emoluments heaped upon William of Wykehatn by Edward the Third were chiefly earned by his skill as an architect displayed in rebuilding the royal palace at Windsor. The three reigns combined are called by some antiquarians the Edwardian period, and this period comprises the most brilliant and glorious epoch

b The knights and harons of France, here invented is extraordinary, and unwho had been at home accustomed to rivalled in any other country. In France handsome hotels, richly ornamented the same figures are constantly repeated, apartments, and good soft beds, were by especially the trefoil, and this continued no means pleased at the poverty they until the vagaries of the Flamboyant had to encounter. — Froissart. style began to mark the fall of Gothic

c The variety of designs which were architecture.

GENERAL REMARKS.

in the whole history of the Art. It was exactly for this period and no longer, that the Decorated style prevailed ; in other words, the Art was then in the highest state of perfection : previous to this period it was still in progress, and immediately afterwards it began to decline. The Domestic architecture of this brilliant epoch in our history is scarcely less worthy of attention than the Ecclesiastical; considered as mere masonry it is impossible to surpass the accuracy, the firmness, the high finish of the work of this period. The sculpture is equally beautiful, and in its wonderful fidelity to nature is unrivalled. Nor was the skill of the architect behind that of his workmen ; the admirable manner in which the plans and designs are arranged, and the ingenuity with which difficulties are overcome, may be equalled, but cannot be surpassed.

In the reign of Richard the Second the last change of the Gothic styles took place, and though the Perpendicular style is admirably suited for Domestic buildings, it must still be considered as a decline from the highest perfection of the Art. Such structures as the colleges of Wykeham, the roof of Westminster Hall, and many others, shew that the architects of the time of Richard the Second can hardly be said to have declined, though the change then introduced was the beginning of the fall. This is one of the periods where an overlapping of styles must be looked for. Some buildings of this reign belong rather in style to the next century, while others belong almost entirely to the style then dying out. Just as in the reign of Edward the First, the Early English and Decorated styles are singularly intermingled, so is it in the time of Richard the Second with the Decorated and the Perpendicular. The change began indeed in the latter years of Edward the Third, but the instances are not numerous enough to be considered otherwise than as rare exceptions to the general rule.

The existing remains of the fourteenth century are more numerous than those of the preceding periods, and a comparison of them sufficiently proves the enlargement of plan and increase of comfort, and of more civilized ideas. Many of the houses of the fourteenth century are of large extent and great magnificence, and testify to the wealth and prosperity of their owners. The bishops’ palaces are among the most important, as at Wells, Lincoln, St. David’s, Southwell, and Norwich. The houses and castles of the nobility are among the finest and best examples of this period. Penshurst has a glorious hall of the time of Edward ii., and some other parts are of the same period, though the other sides of the quadrangle are considerably later. There is a remarkable deficiency of town houses of the fourteenth century in England, owing no doubt to their being usually built of wood, and so frequently destroyed by fire. This deficiency is abundantly supplied by the English towns in France, mostly founded by Edward i., of which an account will be given in a subsequent chapter. There is an equal deficiency of country houses of this period in France, owing obviously to the constantly disturbed state of the country, which rendered it necessary for the inhabitants to live together in towns for mutual protection, while the comparatively peaceful state of England rendered a moderate fortification generally sufficient, at least in the more settled districts.

Neither is there any deficiency of documentary evidence to the same effect. For though it is true that we lose the benefit of that series of records which enabled us to throw so much light upon the Domestic architecture of the latter half of the thirteenth century, yet their place is amply supplied by other documents of equal authority.

The Liberate Rolls, which in the time of Ilenry the Third abound in such minute directions relating to the

GENERAL REMARKS.

onstruction of the royal houses, cease soon after the accession of Edward the First to afford any further information than the amount of the sums expended in building; and they preserve the same character down to the accession of Henry the Fourth. On the other hand we have now arrived at a period when building accounts are more numerous, and better preserved, than at any preceding time; a period to which belong the descriptive poems of Chaucer, and the inimitable chronicles of Froissart, besides the works of many other writers, which all contribute to elucidate the subject. At the commencement of this century we have the inventories taken of the lands and houses of the suppressed order of the Templars d, which supply many curious architectural details, much of which, however, must apply to the period of transition between the style of the thirteenth and that of the following period.

A common plan of manorial houses during the fourteenth century would appear to have been simply a parallelogram, with or without wings ; for example, in the year 1314 Sir John Bishopsden of Lapworth6 in the d A specimen of these will be found in the appendix to the present volume.

• Ceo sount les covenauns fees tutre Mounsy Sire Joh’n de Byssopesdon’ chivaler de une part e Will’ Heose masoune Joh’n de Pesham de Roventon’ de autre p’t. Ce est a sav’ qe les avaunt dys Will’ e Joh’ frount au dyt Sir’ Joh’n a sun Maner de Lapworthe une mesoun pr porte de pere fraunche bone covenable e byen overe. La quele mesoun co’tend’ eu loung deens nuns qaraunte pees e en leyse dys e ut pees. E le foreyne mur s’ra ove les gables treys pees e demy epes sauns deus peyres descuys au foundem’t de hors. E les denseyns murs serrount deus pes e demy epes dount la porte s’ra en my la mesoun.’ E de une p’t la porte une chainbre base ove une chymeneye e garderobe etendue hors de la dyte chaumb' e ove fenestres e hus covenables e de altre p’t la porte chaumb' saunt chimene e saunt garderobe ove hus e fenestres covenables. E la porte avant dite s’ra de Laour solutn le devys le avaunt dite Sire Joh’n. E de amp’t le entre de eyns la porte mur de pere ausy haut c’ la porte au ques murs ceo jundrount deus coluns de Peir’ sur les qes les foyles de la porte pendrount e s’ra la porte ava’nt dite ense’blem’t ove les chamb's bases avaunt dites unse pees de haut du soyl jekes au trefs p’mereyns. E a de sus la porte e les dytes chaumbres bases s’ra un cha’b' estage de longour e la leysour avaundyt ove deus chimenes deus garderobes ete’dans hors de la dite cha’be covenablem’t ov huse fenestres co-

G DOMESTIC ARCHITECTURE : FOURTEENTH CENTURY.

county of Warwick, knight, covenanted with two masons for the erection of a convenient house of free-stone at his manor of Lapworth. This building was to be forty feet in length within the walls, and eighteen feet in width ; the end walls with the gables were to be three feet and a half in thickness, and the back and front walls two feet and a half ; the doorway was to be in the middle of the house ; and on one side of it they were to construct a base-chamber with a fireplace and a wardrobe extending out of the said chamber, with proper windows and doors ; and on the other side of the same doorway there was to be a chamber without a fireplace and wardrobe, but with fitting doors and windows. The principal doorway was to be of such size as the said Sir venables a le ordeynem’t de le ava’t dyt Sir’ Job’ e la cha’b* sovereyr.e ava’t dite s’ra neof pees de haut de gites a de souz jeqes au tref a de sus, e a de sus les sovereyne gites s’rount alures de per’ de deus pees e demy haut. E s’ra la dite porte issy fete qe un pount trnes byen ceo acordera solum le ordeynem’t le ava’nt dvt Joh’n e le dyt Will’ Heose e Job’ de Pcsbam ou un de eus t’veronnt fraunche per’ bon e covenable pr le dyt overeyne p’fer’. E le dyt Sir’ Job’ la per’ f’ carier de la q’rer’ Job’ de Pesha’ de Roventone jeqes a le overeyne ava’t dyt ou de ausy p’s In sy le dyt Will’ de plus loyns la vod’quer’. E ledit Sir’ Joh’ t°veramerym charpentie sabeloun cbaus prest saunt detramise de le ava’nt dyt overeyne. E les ava’t dytes Will e Job’ ou un de eus p’frount tot le overeyne ava’t dyt ava’t Le Touz Seyns p’cheyn aven’ ap's la’fexioun de cet covena’nt ava’t dyt. e p’ ce covena’t fer’ e p’former ausi c ava’t est dyt Je Job’ de Byssopesd' moy oblige p’ moy e p’ mes heyrs e p’ mes exeq’tors eslre tenuz eles ava’t dys Will’ e Job’ ou a un de eus en Vynt e sing mars a payer a deus t’mes. ceo est a saver a la purificaeioun n’re Dame p’cheyn aven’ apres la ’fexioun de cete escyt doze mars e demy E quant la dyt overeyne s’ra finye solum la forme ava’t recorde aut* doze mars e demy e p’ cete overeyne en la forme e au jour ava’t dyt leaument a fer’ nos ava’t dys Will’ r’ Joh’de Pesham de Roventon nos oblisouns r’ grauntoms deestr’ tenuz juntem’t e severaumn’t p’ n’ e p’ nos heyres a le dyt Sir’ Joh’ e a ces heyrs en Vynt lyveres de esterlynges a payer ap’s la Qu’seyne de Touz Seinz p' cheyn aven’ ap’s la’fexioun de cete covena’t e n’ avaunt dys Will’ e Job’ de Pesha’ volomse grauntoms p’ n’ e p’ n’ heyrs q* le dyt Sir’ Joh’ e ces heyrs p’rount destreyndre touz nos teneme’s en Roventon’ en qe meyns qe il devyne’t e ce destresse gard en ’tre gaie e plage issynt qe p’ bref ne sant bref lie seyt deliver’ si la qe les vynt lyvres seyent paye ou le overeyne p’fet solum le covena’t ava’t dyt. Em teymoynanse de cete chose nos John’ Wille e John’ auny mis nos seus. Escreyt a Lapworthe le lundy p’cheyn ap’s la feste Seynt Marlyn en le an du regne le Rey Edward fyx le Rey Edward setyme.