Part of the interior of the house is evidently of great antiquity. The hall, which contains a raised floor, or dais, at one end, is hung with old armour, arms, family portraits, and various other objects. There is a large wooden staircase, with turned balusters and carved pendants, &c.; and the walls of the two principal apartments are covered with tapestry, and still contain antique furniture, pictures, &c. Mr. Gregory, having determined to build a new family mansion, informs us that he studied the subject for several years previous to commencing it. He visited almost every part of Europe, and part of Asia; and, having determined to adopt the style of James I., and there being, at the time he commenced, in 1822, few or no books on the subject, he examined personally most of the houses in Britain in that style, or bearing a close analogy to it. Among those which he visited, it may be useful to others to mention the following: - Berkshire: Bramshill, Littlecote. Cheshire: Brereton. Derbyshire: Hardwick. Herts: Hatfield. Kent: Knowle, Cobham. Northamptonshire: Burghley House, Castle Ashby, Dean, Rashton, Kirby, Apthorpe. Nottinghamshire: Wollaton. Suffolk: Blickling. Sussex: Cowdray. Wiltshire: Longleat. Worcestershire: Westwood. Yorkshire: Temple Newsham. Besides these, Mr. Gregory visited a great variety of smaller manor-houses; and he also found that the buildings of the two universities exhibited much of domestic purpose in style and character.
