Swift

1561.  Thomas Jackson

1605.  John Phillips D.D.

1633.  Thomas Draycott

1636.  Robert Browne

1638.  Christopher Pasley D.D.

1640.  Edward Bold

1655.  Lawrence Fogge D.D.

1664.  Orlando Fogge

1666.  John Price D.D.

1685.  Beaumont Percival D.D.

1714.  B. Gardiner

1726.  Francis Glynne

1728.  John Fletcher

1742.  Richard Williams

1770.  Stephen Glynne

1780.  Randolph Crewe

1814.  George Neville-Grenville

1834.  Henry Glynne

1872.  Stephen E. Gladstone

The Modern Residence and Park.

The modern Residence was built in 1752 upon the site of Broadlane Hall, the seat of the Ravenscrofts, an old house of wood and plaster, which came into Sir John Glynne’s possession by his marriage with Honora Conway, daughter of Henry Conway and Honora Ravenscroft.  Originally a square brick house, it was afterwards in 1809 extended by the addition of the Library on the West side and of the Kitchen and other offices on the East; the whole being cased in stone [27] and castellated.  The entrance was now turned from the S. to the N. front—the turnpike road, which passed in front of the house and along the Moat to the Village, having been diverted in 1804—and the present Flower-garden constructed with the old Thorn-tree in the centre.  Quite recently has been added the block at the N.W. angle of the house, containing Mr. Gladstone’s Study, or, as he calls it, the ‘Temple of Peace.’

The most striking feature about this room is that (to use the phrase of a writer in Harper’s Magazine) it is built about with bookcases.  Instead of being ranged along the wall in the usual way, they stand out into the room at right angles, each wide enough to hold a double row facing either way.  Intervals are left sufficient to give access to the books, and Mr. Gladstone prides himself upon the economy of space obtained by this arrangement.  His Library numbers near 20,000 volumes, many of which have overflowed into adjoining rooms, where they are similarly stored. 

Of this number Theology claims a large proportion; Homer, Dante, [28a] and Shakespeare also have their respective departments, and any resident visitor is at liberty, on entering his or her name in a book kept for the purpose, to borrow any volume at pleasure.  Three writing-tables are seen.  At one Mr. Gladstone sits when busy in political work and correspondence; the second is reserved for literary and especially, Homeric studies; the third is Mrs. Gladstone’s.  “It is,” remarked Mr. Gladstone to the writer above mentioned, with a wistful glance at the table where ‘Vaticanism’ and ‘Juventus Mundi’ were written, “A long time since I sat there.”  About the room are to be seen busts and photographs of old friends and colleagues—Sidney Herbert, the Duke of Newcastle, Canning, Tennyson, Lord Richard Cavendish, and others, while in the corners lurk numerous walking sticks and axes.

Adjoining Mr. Gladstone’s room is the Library of the house—a well-proportioned and comfortable room, well stored with books, prominent among which topography and ecclesiology testify to the predelictions of the late owner, Sir Stephen Glynne. [28b]  There are some good family portraits and other pictures, among which are specimens of Sir Peter Lely, Snyders, and a very fine likeness of Sir Kenelm Digby by Vandyke.  There is a fine picture by

Millais of Mr. Gladstone and his grandson, [29a] painted in 1889, and another good portrait of him by the late F. Holl; also a much-admired likeness of Mrs. Gladstone by Herkomer.

Shading the windows of Mr. Gladstone’s Study is a singular circle of limes of some 20 feet in diameter, which goes by the name of Sir John Glynne’s Dressing-Room.  Mounting the slope towards the old castle is the Broad Walk, terminating in an artificial amphitheatre at the top, made by Sir John Glynne to give employment in a time of distress.  The grounds abound in fine trees, [29b] and in rhododendrons which in spring form masses of bloom.

In 1819, Prince Leopold, the late King of the Belgians, visited the Castle; and the small wooden door on the south side of the Ruins is still called after him.  The Visitors’ Book at the Lodge also records, in autograph, the names of Her Gracious Majesty, as Princess Victoria, and her mother, the Duchess of Kent, in or about the year 1833.

In the palmy days of the Royal British Bowmen the Castle was the frequent scene of bow-meetings; the peculiar green costumes and feathers worn by both the ladies and gentlemen competitors contributing to the picturesque effect of these gatherings.  Simultaneously with one of these Archery Meetings, in the year, we believe, 1835, was held a Fancy Bazaar, commemorated in some admirable lines by Mr. R. E. Warburton of Arley Hall, which will be read with pleasure in connection with more recent bazaars held in the same place.

While tents are pitched in Hawarden’s peaceful vale,
And harmless shafts the platted targe assail;
While now the bow (the archers more intent
On making love than making war) is bent;
Beneath those towers, where erst their fathers drew
In deadly conflict bows of tougher yew;
Lo!  Charity, a native of the skies,
Whose smile betrays her through a vain disguise,
Mounts the steep hill, and ’neath th’ o’erhanging wall,
The canvass stretch’d in triumph, plants her stall;
In gay profusion o’er the counter pours
Her glittering wares and ranges all her stores.

Beneath the magic of her touch behold
Transformed at once the warlike aims of old!
The mighty falchion to a penknife shrinks,
The mailed meshes from the purse’s links;
The sturdy lance a bodkin now appears,
A bunch of tooth-picks once a hundred spears;
A painted toy behold the keen-edged axe!
See men of iron turned to dolls of wax!

The once broad shield contracted now in span
Raised as a screen or fluttered as a fan;
The gleaming helm a hollow thimble proves,
And weighty gauntlets dwindle into gloves.
The plumes that winged the arrow through the sky,
Waft to and fro the shuttlecock on high;
Two trusty swords are into scissors cross’d,
And dinted