P.
Padworth House, [179], the seat of R. Clark, Esq. This is a noble mansion, and from its situation, standing on elevated ground, commands many extensive and beautiful prospects. The house is well sheltered by wood, and the grounds have an easy slope to the meadows in the valley, through which the limpid Kennet winds its course, adding considerable beauty to the landscape, as seen in various points of view.
Pains Hill, [25], the seat of the Earl of Carhampton. These beautiful grounds were formed by the Hon. Charles Hamilton; a considerable part of which was taken from the barren heath. The south side is a bank above the river Mole, which runs at the foot of it. Availing himself of the inequalities of the land, his plantations were made, and buildings placed with the utmost judgment; a spacious piece of water was also formed, which, though considerably above the level of the river, is supplied from it by an ingenious, though simple contrivance. The present edifice is a handsome white building; the front, which is facing the river, is adorned in the centre with a pediment, supported by four columns, and bowed sides. The beauty and unexpected variety of the scene; the happy situation, elegant structure, and judicious form of the buildings; the flourishing state, uncommon diversity, and contrasted grouping of the trees, and the contrivance of the water, will not fail to excite the most agreeable sensations.
Palk, Sir Lawrence, [117]. (see [Haldon House])
Palk, W. Esq. [120]. (see [Marley House])
Palmer, —— Esq. [177]. (see [Holme Park])
Palmerston, Lord, [86], [211], [220]. (see [Broadlands Park])
Park House, [160].
Park Place, [213].
Parker, —— Esq. [117]. (see [Whiteway])
Parnell, —— Esq. [188]. (see [Woodbarrow House])
Paultons Park, [86], the seat of Hans Sloane, Esq. The house stands in a rather secluded situation; but the park, embracing a circumference of about five miles, is beautifully wooded, and interspersed with spacious lawns.
Pavilion, the, [51], [60], [219], H. R. H. the Prince Regent. This mansion is fitted up with all the assistance of taste and art. It is situated near the north-west of the Steyne, Brighton, and was erected in 1784, having a handsome sea front, extending 200 feet, in the centre of which is a circular building, having a lofty dome raised on pillars, two wings were lately added to the fabric, which now renders its proportions complete. The interior is fitted up with the utmost magnificence, and the furniture is mostly Chinese. Towards the street the front forms a square, with a colonade in the centre, supported by columns, looking over a green, formerly the road. On the north side of what was formerly called the Promenade Grove, a magnificent building has been lately erected, in the centre of which is a lofty dome, fitted up as stabling for the Prince Regent’s stud. On the eastern side is a racket-court, on the west a riding house, and on the north coach houses and stabling for the coach and saddle horses, elegantly finished in the Chinese style.
Pearce, —— Esq. [181]. (see [Chilton Lodge])
Pelham, J. Esq. [22]. (see [Crowhurst Park])
Pelham Place, [95].
Pembroke, Earl of, [136], [208]. (see [Wilton House])
Pender, Admiral, [185]. (see [Harden Huish])
Penn, J. Esq. [175]. (see [Stoke Park])
Pennance, [128].
Penruddock, J. H. Esq. [137]. (see [Compton House])
Pepper Harrow House, [27], the seat of Lord Viscount Middleton, stands in a beautiful park, through which runs the river Wey. The grounds, which are finely wooded, have been considerably enlarged and improved by its present noble possessor, who finished the mansion began by the late Lord, who died in 1765. It stands on a bank sloping to the river, sheltered on the north and east by elevated grounds, crowned with luxuriant plantations. The apartments are elegantly fitted up, and enriched with a valuable collection of pictures. The library contains a choice assemblage of the best authors. The conservatory is to the west of the house, fronting the south, near the bank which overlooks the river. The offices are most judiciously concealed by plantations.
Pepys, Sir Lucas, [63]. (see [Juniper Hill])
Peters, H. Esq. [63]. (see [Beechworth Castle])
Petworth Park, [38], the magnificent seat of the Earl of Egremont. The mansion stands close to the town of Petworth, the back front opening into the church-yard. It was erected on the site of the ancient house by the Duke of Somerset. The front of free stone, adorned with statues on the top, is singularly handsome, forming an uniform range, having twenty-one windows in each story. The interior arrangements are remarkable for magnificence and elegance, all the principal apartments being decorated with paintings, antique statues, and busts, many of which are of first-rate excellence.
The park is very extensive, the wall being upwards of twelve miles in circumference. In the front of the mansion is a sheet of water, formed with the springs collected from the neighbouring hills, from which, by a simple and ingenious contrivance, every part of the building is abundantly supplied, as well as the whole town of Petworth, with excellent water; this improvement was effected at an expense of £30,000. In case of fire, from the arrangement made in the mansion, an immediate and plentiful supply of water can be obtained, which, without the assistance of engines, may be thrown in profusion on any part of the building; and the Earl’s domestics occasionally practice throwing the water, in order to be expert in case of necessity. This park commands views picturesquely varied, extensive, and delightful, both in home scenery, and on the beautiful Downs of Sussex and Surrey; and it is also well stocked with game.
This noble seat is a beautiful specimen of those which combine the elegant with the useful; great improvements having been made therein, particularly that of enclosing the present deer park, which previously was an entire forest scene, overspread with bushes, furze, some timber, &c. Every part of the park has been drained in the most effectual manner, and the whole of it inclosed and divided into proper fields. It is thoroughly well stocked with Sussex, Devon, and Herefordshire cattle, and flocks of the South Down, Spanish, Leicester, and Romney breeds. Besides which, his lordship has imported the Calmuck and Astrakan breed, whose chief peculiarity is, that, instead of a tail, they have a large projection of fat, like marrow, of exquisite delicacy. His lordship has also the shawl goat of Thibet, from the fleece of which those beautiful manufactures of the east are fabricated.
Pickering, —— Esq. [92]. (see [Fox Lease])
Pickwick Lodge, [186].
Pitt, W. M. Esq. [109]. (see [Kingston House])
Place House, [150].
Plaistow Lodge, [16].
Plashet Place, [59].
Pleydell, E. M. Esq. [108]. (see [Whatcomb House])
Pocock, —— Esq. [16]. (see [Holwood])
Pocock, Lady, [176].
Pole, Sir W. [114]. (see [Shute Park])
Polhill, G. Esq. [17]. (see [Chipstead Place])
Poltimore House, [197].
Portall, W. Esq. [100]. (see [Laverstock House])
Porter, —— Esq. [116]. (see [Rockbere House])
Portman, E. B. Esq. [107]. (see [Brianston])
Portsmouth, Earl of, [100]. (see [Hurstbourn Park])
Portswood, [79], [221], the seat of Lady Kingston. The house is a handsome building, which, from its situation on an eminence, commands fine views of the surrounding scenery, beautifully diversified with wooded meadows rising in the agreeable variety of hill and dale, among which the river Itchen, and the Southampton water, forming a spacious lake in the front of the mansion, are the most striking features. The pleasure grounds are laid out with great taste, and the shrubberies are extensive.
The house, externally, has an elegant appearance; and the interior is commodious, ornamented in a style of chaste simplicity, enriched with some fine paintings.
Powlett, G. Esq. [159]. (see [Amport Park])
Priory, the, [47], the seat of Lord Somers. This is a large house, formerly a priory, beautified with plantations, and a large sheet of water, and surrounded with hills, which render the prospect very romantic.
Prospect Hill, [178].
Purbrook Park, [32], [214], the seat of Lord Keith. The mansion is a handsome building, with detached wings and offices, advantageously situated in a spacious park.
Purvis, —— Esq. [222]. (see [Black Brook])