On leaving the altar there is a monument erected to the memory of Sir Thomas Stanley, Knt. second son to the Earl of Derby, on which there is the effigy of a Lady on her knees. Besides which there are many others. Additions to Stows Survey.
Walton’s court, Church-yard alley.†
Wandsworth, a village in Surry, situated between Battersea and Putney, is said to obtain its name from the river Wandle, which passes through it under a bridge called the sink of the country, into the Thames. Here are several handsome houses belonging to the gentry and citizens of London.
Wanley’s court, Black Friars.†
Wansted, a village in Essex, adjoining to Woodford, and separated from Barking parish by the river Roding. There are in this place and its neighbourhood several fine seats of the nobility, gentry and wealthy citizens; but their lustre is greatly eclipsed by Wansted-house, the magnificent seat of the Earl of Tilney. This noble seat was prepared by Sir Josiah Child, his Lordship’s grandfather, who added to the advantage of a fine situation, a vast number of rows of trees, planted in avenues and vistas leading up to the spot of ground where the old house stood. The late Lord, before he was enobled, laid out the most spacious pieces of ground in gardens, that are to be seen in this part of England. The green house is a very superb building furnished with stoves and artificial places for heat, from an apartment which has a bagnio, and other conveniences, that render it both useful and pleasant.
The house was built since these gardens were finished, and is a magnificent edifice two hundred and sixty feet in length, and seventy in depth, fronted with Portland stone, which, where it is not discoloured by the smoke, as in London, grows whiter and whiter, the longer it is exposed to the open air.
S. Wale delin. J. Taylor sc.
Wansted, the Seat of the Earl of Tilney.
The fore front of the house has a long vista that reaches to the great road at Leighton Stone, and from the back front facing the gardens is an easy descent that leads to the terrace, and affords a most beautiful prospect of the river, which is formed into canals; and beyond it the walks and wildernesses extend to a great distance, rising up the hill, as they sloped downwards before; so that the sight is lost in the woods, and the whole country, as far as the eye can reach, appears one continued garden. Tour through Great Britain.
The house was built by the late Earl of Tilney and designed by Col. Campbell, and is certainly one of the noblest houses not only near London, but in the kingdom: it consists of two stories, the state and ground story. This latter is the basement, into which you enter by a door in the middle underneath the grand entrance, which is in a noble portico of six Corinthian columns supporting a pediment in which are the arms of this nobleman. To this you ascend by a flight of steps and pass into a magnificent saloon richly decorated with painting and sculpture, through which you pass into the other state rooms which are suitably furnished with pictures, gilding, velvet, tapestry, and other rich hangings. Before this house is an octangular bason which seems equal to the length of the front, here are no wings, though it seems probable it was the original design of the architect. On each side as you approach the house, are two marble statues of Hercules and Venus, with obelisks and vases alternately placed, which makes some attonement for the defect just mentioned. The garden front has no portico, but a pediment with a bas relief supported by six three quarter columns.