Halnaker House, [40], [216], a seat of the Duke of Richmond. The house has been suffered to go to decay; but it is remarkable, as containing two curfews, as old as the reign of William the Conqueror.
Halstead, [17].
Hammond, W. P. Esq. [53]. (see [Haling Park])
Hampton Court Park, [24]. In this park stands a royal Palace, originally built with brick, by Cardinal Wolsey, who set up 280 silk beds for strangers only, and richly furnished it with gold and silver plate; but it raised so much envy against him, that, to screen himself from its effects, he gave it to Henry VIII. who, in return, suffered him to live in his palace at Richmond. Henry enlarged it, and it then consisted of five spacious courts, adorned with buildings, which, in that age, were greatly admired.
Of the splendour of this palace we have few remains. The ancient apartments still standing, having been originally used merely as domestic offices, can convey no idea of the times in which they were built. The principal part of the old palace was taken down in 1690, and the present structure was raised by King William, under the direction of Sir Christopher Wren. The grand façade towards the garden extends 330 feet, and that towards the Thames 328. The portico and colonnade of duplicated pillars, of the Ionic order, at the grand entrance; and indeed the general design of these elevations, are in a superior style of magnificence.
The park and gardens, with the ground on which the palace stands, are three miles in circumference. On a pediment, in the front of the palace facing the gardens, is a bas-relief of the triumphs of Hercules over Envy; and facing it is a large oval basin, answering to the form of this part of the garden, which is a large oval, divided into gravel walks and parterres. On the south side of the palace is the privy garden, which was sunk ten feet, to open a view from the apartments to the Thames, and in which is a fountain, with two grand terrace walks. The entrance to the place is from the town, through four large brick piers, ornamented with the lion and unicorn. Passing through a long court, on each side of which is stabling, we arrive at the first portal, decorated with the heads of the four Cæsars, namely, Tiberius, Vitellius, Trajan, and Adrian. Through this portal we pass into a quadrangle, which leads to a second quadrangle, where, over the portal, is a beautiful clock, by Tompion, on which are the twelve signs of the Zodiac, with the rising and setting of the sun, the phases of the moon, &c. In this quadrangle is a stone colonnade, of the Ionic order, which leads to the great stair-case, adorned with gilt iron balustrades, erected on porphry. This stair-case, with the ceiling, was painted by Verrio. The paintings in the various apartments of this palace are numerous; a guide attends to describe them.
The palace consists of three quadrangles: the first and second are ancient; but the third, comprising the royal apartments, was magnificently built of brick and stone by William the Third. The gardens are in the style which prevailed some years ago, when mathematical figures were preferred to the forms of natural beauty.
At the extremity of the gardens, opposite Thames Ditton, is a lodge, in the possession of the Duke of Kent, as ranger of Hampton Court Park. It is called the Pavillion, and is a neat little structure.
Harden Huish, [185].
Harding, Rev. Mr. [17].