1762. Sir John Pakington and Mary Bray.
1795. Sir Herbert Perrot Pakington and Elizabeth Hawkins.
“1822. John Somerset Pakington, Esq., born 1799, wedyd 1stly, Mary, dau. of Moreton Aglionby Slaney, of Shiffnall, Esq.”
1830. Sir John Pakington died unmarried.
“1844. John Somerset Pakington, Esq., created Bart. 1846, wedyd 2ndly, Augusta, dau. of Geo. Murray, Bp. of Rochester.”
Among the portraits in this fine old room are the present Lord Hampton; the Earl of Strafford; Hester Perrott, daughter and sole heiress of Sir Herbert Perrott, of Haroldstone, and second wife of Sir John Pakington, Bart.; Sir John Perrott, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, 1583; Margaret Pakington (afterwards Mrs. Dowdeswell), daughter of Sir John Pakington of Hampton Lovett, the celebrated Recorder of Worcester; Sir John Pakington, M.P. for Worcester from 1690 to 1727; Ursula, Lady Scudamore, daughter of Sir John Pakington; and many others.
The Dining-room, which occupies the lower story of the north-east radiating wing, has an effective geometrical ceiling, and its walls are hung with family portraits. The Library similarly occupies the lower story of the corresponding or south-east wing. It is a noble room, lined with a large and valuable assemblage of books, and fitted and furnished in an appropriate manner. The ceiling, whose geometric panelling and other decorations are in high relief, bears among its other devices the mullet of the family arms. In the Library are, among many other Art treasures, two important historical pictures—contemporary portraits of Brandon, Duke of Suffolk, and Mary, his wife, daughter of Henry VII., King of England, and widow of Louis XII. of France—on panel.
The view from these rooms is truly magnificent. Immediately in front is the enclosed space already spoken of, with its grass lawns, its broad carriage drives, its luxuriant shrubberies; the ivy-grown and picturesque towers, one on either side; the grand old Gatehouse, with its central open-work tower, and picturesque boundary railings cutting it off from the park. Beyond this is seen the park, with its herds of deer, its forest trees of centuries of growth dotted about the landscape; its noble sheet of water, on which swans and wild fowl abound; and beyond, again, the thickly wooded confines of the grounds and the distant heights. Thus a view of imposing loveliness and of vast extent is gained from the windows of this side of the mansion. But, indeed, one of the main characteristics of Westwood is that, from whatever point the mansion is seen, it forms a striking and a pleasing object; and that, from whatever window one looks, a scene of surpassing beauty is presented to the eye.
