In the hall itself is a splendid collection of pictures, including many very rare examples—family portraits, principally of the old celebrities of the Coke family and others. In this house Baxter wrote his “Saint’s Rest;” and here many distinguished men have at one time or other resided. Of this Baxter himself thus wrote:—“The second book which I wrote (and the first which I began) was that called ‘Saint’s Everlasting Rest.’ While I was in health I had not the least thoughts of writing books, or in serving God in any more public way than that of preaching; but when I was weakened with much bleeding, and left solitary in my chamber at Sir John Coke’s in Derbyshire, without any acquaintance but my servant about me, and was sentenced to death by my physicians, I began to contemplate more seriously the Everlasting Rest which I apprehended myself just on the borders of; and that my thoughts might not be scattered too much in my meditation, I began to write something upon that subject, intending but a sermon or two (which is the cause that the beginning is in brevity and style disproportionable to the rest); but being continued long in sickness, where I had no poor or better employment, I followed it on till it was enlarged to the bulk in which it is now published.” The hall was at one time, about 1811, occupied by Sir Sidney Smith, the “Hero of Acre,” and also by Sir William Rumbold: it was likewise for many years in the occupation of Colonel Gooch, one of the heroes of Waterloo—in fact, one of the seven brave men immortalised in history as having defended the important and critical post of Houguemont in that great battle. It is now occupied by William Dashwood Fane, Esq.
Closely adjoining the hall is Melbourne Church, which is, without doubt, one of the very finest and most perfect Norman structures remaining to us, reminding one forcibly, in its massive piers and other features, of Durham Cathedral. Indeed, it is far more of a cathedral in appearance than a parish church. The western doorway is one of its most striking external features; but internally it is full of interest in every part. It is a cruciform structure, with massive central tower, and two other lantern towers at its west end. The nave is divided from the side-aisles by a series of massive round piers supporting semicircular arches, above which is a fine open triforium running entirely round the nave. Remains of a circular apse are to be traced at the east end. Its monuments, too, are worthy of careful examination; they are mainly to the family of Hardinge, of King’s Newton, the head of which family is the present Lord Hardinge.
West Doorway, Melbourne Church.
One mile from Melbourne is the pleasant village of King’s Newton, with its Holy Well and its Hall, now in ruins, but long the paternal residence of the Hardinge family, and from which its then representative, Viscount Hardinge, of King’s Newton—the heroic Governor-General of India—took his title. This distinguished family had been settled at this place for several centuries, the hall being built by them circa 1400. Sir Robert Hardinge, who was Master of the Court of Chancery and Attorney-General to Charles II., resided here, and was visited by that monarch, who remained his guest for some days. On the glass of the window of his room King Charles scratched the anagram, Cras ero lux, being a clever transposition of the words, Carolus rex, and meaning “To-morrow I shall shine.” In the garden is a famous old mulberry-tree, under which it is said the monarch used to sit: it is still luxuriant in foliage and in fruit. The hall was destroyed by fire only a few years ago, and its picturesque ruins and grounds are now open to the public, who during the summer months “there do congregate” for pic-nic parties and rural enjoyments. Our engraving shows the hall as it appeared before the fire.
King’s Newton Hall as it was.
The village of King’s Newton, one of the most delightful of villages, has a literary celebrity attaching to it. Here Thomas Hall, who wrote “Wisdom’s Conquest” in 1640, resided; and here, too, Speechly, the Rural Economist; Mundy, who wrote “The Fall of Needwood” and “Needwood Forest;” Mrs. Green, the authoress of “John Gray of Willoughby;” the Ortons, one of whom is known by his “Excelsior” and his “Three Palaces,” and the other by his varied writings, were residents, as was also the author of “Thurstan Meverell;” and here, in his native place, resided till his death, in February, 1876, the able historian of Melbourne, Mr. John Joseph Briggs, who also ranked high as a writer on natural history. The locality has other attractions “too numerous to mention.” Independently of its great natural beauties, its most attractive associations are undoubtedly with a grand and honourable past. Of King’s Newton Mr. Briggs thus wrote:—
“Sweet Newton, first to thee my song I raise.
Thy charms, loved hamlet, need no poet’s praise;
O’er thy green meads first trips the laughing Spring,
And shakes primroses from each flower-wreathed wing:
There the first swallow skims the daisied vale,
And the loved cuckoo breathes her mellow tale,
And merry chiff-chaff from the budding tree
Gives out his joyous notes so wild and free.
And when old Autumn sheds o’er field and bower
The radiant hues of many a gorgeous flower,
And bids the sun lead down his stately dance,
Thy fields are last to catch his parting glance.
Within thy bounds I drew mine earliest breath,
And there, grant Heaven, these eyes may close in death!”
