dyed the
second of Sept. 1685.
It is close to the wall of the church, on the right of the
porch. In the church is seen the old Lisle pew of carved
oak, now the pew of the Earl of Normanton. Opposite the
pew is the pulpit, also of carved black oak, apparently ancient.
The church contains a tablet to the memory of the former owner
of Moyle's Court, who died in 1622.
Moyle's Court is about a mile and a half from Ellingham Church.
The drive is along a beautiful lane shaded by trees whose
branches meet from the two sides, through a beautiful and
fertile country, adorned by herds of fine cattle. Moyle's
Court is a large two-story building, consisting of two square
wings connected by the main building. The wings project from
the main building in front, but the whole forms a continuous
line in the rear. As you approach it, you pass numerous
heavy, brick outbuildings, including several farmhouses, one
of which is quite large, and apparently of great antiquity.
We were received by Mrs. Fane with the greatest courtesy.
She said that the landed estate connected with Moyle's Court
is very large, now or recently yielding the Earl of Normanton
seven thousand pounds a year.
The present occupant of Moyle's Court, Frederick Fane, Esq.,
came there about twenty-one years before. The house was then
much dilapidated, but he has restored it in a style in keeping
with the ancient architecture. The principal room is a dining
hall, rising from the ground some twenty-five feet in height,
with a gallery at one end, on a level with the second story.
The walls of this room are of beautiful, carved oak, the front
of the gallery being ancient, and as it existed in the time
of Lady Alice Lisle. The staircase, also of fine, carved
oak, is of equal antiquity. The carved oak in the passages
and some of the other rooms has been restored by Mr. Fane
from material found in the attic. There is also a curious
old kitchen, with a large fireplace, with a closet in the
chimney where it is said one of the persons succored by Lady
Alice Lisle was found hidden. In the cellar is a curiously
carved head on a stone beam, which seemed as if it might formerly
have supported a mantel-piece or shelf. It is said that this
portion of the cellar was once a chapel.
Some of the chambers have been named by Mr. Fane from persons
connected with the tragedy--Dame Alicia, Monmouth, Nelthrop,
Hicks, Tryphena--these names being inscribed on the doors.
The r
|