Old England: A Pictorial Museum (page 52/52)

2280.—The Pepysian Library, Magdalene College, Cambridge

The Pepys library holds over 3,000 volumes; the building probably dates from 1700 or so. [more...]

Hall of Christ Church College Oxford

“Christchurch, you have no doubt heard, is the richest, most magnificent, and most celebrated of all the collegiate establishments of Oxford. It is the especial resort of the sons of the richest gentry and [...]Sir Robert Peel was educated here. It has been honoured by hosts of men who have belonged to a different aristocracy,—men who are seldom acknowledged to be illustrious during their lives, but whom none deny to be so for every afterwards. Sydney, Ben Jonson, Otway, Locke, Penn, and Canning, were all members of Christ’s. [Note: I have linked these to the Nuttall Encyclopædia, I hope correctly! Liam] The founder was Wolsey; and every thing one sees here harmonises with the associations suggested by his name, although his scheme was [only] in part accomplished.” (p. 291) [more...]

Floriated initial capital letter “T”

This decorated drop cap “T” has vine leaves and flowers around the letter.

2333.—Guy’s Cliff

I visited this in 1984 or so, when it appeeared to be a ruin with broken windows but still surrounded by water and rather hard to reach. [more...]

2403.—Game of Shinty.

In shinty (Fig. 2403), which is so favourite a sport in the Highlands of Scotland, the ball is struck by a stick, and the object with each party is to drive it beyond certain opposed boundaries. This game is essentially the same as that formerly known as hurling in England. Golf was also once popular in this country. Nay, the very best golf-player [...] [more...]

2404.—Belsize House.

Belsize House was demolished about the time of this book, or perhaps a few year afterwards. There is still a mulberry tree growing from the gardens (2011). [more...]

2440.—The Cockpit.

“We may be grateful that the Cockpit (Fig. 2440) does deal with an amusement that no longer exists—there is hardly even a type left of the class to which it belonged, its gambling adjunct of course excepted. Cock-throwing, bear and badger [...]battue may be considered as little better: it must be owned there is a great resemblance between that sport and the more ferocious and bloody ones of the last century. And a stranger scene to any but familiar eyes than a cockpit of Hogarth’s time represented it would be difficult to find. There were congregated in it persons from the highest down to the lowest classes of society—peer and sweep were there. “Hail fellow, well met” together. Theignoble lord who is seen in Hogarth’s picture represents Lord Albemarle Bertie, who was totally blind, and yet placed his chief enjoyment in such a scene as this. He is the centre of attraction to most of the reprobates and gamblers who are here collected together; five of them at once are endeavouring to bet with him as to the issue of the combat. Mark, too, the rascal who looks up so furtively at him while abstracting a bank-note from the nobleman’s store: the expression of that thief’s face is truly inimitable. [more...]

828.—Great Seal of Edward I.
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