During the fintrteenth century, the sterner features of castles were considerably modified, and assumed a lighter and inore peaceful appearance. The apartments were enlarged, and rendered at mice more commodious and agreeable. The apertures of the windows also were considerably enlarged, and, late in the period, filled with tracery in the heads. Examples exist at Windsor, Warwick, and Kenilworth.
It must not be forgotten, however, that during all this time there was in existence a different class of dwellings of a less imposing character, but perhaps more strictly entitled to the appellation of domestic buildings. They are included under the general term of manor houses.
Previous to the thirteenth century, houses were built of timber, and at first only of one story, being somewhat in the form of the inverted hull of a ship, formed of timber frame• work, the intervals being filled in with horizontal planks. Afterwards, this hull was raised on walls, likewise of timber frame-work filled up with clay, stones, and plaster. Stowe says that the houses in London of this period were not more than 16 feet in height ; built of wood, and covered with reeds and straw. The general plan seems to have been that of a parallelogram, and where there were two stories, the approach to the upper was by an external staircase. The lower story was vaulted, and lighted by small windows ; hut there does not appear to have bean any convenience for warming, except in the upper floor, where there is a hearth in the middle of the flour with smoke hole above : the windows also of the upper floor were larger than those below. In some instances, the building was surrounded by a moat. An example of this kind exists at Boothby Pagnel, Lincolnshire—In some houses of the same date, the principal feature was the hall, which extends the whole height of the building, and is sometimes divided into aisles similar to those of a church, as in the palace of the bishop of Hereford.
In the thirteenth century the same general plan was pre served ; but at its close, some little differences occur, as at Little Wenhatn I lalh, Suffolk, where, above the general range of building, which is two-storied, one portion is carried up an additional story, so as to present externally the appearance of a tower. In this example, the lower portion of the build. ing is constructed of flint and stone, and the upper part of brick—a material not found in any previous example, and not generally used for a considerable tune afterwards. Square towers were common to the houses of the next century, the plans of which were more varied than those of preceding periods. The Note, Ightam, Kent, is an exam ple of this date ; it is square on plan, and surrounded by a moat. Timber houses of' this date exist at York and Salis
bury, with ornamental barge-boards, which appear to have been introduced about this time, as were also dormer window's and chimney-shafts.
In the fifteenth century, the erection of castles, as distin guished from manor-houses, may be said to have ceased ; the two were merged together, as it were; for although the dwellings were still fortified, they were incapable of a regular siege, as comfort was no less considered than security. I louses Were erected of all shapes and materials, and often considerably oramented. The square plan, amongst others, was still in use, as was also the surrounding moat, although the latter was not so frequent as formerly. Chimneys became common at this period, and several shafts were often con nected into one stack. Panelled ceilings were now intro duced, both of wood :Ind plaster ; and the windows became large, and highly ornamented ; bay and oriel windows were common. The internal walls of large mansions were often painted, or hung with tapestry, and, towards the close of the century, lined with wainscot. Examples of this date are Eton College, Eltham and TIampton-Court palaces, and Crosby-Hall. Timber houses, which have the spaces be tween the timbers filled with ornamented plaster, are also of this date. Brick came into very general use during this century.
During the commencement of the next century, the houses retained much the same character, although perhaps some what more enriched, and occasionally with some introduc tion of Italian work. Ere the close, however, the Italian style had become predominant, which a vast difference in the buildings of the sixteenth century. The ceilings of this last style were entirely of plaster, which is often highly enriched with carving. Ornamental staircases and galleries were first introduced at this period, but open bales tern were not common at the first, the space below the hand rail being filled up with plaster. Timber houses are still common, and often of good design, the intervals between the quartering being filled with bricks or plaster. Examples of this date are Wollaston-Hall, Nottinghamshire; Longleat, Wiltshire; the Quarries, Rochester; and Little Charlton House, ()use, Kent, During the next century, the Italian style of building continued to prevail, the Gothic features gradually dis appearing until they were entirely lost in the works of lingo Jones, Vanbrugh, &c. Amongst the earlier works may be mentioned Audley End, Essex ; Hatfield House, Herts ; and Holland I louse, near London ; and amongst the latter, the spacious mansions of Blenheim and Castle I loward.