SEATON DELAVAL. The main building is of the castle sort, with turrets at the angles, and projections at the middle of the sides, but has Doric rusticated columns and a pediment, also Ionic columns in the other front ; the face of the wall is plain. The lower row of win dows have pediments ; the other flat entablature all have architraves with small corbels under the window sills. There is a semicircle in the pediments in the centre, and Venetian windows in the turrets at the angles ; each of these turrets have four large torus mouldings at its base.
Grimsthorpe is a quadrangle, encompassing a court 105 X78 feet. The garden front has an elegant Corin tian portico standing upon a well-proportioned basement, it being only about one half the height of the order ; the hall 57 x38; at each end of it two rows of pillars divide off two great stairs; there are eight niches in the back wall. The apartments at each end of the hall are 35.8 x27; the large room 55X25; two 28x27; one 27x23; one 23.7x25; one 26x24; one 24X20; two 24x18 ; two 20 square; the hall to the garden front 35x20; gallery in the same front 105X 15.5, exclusive of a passage at each end, and a recess 35x10 in the middle. This is an extensive and excellent plan ; passages down each side prevent thoroughfares.
But even these magnificent edifices arc greatly sur passed by Blenheim, in which this able architect has cre ated both a magnificent palace and a splendid triumphal trophy. It has been observed by a very able critic, (Knight on Taste, p. 227.) that even in choosing the situ ation, Van burgh has, with great judgment, selected the place where a splendid mansion will, in a picturesque scene, form the finest feature ; wisely considering that it was not necessary that the finest views should be had immediately from the mansion, but rather by means of walks laid out on purpose.
The buildings occupy three sides of a square entrance court. The mansion stands upon one side ; the kitchen court on another ; the stable court on the third; and the fourth is open towards the water and great bridge. The ends of the building, which forms one side of each of these courts, make a part of the general elevation; and this elevation altogether extends 490 feet. The whole extent over all the courts measures 850 feet. Not being able to convey a distinct idea of this elevation, or the ar rangement of the apartments, in words, we must refer to Plate CLXXIX., where a particular representation
will be found. In the central part of the entrance front, the Corinthian columns and pilasters, standing on a low basement, and rising to 40 feet in height, are magnifi cent features, and the varied ornamented outlines of the top arc truly magical. If there is any defect in this sin gular elevation, it arises from the central part not having sufficient elevation and mass, in proportion to those in the square and pyramidal turrets towards the extremities. In the garden front, the outlines are equally fine; and the long range of windows in the principal story, have a singularly good effect. The basement is in good pro portion to the superstructure, but is injured by the small circular windows. In both fronts, all the porticoes have, very properly, pilasters at the extremities.
The following are the dimensions of some of the apart ments in the principal story : The great hall 55 X44 ; saloon 44X35 ; principal stairs each 33x 11 ; great gal lery 183 x21 at the narrowest part, and 28 at the broad est ; the vestibule, including the bow, 41x18; anti rooms each 32X25 ; 32X22; little dining room 32X18; grand cabinet 26 x 26; bed-room 26x20.
In the works of this able architect, we find the follow ing fine features extensive front stabs, low basements, orders rising each to the height of two lofty stories, up per windows of as great a height as those in the first story, and a varied and ornamented outline at the top of the edifice. lle is singular in using pilasters at the ex tremity of porticoes and colonnades. In the latter they are most correctly placed. in the former we know of no classical architype ; but in his great works, where strength and durability were apparently the principal objects, even this deviation appears defensible ; in short, every exter nal feature contributes to produce an imposing effect. Internally, at the same time that he has presented the means of exhibiting extensive suits of rooms, by connect ing doorways, yet by the judicious arrangement of pas sages and staircases, he has generally obtained a sepa rate access to each apartment. In the management of the detail, he has been accused of unnecessary clumsi ness. In some cases, this criticism is certainly just, but we arc to keep in mind, that the scale he worked on ad mits not of comparison with little things. Ilc perhaps may.