conspicuous for domestic neatness! The village of Shirbourn is unfortunate in containing many huts of the most wretched description, which act as offensive foils to the massive splendour of the neighbouring castle. SHIRBOURN LODGE is situated on one of the boldest acclivities of the Chiltern range. A thick mantle of beech envelopes the surrounding heights; and the whole situation appears, from the low-lands, to resemble in majestic gloom the domain of the ancient feudal lord. This sequestered mansion was long the favorite abode of the late Dowager Lady Macclesfield, who resided here in all the dignified simplicity attributed to the noble dames of distant eras: "Still skill'd the nimble steel to ply Or point with Gospel truths the lay sublime." Near WHEATFIELD, the pleasant residence of Lord C. Spencer, is a tumulus, with some remains of an intrenchment on the southeast, termed Adwell Cop, which, as it is not near any Roman road, Dr. Plot supposes to have been constructed either by the Britons or the Danes; and he is inclined to think it a relic of the latter people, and to have been made about the year 1010, "when the Danes, as Simeon of Durham testifies, came forth of their ships, in the month of January; and, passing through the Chiltern Woods, entered Oxford, and burnt that city, erecting, perhaps, this fortified barrow in the way, where it is likely they might meet with some opposition, and lose a principal cap tain." In the neighbourhood of STOKE TALMAGE are the remains of Standolph Chapel, a building which has been for several centu * Poem called Watlington Hill, &c. ries ries diverted from its original purpose, and appropriated to the use of the farmer. WATLINGTON PARK, the seat of John Henry Tilson, Esq. is distant about one mile and a half on the south-east from the town of Watlington. In the reign of Charles I. this demesne was granted from the Crown, and from a warren was converted into a park by the Stonor family. Of their descendant it has recently been purchased by the present proprietor. The house is a respectable brick edifice, on a lofty site. The park comprises three hundred acres, and has every variety of feature which the Chiltern inequalities can bestow. The fine natural woods contain some of the largest beech in the county; and new plantations, of various genial kinds, assist in decorating the home district of the extensive property. From different points of this upland and diversified domain are prospects extremely picturesque, and reaching into parts of the counties of Warwick and Glou cester. Pursuing the track towards Henley, the nearly impassable rudeness of the road, and the solitary grandeur of all around, remind the examiner of the early periods of national legend. The thickly-matted beech which wrap the high hills in continual shade, with little intervals of glade employed chiefly in depasturage, present a living picture of the country when the original Britons stole from these very precincts to catch a glance of wonder at bands of Romans, pursuing their august mareh along the neighbouring Prætorian way. In the deepest seclusion of this woody district, and distant about four miles from Watlington, is the small village of PussHILL. The church, a decent rural building, with white-washed walls, is seated on an acclivity. Its single bell was, several ages back, hung by the villagers in a yew-tree standing in the churchyard. Pusshill was formerly held by the family of Doily, yielding to the king yearly a table-cloth of three shillings price, or three shillings for all service. VOL. XV. Y STONOR. STONOR. The handsome mansion so termed is thus described by Leland: Stonor is a three mile out of Henley. Ther is a fayre parke, and a warren of conies, and fayre wood. The mansion place standyth clyming on a hill, and hath two courtes buildyd with tymbre, brike, and flynte. Sir William Stonar, 'now pocessor of it, hath augmented and strengthened the house. The Stoners hathe longe had it in possession. Synce one Fortescue invaded it by marriage of an heire-general of the Stoners, "but after dispocessyd." Stonor is about four miles distant from Henley. The house now consists of a handsome front, composed of brick, with two projecting wings. Adjoining is a chapel. The park is rendered finely various by some of the most graceful undulations to be seen in the Chiltern district; and plantations of fir assist the native beech in imparting relief and beauty. The grounds are well stocked with deer. Stonor gave name to the ancient family, whose descendant, Thomas Stonor, Esq. still possesses the estate. Of this family were Sir John Stonor, chief justice of the Common Pleas in the reign of Edward III.; and Sir Francis Stonor, who, in the early part of the seventeenth century, built at Upper Assendon au alms-house for ten poor people, and endowed it with a rent charge of sixty-one pounds per annum. At ASSENDON, near Stonor, is a land spring, mentioned by several writers as the most eminent of its kind in England. The water only appears after a continuance of wet weather, but then issues forth in such abundance that mills might be turned by the current, and the adjacent lowlands are placed in a state of inundation. A memorable instance of this kind is said to have occurred in the year 1674, when the waters flowed with so much violence, "that, had not the town of Henley made some diversion for them, their faire mile (a level stretch of road on the Oxford side of Henley) must have been drowned for a considerable time." This spring has been supposed by some to act on the principle of a natural syphon, and to be supplied from sub terranean |