Certainly many higher-cultured
people of Macaulay's time and our own could learn a great deal from
them of the art of making beautiful homes.
[37] _Old-time Parson_, by P.H. Ditchfield, 1908.
[Illustration: Gothic Chimney, Norton St. Philip, Somerset]
Holinshed, the Chronicler, writing during the third quarter of the
sixteenth century, makes some illuminating observations on the
increasing preference shown in his time for stone and brick buildings
in place of timber and plaster. He wrote:--
"The ancient maners and houses of our gentlemen are yet for the
most part of strong timber. How beit such as be lately buylded are
commonly either of bricke or harde stone, their rowmes large and
stately, and houses of office farder distant fro their lodgings.
Those of the nobilitie are likewise wrought with bricke and harde
stone, as provision may best be made; but so magnificent and
stately, as the basest house of a barren doth often match with
some honours of princes in olde tyme: so that if ever curious
buylding did flourishe in Englande it is in these our dayes,
wherein our worckemen excel and are in maner comparable in skill
with old Vitruvius and Serle."
He also adds the curious information that "there are olde men yet
dwelling in the village where I remayn, which have noted three things
to be marveylously altered in Englande within their sound
remembrance.
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