6. the pilgrims are said to have removed their shoes and to have walked the rest of the way with bare feet. Hence the name Slipper Chapel." Sir Henry Spelman tells us that King Henry VIII. walked bare-foot from East Barsham to Walsingham and, Mr. Philip Sidney, in Memorials of Old Norfolk, asserts that he stopped at this chapel. It is one of the most beautiful little buildings in England, and Rickman considers that its Decorated front is one of the most elegant examples that we have remaining in a building of the size. Mr. Alexander Woods, says it is unrivalled save by the gorgeous front of the way-side chapel at Wakefield Bridge. He proceeds" It is late in its style, and shows such strong signs of the coming Perpendicular, that one is tempted to ask whether the Decorated features are not a conscious retention of, or a reversion to, the previous style. A blend of Perpendicular and, what from their date may be called, Flamboyant rather than Decorated characteristics is not uncommon in the Eastern Counties." In later years the Chapel was used as a House of Industry, and the registers of the parish record the burial of many of its inmates. Afterwards it was converted into two cottages and an etching by Cotman records its appearance in the days of its degradation. Recently it was purchased by Miss Charlotte Boyd who, after restoring it to something of its former beauty, handed it over to the Benedictine Order. The Parish Church, dedicated to St. Giles, was HOUGHTON visited, where the rood screen proved the greatest CHURCH. attraction (Norf. Arch., vol. iv. p. 345; 1850). After a lapse of sixty years an account of the mysterious personage. Saint Emona, who is represented on one of the panels, has still to be written. 66 The Earl of Leicester, Lord Lieutenant of Norfolk, HOLKHAM and the Countess received the visitors at Holkham HALL. Hall, which was reached by a charming drive through the park. The mansion, which is described in the History of Norfolk as one of the best houses (if not the best) in Great Britain," was commenced in 1734 and practically finished by Thomas Coke, who was created Earl of Leicester in 1744. The architect was William Kent, whom Coke had encouraged in his studies at Rome, and who, acting on the instructions of his patron, worked upon designs of Palladio's plan of a villa for the Cavalier Leonardo Mecenigo, and drawings of Inigo Jones. The house consists of a north and south front, each having two wings connected by corridors with their respective portions. It was proposed to build the external surface in Bath stone, but a brick earth was found in Burnham Norton, which, after proper seasoning and tempering, produced an excellent brick, much resembling Bath stone in colour, but heavier and of a much closer and finer texture, and of this use was made. XX An inscription over the entrance informs the visitor that "This seat, on an open, barren estate, was planned, planted, built, decorated, and inhabited in the middle of the eighteenth century by Thomas Coke, Earl of Leicester." Coke is said to have imagined the whole in his own mind without assistance, the architect merely carrying out his ideas, though using the aids already mentioned. Lord Leicester pointed out the principal works of art with which Holkham Hall abounds. The ancient Roman statuary includes a Venus, which no less an authority than Dr. Waagen commends as superior to all similar statues that have come down to us; a Diana, supposed to have belonged to Cicero, and considered to be the most beautiful representation of the goddess in existence; a life-size Juno; a Faun, found in the Campagna; statues of Appollo, Diana, and Ceres; and busts of Thucydides, Geta, and Marcus Aurelius. Besides the great collection of paintings by Claude Lorraine, there are examples by Michelangelo, Rubens, Raphael, Paul Veronese, Leonardo da Vinci, Domenichino, Vandyck, Sir Joshua Reynolds, Opie, Gainsborough, Lely, and Poussin. Refreshment was very kindly provided, and, delighted with the experience and with feelings of sincere gratitude to the Earl and Countess for their hospitality and entertainment, the party returned to Norwich in the beautiful sunset light. |