The Digital Ark: Early Modern Collections of Curiosities in England and Scotland, 1580-1700

[An inventory of the collection of the Pastons at Oxnead Hall]
John Adey Repton Brent Nelson editor of electronic edition
Repton, John AdneyOxnead Hall, Norfolk. [An inventory of the collection of the Pastons at Oxnead Hall] Gentleman’s Magazinevol. 21 n.s. (1844): 23-5; 150-2.
21 Springfield near, Clemsford, Dec. 6. Mr. UrbanMr. Urban, WILLWill you allow me to lay before your readers some particulars relating to Oxnead Hall in Norfolk, formerly the seat of the Pastons, Earls of Yarmouth. It was in the year 1809 that I made a drawing of the Old Hall as it stood before it was taken down. This was published in Mr. Britton's Architectural Antiquities; but I have since discovered that, instead of one, the original roof had two stories of garrets, like those of Irmingland, Heydon, Barningham Halls in Norfolk, and Wakehurst in Sussex. I likewise inclose a sketch of the Fountain formerly at Oxnead, which had for more than half a century been half concealed among the rubbish in Blickling Park; it was lately restored, and placed in the flower-garden adjoining to Blickling Hall. Oxnead Hall was built by Clement Paston, the fourth son of Sir William Paston, knight, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth; and it continued the principal seat of that family, whose name has been rendered so celebrated by the Correspondence of its early members, edited by Sir John Fenn. The original building is described in the Ground-plan. The portion marked L was erected by the first Earl of Yarmouth to receive King Charles II and his attendants, who visited Oxnead in 1676; it was a lofty building, with sash-windows, called the Banquetting-room. Underneath this was a vaulted apartment, which was called the Frisketting room, probably from the Italian “frescati,” a cool grotto. William Paston, the second Earl of Yarmouth, and last of his family, died in 1732, leaving his estates to be sold for the payment of his debts. They were purchased by the celebrated Lord Anson, (it is stated by Mr. Dawson Turner in his recent History of Caister,) “after his return from his voyage round the world.” This was in 1744. The greater part of this magnificent mansion was shortly after taken down. Oxnead Hall is now in the possession of Sir Edward Hardinge Stracey, Bart. It was for many years occupied by my late uncle, John Repton, esq. who died in 1809. The only remains of this formerly magnificent mansion are the offices at the east end, and the barn, with three noble stacks of chimnies; each stack contained four shafts, of which only the bases remain, but, from a single brick with a cross on the edge, which I discoverer a few years ago, the chimney shafts I imagine to have been formerly highly enriched. It may be worth while to mention that the windows of Oxnead Hall are only thirteen inches wide (i. e. the glass between the munnions), although the munnions themselves are at least five inches broad. Other old mansions in Norfolk of the same date have the glass casements fifteen or sixteen inches wide, and, when succeeded by panes of plate glass, are not disagreeable to their modern inhabitants. But in the mansions of the end of Elizabeth's or beginning of James the First's reign, the casements exceed seventeen or eighteen inches wide, as at Blickling, Longleat, &c. 22 References to the Plan. A. The entrance through the stable-court with the porter’s lodges, and four recesses for benches at B. B. B. B. for the poor. C. C. the barns. D. The stables, with a horse-passage through the house, E. E. F. Kitchen and office, &c. G. The great Hall, with a screen. (The remains of the screen are now in one of the stables). H. The Chapel. I. Apartments. K. Dining-room, with a ball-room over. L. The Banquetting-room, built to receive King Charles II.; with a screw staircase. M. The upper terrace, with a statue of Cerberus, which was afterwards removed to Thorpe, near Norwich. N. The lower terrace. O. The parterre-garden, which was formerly ornamented with a fountain and several statues. (The fountain is now in the flower garden at Blickling, and the statues in the park.) P. and Q. Two oaks, still remaining. 23 With these remarks I send a curious manuscript lately found among some old papers. It is a portion of an inventory, containing a catalogue of ornamental plate and other curiosities, and is supposed to have been written by one of the Pastons, before their elevation to the peerage, which was in 1673. Among the articles in the catalogue is "A shell standing upon three dolphins;” most probably an object of great beauty and taste. The ornaments of dolphins which prevailed about the reign of Henry VIII, and Edward VI. are often very graceful, and are frequently seen in arabesque work. Yours, &c. JOHN ADEY REPTONJohn Adey Repton. Inventory of Ornamental Plate, &c.
formerly at Oxnead Hall[*]The MS. extends from fols. 2 to 9; the rest is lost. One mother of pearle botle, each side the fashion of a swan with a silver and gilt foote, and a silver and gilt statue upon the top. One mother of pearle basin, with a silver gilt ledge on the ...... , with a silver dish in it, with a foot gilt about the edge of the topp, engraven all over in the midle. A mother of pearle ureewer. A mother of pearle dish, all set in scollops, with silver and gilt foot, a cristall ball standing upright in the midle, carved. A litle mother of pearle cup, with a silver and gilt ledge, top, and foot. Sixe mother of pearle dishes, which some of the shells stand upon. A paire of coaker-shell cups with covers, in the midle of the covers agate-stones sett in enamell, with a gold knob of the top. A paire of shell cups with covers, ivory feet and ledges. A shell cup, set in a frame, and handle and cover of silver and gold, the foote, frame, and cover being garnished with severall kinds of cutt stones. A shell cup set in a carved and silver gilt frame and foot and cover, a peice piece of crystall in the midle of the cover, set with a silver and gilt knobb in the midle. A greene shell-kan, set in a silver and gilt frame, with a cover. A litle shell cup with a silver and gilt frame. 2 shelles spoone-fashioned, with silver feet, and crinkle handles. A blew jar with knobbs, silver and gilt top. A cristall botle sett in silver and gilt. A cristall kan, with an enameld foote, ledge, and handle. A long cristall glasse, with a cover engraven, a silver and gilt ledge on the foot. A cristall cup 6-square, set in a silver and gilt frame, and enameld knob on the top. A silver and gilt carved cup, a cristall foot and bottome, garnished about the sides and cover with severall stones, with a statue upon it. A cristall cup, with a silver and gilt foot and ledge, a crystall cover with a silver and gilt knob in the midle. A cristall tankard, set in a carved and silver and gilt frame, with a cover and one handle. A cristall tankard with a cristall cover, set in a silver and gilt frame with 2 handles, a flying horse on the top. A paire of cristall candlesticks. A great cristall ball set upon an ebony pedestall, with 8 litle cristall balls round about the edges. An agate tanker set in a silver and gilt frame, with one handle, and cover. Upon the creast over the doore, and so round. A round cup of a darke colour set in silver and gilt. A mother of pearle shell sett upon a figure, set in silver and gilt. A red Indian cup blacke about ye edge. A mother of pearle flower-pott set in silver and gilt. A red Indian cup blacke about ye edge. A shell upon a silver foott. A speckle shell botle sett in silver. A black Indian botle set in silver, with a chaine. A rock, with branches of red corrall upon it. A speckle shell cupp. A red Indian shell, silver and gilt about the edge. A jessimy tankard set in silver. A mother of pearle shell set in silver, with a figure upon it. A greenish flower-pott set in silver and gilt. A black shell cup with a silver edge. A white shell in a silver frame, tanker fashion. A litle cup standing in a litle silver baskett. 24 A browne botle, set in a silver frame, with a blackmoores head upon it. A greene cup set in silver frame. A mother of pearle ship shell engraven. A browne cup set in silver and gilt. A shell fashioned like a crane, silver and gilt. A red Indian cup with a white rim, and cover upon it. A knotted wood cup set in silver, with a cover upon it. A black shell boule sett in silver. A running horse, gilt. A shell set upon a silver figure. A shell cup with a silver frame. A speckle shell cup in a silver and gilt frame, with 2 handles and cover. A red Indian cup with a black rim. A browne speckle cup, silver and gilt foot and rim. A black cup with silver and gilt rim. A greenish flower pott sett in silver and gilt. A red Indian cup with a white rim, and cover upon it. A stone pott, silver and gilt top and chaine. A mother of pearle shell engraven, with a silver foot. A speckle bottle with a silver and gilt top. A white shell cup with 2 handles and cover. A gilded horse. A browne cup in a silver and gilt frame. A red Indian bottle with an ivory foot and top. In the corner. A browne nodden cup, with a silver and gilt rime and foot. On that side of the creast, right againe the windowes. An horse in a feeding posture, gilded. A red speckle shell standing upon a silver foot. A litle Indian cup turned downe. A white shell cup with 2 handles. A litle Indian boxe. A red speckled shell with a silver and gilt foot. A brazen figure of our Lady with our Saviour, and John Baptist. A browne cup with an ivory frame, and 2 eares. A reddish shell cup with an high topp, in a silver and gilt frame. A litle browne cup in a silver frame. A gippan of Portingall earth. A speck shell standing vpon a griffin. A mother of pearle flower pott, inlaid in a silver and gilt frame. A boy gilded, with a socket for a candle in his hand. A white egg pot, tanker fashion, in a silver and gilt frame. A horse gilded, in a runing posture. A mother of pearle botle, set in silver and gilt. A red Indian kan in a silver frame, handle and cover. A great stone flower pott in silver and gilt frame, with 2 syrenes upon it. A red Indian pott with a silver and gilt frame, cover and handle. A mother of pearle botle, set in silver and gilt. A gilded horse in a feeding posture. A white egg pott, tanker fashion, in a silver and gilt frame. A boy gilded, with a sockett for a candle in his hand. A mother of pearle flower pott, inlaid in a in a silver and gilt frame. A shell standing on a dolphin, silver and gilt, with a silver and gilt figure upon the top. A gourd botle, engraven, with a silver and gilt top. A red Indian pott in a silver frame handle and cover. A great browne cup in a silver and gilt frame, the handles ye fashion of snakes. A red Indian boxe. A shell standing on a dolphin, silver and gilt, with a silver and gilt figure upon the top. A red Indian botle with a silver frame. A litle browne botle set in silver frame. A browne tankard with an ivory handle. A shell standing upon 3 dolphins. A black cupp with an ivory rim and foot. A gourd botle with a silver frame, A red Indian kan with black edge about it. A woodden cup with an ivory foot and top. A browne shell, silver and gilt foot, in the fashion of a snake. A shell, engraven with the story of Atalanta, standing upon an eagle's foot of silver. In the corner. A gilded horse in a trotting posture. On the left side of the chimney, on the creast. A mother of pearle flower pott, inlaid in a silver and gilt frame. A shell cup, enameld. A litle red gourd. A shell fashioned like a crane, silver and gilt. A shell cup, enameld A litle red Indian cup. A mother of pearle flower pott, in a silver and gilt frame. 150 On that of the creast, the right side of the chimney. A browne cupp with a cover and a silver frame. A gilded head upon a pedestall. A figure enameld, upon a pedestall. A red Indian cup with a cover and black rim. A mother of pearle shell in a silver and gilt frame, upon a figure. A gilded horse in a pacinge posture. A blew flower pott in a silver and gilt frame. A gilded horse in a galloping posture. A mother of pearle: shell in a silver and gilt frame, upon a figure. A red Indian cup with a cover and black rim. A figure enameld upon a pedestall. A gilded head upon a pedestall. On that side right against the chimney. Hanging 5 shelfs in scarlett ribbin, and trimd with scarlett ribbin. On the i shelfe a paire of crystall balls, standing upon silver feet, trimd with scarlet ribbin. A round boxe gilt with a nagget[*]An agate in ye midle of ye cover. A litle shell boxe for amber, set and enameld. A Cheiny pott, 2 shells of each side, under the shelfe an engraven shell of mother of pearle, with scarlet ribbin. On the 2d shelfe. A shell cup engraven, set in a silver and gilt frame, in ye midle of ye cover a green stone. A paire of cristall botles. An amber cupp. A christall ball. Two gilt boxes with agat covers. Under the 2d shelfe a mother of pearle shell engraven, with scarlett ribbin. On the 3d shelfe. A christall cup engraven, set in a silver and gilt frame. A paire of cristall botles with silver and gilt heads. An agat cup with a silver and gilt frame. A shell boxe with a gilt cover. An agat boxe with a cover. Under the shelfe a mother of pearle shell engraven with 2 meremaids, with scarlett ribbin. On the 4th shelfe. A shell cup engraven, with ivory handles, with a tortois-shell foot and cover. An agat dish. A chymicall ball of glasse. A silver boxe, enameld, for perfume. A botle for perfume with 8 joints. A stone dish with an handle. A gilt boxe with an agat cover. Under this shelfe a mother of pearle shell, engraven, with scarlet ribbin. On the 5th shelfe. A cristall ball upon a silver foot, tied with scarlet ribbin. A mother of pearle boxe, engraven, set in a silver frame. A ball of glasse of severall colours. A Cheiny pott with a cover. 2 christall ovalls. Under this shelfe a mother of pearle shell with scarlet ribbin. On that side over against the windowes hanging 7 shelfes in scarlett ribbin, and trimmed with scarlett ribbin. On the 1st shelfe. A shell cup, silver and gilt frame, foot and cover, an agat on ye cover. A christall ball lying on scarlet ribbin. An ovall christall ball lying on scarlet ribbin. A shell-spoone, silver and gilt frame, foot and handle. 2 agat balls. On the 2d shelfe. A mother of pearle cup, silver and gilt frame. 2 cristall balls carved upon agat pedestalls. A white agat dish in fashion of a heart with a white rock in it. An amber head upon all ebone pedestall. An amber ball and pedestall. On the 3d shelfe. A shell cup engraven, set in a silver and gilt frame, a peice piece of cristall vpon ye cover. A paire of cristall botles. An ivory baskett with a branch of flowers in the midst of it. An amber sand boxe, and an amber standish. One litle carved stone. Under this shelfe a mother of pearle shell engraven, trimmd with scarlett ribbin. On the 4th shelfe. A shell cup with a silver and gilt foot and top, a red stone in the top. A paire of christall botles, an ivory baskett with a branch of flowers upon it. A Portingall ring, a topaz. One litle carved stone. Under this shelfe a mother of pearle engraven, trimmd with scarlett ribbin. On the 5th shelfe. A shell standing upon a silver and gilt foote, ye fashion of a snake. An agat cup with a litle cristall ball in it. An agat botle for perfumes, set in silver, with a litle silver chaine. The modell of ye Duke of Florence diamond, lying upon agat pedestall. A christall ball lying upon an agat pedestall. A boxe engraven with the armes of the family upon the cover, a cristall ovall lying upon it. On the 6th shelfe. An ivory wheele standing in a porch with 4 pillars. An agat botle for perfume, ye stople hanging in a chaine. A silver botle for perfume, with 6 joints. An agate cup. A gilded boxe with a cristall cover engraven. A gilded boxe with an agate cover. On the 7th shelfe. An ivory cup curiously carved and turned, with an high cover. A mother of pearle spoone with silver and gilt handle. A christall ball cut, lying upon scarlett ribbin. A christall boxe with 3 stones in it. A musk dish with a litle ivory stagg's head in it. A christall box set in silver and gilt. A litle christall ball. 2 shelfes on the lefte side of the chimney, hanging, and trimmed with scarlett ribbin. On the 1st shelfe. A mother of pearle shell, ye fashion of boat, standing upon a silver and gilt foot, upheld with 2 anchors, a peice piece of rocke in it. An agate cabinett in a silver and gilt frame. Under this shelfe a mother of pearle shell engraven, trimed with scarlet ribbin. On the 2d shelfe. A mother of pearle shell, ye fashion of a boat, standing upon a silver and gilt foote upheld with 2 anchors, with 2 spoones in it, one christall and one amber. An amber cabinett. Under this shelfe, a mother of pearle shell, hanging with scarlett ribbin. On the right side of the chimney, 2 shelfes, hanging and trimd with scarlet ribbin. On the 1st shelfe. An agat cup on a silver and gilt foot, carved and enameld. An agat boxe 6-square for perfume, set in an enameld frame. An agat botle for perfume 3-square engraven, in an enameld frame. A christall boxe engraven, 8-square, set in silver and gilt, in it 5 stones. A litle cup, enameld. A blew stone boxe, cutt, in silver and gilt frame. On the 2nd shelfe. A gilt cup with a cristall pillar, a cristall knob on the cover, with 3 christall balls in it. A cornelian botle for perfume. An enameld botle for perfume. A garnet cup, gilt with gold. A christall flower-pot, enameld, and garnished with gold. A christall boxe A perticular of the Pictures over against the doore. A great picture of Magdalen, in a great carved frame. 3 letle pictures of each side, 6 in all. Underneath a lim-picture with 2 ladies; of one side a litle ovall picture with birds, on the other side an ovall picture flowered with roses. The next row is a fine limd picture with 4 figures, of each side that 2 limd pictures of 2 old men. A christall looking glass set in silver and gilt, enameld, and wrought flowers. 2 agates-heads finely carved, with 16 cornelian heads round about them. A fine limd picture of Andromeda chained to a rock. Of each side of it the pictures of Sir Robert Paston's[*]Sir Robert Paston here mentioned is apparently the same who was created Viscount Yarmouth in 1673, and Earl of Yarmouth in 1679, and died in 1682. The Inventory was, therefore, probably made before the first date. His wife was Rebecca, second daughter of Sir Jasper Clayton, Knt. of London. and his ladies in limd, with gold cases. A fine agat with 2 blackmoores heads cutt, with white turbetts,[*]Turbans. set very finely in gold, enameld. The King of France's picture in gold and enameld. Under Andromeda my ladies Paston eldest brother[*]i. e. my Lady Paston's eldest brother, a Clayton. The same painting is afterwards referred to as “my Brother's picture;” so the Inventory seems to have been taken by Sir Robert Paston himself. The artist was, no doubt, Samuel Cooper, the celebrated miniature painter. picture in liming, done by Mr. Cooper. Of each side of him 2 old men in liming, one of them in a gold case, the other in ebony. Next 2 boxes of mother of pearle set in silver and gold, with chaines, and upon the lids of them the armes of the family. 2 limd heads of each side of the boxes. Underneath my Brother's picture, a purple stone of Sir Fran. Bacon making set in silver and gilt; under it an ovall picture in water colours. A white agat head set in enameld, with a litle pearle at the end of it. Under one shelfe. Sir Robert Paston's picture in waxe worke. Underneath it, an enameld case with a white crosse. On one side, an enameld picture with flowers in an ebony frame. A christall picture on the other side, with flowers on one side, and a head on the other. Under that a long chaine curiously linked. Under the other shelfe. A limd picture of an old man in an ebony frame. On one side, a gold case enameld with flowers. Under it, a gold case, heart fashion, enameld. On the other side, a christall case with flowers in it. Under that, a string with 50 amber heads on it. Against the end of the chimney. One stone picture a’ top, 4 small pictures below, and one mother of pearle engraven. The other end of the chimney. Three litle pictures, one stone picture, one Indian steele looking glasse. On the side of the chimney, St. Paul’s picture in a great frame. 3 litle pictures on each side of St. Paul. Under it a stone picture with the armes of the family. On that side of the closset over against the chimney. The ladies Paston picture in an ovall frame in oyle colour, done by Mr. Lillie.[*]No doubt Sir Peter Lely Under that Mr. Paston's[*]“Mr. Paston,” probably William the son and heir of Sir Robert, and afterwards the second Earl of Yarmouth. He married the Lady Charlotte Fitzroy, one of the natural daughters of King Charles the Second; but, having no issue, was the last of his ancient race. picture done in krions. Under that a picture of flowers in water colours. A picture done upon beuer of Lott and his 2 daughters. My Ld Townsend's[*]Horatio, first Lord Townshend, created a Baron in 1661, and a Viscount in 1682. picture, done by Mr. Burrell. At each corner 2 of the evangelists. Under them 2 litle pictures in water colours. Under my Ld Townsend, 17 great agats, 8 litle agats, and 8 blood stones, set upon silver and gilt plate, with a carved frame of silver and gilt, set round with stones, a piece of pearle at the bottome, and 5 agats on the top. On each side on ye top of this, 2 lim pictures in ebony frames. Under one of ye pictures, a cristall case with flowers, under that an ivory head carved; under the other lim picture, a gold case enameld, under that, a christall in the fashion of a heart, with 2 pictures in it. Sr John Clayton’s picture in all ovall frame, done by Wright. [Here follows a half-column postscript about the architecture of Oxnead Hall]