VIEWS OF COUNTRY SEATS.

OAKLANDS, DEVON, THE SEAT OF ALBANY SAVILLE, ESQ.

the top of their deep pedestals, ranges through the building, terminating with the library. This effect will be heightened by the finishing of the library-window in enriched glass, as intended. The dining-room and drawing-room are of fine proportions, and command a charming view across the grounds, over the town of Oakhampton to the great park, boldly rising in the distance, with the picturesque castle in the vale.

THIS fine mansion is the creation || lovely vista; the eye, just catching of the present spirited proprietor, having been but recently finished from designs by Bacon. It is of the Grecian Ionic, as will be seen by our plate, presenting a view of the principal front, elegant in its proportions, beautiful and chaste in its detail. The portico is equal in dimensions and beauty to any modern edifice we are acquainted with. The hall of entrance is pleasing; it is an admiraably proportioned vestibule. The scagliola columns, of a rich colour, ranged around at equal distances, The gardens are in the rear of the supporting a highly wrought archi-house, and well laid out; and a small trave, have a pleasing effect as con- fountain in the flower-garden has a nected with the quadrangular hall, pleasing effect. The offices are very or body of the mansion: for here, complete, every way befitting a manover against a beautiful staircase, a sion of this class. superb row of the richest scagliola columns, highly enriched, forms a Vol. VIII. No. XLVII.

Great care has been taken of late years in the improvement of the L L

extent have been made, old roads have been removed, and new ones, forming more pleasing approaches to the house, constructed.

The Okement, a small river, winds in a most pleasing manner through the grounds in the immediate vicinity of the house. There are two streams, called the East and West Okement, which embrace the lawn, and form a junction near the house, after supplying some mills in their course.

grounds; new plantations to a great || mains of the once proud castle sweep up the sides of the isolated hill to the keep, the only portion that may be said to bid defiance to time, and from which a pleasing and beautiful scene meets the eye: the bold outline of the park, which is spread in massy verdure to the right, while on the left is the wood-covered hill rising high above the castle, and on the side of which runs the new and picturesque road to Tavistock; the interspersed windings of the Okement flashing across the valley, beneath the wavy profusion of variegated foliage, mellowing the sides of the hills as they recede to the termination of the vale, bounded by the picturesque town of Oakhampton, which, though poor, peers happily from amidst the

tivation; while over the park may be discerned, breaking into the blue dis

The principal entrance to the grounds is by a newly erected bridge over the West Okement, the banks of which are beautifully wooded, steep, and rocky, which gives a pleasing alpine appearance to this structure, by its elevation above the river to carry the road on a level. Con-mingled beauties of nature and culnected with this bridge are the entrance-gate, and a very pleasing lodge, rising from the bed of the ri-tance, some of those prominent points ver and overhanging the bridge. Its called Tors, rising above Dartmoor, great height imparts to it a peculiar where no smiling emblem of man's and picturesque appearance, well ac-industry meets the eye, Nature havcording with the surrounding scene-ing moulded that tract with an iron ry; it forms an octagon, with a bold || hand, and rendered it unsusceptible overhanging thatch roof. Rustic of the soft embellishments of art. columns ranged around form a pleasing colonnade, particularly in that portion which overhangs the river. The woods in a line with the house are extensive, covering the brows of the hills on either side of the river, which takes its serpentine course thus em-cond sister, the elder not having had bellished for a considerable distance. Oakhampton church is a pleasing object from the house and grounds of Oaklands, being situated some way above the town, on the brow of a bold hill. In a line with the church, and about half a mile from the town, are the ruins of Oakhampton Castle, which was the ancient seat of the Barons of Oakhampton. The re-hampton to William de Courtenay,

William the Conqueror gave to Baldwin de Bass, or de Brioniis, the honour or barony of Oakhampton; it descended to his son Richard, who dying without issue, it passed to Ralph Avenell, son of Emma, his se

issue. Ralph having fallen under the displeasure of King Henry II. was dispossessed of his barony, which was given to Matilda, daughter of the said Emma by her second husband, William d'Averinches. Hawise, daughter of Matilda d'Averinches, by her husband the Lord of Aincourt, brought the barony of Oak