Placed on a noble elevation in the centre of an
extensive and well wooded park, it presented a front with two
projecting wings of equal dimensions with the centre, so that
the form of the building was that of a quadrangle, less one of
its sides. Its ancient lattices had been removed, and the
present windows though convenient accorded little with the
structure; the old entrance door in the centre of the building
however still remained, a wondrous specimen of fantastic
carving: Ionic columns of black oak, with a profusion of
fruits and flowers, and heads of stags and sylvans. The whole
of the building was crowned with a considerable pediment of
what seemed at the first glance fanciful open work, but which
examined more nearly offered in gigantic letters the motto of
the house of Marney. The portal opened to a hall, such as is
now rarely found; with the dais, the screen, the gallery, and
the buttery-hatch all perfect, and all of carved black oak.
Modern luxury, and the refined taste of the lady of the late
lord, had made Marney Abbey as remarkable for its comfort and
pleasantness of accommodation as for its ancient state and
splendour. The apartments were in general furnished with all
the cheerful ease and brilliancy of the modern mansion of a
noble, but the grand gallery of the seventeenth century was
still preserved, and was used on great occasions as the chief
reception-room.
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