To touch on half the glories of this perfect Tudor house would occupy many pages of this book—­its beautiful chapel with its curious carvings with the seven deadly sins represented as knights in armour, the great hall in which Henry VIII. was welcomed by Sir William Compton, the drawing-room with its fine plaster ceiling—­all are so full of beauty and interest that they can merely be referred to here.

The situation of the house in a richly timbered hollow adds infinitely to its charm.  The gardens, too, are of the beautiful type that one learns to expect in conjunction with so lovely a dwelling, while flowering creepers on the towers and on the gabled walls complete an ideal picture of all that is loveliest in an old English mansion.

Permission to see Compton Wynyates can only be obtained by a written application.

[Illustration:  Valentine & Sons, Ltd.

COMPTON WYNYATES.

The seat of the Marquess of Northampton, is one of the most beautiful mediaeval homes in England.]

KENILWORTH CASTLE

=How to get there.=—­Train from Euston.  L. and N.W.  Railway. =Nearest Station.=—­Kenilworth. =Distance from London.=—­99 miles. =Average Time.=—­Varies between 2-1/2 to 4 hours.

                     1st 2nd 3rd
=Fares.=—­Single 15s. 3d. 10s. 2d. 8s. 1-1/2d. 
          Return 28s. 3d. 17s. 10d. 16s. 3d.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=—­“Abbey Hotel,” “King’s Arms,”
  “Castle Hotel,” etc.
=Alternative Route.=—­None.

Kenilworth is a small town, situated midway between Coventry and Warwick, about 5 miles from either town.  It is chiefly noted for the ruins of the famous castle, so celebrated from its association with Sir Walter Scott’s romance.  The castle was built in the reign of Henry I., the site having been granted to Geoffrey de Clinton, Lord Chief Justice of England.  The fortress at one time belonged to Simon de Montfort, who imprisoned Henry III. and his son Edward during the War of the Barons.  Edward II. also was forced to sign his abdication there.  Queen Elizabeth gave the castle as a present to her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, who spent large sums in making great alterations and additions, and entertained the Queen on four different occasions.  The memorable visit that has been described by Scott took place in 1575, when Dudley not only lodged Queen Elizabeth, her court, and 400 servants for seventeen days, but provided a series of pageants and festivities to please his royal mistress.  During the Civil War the castle was taken by Cromwell and given by him to Colonel Hawkesworth and some other officers belonging to his army.  They destroyed the place very much, draining the lake, besides pulling down walls and towers.  The estate now belongs to the Earl of Clarendon, to whose ancestor, Lawrence Hyde, Earl of Rochester, it was given by Charles II.  The only building