152
THE ESSEX FIELD CLUB.
throughout with battlements, and many windows of pointed form were inserted.
Its plan now consists of a centre hall, and two transverse wings. The hall is
lighted upon the west, and panelled throughout with small square panelling.
The ceiling is modern. The stone fireplace2 is on the east side, near the lower
end ; but this, as well as those in the servants' hall, kitchen, and library, was
brought from the more stately Elizabethan mansion of Eastbury House. All are
enriched with carving.
"Between the years 1619 and 1634, William Fawshawe appears to have added
a large apartment at the north end of the house (now the drawing-room), also
panelled with oak, with fine Jacobean carving over the mantelpiece. The floors
of the hall, drawing-room, and library are of oak, and the two first were no doubt
laid when the respective room, were built; but that in the library came from
Eastbury House. The library was erected by the Rev. Joan Fanshawe about
1814, 0.1 the site of the south gable."
An extensive collection of books is still stored here; but the more valuable,
including the original MSS. of various Fanshawe writings, memoirs, and a copy
of the 1632 folio of Shakspeare, with the extensive series of family portraits, have
been removed to Mr. Fanshawe's house at Pimlico. Amongst the portraits may
be specially mentioned a very fine one of the famous Sir Richard, by Dobson ; his
wife, Lady Fanshawe, a portrait which has been engraved several times, and is
affixed to her "Memoirs" ; Sir Simon, with a back ground of Naseby-field ; and
Sir Thomas and Lady Fanshawe, by Lely. Many of these had come from Ware
Park, which was sold in 1668, and from Jenkins sold about 1705.
Still remaining in the hall are the horns of wapiti and two of moose, brought
by the present owner's uncle, Sir Gaspard le Marchant (from whom he derives his
name), from Nova Scotia, of which place he was Governor.
The garden front of the house is largely covered with ivy; the gardens
proper cover about four acres, and the well-timbered park and avenues, sixty-two
acres.
The original stock of the Fanshawe family hail from Fanshawe Gate, near 
Dronfield, in county Derby. A younger son, Henry Fanshawe, who was appointed
Remembrancer of the Court of Exchequer, appears to have been the first settled
in or near London, and held leases of Clay Hall and Valence. His first wife was
Thomazine Hopkins of Carswell (Barking Side), who died 1562. He died at
his London house in Warwick Lane, and was buried at Barking ; the heralds at-
tending his funeral being Clarencieulx, Kinge of Amies, and Rougedragon
Poursuyvant. His second daughter and co-heir (by his second wife, Dorothy,
daughter of George Stonerd of Loughton), married Timothy Lucy of Valence
(E. N , 1887, p. 144). His third son, William, was the founder of the Parsloes
branch. His daughter Alice married Sir Christopher Hatton of Clay Hall
(see E. N., 1891, p. 185-6) and Margaret, Sir Benjamin Ayloffe of Brittons.
The eldest son became Sir Henry Fanshawe, the father of Thomas, who was
made K.B. at coronation of Charles I., and created Viscount Fanshawe, 1661,
who was compelled to sell Ware Park on account of heavy losses incurred as a
Royalist during the Civil War. From his son, in a direct line, sprung the fifth and
last Viscount, who died 1716 ; and his daughter Mary married Sir Thomas
Cambell of Clay Hall (E. N., 1891, p. 186), who died in 1665: it is supposed
by the Great Plague. The most prominent member of this family, however, was
Sir Richard Fanshawe, Baronet (brother of the first Viscount), born in 1608.
His father died when he was but eight years of age. In 1623 he entered
Jesus College, Cambridge, and in 1627 travelled abroad to learn foreign
languages. In 1630 he was Secretary to the Embassy in Spain. At the out-
break of the Civil War he attended the king to Oxford, where he met his
kinswoman, Anne Harrison, whom he married in 1644. He was then Secretary
of War to Prince Rupert. Whilst here he received the degree of Doctor of Laws.
He was created a Baronet in 1650. Later on he was taken prisoner at the
2 These are all engraved in "Clarke's Eastbury," folio, 1834. Each have separate designs with
spandrels all carved. On the shields of the one in the library, have been affixed the metal
crests of the Fanshawe family.