NUNEHAM-COURTENAY.

AT the general furvey this manor belonged to Richard de Curcy: afterwards to the family of Riparys, or Redvers. Mary, youngest daughter of Wm. de Redvers, Earl of Devon, (who, as well as his uncle William, was furnamed de Vernon,) married Robert de Courtenay, Baron of Okehampton, in 1214-it is probable that by this marriage the manor of Nuneham paffed into the family of Courtenay, and thence affumed the name of Nuneham-Courtenay.

After them fucceeded the Pollards; Sir John Pollard of Devon. From them it paffed to Audley of the Court of Wards, called the Rich Audley.

From him to Robert Wright, Bishop of Litchfield, whose fon, Calvert Wright, fold it to John Robinson of London, Merchant, (temp. Ol. Cromwell,) knighted in 1660, and made Lieutenant of the Tower.

From the Robinsons it defcended to David Earl of Wemys, (who married Mary, daughter and coheir of Sir John Robinson, Baronet,) from whom it was purchased in the year 1710, by Simon, first Lord Harcourt, Lord Chancellor of England.

THE PARK,

a

In which are "fcenes worthy of the bold pencil of Rubens, or to be subjects for the tranquil funfhines of Claude le Lorrain "," contains twelve hundred acres; and from a drive that leads round the inner part of it, are views of the Wittenham hills, of thofe of Buckinghamshire, and the range of hills which rife above the vale of White Horfe:-the drive is alfo continued through the wood, that falls with a steep defcent towards the Thames, which flows at the foot of it, and in this part the right hand bank is very abruptly and picturesquely broken by bold and steep projections. To the left, the river is fometimes feen between the flems of trees, and fometimes concealed by the intervening underwood, which, in one part, is kept low, in order to admit a view of the river, of the house, with the knoll upon which it is placed, and of the mafs of

• Walpole's Anecdotes of Painters.

trees

trees that form its back-ground 3. On quitting the wood, there is a different view of the house and of the river, and the prospect is terminated by Shotover hill-the drive then circles round a grove, and paffes by the ancient Conduit of Carfax, of which the following extract, from a MS. in the Bodleian Library, is a defcription.

This Conduit was erected in the year 1610, by Otho Nicholfon, M. A. of Christ Church; he was afterwards Treasurer to King James I.

The building is an exact square: the arms of the University, City, and Founder are under the cornice at each corner above it are placed as many fun-dials, and between each are carved in open work the initials of the Founder's name, with a fun, and mermaids, holding mirrors and combs. From the angles of the base fpring four arches, which, uniting at the top, fupport a fmall octagon; beneath it is a ciftern, above which is Q. Maud riding upon an ox over a ford, in allufion to the name of Oxford: the water being conveyed into the ciftern through the ox, from it proceeds a pipe, which runs wine upon extraordinary occafions. Above the foot of each arch, is one of the fup

b A little farther to the left a path leads to two picturesque cottages, fituated near the river, of which, and of the bold woody bank that rifes above it, the bridge commands an advantageous view.

porters of the arms of England, viz. the Antelope, used by K. Henry VIII. the Dragon by Q. Elizabeth, and the Lion and the Unicorn : each holds a banner, with the quarterings of the royal arms. Between the fupporters are various ornaments, fuch as boys, obelisks, &c. Upon the outfide of the four arches, are the four cardinal virtues, and in each nich of the octagon is a statue with a gilt crown and sceptre; they reprefent the feven Worthies, with our worthy K. James I. who made up the eighth, and are as follows: K. David, Alexander, Godfroi de Bouillon, Arthur, Charlemagne, Hector, Julius Cæfar. Each figure bears a fhield, containing his device, or coat of arms. Between the niches, are the figures of women upwards, and fcales of fish below, and beneath them are placed interchangeably the royal badges of England, Scotland, France, and Ireland. Above the cornice of the dome are fmaller figures representing the liberal sciences, one of which is Orpheus, with his harp, and other mufical inftruments. On the top of the building ftand two figures under a canopy, back to back, to reprefent Janus; the one is of an old man holding a shield, whereon is carved a bat with wings difplayed; the other, of a young woman holding a fceptre. Above this is a vane, and over that a crofs.

N. B. The name of this building is probably

a cor