Gothic tower at Wimple

Description

Title: Gothic tower at Wimple
Contributor: George III, King of Great Britain, 1738-1820, former owner.
George IV, King of Great Britain, 1762-1830, donor.
Published / Created: [approximately 1777]
Publication Place: Place of publication not identified
Publisher: publisher not identified
Abstract: View of the gothic tower at Wimpole, the ruinous folly with a high round tower with crenallations above, high windows and cross-shaped arrow-slits to the walls, a man talking to a woman seated on a bench by the tower, the hillock sloping down towards the water to the foreground with a flock of sheep grazing to the right, trees and bushes throughout the scene. Philip Yorke, Earl of Harwicke, purchased Wimpole Hall in 1739 and among other improvements he made was the construction of the gothic folly in 1768 depicted here
Description: Title engraved below image.
Engraving attributed to Stewart by John Jeffreys in a letter dated November 1777 and privately printed.
With a poem by Daniel Wray below in four columns, 'When Henry stemmd Jernes stormy Flood, And bow'd to Britains yoke her savage brood, When by true courage and false zeal impell'd Richard encamp'd on Salems palmy field On Towers like these Earl, Baron, Vavasor, Hung high their Banners, floating in the air, Free, hardy, proud, they brav'd their feudal Lord And try'd their rights by ordeal of the Sword. Now the full board with Christmas plenty crown'd Now ravag'd and oppress'd the country round. Yet Freedoms cause once rais'd the civil broil, And Magna Charta clos'd the glorious toil. Spruce modern Villas different Scenes afford, The Patriot Baronet, the courtier Lord, Gently amus'd, now waste the Summers day, In a Book-room, Print-room, or in Ferme ornée. While Wit, Champain, and Pines and Poetry, Virtù and Ice the genial Feast supply. But hence the Poor are cherish'd, Artists fed, And Vanity relieves in Bountys stead. Oh might our Age in happy concert join - The manly Virtues of the Norman Line, With the true Science and just Taste which raise. High in each useful Art these Modern Days'.
Titled 'View of the Gothic Tower at Wimpole.' in the Catalogue of Maps, Prints, Drawings, etc., forming the geographical and topographical collection attached to the Library of his late Majesty King George the third, etc., London, 1829.
Provenance: Maggs Bros.; October 2024.
Extent: 1 print : plate mark 40.2 x 61 cm, on sheet 47 x 66.7 cm
Extent of Digitization: This object has been completely digitized.
Scale: No scale
Coordinates: (W 0°03ʹ58ʺ--W 0°02ʹ08ʺ/N 52°09ʹ26ʺ--N 52°07ʹ56ʺ).
Language: English