Laft of all, the ground above these foundations when dug out proved to be a débris of plafter-of-Paris mouldings, cornices, and decorations belonging to the style of ornament commonly introduced in the houses of the reigns of Anne and the first Georges. When the walls of the house were knocked down, this plafter work was buried in the ruins; but it is now carefully arranged in an adjoining houfe for inspection.

There cannot be a doubt about the foundations of the Clopton House (1720) being identified.

From them we turn to the much smaller but far more interesting remains of the Great House.

It is evident that the Great House was not restored with a "modern front," because there are two distinct ground plans; and the Clopton House foundations (as already stated) run askew to those

of

of the Great Houfe, interfecting them at very acute angles. It is also evident that in laying the walls of the Clopton House a great portion of the foundations of the Great Houfe were cleared away entirely, and that thofe only were left untouched which there was no neceffity to move. Confequently the foundations of the Great House in which Shakefpere lived are comparatively fmall in

extent.

The following facts are illustrative :— First. In two separate places Tudor mullions have been discovered, built into the Clopton foundations, fhowing that fome of the material of the Great House was cleared out and used again in laying the external foundations of the modern one.

Secondly. In that portion of the Clopton foundations where the kitchens and offices ftood, the ground exhibits no

traces

KEY TO THE PLAN

OF THE

FOUNDATIONS: GREAT HOUSE AND

CLOPTON HOUSE.

A. Ancient Well of the Great House.

B. Well, lately difcovered, which appears to have belonged to Nath's House.

C. Kitchen Fire-place.

D. Piece of projecting Ancient Wall, belonging to Shakespere's, i.e. the Great Houfe; conjectured to be the Foundation of the Entrance Porchway. E. The External Wall of the Ancient Great House, terminating in N, a Fire-place of the Clopton Houfe.

F. The Site of Nafh's Houfe: with Ancient Foundations.

G. The Crown of the Vaulting depofited in one of the Offices.

H. The Pofition at which the Ancient Mullions have been built into the Clopton Foundations.

I, K, L, M. Cellar Windows in the Clopton Foundations.

N. Fire-place in one of the Offices of ditto.

O. Ditto.