Easton Hall.

I take the following account of this place from the “Visitation of Seats and Arms,” by Sir Bernard Burke:—

“Easton was an old Hall surrounded by extensive farm offices, and a considerable village inhabited by the servants of the family. The grounds were pleasantly diver- sified, and there were many great trees, and an old-fashioned garden, with a river and yew hedges. Considerable alterations were recently made in this old Hall and grounds, but in doing their quaintness was partly lost, which was their only claim to notice. A successor has completely changed the place. Retaining the best portions, both of the original building, and of the later alterations, he has given something of a feudal character to the whole, and has made extensive additions in excellent taste. The village and farm offices have been removed. New offices have been built in keeping with the manorial character which has been given to the house. A stone court has been constructed in front, which is entered under a gate tower, and through an arched gateway. The old garden has been restored, and terraces have been constructed, descending from the house to the stream. Many great additions have been made to the internal accommodation. The entrance-hall has been paneled with carved oak, and raised to the height of the second storey, and there is a handsome suite, of dining-room, library, two drawing-rooms, and conservatory. The fitting up of the interior has been made as much as possible to correspond with the style of the exterior, which is intended to represent the Elizabethan age.”

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The three several families of Cholmondeley, Cholmeley, and Cholmley, claim each a common ancestry in

William de Cholmondeley, the head of the house in the reign of King Henry the Fourth. His second son,

John Cholmeley, the ancestor of the family of Easton Hall, had two sons, both, strangely as it seems to us, named John. Of these, the second,

John Cholmeley, was the father of

Richard Cholmeley, who, by his wife Dionysia Philips, had two sons, of whom the younger,

John Cholmeley, married Isabel Hare, and had

(Sir) Henry Cholmeley, of Baston, in Lincolnshire. He was knighted, and died in 1620, and was succeeded by his elder son,

Henry Cholmeley, of Easton, who died in 1632, having married Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Richard Sondes, of Throwley, and had a son and heir,

Montague Cholmeley, of Easton, who died in 1652. He was father of, by Elizabeth, daughter of Sir Edward Hartopp, Bart., of Buckminster,

Montague Cholmeley, of Easton, who married, first, Alice, daughter of Sir Edward Brownlow, Bart., of Great Humby in the same county, and secondly, Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Booth, Alderman of London, a cadet of the family of Booth, Earl of Warrington, and was followed by his son,

James Cholmeley, of Easton, who died in 1735. He married Catherine Woodfine, by whom he had, with other issue, an eldest son,

John Cholmeley, of Easton, who died in 1768. He married Penelope, daughter of Sir Joseph Heme, of Twyford, and was succeeded by his son,

Montague Cholmeley, of Easton, married to Mary, daughter of Humphrey Sibthorpe, of Canwick Hall, Lincolnshire, and had an heir.

Sir Montague Cholmeley, of Easton, born in 1772, M.P. for Grantham. He was created a Baronet, March 4th., 1806. He married twice, his first wife being (married September 14th., 1801,) Elizabeth, daughter of John Harrison, Esq., of Norton Place, in the county of Lincoln, and had issue, of whom the eldest son.

Sir Montague John Cholmeley, Baronet, of Easton Hall and Norton Place, both in the same county, born August 5th., 1802, married, February lOtli,, 1829, Lady Georgiana Beauclerk, fifth daughter of William, eighth Duke of St. Albans, and had a second surviving son,

Hugh Arthur Cholmeley, M.P. for Grantham, born in October, 1839.