Page 89

89
   Ecclesiastical architecture in the time of Henry the Seventh was distin-
 guished by a richness and splendour scarcely surpassed at any other period
 in the history of art in this country. The domestic architecture of the
age
 was in no respect less attractive; for although the internal decorations
retained
 much of the character that had been in former times adopted in castles and
 convents, it is easy to trace the commencement of that style which was
 adopted when the dwelling-places of the nobles were made for residence,
 and not for fighting.
   Among the most remarkable buildings erected in the time of Henry the
 Seventh may be mentioned the palace at Richmond, and the hospital of the
 Savoy.   The palace at Shene being destroyed by fire, was rebuilt, fronting
 the river Thames, by      this monarch;    and  from  the descriptions which
 remain, it must have been of great extent, as well as an object of attractive
 beauty with   its turrets and  gilded vanes.   A  view  of this structure
will
 be found in the second volume of Vetusta Monumenta.         In the year
1649,
 the year after the death of Charles the First, it was offered for sale by
the
 Parliamentary Commissioners.
   Speaking of the hall the Commissioners in their report state, that it
was
one hundred feet in length, and forty in breadth. "This room hath a
screen
in the lower end thereof over which is a little gallery, and a fayr foot
pace
in the higher end thereof; the pavement is square tile, and it is very well
lighted and seeled, and adorned with eleven statues in the sides thereof;
in
the midst a brick hearth, for a charcoal fire, having a large lanthorne
in the roof of the hall for that purpose, turreted, and covered with lead.
In
the north end of the great hall, there is one turret, or clock-case, covered
with lead, which, together with the lanthorne in the middle thereof, are
a
special ornament to that building."
  From the time of Edward the First to that of Henry the Seventh, the
common houses were built of wood. "There was a porch before the
                                      2A