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GROVE.

CHAP. XIV.

GENERAL DESCRIPTION, ETC.

THE barony of Grove, with the manor of West Retford, was part of the large property granted by William the Conqueror, to Roger de Busli and is thus noted in Doomsday survey

From Roger de Busli it came to Gerbert (or Gilbert) de Arches, Baro de Grove, (in the early part of the reign of Henry the second,) whose great grand-daughter, Theophania, being a co-heiress, carried it to Malvesinus de Hercy, in the reign of Henry the third. It continued in the Hercy family till Sir John de Hercy bequeathed it to Barbara, one of his sisters, and co-heiress, who had married George Nevile, Esq. of Ragnall, in whose family it continued till the latter end of the seventeenth century, when Sir Edward Nevile sold it to Sir Creswell Levinz, one of the Judges of the Common Pleas. Sir Creswell Levinz was succeeded by his son, William Levinz. who resided at Grove, and was sometime one of the members for East Retford, and afterwards for the county. This William Levinz left a son, William, who alienated the greatest part of his inheritance, and sold the manor and estate of Grove, with its appurtenances, in the year 1762, to Anthony Eyre, Esq. of Rampton, and of Adwick, the father of Anthony Hardolph Eyre, Esq. the present possessor. A large brick house, in the old English style, with gable ends, and mullion windows, had been erected at Grove, at a period which is not known, and had undergone considerable alterations. During the wars between the Houses of York and Lancaster, the Hercy family, with their neighbours the Stanhopes, of Rampton, were active supporters of the House of Lancaster, and during the arduous struggle for superiority, were frequently surrounded by dangers of no common kind; till at length Victory

"To Tudor's brow transfer'd the gem,
The long disputed diadem."

Afterwards, as a mark of their zeal, and as a remembrance of their past services, they each of them inserted in the walls of their respective mansions, a sculptured rose and crown, the device assumed by Henry the seventh, and by many of his adherents. This device was placed in the house at Grove, over a large Gothic window, which lighted the principal staircase. Sir Creswell Levinz and his son, made some alterations in the house, and Mr. Eyre after he purchased it, entirely altered the character of it, removing the whole of the ancient roof, and pulling down a considerable part of the south-west front, in the place of which, under the direction of Mr. Carr, the architect, he built a suite of rooms of handsome and more convenient dimensions. In making this alteration, he took down a stone tower, which must have been built in the time of Queen Elizabeth, and under it were found a considerable number of the coins of that Queen’s reign.

The lordship of Grove is extensive, containing about 1500 acres, part of which is covered with wood, and the rest is occupied, either in grazing, or to agricultural purposes.

The situation of Grove Hall, is said to be the most elevated and picturesque in the county; on all sides, the views are pleasing and extensive: to the east the levels of Lincolnshire appear beautifully tinted with variety, the view of which, is backed with the noble promontory on which part of the city of Lincoln stands, whilst the minster rears its venerable head, and overlooks the vast Plains which extend themselves until the ocean terminates their bounds. To the west the view is equally extensive, the ancient forest of Sherwood, from the numerous woods and plantations which rear their heads in every direction, reminds the beholder of ancient days, when the famous oaks displayed their towering boughs; this very interesting view is only terminated by the hills of Kinderskout in Derbyshire. To the north and south, numerous objects are distinguishable, to enumerate which, would exceed my limits, and the place must he visited ere the beautiful scenery can be properly appreciated.

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