Jasper County Democrat, Volume 15, Number 62, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1912 — WOULD RETAIN ART TREASURE [ARTICLE]

WOULD RETAIN ART TREASURE

English Antiquarians Up In Arms at Prospect of Loss of Cromwell’s Staircase.

London antiquarians are up in arms against a proposal to sell to wealthy Americans the famous carved staircase In what is known as Cromwell’s house, Highgate Hill, a fine seventeenth century mansion, presented, according to tradition, by Cromwell to his eldest daughter Bridget. Cromwell house is a red brick house faced with stone. A boundary stone in the adjoining wall bears the date of 1614, and this is generally accepted as the year of Its construction. The house was occupied at one time by General Ireton, Cromwell’s son-in-law, and it is suggested that it formed part of the dowry of Cromwell’s eldest daughter Bridget. The whole of the Internal ornaments bear evidence of military occupancy. Unfortunately the greater portion of the drawing room celling was destroyed by fire nearly a century ago, but some exquisite -woodwork haw been revealed during recent renovation.' I ■ , . ( s The main staircase, which is the immediate subject of concern, is of handsome proportions, and bears at Its various corners beautifully carved figures of soldiers of the commonwealth period The handrail is of distlnctlve molding, whilst the balustrades are rich with cleverly executed devices emblematic of warfare. Handsomely carved oak pendants appear at intervals above the staircase.