HAMPTON-COURT, (Herefordshire) 5 m. S. E. of Leominster, is in some maps stiled Hampton-Charles. Rowland Lenthall, master
of the wardrobe to K. Hen. IV. built a very fine house here, which has for a long time been the seat of the Coningsbys;
from whom descended the late E. (so created by K. Geo. I.) whose daughter was married to the late Sir Michael Newton, and
was created Countess Coningsby in her father's life-time. 'Tis built castle-wise in a valley on the r. Lug, under
coverture of Dynmoor; and from the top of the house goes a stair-case, which they say has a subterraneous conveyance to
Dynmoor-Wood. Here is a very fine park, 8 m. in com. with about 1200 head of deer, and a broad pool 3 quarters of a m.
long, bet. 2 great woods. The dam, which forms it and is made over a valley, cost 800 l. and was finished in a fortnight
by 200 hands. A new r. is cut quite through the park, the channel of which, for a long way together, is hewn out of the
rock. This enriches vast tracts of land, vhich before were barren. Here are also new gardens and canals laid out, and new
plantations of timber; which, with warrens, decoys, sheep-walks, pastures for cattle, &c. supply the house with all
conveniencies and necessaries; and there is store of water on all sides of it, for the fountains, basons, and canals. Here
are some good pictures of the Countess's ancestors, painted by Holben, Vandyke, Sir Peter Lilly, &c. and an original of K.
Hen. IV. Q. Eliz. the Duchess of Portsmouth, &c.