Excerpt from An Eighteenth-Century Correspondence: Being the Letters of Deane Swift, Pitt, the Lytteltons and the Grenvilles, Lord Dacre, Robert Nugent, Charles Jenkinson, the Earls of Guilford, Coventry, and Hardwicke, Sir Edward Turner, Mr. Talbot of Lacock, and Others to Sanderson Miller
From the quaint octagon room in this tower you can survey the whole field and fight that undecisive battle over again, marvelling at the rashness of Prince Rupert, whose fiery counsels persuaded the King to leave his lofty post of vantage and descend those pre cipitous slopes to try conclusions with his enemy on the plain below. But few that look out over that lovely vale one of the most beautiful views of our mid-england - know that they are on ground which is associated with men who helped to make England's history long after the days of Roundhead and Cavalier. Here came Pitt - the Great Commoner - the Grenvilles, and the Lytteltons, while Lord North was constantly bringing distinguished guests from his neighbouring house at Wroxton to admire the prospect and to picnic at the tower. For all these men were the personal friends of the man who built it-sanderson Miller of Radway Grange - man of letters, antiquarian, and architect. A hundred and sixty years ago his tower was generally regarded with profound admiration, and persons of taste looked up to its designer as to one of the greatest authorities on Gothic architecture in the kingdom, while his taste in the classical orders was not less esteemed. He built many Gothic castles (so called) beside his own, and made alterations and additions to and designed houses in the Gothick Taste for many of his friends; while Hagley Hall and the admirable County Hall at Warwick still bear witness to the really excellent work he achieved in classic architecture.
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