Page:Walks in the Black Country and its green border-land.pdf/445

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and its Green Border-Land.
431

The third building in the rank and age of interest is the Leicester Hospital. It is a unique edifice as well as institution. Hawthorne has given such a graphic description of both in "Our Old Home" that I will not undertake an extended notice of either. It is the best thing that Elizabeth's favourite ever did; and having done one of such large design and compass of benevolence, it should accrue to the credit of his memory. The buildings are as picturesque as possible. They are of the half-timbered order which all Englishmen, but few Americans, understand. For the benefit of the latter I have called it the skeleton order, or a house showing all its thigh-bones and ribs fleshless to the world. The front building is older than Leicester's day, and was once occupied as the halls of various guilds of the town. He added, by his bequests, a quadrangle of buildings with this old edifice for the front. Here twelve brethren and the master find a home of comfort, case, and quiet meditation. The brethren are to be selected from old, infirm, or superannuated soldiers from the four towns and villages, Warwick, Kenilworth, Stratford-on-Avon, Wooton-under-Edge, and Erlingham. In default of soldiers, other subjects of the bounty are admitted from these places. Each brother is allowed £80 per annum, besides the privileges of the house. Each has a separate apartment, well aired and