Views in Suffolk, Norfolk, and Northamptonshire/Troston Hall
Troston Hall.
The Seat of Capel Lofft Esqr
TROSTON HALL.
This seat is the neat retirement of Capel Lofft, Esq., to whom the Public are in a great measure indebted for their knowledge of the Farmer's Boy. The proprietor has been at considerable pains to make every appendage consistent with his own peculiar taste; to this end he has inscribed almost every tree in his garden and its vicinity to names of classic celebrity, such as Homer, Demosthenes, Cicero, Milton, Cowley, and many others: the large elm in the foreground of the View is called the Evelyn Elm, in memory of the antiquary and planter of that name. And to commemorate a visit to Troston Hall by the celebrated philanthropist Howard, in the year 1786, a Laurel was planted which now bears his name. Two horsechesnut trees and two oaks were planted here by R. Bloomfield in January 1805, which are carefully reared.
This estate was purchased by Robert Maddockes, Esq., in the year 1680, from whose family it came to its present possessor, by whom a very remarkable anecdote is related of the father of this Robert Maddockes, which exhibits a singular instance of the fluctuations of family greatness. He is said to have descended from the Maddockes of Wales, who formerly held the sovereignty of that principality; but the same combination of events which deprived them of a crown, reduced him below the rank of mediocrity; for this man, who could boast of a regal ancestry, was actually reduced to traverse the extent of country from Wales to London on foot in search of employment, at the age of thirteen, friendless and alone; and having heard that Cheapside was the most likely place to obtain what he wanted, on his arrival in town he repaired thither. After waiting some time, he observed a merchant soil his shoe in crossing the street. Full of ardour for any circumstance that might give rise to employment, he availed himself of this, and immediately ran and cleaned the shoe. The merchant, struck with the boy's humiliating, attention, inquired into his situation, and hearing his history, took him into his service: when some time had elapsed he employed him in his counting-house; and he afterwards became a partner in the firm, and acquired a considerable fortune.
Mr. Lofft is known in the literary world by various publications of a professional kind as a barrister; and several poetical pieces and essays of a political nature.