Page:An Encyclopædia of Cottage, Farm, and Villa Architecture and Furniture.djvu/701

 COUNTRY INNS AND PUBLIC HOUSES. 677 paititions. Considerable assistance might be afforded to the bar-woman, to enable her to see in every direction, by looking-glasses, judiciously disposed without and within the bar, as these would reflect places and persons which could not otiicrwise be seen. The situation of the bar, in a narrow building, may be at the end of the entrance- hall, with one side looking towards it, and the one opposite looking towards the yard. In size, the bar need never be large; because, though, in small public houses and inns, it is used as a shop or store-room, as well as an office, yet, in general, it is used in the latter capacity only. Here the books of the inn are kept, and orders given to the cook, the keeper of the cellar, the ostler, or the stable-yard keeper j and here also all monies are given in, which have been received by the different servants or waiters. Adjoining the bar there is usually the private room of the master and mistress of the house ; and the larder and general store-room are commonly near, and within sight of it. 1416. The ^Iccommodation of the Stable-court ought to be proportionate to that of the house. In a conspicuous situation, at the entrance to the court, there ought to be the office of the superintendent of this department, which should command a view of the interior of the stable-yard ; and also, if possible, be seen from, and look to, a window in the bar-room. In very extensive country inns, the stable-yard should be a distinct part of the establishment from the farm yard, for obvious reasons ; but in small establishments they may often be combined, the cattle-courts being altogether separated from the courts for post horses, travellers' horses, and carriages. The principal buildings in the stable- yard of an inn are the stables, coach-houses, and houses for corn and fodder. There ought also to be an ample harness-room, a room for boiling or steaming food for sick horses, an hospital, a shoeing-house or smithy, and a wheelwright's shop, or place for repairing carriages. There are other minor accommodations which will readily occur. In all large establishments there ought to be a riding -liouse ; and the business of a riding- master might be very well combined with that of innkeeper. 1417. The Accommodations in the Grotinds are first and principally a dairy, a poultry- house, and an icehouse ; there ought also to be a complete farmery ; a kitchen-garden, with forcing-houses ; an orchard or a vineyard, according to the climate ; and a large park for guests to take exercise in on horseback or in carriages, and for a herd of deer, as well as other animals for profit and pleasure, including what is called game. Near the house there ought to be lawns and pleasure-grounds for pedestrian exercise. 1418. In Public Houses, or Inns of a7i inferior Description, all these accommodations must necessarily be very limited : the park may be dispensed with ; the farmery included in the stable-court ; and the pleasure-ground limited to a bowling-green, tea-gardens, and place for playing at skittles or other games. 1419. The Situation of an Inn, or Public House, for ordinary purposes, should in general either be on or near a public road, or on the margin of a canal or river ; but the particular points along roads or other lines for public conveyances on which inns should be placed are subjects which require some consideration, especially in new coun- tries, where most people travel in stages or coaches, which stop for refreshment only at certain distances. The great object ought to be, so to arrange the stopping places, as that the inns may always be built in dry healthy situations, with extensive and agreeable prospects ; we say extensive, because one object, with all travellers, is, to form some general idea of the country through which they pass. With respect to inns of recreation, it is obvious, that to place them on any other spot than one of great natural beauty can never be a voluntary act ; since situation and accompaniments, much more than the plan of the dwelling, will naturally be the principal inducements to guests. Under inns of this sort, we of course include those of vi-atering-places, baths, springs, fishing and shooting stations, and various others, which it would lead us beyond our proposed limits to describe. 1420. The Architectural Style of an Inn in the country maybe as various as that of any dwelling-house, and there is no beauty within the whole range of cottage and villa architecture that may not be conferred on it. Indeed, as country inns on public roads are likely to be among the most permanent of country dwellings, it is very desirable, with a view to the general beauty of a country, that they should be built, not only in a substantial manner, but in a highly improved style of design. In old countries, such as Europe, it is seldom found necessary to erect a building expressly for the purpose of an inn of recreation ; as there are generally mansions of decayed nobility, or convents, or other buildings belonging to wealthy individuals or public bodies, which are to be purchased at a moderate rate, with gardens and grounds, and every requisite accom- paniment and appendage. Many houses of this description are in the finest natural situations which Europe affords, and their eligibility for inns of recreation is so de- cided, that they could not in general be turned to any other use with half the advantage. In America, the building of country inns appears to be an art yet in its infancy ; but, with the progress of wealth and the improvement of manners in that country, it is pro-