Barton Park is the country house of Sir John Middleton. It is located in a valley in Barton, Devonshire, approximately four miles north of Exeter and, according to Mrs. Jennings, three miles away from the nearest market.
Architecture and Decor
The narrator tells us that “the house was large and handsome; and the Middletons lived in a style of equal hospitality and elegance. The former was for Sir John’s gratification, the latter for that of his lady.” We have little detail about the age or layout of the home, but we do hear Mr. Palmer complain about the house’s lack of a billiards room on a rainy day.
Park, Gardens and Land
Barton Park appears to have a number of attached buildings, as would be the case with a major country house. We know Barton Cottage, which is leased to Mrs. Dashwood, is about half a mile away. Given Sir John’s interest in hunting, we can reasonably assume the house has substantial stables.
Staffing
We know that there is a maid named Sally on staff, but have no further information.
History and Context
Pinpointing the style and scope of Barton Park is difficult as the reader is given few architectural details and little information about the Middleton family. Based on Sir John’s title and general attitude, it is likely the family has been part of the squirearchy for some time, but never especially illustrious.
We are told that Barton Cottage “had not been built many years,” suggesting that parts of the property saw significant improvements in recent history. These may or may not have included the house itself.
