button to main menu   West's Guide to the Lakes, 1778/1821

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Page 171:-
of Cumberland; and the trees are the remains of large aged oaks, that have long out-lived their own strength. One of them is upwards of nine yards in circumference. Brougham-castle is an awful ruin, the Brovoniacum of the Romans, and since that the bulwark of Westmorland, on that side, and the pride of its Earls for many descents. In the roof of a gallery, is a stone with a Roman sepulchral inscription, much defaced. At Little-Salkeld is the largest druidical circle in the northern parts. Near Eamont bridge is Arthur's round table, and at a small distance from it is Mayburgh, both of remote antiquity, and doubtful use. The first may be presumed to have been a place of public exhibition for martial exercises, and the latter has the circumstances of a British fort; but the rude pillar inclines some to believe it the remains of a druid temple. It is entirely formed of loose stones and pebbles, collected from the adjacent rivers and fields. That the height has once been great, may be collected from the vast breadth of the base, increased by the fall of stones from the top. It incloses an area of 80 yards or more, and near the middle stands a red stone, upwards of three yards high. The entrance is on the eastern side, and opens to a sweet view of Brougham-house, to which the rude pillar when whitened (and of this Mr. Brougham is very careful) is a fine obelisk.
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gazetteer links
button -- Arthur's Round Table
button -- "Brovoniacum" -- Brougham Castle
button -- "Brougham House" -- Brougham Hall
button -- Long Meg and Her Daughters
button -- "Mayburgh" -- Mayburgh
button -- "Three Brothers Tree" -- Three Brother Tree
button -- White Hart Tree

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