|
|
[court]yard, and those who have visited Cambridge or Oxford
will be struck with its resemblance to some of the college
quadrangles. On one side a flight of steps leads to the long
ancient hall, in which are a succession of portraits of the
English kings, and some rude wooden armorial emblems brought
from Kirkoswald Castle, besides figures clad in plate
armour, one in that belonging to Lord William Howard. The
chapel is in another angle; its ceiling is adorned with the
genealogical tree of the Dacres and Howards. Both the hall
and chapel are lighted with perpendicular windows, whose
mullions are embattled. The state drawing-room and bed-room,
with their tapestried walls and decaying furniture, show the
poor comfort that the nobles of old times enjoyed, compared
with what even poor people possess at present. The gallery
is enriched with a few portraits, and several good specimens
of ancient armour. But the chief objects of curiosity are
the apartments of Lord William Howard, which are entered
through a small door-way, strongly barred by a massy iron
door, having the pannels filled with oak, and strengthened
with a couple of bolts of corresponding dimensions. One
person at a time only can enter; then the stair-case winds
spirally up to the oratory and study, similarly protected,
and thus rendering the access still more difficult. His bed
is still preserved, but sadly tattered and torn by persons
anxious to possess some memorial of Belted Will, the severe
but salutary scourge of a race of bold, reckless, murderous
|
Lakes Guides menu.
