|
Gentleman's Magazine 1848 part 1 p.373
Returning once more to the baronial hall, with its fifteenth
century gloom and chivalric recollections, and passing
thence along the stone cloistered passage, access is gained
by a postern door heavily hinged and bolted to the terrace,
at one end of which the bridge before mentioned as passing
high overhead above the principal approach leads to the
chapel - a low and very ancient building, apparently sunk in
the earth, and grey with lichen and moss, but inside of
uncommon splendour. Dr. Markham, a prebendary of Carlisle,
in a MS. which relates principally to the ecclesiastical
matters of the diocese, and written about 1680, says, "At
the mansion of Browham stand a chapel of a very anctient
erection. In the year 1377 Johannes de Burgham is said to
have had 'Capellam apud Browham Scte. Wilfrido sacram
antiquis temporibus fundatum,' and that a chaplain
attended divine offices at it.
The roof is an open timbered one, consisting of a series of
arches, and carved with armorial insignia of the family. The
seats are open benches, that standards and poppy heads all
richly carved, and the pulpit a piece of very fine late
work. One part of the chapel is divided from the rest by an
elaborate parclose screen, forming an ante-chapel, in which
is placed the organ and choir. There is a fine altar-piece
of the most gorgeous character, brought from the continent,
and placed by Mr. William Brougham in its present situation,
the original one of very old carved oak being removed to the
west end of the chapel. There is also a very curious old
lace altar-cloth. In an ambry are a collection of antique
ecclesiastical vessels of silver gilt, with sundry relics of
enamelled crosses, pyx, monstrance, &c. The windows
contain much good painted glass, particularly that in the
eastern one, which bears a very strong resemblance to the
glass in the celebrated transept window known as the Five
Sisters in York Cathedral. The discarded stone flag,
formerly the altar, I searched in vain for among the flags
of the floor, where it is so frequently found, with its five
crosses, in old churches; but the piscina yet remains. There
is a traditional story that the chapel was built over the
holy well of St. Wilfred, from which water is said to have
risen up inside the font, by what in all other fonts is the
drain to carry off the water to the earth. This, however, if
it ever did exist, has long since ceased to act. The chapel,
hall, terrace, court-yard, &c. stand upon the site of
the ancient Roman station Brovacum or Brovoniacum, from
which it is supposed by Camden and others that the name
arises; and behind the chapel, the Roman altars, and other
remains of inscriptions, now built up in the walls of the
great court to preserve them, were found. Dr. Markham, in
the MS. before quoted, A.D. 1680, thus writes:- "That
Browham was a Roman station is evident from the many Roman
altars which have been frequently dug up here. In the year
1602 one was discovered near the confluence of the rivers
Lowther and Eamont, with these letters inscribed,-
IMP
C. VAL
CONSTAN
TINO
PIENT
AUG
and of late years several of the like kind have been found
in the fields, but so shattered and defaced by the rashness
and negligence of the workmen and labourers, that the
characters are not legible." These are now, as before
stated, in the great court near the entrance gate tower, in
a quiet snug corner, not exposed to any danger. Gale, in his
edition of the Itinerary of Antoninus, ed. 1719, p.97,- the
latter part of the fifth journey from London to Carlisle,-
gives "Brovaco," Brougham, the intermediate station between
Brough and Carlisle. Camden and Stukeley also mention the
station. In Caxton's Chronicle, "The Description of
Englande," &c. is the following passage:- "Other men
wolde suppose yt Alcluid was that cite that now is called
Burgham, in the north cou~tre of Westmorlonde, fast
by Comberland, and standeth by the river Eden. The cite is
there wondrously seen."
The family burial aisle is not in the chapel at the hall,
but in the chancel of Brougham church, or as sometimes
called "Nine Kirks;" and here from
|