Gents Mag 1848 part 1 p.618

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1848 part 1 p.618 inventions of those interested, who furnished him with the spurious information. This letter first appeared in the Manchester Guardian, and was thence transferred, with proper emendendations and additions, to the pages of your long-established and useful periodical; and we have only to say that, if this ridiculous letter was thus industriously published for the purpose of conveying to the public mind certain high notions as regards the antiquity of Brougham Hall, the thing is a perfect hoax from beginning to end. It would be tedious to follow Mr. Shaw step by step in all his turnings and windings through this enchanted castle. We shall therefore content ourselves with merely selecting a few specimens, in order to satisfy you of the imposition intended to be put upon the public by the epistle of Mr. George Shaw of Saddleworth. In the first place, the house in question never had a tower at all belonging to it till the year 1832, when the "huge square tower," as Mr. Shaw calls it, was built;* and therefore, when Mr. Shaw mentions the "huge square tower," or the great tower, which is the same thing, as evidently constructed to defend the pass in the approach," and the "strange sort of gallery, which appears to be over the machicolations of the great tower (the same again), and from whence missiles of offence had in ancient times been projected," - we say, when he was so describing this apology of a tower, he knew perfectly well such tower was entirely new in 1832, and that consequently nothing but chamber missiles would, in all human probability, be thrown from that tower since the said year of our Lord 1832; yea, and the more likely to be so as this strange, queer gallery, we are told, has since that time been turned into a bed-room "with quite a Udulphoish, dreamy character!" Then as to the "low, heavy-towered gateway," with its "significant loop-holes," which were to give the "unwelcome visitors of yore a warm reception," and the out-offices in the yard, with which "the antiquary is delighted, of various ages, though none to appearance later than the time of Henry VII." - "covered with ivy and the weather-stains of centuries," and "stone-groined arched passage," &c. - would you believe they were all erected in the reigns of George III. George IV. William IV. and Victoria, but principally in that of our most gracious queen Victoria!! But the remarkable discovery which it was reserved for Mr. George Shaw to make was "some Norman work in the shape of an arched recess, in making some alterations in one of the towers; and this room now being repaired (mark the word!) to give it a character somewhat in accordance with the date of the ancient work there discovered." Good gracious, Sir! this small room (there is no tower), called the Norman room, under which is the before-named groined arch, was only newly erected in 1844. Now this is a discovery indeed, for which Mr. George Shaw desrves a gold medal! The "gathered-up masonry" upon corbelled projections of "Edwardian character," together with the grand staircase, were totally new erections in the years 1843-44; and the "trap-door in the wormed oaken-planked floor leading out amongst the brush-wood," notwithstanding Mr. Shaw's melting soliloquy, never existed, except in his pompous letter, and if sought for will be found in the Greek calends, but not till then. As to the nicknackery displayed on the inside walls of the house, such as suits of armour, match-lock guns, military accoutrements, spears, pennoncels, banners, &c. "objects of interest, from their family associations," (hear'st thou, Mars!) they have all been brought down from the various curiosity shops in Wardour Street and elsewhere since 1830; and the same may be said of nearly every like article in the house. And as to the cow-horn lately hung up - we beg pardon, the "old Saxon horn, a very interesting relic, by possession of which, somehow or other, the lands were anciently held;" and the "Crusader's sword, in a quiet corner, of intense interest from its having been brought, with a prick-spur, from the tomb of Udard de Brougham, in the chancel of Brougham church," are two of the most rampant and audacious fictions ever attempted in modern times to be foisted on public credulity. The account of the chapel is equally
	* See Cobbett's Register, 17 Nov. 1832.
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