Gents Mag 1848 part 1 p.620

---

	introduction
	list, 2nd qtr 19th century
	previous page
	Gentleman's Magazine 1848 part 1 p.620 absurd. This edifice was erected for the accommodation of the inhabitants of Brougham Village, which is situated near three miles from the parish church, and was up to 1833 quite a plain building, with a common barn-like roof. It has since been ceiled to the slates, and each side of the roof divided into many compartments, and each division contains an escutcheon of stucco, not carved, but plain plaster, not one of which coats of arms can we find has any reference to the Brougham family whatever. Bedecked with gold and ornaments, the whole affair is but gilt gingerbread; it is gingerbread still. The fiction about St. Wilfred's Well in this chapel was never before heard of. The "open carved benches and pulpit," the "parclose screen," the "old lace altar-cloth," the "ambry," and "collection of old ecclesiastical vessels, processional cross, and pyx," are all inventions and importations here since 1833; nor was there a vestige of stained glass in it prior to that date: since which time Lord Brougham has appropriated, or wishes to appropriate, this chapel to his own use. Then, as to the Crusader's grave, so wonderfully discovered in the parish church of Brougham, belonging to Udard de Broham, it is the most puerile creation ever set up, particularly as bones bear no inscriptions nor dates; and it was shrewdly observed by one of the London daily papers at the time of the supposed discovery, that from the cross-legged position in which the skeleton was found it was as likely to have been the timbers of an ancient knight of the thimble as a crusader. We are of the same opinion. Lastly, the "Castle of Brougham in ruins," which has now been in the Earl of Thanet's family for about 644 years, was not forfeited by the Brougham family in the reign of King John. Neither was Udard de Broham governor of Appleby castle temp Hen. II. Nor have that family been located there from the time of the Heptarchy. The hall does not stand upon the Roman station; nor is the manor of Brougham theirs, but the estate of the Right Honourable the Earl of Thanet. We have written thus a plain statement of facts, in order to set the public right, and to prevent if possible the spread of untruths, such as those circulated under the mask of Mr. George Shaw of Saddleworth's letter most undoubtedly are, and which ere long will be copied into every four-and-sixpenny gazetteer in England; and we think it is high time such outrageous perversions of historical facts for family gratification should cease and determine. We are, &c. OLD SUBSCRIBERS.
	continued
	gazetteer links
	-- Brougham Hall
	-- St Ninian's Church
	-- St Wilfrid's Chapel

Lakes Guides menu.

---