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of a reddish free stone. Like most of our Northern
strong-holds, this castle is built in a square form, with
its sides facing the cardinal points; three of which have
been defended by a ditch, and the other (the North side) is
close to the river Emont. No place can exhibit more striking
remains of that gloomy strength for which these edifices of
defence were so remarkable; arched vaults, winding passages
in the walls, so narrow as not to admit more than one person
at once; the doors to these passages contracted to a mere
hole, through which no one can enter without stooping; and
the remains of vast bolts and massy hinges, give us a lively
idea of those times of danger and jealousy, when the lord
was almost a prisoner in his own castle.
Some of these vaults and holes are as curious as they are
difficult of access; one of which contains what is called
the Sweating Pillar, from it being continually covered with
a moisture or dew. This vault should appear to have been the
dungeon or keep where prisoners were confined, and is
situated under the main body of the building; its walls are
four or five yards thick, through which are several dark
passages, some open, others blocked up. In the centre stands
the pillar, which, at its top, where it reaches the roof of
the vault, divides itself into eight branches; these
branches are reflected along the curvature of the vault,
like the arms of a tree; thus preserving, even in a dungeon,
the true Gothic stile of architecture. The extremities of
these branches terminate near the ground in deformed heads
of animals, such as we constantly see in the buildings of
our ancestors; and each of these heads holds in its mouth an
iron ring, probably intended for the chaining of unruly and
riotous prisoners. Part of the roof is now broken, and that
side of the pillar opposite to the breach is now become dry,
which furnishes us with a solution of the phaenomenon of the
sweating.
Cambden calls Brougham Castle the Brovoniacum, and tells us,
that the word signifies, that a company or band of defenders
lay there, and adds, that there was a beautiful town there.
For this he quotes Antonine, who places the Brovoniacum 20
Italian miles from Verterae: nor is it improbable that the
foundation of this Castle was laid by the Romans, as the
Roman causeway which leads from Carlisle, by the Ala
Petriana, passes this place, Kirkby-Thore *, and
Brough, under Stainmore.
The first authentic historical account we have of this
Castle is in the reign of William the Conqueror, who granted
it, and the estate belonging to it, together with the Barony
of Westmorland, to Hugh de Abrinois. This Hugh de Abrinois,
(who was surnamed Lupus, and was the son of a sister of the
Conqueror's,) and his successors, held it till the year
1170, when it was forfeited by Hugh de Morville †.
King John afterwards granted this Castle, together with
Appleby, to Robert de Veteripont or Vipont, the son of Maud,
daughter of Hugh de Morville: but Robert, the grandson of
this Robert, espousing the cause of Montfort Earl of
Leicester, forfeited his estates, which however were
restored to Isabella and Ivetta, or Idonea, his two
daughters. They being minors were in wardship to the King,
who delegated this trust to Roger de Clifford of
Clifford-Castle in Herefordshire, and Roger de Leybourne of
the County of Kent: these guardians afterwards married them
to their two sons Roger de Clifford and Roger de Leybourne.
Idonea, who was married to Roger de Leybourne, died without
issue, but Isabella became the mother of the illustrious
family of the Cliffords. In the Clifford family this estate
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† Hugh de Morville was one of the knights who
murdered Thomas á Becket. He, with his accomplices
Renigald Fitz-Urse, William de Tracy, and Richard de Brito,
fled from the hatred of the people, on account of this
murder, to a castle at Knaresborough, belonging to Hugh de
Morville; finding themselves likewise detested there, they
went in the year 1172 to Rome for absolution, and are said
to have all perished upon a black mountain, where they were
commanded to do penance. / GUTHRIF.
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