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canopies, and ornamented with quatrefoils and shields of
arms. The Howards are more gorgeously decorated with all the
insignia of armorial blazonry. Unfortunately little care has
been taken of these splendid tombs; the long dank grass, and
weeds and moss, are fast defacing these proud memorials of
the haughty barons, once lords of this beautiful domain.
The cloisters run parallel with the south side of the
conventual church, and have been connected with it. The
groining is early English, with cross springers diverging
from a row of piers running up the middle, and from
pilasters on the sides. The dormitory which was above, is
now a garden, so that there is a constant dropping and
dampness below. There are some Roman antiquities which have
been found in the neighbourhood, preserved here. Of the
remainder of the conventual buildings, we may observe a
square tower, with square mullioned windows, three stories
in height, which was erected, or at least considerably
repaired, in the sixteenth century, by the bastard Dacre for
his residence. Another tower, with the Tudor flower in the
cornice, forms part of the residence of the present aged
curate of Lanercost. In the church-yard is the recumbent
effigy of a knight, having the hands clasped on the breast.
This Abbey forms fine pictures from the grounds of Naworth
and the surrounding woods. The best near view is from the
corner of the area in which it stands, under the
wide-spreading elms; hence the
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