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Brougham, Brough,
Appleby
Dec. 31.
Mr. URBAN,
RETURNING to London by Penrith and Brougham last Summer, my
attention was attracted by a Pillar, standing on a
gently-rising ground on the South side of the road, about a
mile this side of the latter place. On examination, I found
it to have been erected in the year 1656, by the Countess
Dowager of Pembroke; a woman so justly celebrated for her
many excellent qualities, that a little description of this
memorial, with four of the numerous castles belonging to
her, and which, under her munificence, were repaied and
preserved from demolition, may, I presume, not be
unacceptable. This Pillar is between seven and eight feet
high, and about three in diameter, of an octagonal form,
with capital and base: it supports a square block of stone,
on two sides of which are sun-dials, on a third the arms of
Veteriponts and Clifford, impaling Russell, surmounted by an
earl's coronet; and on the fourth. the following
inscription, on a brass plate:
'This pillar was erected, anno 1656, by the Right Honourable
Ann Countess Dowager of Pembroke, &c. and sole heire of
the Right Honourable George Earl of Cumberland, &c. for
a memorial
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