Gents Mag 1814 part 2 p.628
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Gentleman's Magazine 1814 part 2 p.628
belonging to the Countess of Pembroke. This is the county town, an extensive place, of very high antiquity, though some doubts exist about its ever having been a Roman town, which many assert; but no fragments of this kind ever having been found it rests upon mere conjecture. The Countess herself believed the keep of the Castle to be of Roman construction; but there is no appearance of any such character. It may probably claim a date as early as the Conquest, which the general form and circular arches induce us to believe is near the time of its erection. It has received the appelation of Caesar's Tower, but from what circumstance is not exactly known. It has a square turret at each angle, rising above the battlements, terminated by a leaden cupola and vane, is surrounded by a high rampart wall, extending Eastward a considerable length, with two bastions; the North has one bastion and the entrance gateway. In the East and part of the North side are the dwelling buildings, which have been much altered from their original state. The whole of this is encompassed and farther protected by a deep foss, which in addition to its lofty situation must have rendered it a very formidable place of defence. The quantity of ground in the Castle Park, including the Castle, &c. is twenty-two acres and eight perches. The whole is now finely wooded; and the beautiful river Eden, flowing under the steep declivity towards the East, renders the scene particularly grand. Towards the North end of the town stands the Church, dedicated to St. Laurence, near an old bridge of two arches, at the West end of which was formerly a small Chapel, likewise dedicated to that Saint. The Church is large, having a long body of three aisles, a small chancel, a low tower embattled at the West end, and a porch on the South side. Great part of the Church was rebuilt by the Countess in the year 1659, and a vault made during her lifetime near the North-east angle of the chancel. On the North wall is her monument of black marble, on which are distributed twenty-four shields bearing arms, the pedigree of her illustrious family. In the base is this inscription: 'Here lyes expecting yr second comeinge of our Lord and Savious Jesus Christ, ye dead body of ye Lady Anne Clifford, daughter and sole-heire to George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland, by his blessed wife Margaret Russell, Countess of Cumberland, which Lady Anne was born in Skipton Castle in Craven ye 30th of January (being a Friday) in the year 1590, as ye year begins on New-year's-day. By a long-continued descent from her father and his noble ancestors, she was Barroness Clifford, Westmorland, and Vesey, High Sherifesse of the county of Westmorland, and Lady of ye Honor of Skipton in Craven aforesaid. She married for her first husband Richard Sackville, Earl of Dorset; and for her second husband, Philip Herberte, Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, leaving behind her only two daughters that lived, which she had by her first husband; the eldest, Margaret Countess of Thanet, and the younger Isabella Countess of Northampton. Which Lady Anne Clifford Countess Dowager of Pembroke, Dorset, and Montgomery, deceased at her Castle of Brougham. ye 22nd day of March, in ye year of our Lord 1675, Christianly, willingly, and quietly, having before her death seen a plentiful issue by her two daughters of thirteen grandchildren; and her body lies buried in this vaulte.'Yours, &c. AN OBSERVER. |
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gazetteer links
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-- Appleby Castle | ||
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-- "St Laurence's Church" -- St Lawrence's Church | ||
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