Gents Mag 1848 part 1 p.373

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	Gentleman's Magazine 1848 part 1 p.373 Returning once more to the baronial hall, with its fifteenth century gloom and chivalric recollections, and passing thence along the stone cloistered passage, access is gained by a postern door heavily hinged and bolted to the terrace, at one end of which the bridge before mentioned as passing high overhead above the principal approach leads to the chapel - a low and very ancient building, apparently sunk in the earth, and grey with lichen and moss, but inside of uncommon splendour. Dr. Markham, a prebendary of Carlisle, in a MS. which relates principally to the ecclesiastical matters of the diocese, and written about 1680, says, "At the mansion of Browham stand a chapel of a very anctient erection. In the year 1377 Johannes de Burgham is said to have had 'Capellam apud Browham Scte. Wilfrido sacram antiquis temporibus fundatum,' and that a chaplain attended divine offices at it. The roof is an open timbered one, consisting of a series of arches, and carved with armorial insignia of the family. The seats are open benches, that standards and poppy heads all richly carved, and the pulpit a piece of very fine late work. One part of the chapel is divided from the rest by an elaborate parclose screen, forming an ante-chapel, in which is placed the organ and choir. There is a fine altar-piece of the most gorgeous character, brought from the continent, and placed by Mr. William Brougham in its present situation, the original one of very old carved oak being removed to the west end of the chapel. There is also a very curious old lace altar-cloth. In an ambry are a collection of antique ecclesiastical vessels of silver gilt, with sundry relics of enamelled crosses, pyx, monstrance, &c. The windows contain much good painted glass, particularly that in the eastern one, which bears a very strong resemblance to the glass in the celebrated transept window known as the Five Sisters in York Cathedral. The discarded stone flag, formerly the altar, I searched in vain for among the flags of the floor, where it is so frequently found, with its five crosses, in old churches; but the piscina yet remains. There is a traditional story that the chapel was built over the holy well of St. Wilfred, from which water is said to have risen up inside the font, by what in all other fonts is the drain to carry off the water to the earth. This, however, if it ever did exist, has long since ceased to act. The chapel, hall, terrace, court-yard, &c. stand upon the site of the ancient Roman station Brovacum or Brovoniacum, from which it is supposed by Camden and others that the name arises; and behind the chapel, the Roman altars, and other remains of inscriptions, now built up in the walls of the great court to preserve them, were found. Dr. Markham, in the MS. before quoted, A.D. 1680, thus writes:- "That Browham was a Roman station is evident from the many Roman altars which have been frequently dug up here. In the year 1602 one was discovered near the confluence of the rivers Lowther and Eamont, with these letters inscribed,- IMP C. VAL CONSTAN TINO PIENT AUG and of late years several of the like kind have been found in the fields, but so shattered and defaced by the rashness and negligence of the workmen and labourers, that the characters are not legible." These are now, as before stated, in the great court near the entrance gate tower, in a quiet snug corner, not exposed to any danger. Gale, in his edition of the Itinerary of Antoninus, ed. 1719, p.97,- the latter part of the fifth journey from London to Carlisle,- gives "Brovaco," Brougham, the intermediate station between Brough and Carlisle. Camden and Stukeley also mention the station. In Caxton's Chronicle, "The Description of Englande," &c. is the following passage:- "Other men wolde suppose yt Alcluid was that cite that now is called Burgham, in the north cou~tre of Westmorlonde, fast by Comberland, and standeth by the river Eden. The cite is there wondrously seen." The family burial aisle is not in the chapel at the hall, but in the chancel of Brougham church, or as sometimes called "Nine Kirks;" and here from
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	gazetteer links
	-- Brougham Hall
	-- Brocavum
	-- St Ninian's Church
	-- St Wilfrid's Chapel

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