button to main menu  Simpson's Agreeable Historian, 1746

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Page 195:-
[a]bout 100 Years ago, not without great Admiration, were dug up some huge Stones, which looked like the Foundation of a Castle; but it is more probable, that they were the Ruins of some Church or Chapel built upon the Mountain, because it was thought an extraordinary Piece of Devotion in those Parts, (and Wormius testifies the same of Denmark) to erect Crosses and build Chapels in the most eminent Places, as being nearer Heaven, and more conspicuous: they were commonly dedicated to St. Michael: On the same Account the large Tract of Mountains, which runs thro' the E. Side of the County, is call'd Crosse Fells; for before they were call'd Fiends, or Devil's Fells, as a small Town at the Bottom of them still bears the Name of Dilston, i.e. Devil's Town.
  St Bees
Westward, and a little to the N. of Egremond, juts out a Promontory, call'd St. Bees Head, whereon is the Town of St. Bees, made famous for being the Birth Place of Archbishop Grindal, who founded and endow'd a good Grammar School there, which has a Library belonging to it: And it is much improved by the Munificence of Dr. Lamplugh, an Archbishop of York; Dr. Smith, Bishop of Carlisle; Sir John Lowther, of Whitehaven, and others: The Right of presenting a Master is in the Provost and Fellows of Queen's College, Oxford.
  eminent men
Among the eminent Men born in this County, besides Archbishop Grindal, before-mention'd were
1. Sir John Bankes, Attorney-General in the Reign of King Charles I. born at Keswick, where he set up a Workhouse for the Poor of this Parish, and the Parish of Crosthwate.
2. Dr. William Aglionby, descended of the Aglionbys of this County: He was a Gentleman well known for his polite Learning, and sent by the late Queen Anne as Envoy to the Swiss Cantons.
3. Sir Joseph Williamson; he was the Son of a Minister of this County, and had his Academical Education in Queen's College in Oxford; of which, after having proceeded to Master of Arts, he became a Fellow: He was first introduc'd into the Secretary's Office by Sir Edward Nicholas, Secretary of State, and afterwards continued Under-Secretary to Henry, Earl of Arlington, when he was Principal Secretary of State. In the Year 1661, he
was
gazetteer links
button -- "Crosse Fells" -- Cross Fell
button -- "Hardknot Hill" -- Hard Knott
button -- "Keswick" -- Keswick
button -- St Bees School
button -- "St Bees" -- St Bees
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