Old Cumbria Gazetteer |
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| Countess Pillar, Brougham | ||
| Countess Pillar | ||
| civil parish:- | Brougham (formerly Westmorland) | |
| county:- | Cumbria | |
| locality type:- | memorial | |
| locality type:- | pillar | |
| locality type:- | sundial | |
| coordinates:- | NY54602895 | |
| 1Km square:- | NY5428 | |
| 10Km square:- | NY52 | |
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 BLM07.jpg (taken 23.12.2005)  BLM08.jpg (taken 23.12.2005) |
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| evidence:- | old map:- OS County Series (Wmd 4 9) placename:- Countess Pillar |
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| source data:- | Maps, County Series maps of Great Britain, scales 6 and 25
inches to 1 mile, published by the Ordnance Survey, Southampton,
Hampshire, from about 1863 to 1948. |
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| evidence:- | descriptive text:- Defoe 1724-26 placename:- Countess Pillar item:- obelisk; coat of arms; sundial |
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| source data:- | Tour through England and Wales, by Daniel Defoe, published in
parts, London, 1724-26. "... the famous column, call'd the Countess Pillar, the best and most beautiful piece of its kind in Britain. It is a fine column of free-stone, finely wrought, and enchas'd, and in some places painted. There is an obelisk on the top, several coats of arms, and other ornaments in proper places all over it, with dials also on every side, and a brass-plate with the following inscription upon it:" "THIS PILLAR WAS ERECTED ANNO MDCLVI, BY THE RIGHT HONORABLE ANNE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF PEMBROKE, AND SOLE HEIR TO THE RIGHT HONORABLE GEORGE EARL OF CUMBERLAND, ETC. FOR A MEMORIAL OF HER LAST PARTING IN THIS PLACE WITH HER GOOD AND PIOUS MOTHER THE RIGHT HONORABLE MARGARET COUNTESS DOWAGER OF CUMBERLAND, THE SECOND OF APRIL, MDCXVI, IN MEMORY WHEREOF SHE ALSO LEFT AN ANNUITY OF FOUR POUNDS, TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE POOR WITHIN THIS PARISH OF BROUGHAM EVERY SECOND DAY OF APRIL FOR EVER UPON THE STONE TABLE HERE BY." "This Countess of Pembroke had a noble and great estate in this county, and a great many fine old seats or palaces, all which she repaired and beautified, and dwelt sometimes at one, and sometimes at another, for the benefits of her tenants, and of the poor, who she always made desirous of her presence, being better'd constantly by her bounty, and her noble house-keeping. But those estates are all since that time gone into other families." "This lady was one of the family of Clifford; ..." |
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| evidence:- | descriptive text:- Simpson 1746 placename:- Countess's Pillar |
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| source data:- | Atlas, three volumes of maps and descriptive text published as
'The Agreeable Historian, or the Compleat English Traveller
...', by Samuel Simpson, 1746. goto source"..." "W. of the Hawthorn Tree [Hart Horn Tree], and upon the old Roman Way is the famous Column, call'd the Countess's Pillar, the best and most beautiful Piece of its Kind in Britain: It is a fine Column of Free-stone, curiously wrought in Basse-Relieve, and in some Places painted: It has an Obelisk on the Top, several Coats of Arms, and other Ornaments in proper Places all over it, with Dials also" goto source"on every Side, and a Brass Plate, with the following Inscription, in Capital Letters:" "This Pillar was erected Anno 1656, by the Right Honourable ANNE, Countess Dowager of Pembroke, and sole Heir of the Right Honourable GEORGE, Earl of Cumberland, &c. for a Memorial of her last parting in this Place with her good and Pious Mother, the Right Honourable MARGARET, Countess Dowager of Cumberland, the 2d of April, 1616. In Memory whereof she has also left an Annuity of Four Pounds to be distributed to the Poor within this Parish of Brougham, every 2d Day of April for ever, upon the Stone Table hereby." |
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| evidence:- | old map:- Jefferys 1770 (Wmd) placename:- Ladys Pillar |
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| source data:- | Map, 4 sheets, The County of Westmoreland, scale 1 inch to 1
mile, surveyed 1768, and engraved and published by Thomas
Jefferys, London, 1770. J5NY52NW.jpg "Ladys Pillar" pillar item:- National Library of Scotland : EME.s.47 Image © National Library of Scotland |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Pennant 1773 item:- coat of arms |
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| source data:- | Book, A Tour from Downing to Alston Moor, 1773, by Thomas
Pennant, published by Edward Harding, 98 Pall Mall, London, 1801. goto source Pennant's Tour 1773, page 154 "... close to the way, a handsome octagonal pillar, with dials on two of the sides; on another, six annulets, the arms of Vipount, who brought the Brougham estate into the Clifford family, and those of the noble Lady in memory of whom the pillar was erected, viz. Clifford impaling Russel, surmounted by an Earl's coronet; and on another the following inscription, in memory of her last parting with her mother the Countess Dowager of Cumberland, who lies interred in the church of Appleby:" ""This pillar was erected, anno 1656 "By the Right Hon. Anne Countesse Dowager of "Pembroke, and sole Heir of the Right "Honourable George Earl of Cumberland, &c. "For a memorial of her last parting in this place "With her good and pious Mother the Right Honourable "Margaret Countesse Dowager of Cumberland, "The second of April 1616. In memory whereof, "She also left an annuity of four pounds, "To be distributed to the Poor within this "Parish of Brougham, every second day of April, "For ever, upon this stone table. "Laus Deo!"" "The column and stone-table are in good repair, and the" goto sourcePennant's Tour 1773, page 155 "annual oblation is still made, according to the will of the charitable donor." |
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| evidence:- | old map:- Donald 1774 (Cmd) placename:- Ladys Pillar |
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| source data:- | Map, hand coloured engraving, 3x2 sheets, The County of Cumberland, scale about 1
inch to 1 mile, by Thomas Donald, engraved and published by Joseph Hodskinson, 29
Arundel Street, Strand, London, 1774. D4NY52NW.jpg "Ladys Pillar" pillar by the road item:- Carlisle Library : Map 2 Image © Carlisle Library |
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| evidence:- | descriptive text:- West 1778 (11th edn 1821) |
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| source data:- | Guide book, A Guide to the Lakes, by Thomas West, published by
William Pennington, Kendal, Cumbria once Westmorland, and in
London, 1778 to 1821. goto source Page 170:- "..." "... In Whinfield-park are the Countess-pillar, ... a filial tribute of Ann, Countess Dowager of Pembroke, to the memory of her pious mother, Mary, Countess Dowager [of Cumberland; ...]" goto sourceAddendum; Mr Gray's Journal, 1769 Page 200:- "... Passed ... Countess-pillar, ... crossed the Eden and the Eamont ... [to] Penrith ..." |
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| evidence:- | old map:- West 1784 map placename:- Ladys Pillar |
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| source data:- | Map, hand coloured engraving, A Map of the Lakes in Cumberland,
Westmorland and Lancashire, scale about 3.5 miles to 1 inch,
engraved by Paas, 53 Holborn, London, about 1784. Ws02NY53.jpg item:- Armitt Library : A1221.1 Image © see bottom of page |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Clarke 1787 placename:- Countess's Pillar |
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| source data:- | Guide book, A Survey of the Lakes of Cumberland, Westmorland,
and Lancashire, written and published by James Clarke, Penrith,
Cumberland, and in London etc, 1787; published 1787-93. goto source Page 3:- "..." "We come now to the Countess's Pillar, which is twelve feet high, and built of hewn stone: it has a large quadrangular capital, each of whose faces answers to one of the cardinal points. On the East, West, and South, are dials, and on the North, the following inscription:" ""This Pillar was erected A.D. 1656, by the Right Honourable Anne Countess of Pembroke, and sole heir of the Right Honourable George Earl of Cumberland, for a memorial of her last parting, in this place, with her good and pious mother the Right Honourable Margaret Countess Dowager of Cumberland, the 2d of April 1616. In memory whereof she has left an annuity of L.4 to be distributed to the poor within the Parish of Brougham, every 2d day of April for ever, upon the stone hereby. Laus Deo."" "This money was secured to be paid out of certain lands at Brougham; but afterwards when those lands came into the possession of James Bird, he transferred the security to some lands at Yanwath." |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Camden 1789 (Gough Additions) item:- sundial |
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| source data:- | Book, Britannia, or A Chorographical Description of the Flourishing Kingdoms of England,
Scotland, and Ireland, by William Camden, 1586, translated from the 1607 Latin edition
by Richard Gough, published London, 1789. goto source Page 160:- "..." "... the Countess pillar, erected by Anne countess of Pembroke, and adorned with arms, dials, &c. and a black obelisk on the top, and this inscription in brass:" "This pillar was erected anno 1656, by the right honourable Anne, countess dowager of Pembroke, and sole heir to the right honourable George earl of Cumberland, &c. for a memorial of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother the right honourable Margaret Countess Dowager of Cumberland, the second April, 1616, in memory whereof, she also left an annuity of four pounds to be distributed to the poor within this parish of Brougham every second day of April for ever upon the stone table hereby. Laus Deo." |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Gents Mag item:- coat of arms |
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| source data:- | Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or
Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the
pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London,
monthly from 1731 to 1922. goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1814 part 2 p.626 "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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| evidence:- | old text:- Gents Mag 1814 |
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| source data:- | goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1814 part 2 p.627 "of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother, the Right Honourable Margaret Countess Dowager of Cumberland, the 2nd of April, 1616. In memory whereof she also left an annuity of four pounds to be distributed to the poor within this parish of Brougham every 2nd day of April for ever, upon the stone table here hard by. Laus Deo.'" "A few paces towards the South is the base of a small stone table, the upper part of which has been thrown down, and lies near the spot: how long it has been in this state, I know not; but with very little trouble it might be replaced, and both preserved from destruction. Gratitude to the benevolent distributor of so many charities would, I think, be alone sufficient to preserve this and all other of her works from wanton demolition; and when we reflect on the doubly pious intention of this little monumental tribute, as expressed in the inscription, it is a duty absolute and indispensable. This exalted female character (the daughter of George Clifford, third Earl of Cumberland, by Margaret Russell his wife,) was born at Skipton Castle on the 30th of January, 1590. ..." |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Gents Mag |
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| source data:- | Magazine, The Gentleman's Magazine or Monthly Intelligencer or
Historical Chronicle, published by Edward Cave under the
pseudonym Sylvanus Urban, and by other publishers, London,
monthly from 1731 to 1922. goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1831 part 2 p.399 "Oct. 22." "Mr. URBAN," "PASSING a day this autumn at the pleasant town of Penrith, I visited some of the objects of interest in its vicinity, and amongst them was the Pillar erected by the Countess of Pembroke, Dorset, and Montgomery, to commemorate the last parting with her mother, called by the people in the neighbourhood, the Countess's Pillar. It stands on a little green eminence on the right of the high road from Penrith to Appleby, which is also the road to Appleby from Brougham Castle, whence no doubt the two ladies set out, the mother - who appears to have been left at Brougham, as she died there seven weeks after the parting, - accompanying the daughter so far on her journey. The distance from Brougham Castle is about half a mile. The home view from the spot on which it stands, is not in any respects striking: but in the distance, looking east-" |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Gents Mag 1831 item:- coat of arms |
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| source data:- | goto source Gentleman's Magazine 1831 part 2 p.400 "[east]ward, we see the vast range of Cross Fell, a line of lofty hills extending for many miles, while behind, Saddleback appears raised above the other hills." "The pillar consists of an octagonal shaft, each of the faces being twelve or fifteen inches in breadth. On this is raised a cube, over which is a kind of capital." "The shaft is plain; but on the face of the cube which is toward the road, are two shields of arms, which appear to have been recently repainted. The one presents Clifford impaling Vesci, Gules, 6 annulets Or, the marriage which gave the Cliffords their great northern possessions. The other is Clifford impaling Russell, the achievement of the father or the mother of the lady by whom the pillar was erected; but plainly intended for the lady, since there is no crest, while the red griffin of the Cliffords is given over the other shield." "There is also on this face the date 1654." "The three other faces of the cube serve as the plates of sun-dials; but in that on the side from the road is inserted a brass-plate containing the well-known inscription, of which the following is an exact copy:" "THIS PILLAR WAS ERECTED ANNO 1650 / BY YE RT HONOLE ANNE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF / PEMBROKE, &C. DAUGHTER AND COHEIR OF YE RT / HONOBLE GEORGE EARL OF CUMBERLAND, &C. FOR A / MEMORIAL OF HER LAST PARTING IN THIS PLACE / WITH HER GOOD &PIOUS MOTHER YE RT HONOBLE / MARGARET COUNTESS DOWAGER OF CUMBERLAND, / YE 2D OF APRIL, 1616. IN MEMORY WHEREOF / SHE ALSO LEFT AN ANNUITY OF FOUR POUNDS / TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO THE POOR WITHIN THIS / PARRICH OF BROUGHAM EVERY 2D DAY OF APRILL / FOR EVER, UPON THE STONE TABLE HERE HARD BY. / LAUS DEO." "The inscription appears to be an addition to the original design, and not to have been put up until after the death of the Countess of Pembroke. It is awkwardly placed in the face of the sun-dial, and it is so much raised above the eye of the spectator, that it is read with difficulty." "The stone-table no longer exists, but a stone still fixed firmly in the ground very near the pillar, seems to mark the place where it stood; and a flat stone lying in the ditch under the hedge at a short distance, is what appears to have been the table slab. One cannot but regret that a monument of a very interesting character should not be kept up, and that since soome cost has been recently bestowed upon it, the table on which the benefaction of the Countess ought to be dispensed, has not been restored." "..." "ANAMNESTES." |
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| evidence:- | descriptive text:- Ford 1839 (3rd edn 1843) |
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| source data:- | Guide book, A Description of Scenery in the Lake District, by
Rev William Ford, published by Charles Thurnam, Carlisle, by W
Edwards, 12 Ave Maria Lane, Charles Tilt, Fleet Street, William
Smith, 113 Fleet Street, London, by Currie and Bowman,
Newcastle, by Bancks and Co, Manchester, by Oliver and Boyd,
Edinburgh, and by Sinclair, Dumfries, 1839. goto source Page 134:- "... the Countess' Pillar, a lofty and handsome stone obelisk, erected by the good Countess of Pembroke in 1656, to commemorate her parting with her mother, the countess dowager; it is adorned with dials and armorial quarterings. ..." |
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| evidence:- | old text:- Harper 1907 placename:- Countess Pillar |
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| source data:- | HP01p123.txt Page 123:- "..."  click to enlargeHP0114.jpg "COUNTESS PILLAR." "..." HP01p124.txt Page 124:- "... the monument known in all this country-side as the Countess Pillar; built by her in 1656. It is adorned with her arms and those of allied families, and bears this inscription" "" "This Pillar was erected Anno 1656 by ye Rt. Honoble Anne Countess Dowager of Pembroke and sole heir of the Rt. Honoble George, Earl of Cumberland, for a memorial of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother, ye Rt. Honoble Margaret, Countess Dowager of Cumberland, ye 2d of April, 1616, in memory whereof she also left an annuity of four pounds, to be distributed to ye poor within this parrish of Brougham every 2d day of April for ever upon ye stone table here hard by." "LAUS DEO." "And here accordingly on every succeeding second of April, the distribution yet takes place." "..." item:- JandMN : 1055.15 Image © see bottom of page |
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| evidence:- | database:- Listed Buildings 2010 placename:- Countess's Pillar |
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| source data:- | courtesy of English Heritage "COUNTESS'S PILLAR / / / BROUGHAM / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 74213 / NY5461428957" |
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| source data:- | courtesy of English Heritage "Monument/sundial, scheduled A.M. Dated 1656 with C20 restoration. Dressed pink sandstone partly painted. Octagonal column on chamfered base with moulded cap and cuboid block under shaped finial. The block has sundials on 3 faces with metal gnomons and painted faces; the front with Clifford arms and the misleading date 1654. The rear sundial has an inscribed plate: THIS PILLAR WAS ERECTED ANNO 1656 BY YE HON'BLE ANNE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF PEMBROKE AND DAUGHTER AND SOLE HEIRE OF YE RT HONO'BLE GEORGE EARL OF CUMBERLAND AND FOR A MEMORIAL OF HER LAST PARTING IN THIS PLACE WITH HER GOOD AND PIOUS MOTHER YE RT HONO'BLE MARGARET COUNTESS DOWAGER OF CUMBERLAND YE 3RD OF APRIL 1616. IN MEMORY WHEREOF SHE ALSO LEFT AN ANNUITY OF FOUR POUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO YE POOR WITHIN THIS PARISH OF BROUGHAM EVERY 2ND DAY OF APRIL FOR EVER UPON YE STONE TABLE HERE HARD BY. Set on a flagged base with C20 railings around it. Nearby is the alms table listed separately. Restored at the cost of L3,000 by English Heritage in time for the distribution of alms on 2 April 1986. See RCHM, Westmorland, 1936, p.62." |
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| evidence:- | database:- Listed Buildings 2010 |
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| source data:- | courtesy of English Heritage "ALMS TABLE BESIDE COUNTESS'S PILLAR / / / BROUGHAM / EDEN / CUMBRIA / II[star] / 74214 / NY5461828957" |
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| source data:- | courtesy of English Heritage "Alms table. 1656 same date as Countess's Pillar. 2 square flat slabs laid one on the other, that on top with chamfered underside. Lead filled holes held something on top. Used for the distribution of alms on 2nd April each year since 1656. Graded for group value with countess's Pillar." |
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| evidence:- | old print:- Pennant 1773 (edn 1801) placename:- Anne Clifford's Column |
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| source data:- | Print, engraving, Anne Clifford's Column, ie the Countess PIllar, Brougham, Westmorland,
drawn by Moses Griffith, engraved by S Sparrow, published by Edward Harding, 98 Pall
Mall, London, 1801. click to enlargePEN623.jpg Tipped in opposite p.154 of A Tour from Downing to Alston Moor, 1773, by Thomas Pennant. printed at bottom left, right, centre:- "Moses Griffith. Del / S Sparrow Sc. / ANNE CLIFFORD'S COLUMN / Pub June 1 1801 by Edw Harding 98 Pall Mall." item:- Armitt Library : A1057.23 Image © see bottom of page |
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 BLM09.jpg "THIS PILLAR WAS ERECTED ANNO 1656. BY YE R. HONOBLE. ANNE COUNTESS DOWAGER OF PEMBROOK &c. DAUGHTER & SOLE HEIRE OF YE RT. HONOBLE. GEORGE EARL OF CUMBERLAND, &c. FOR A MEMORIAL OF HER LAST PARTING IN THIS PLACE WITH HER GOOD &PIOUS MOTHER YE RT. HONOBLE. MARGARET COUNTES DOWAGER OF CUMBERLAND YE 2D. OF APRIL 1616. IN MEMORY WHEREOF SHE ALSO LEFT AN ANNUITY OF FOUR POUNDS TO BE DISTRIBUTED TO YE POOR WITHIN THIS PARRISH OF BROUGHAM EVERY 2D. DAY OF APRIL FOR EVER UPON THE STONE TABLE HERE HARD BY." (taken 23.12.2005)  BLM10.jpg (taken 23.12.2005)  BLM11.jpg (taken 23.12.2005) |
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| notes:- |
Cumbrian Sundials database, R Sylvester, 29.5.2008:- |
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| "Penrith / 3 miles east, by roadside of A66 / Countess' Pillar" |
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| made 1656 |
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| British Sundial Society reference number 1136 |
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| person:- | : English Heritage |
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| person:- | : Clifford, Anne, Lady |
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| date:- | 1616 |
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| period:- | 17th century, early | |
| item:- | sundial; coat of arms |
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| Monument with sundials and family crests, built by Lady Anne Clifford on her parting
from her mother, 1616. |
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