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Print, engraving, East View of Naworth Castle, Brampton,
Cumberland, late 18th century?
Pasted in the Lowther scrapbook, vol.4; between pp.490-491;
with descriptive text:-
NAWORTH CASTLE, CUMBERLAND. / PLATE I. / THIS Castle is
still entire. For the annexed account of it, and its
furniture, I am indebted to Thomas Pennant, Esq. who
permitted me to transcribe it from his memorandums. A visit
I made to it in August, 1774, enables me to bear testimony
to the faithfulness of the description, which here follows
in his own words: / 'Two miles from Brampton visit Naworth
Castle, once belonging to the Dacres, afterwards the
property (I think by marriage) of William Lord Howard,
commonly known by the name of Bauld-Willey. / IT is a large
pile, square, and built about a court. In the south side is
a gateway, with the arms of the Dacres; over the door, those
of the Howards. On the north, it impends over the river
Irthing, at a great height; the banks shagged with wood. The
whole house is a true specimen of ancient inconvenience, of
magnificence and littleness; the rooms numerous, accessible
by sixteen stair-cases, with most frequent and sudden
ascents and descents into the bargain. The great hall is
twenty-five paces long, by nine and a half broad; of a good
height; has a gallery at one end, adorned with four vast
crests, carved in wood; viz. a griffin and dolphin, with the
scollops; an unicorn, and an ox with a coronet round his
neck. In front, is a figure in wood of an armed man; two
others, perhaps vassals, in short jackets and caps; a pouch
pendant behind, and the mutilated remains of a Priapus to
each; one has wooden shoes. These seem to be the Ludibrium
Aulae in those gross days. / THE top and upper end of the
room is painted in figures, to the number of 107,
representing the Saxon kings and heroes. The chimney here is
five yards and a half broad. Within this is another
apartment, hung with old tapestry, a head of Anne of
Cleeves; on one side of her, a small picture of a lady
full-length, &c. and many others. / A long narrow gallery. /
LORD William Howard's bed-room, arms and motto over the
chimney. His library, a small room, in a very secret place,
high up in one of the towers, well secured by doors, and
narrow stair-case. Not a book has been added since his days,
i.e. those of Queen Elizabeth. In it is a vast case, three
feet high, which opens into three leaves, having six great
pages pasted in, being an account of St. Joseph of
Arimathea, and his twelve disciples, who founded
Glastonbury; and at the end, a long history of saints, with
the number of years or days for which each could grant
indulgences. / THE roof is coarsely carved. The windows are
high, and are to be ascended by three stone steps; such was
the caution of the times. It is said Lord William was very
studious, and wrote much; that once, when he was thus
employed, a servant came to tell him that a prisoner was
just brought in, and desired to know what should be done
with him? Lord William, vexed at being disturbed, answered
peevishly, Hang him. When he had finished his study, he
called, and ordered the man to be brought before him for
examination; but found that his orders had been literally
obeyed. He was a very severe, but most useful man at that
time, in this lawless place. His dungeon instills horror; it
consists of four dark apartments, three below, and one
above, up a long stair-case, all well secured; in the
uppermost is one ring, to which criminals were chained, and
the marks where many more have been. / CLOSE by the library
is an ancient Oratory, most richly ornamented on the sides
of the ceiling with coats of arms and carvings in wood,
painted and gilt. On one side is a good painting on wood, in
the style of Lucas Van Leyden; it represents the
Flagellation of our Saviour, his Crucifixion and
Resurrection. Here are also various sculptures in white
marble: an abbess, with a sword in her hand; and several
others. This place is well secured; for here Lord William
enjoyed his religion in privacy. / THE chapel is below
stairs; the top and part of the side are painted in pannels
like the hall; and on one side are the crests and arms and
pedigree of the Howards, from Fulcho to 1623 and 1644. Under
a great sprawling figure of an old man, with a branch rising
from him (on the ceiling) is written, Pictor, MDXII. On the
great window, in glass, are represented a knight and a lady
kneeling; on their mantles pictured these arms, three
escallops and chequers.'
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from:-
Scrapbook, 4 volumes, History of Westmorland and Cumberland
Illustrated, of descriptive texts, maps, and prints of views
and coats of arms, for Westmorland and Cumberland, assembled
by a member of the Lowther Family, late 18th early 19th
century.
The volumes are quarter bound, with marbled paper on the
covers; each has a bookplate inside the front cover. The
pages cut from various sources are nicely mounted, two sided
pieces set neatly in a window in the scrapbook page.
The main content is the whole of the two volumes of The
History and Antiquities of the Counties of Westmorland and
Cumberland, by Joseph Nicolson and Richard Burn, published
London, 1777. Nicolson and Burn volume 1 is in scrapbook
volumes 1 and 2, volume 2 in scrapbook volumes 3 and 4. Maps
and prints are interspersed to make an illustrated version
of the history.
Some of the sources of maps and prints have been
recognised:-
Maps - coast of Cumberland etc by Andrew Dury, 1764;
Westmorland and Cumberland by Richard Blome, 1673; sheets
from Britannia Depicta, Emanuel Bowen, 1720; Cumberland by
John Speed, Henry Overton edn 1695; Cumberland by John Cary
1787.
Prints from the Set of prints, 20 engravings, Views of the
Lakes etc in Cumberland and Westmorland, drawn by Joseph
Farington, published by William Byrne, London, 1789. Note
that plate numbers vary from edition to edition of this set.
Prints from the Antiquities of Great Britain, drawings by
Thomas Hearne, engraved by William Byrne, published by
Hearne and Byrne, London, 1786-1807.
Prints from Britannia Illustrata, drawings by Leonard Knyff,
engraved by John Kip, published London, 1707-1740.
Print from A Tour in England and Scotland, by Thomas Newte,
published by G G J and J Robinson, Paternoster Row, London,
1788..
Some of the coat of arms are cut from A Display of Heraldrie
by John Guillim late Pursuivant at Armes, published London,
about 1610-11 to 1755.
Coats of arms probably from The Baronetage of England, by
Edward Kimber and Richard Johnson, published London? 1771.
Pages from The Antiquarian Repertory, by Francis Grose,
Thomas Astle, et al, published London, 1775-1809.
Text from the Baronetage of England by Collins?
Scraps cut from an unidentified gazetteer.
At the end is the title page and pp.7-51 from A General View
of the Agriculture of the County of Cumberland, by John
Bailey and George Culley, published by C Macrae, London,
1794.
Individual maps and prints are documented separately; with a
note of their position in the scrapbooks.
inscription:-
: embossed: label on spine: (tatty remains): HI[ ] / [
]/WEST[ ]M[ ] / [ ] / CUM[ ]M[ ] / ILLUS[ ]T[E ]
inscription:-
: printed & embossed: bookplate: gold on grey; crest, 6
annulets from the coat of arms, flowers, thistles: LOWTHER
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