CASTLE The castle of Anglo Norman architecture. Great strength and security. Contentions in feudal times. # ex pa Brecknock. pa Worcester of an octagonal figure, rests upon several small clustered columns; and Market, Monday-Fair, May 4th, for cattle, sheep, and horses The village of Castle-Hedingham, the ancient seat of the Veres, Earls of Oxford, is chiefly remarkable for the castle from which it derives its name. It occupies an eminence near the village. Of this venerable structure the keep alone, from the massive solidity of its walls, has hitherto defied the encroachments of time. This is in the purest style of the Anglo Norman architecture, and it is conjectured to have been erected either by the first Aubrey, Earl of Oxford, or by his successor the former was slain by the rabble at London, in 1140; the latter died in 1214. The walls, at their base, are between 11 and 13 feet in thickness, and at their summit between 9 and 10 feet. The wall upon the east side is nearly a foot thicker than all the others, with a view, as it would seem, of enabling it better to withstand the injuries of the weather. The form of the keep is almost square, and it is somewhat about 100 feet in height. It was originally entered by a flight of stairs upon the west side, reaching to the principal door in the first story, about five feet from which is a circular staircase, of which part descends to the ground floor, and part ascends to the upper stories. Every possible attention has been paid to strength and security in the construction of this edifice, the walls being thickest at the bottom, admitting only a scanty portion of light through small loop-holes, the windows increasing, however, progressively in size, as they approached the top of the building, and receded from the danger. The Hall of Audience, which occupies a great part of the second story, is a grand apartment, well proportioned, and richly embellished. Here the feudal barons were accustomed to receive the homage of their vassals, and here was displayed all the ostentatious hospitality of the times. This castle was frequently an object of contention in the feudal times. At the time of the contest between the barons and King John, it was several times taken and re-taken. John, the twelfth carl, espoused the cause of the Lancasterians, and continued so firm in his allegiance to Henry VI., that Edward IV., at a parliament held on November the 4th, in the first year of his reign, caused him, though then nearly sixty years of age, to be attainted with Aubrey, his eldest son, and afterwards, with several others, to be beheaded on Tower-hill. John, his second son, during the first part of Edward's reign, was employed in the restoration of his deposed sovereign; and was reinstated in his estates and honours. The superior fortune of Edward having regained the ascendancy, the earl fled into France, whence returning with a small force, he surprised St. Michael's Mount, in Cornwall, but was soon obliged to yield himself a prisoner, and was sent by the king to the castle of Hammes, in Picardy, where he was closely confined for about twelve years; but at length effected his escape. In the mean time his estates were confiscated, and, in 1483, this castle, lordship, and manor, were granted for life to Sir Thomas Montgomery; who, however, did not enjoy them long, as, on CASTLE HEDING HAM. Splendid entertainment to Henry VII. Fifteen thousand marks ex acted for an offence against the statute of retainers. the accession of Henry VII., the act of attainder was repealed, and all the earl's estates and honours restored. This nobleman, who appears to have been a wise, magnificent, learned, and religious man, lived in great splendour and hospitality. These qualities seem to have drawn the jealousy and resentment of his master, at a moment more proper to extinguish than to actuate the sordid passions; at the close of a sumptuous and expensive entertainment given by the earl to Henry VII. at this castle. At the king's going away, the earl's servants stood in their livery coats and cognizances, ranged on both sides, and made a lane. The king called the earl, and said unto him, "My lord, I have heard much of your hospitality, but I see it is greater than the speech: these handsome gentlemen and yeomen, which I see on both sides of me, are sure your menial servants." The earl smiled, and answered, "It may please your grace, that were not for mine ease: they are most of them my retainers, that are come to do me service at such a time as this, and chiefly to see your grace." The king startled a little, and said, "By my faith, my lord, Í thank you for your good cheer; but I may not have my laws broken in my sight. My attorney must speak with you ;" and it is said that the earl compounded for no less than 15,000 marks for this offence against the statute of retainers. Edward, the seventeenth earl, was noted for his profusion, which occasioned him to alienate many of the family estates. His first wife was Anne, eldest daughter of the Lord Chancellor Burleigh, by whom he had three daughters; his second, Elizabeth, daughter of Thomas Trentham, gent., of Roucester, in Staffordshire, and maid of honour to Queen Elizabeth: by this lady he had one son, named Henry, who succeeded to the earldom. The honour and castle of Hedingham were secured by Lord Burleigh, probably with a view of providing for his three grand daughters. Previously to this, however, the castle was dilapidated, and most of the buildings razed to the ground, under the earl's warrant. The parks which were three in number, and contained several hundred acres, were parted, and let to several tenants in allotments. Henry, the eighteenth earl, was restored to this estate by agreement with his three half-sisters, and their husbands. On his death, without issue, in 1625, it was held in jointure by his Countess, Diana, second daughter of William, second earl of Exeter, after whose deccase, in 1655, it passed into his mother's family, who retained it till the year 1713, when it was purchased by Robert Ashurst, Esq., second son of Sir William Ashurst, knt., Lord Mayor of London in 1693. The Ashursts were succeeded by Sir Henry Houghton, of Houghton Tower, in Lancashire; but the present possessor is Lewis Majendie, Esq. who inhabits the mansion erected in the beginning of the last century. The manor of Castle-Hedingham, was given by William the Conqueror, to Aubrey de Vere; in whose family it continued with little interruption, till the year 1625. It was holden immediately of the crown, and exclusively of all other lordships. It was created an honour by Henry II. In this village, Aubrey, or Alberic, the first Earl of Oxford, and his wife, Lucia, who became the first prioress, founded a Benedictine A Benedicnunnery, before the year 1190. It was very amply endowed: though at tienery founded the dissolution its revenues were valued at only £29 12s. 10d. The before 1190. nunnery, and part of the chapel belonging to it, are yet standing; the former has long been converted into a farm-house. Án hospital, sometimes called the New Abbey, was also founded here about the year 1250, by Hugh, fourth Earl of Oxford, and endowed for two or three chaplains, a clerk, servant, and some poor and decrepit people. This building has been long destroyed. Castle-Hedingham church is an ancient stone fabric, with battlements of brick, supposed, from the ornaments and the carvings of the boar and mullet, on different parts of the structure, to have been erected by the De Veres. The present tower was built about the year 1616. In the midst of the chancel is a superb, but somewhat mutilated monument, covering the remains of John de Vere, sixteenth Earl of Oxford, The church an ancient stone fabric. CASTLE- who died on the 19th of March, 1539. This nobleman was Great Chamberlain of England, Chancellor of State to Henry VIII., and knight of the Garter. On the tomb are incumbent figures of the earl and his wife, the Lady Elizabeth; together with the arms and quarterings of the family, encircled by the garter. On the south and north sides are effigies of their children, four sons, and four daughters, kneeling with a book open before each. An inscription, engraven on brass, which went round the tomb, was torn off in the time of the civil wars. Various banners, gauntlets, Monuments and other warlike remains, belonging to the De Veres, are displayed in to the De different parts of the chancel. Here are also monuments of the Ashursts, Vere family. who possessed this estate in the last century. Sible-Hedingham lies one mile S.W. from Castle-Hedingham. These two places appear to have been connected till after the conquest, as they do not occur as distinct parishes till about the commencement of the reign of Henry III. Their situation is very pleasant, the lands being varied with gentle eminences, and watered by rills and small streams. At the time of the general survey, Sible Hedingham was held by Roger Bigot, by the marriage of whose second daughter it was conveyed to the De Veres, Earls of Oxford, from whom it descended in the same manner as Hedingham castle. Sible Hedinghain. A castle erected here prior to the year 1176. Market disused.-Fairs, May 14th, July 25th, August 15th, and October 25th, for hops and cattle. * CASTLE RISING. The market and borough town of Castle Rising is of such high antiquity that no account of it is furnished us by the royal records. It is said that the sea formerly flowed up to the town; which was probably a port, which circumstance is alluded to in the following traditionary verse — A castle was erected at this place by William de Albini, the first earl of Sussex, some time prior to the year 1176. It stood on a hill to the south of the town, and was a noble pile; in its plan nearly resembling Norwich castle, and almost of equal dimensions to that fortress. The walls of the keep are three yards thick; and the whole is encompassed by a deep ditch and bold rampart, on which was a strong wall, having three towers: the interior of the castle is much dilapidated. One of the rooms, where his lordship's court-leet used to be held, is more perfect than any of the other parts. In this fortress, Isabel, queen of Edward II., was confined after the death of her favourite Mortimer, during the twenty-eight latter years of her existence. Here she was visited by her son, Edward III., and his The corpo queen. The corporation of this borough is very ancient; it was formerly tation of the governo by a mayor, recorder, high steward, twelve aldermen, a borough. speaker of the commons, and fifty burgesses. At present the corporation consists but of two aldermen, who nominally serve the office of mayor in succession. Near the end of the church-yard is a square building, called the almshouse, built in the reign of James I., by Henry Howard, Earl of Northampton, for the accommodation of a governess and twelve The church poor women. The church is a curious ancient structure, and presents in its western front some singular architectural ornaments: it consists of only one aisle, with a square tower near the centre. The font is a large ancient piece of workmanship. Castle Rising formerly sent two members to parliament, but was disfranchised by the reform bill. This town and some of the adjacent parishes retain the Norman custom, by which all wills are proved before the clergyman of the parish. a curious ancient structure. 5 Castle Thorpe 24 Castle Thorpe.. 10 Castleton*, 12 Castleton 22 Castleton,.. 26 Castleton 56 Castlewright. 45 Castley.. 27 Caston 28 Castor.. 54 Caswell Bay. 29 Catchburn 8 Catchfrench pa Buckingham ham Lincoln... pa Derby pa Dorset. Dist. Popu County. Number of Miles from ation. Tidswell .5 Chapel-le-Fr 9 Shetheld. .13 6 Manchester .9 5 Marshfield...1 152 .....9 168 182 .7 .to Lancaster .ham Monmouth. .to Montgomery Otley. Montgomery 1 Newtown ...8 Llanfair pa & ham Northamp.. Glamorgan to Northumb nets, or Wind gates. Immense and fearful precipices. * CASTLETON. This place, which takes its name from an ancient castle, situated on a steep rock, to which there is only one ascent, and that so winding that it is nearly two miles to the summit, is in the hundred of High Peak. The immediate approach to Castleton, by the road across the mountains, from Capel-in-the-frith, observes Warner, in his "Northern Tour," is by "a steep descent, called the Winnets, or Wind-gates, from The Winthe stream of air that always sweeps through the chasms. This road is a mile in length, and carried on in a winding direction, in order to render the natural declivity of the ground passable by carriages. Happy was the imagination that first suggested its name, the gates or portals of the winds; since, wild as these sons of the tempests are, the massive rocks which nature here presents, seem to promise a barrier sufficiently strong to controul their maddest fury. Precipices 1,000 feet in height, dark, rugged, and perpendicular, heave their unwieldy forms on each side the road, which makes several inflections in its descent, and frequently presenting themselves in front, threaten opposition to all further progress. At one of these sudden turns to the left, a most beautiful view of Castleton Vale is unexpectedly thrown upon the eyes, refreshing it with a rich picture of beauty, fertility, and variety, after the tedious uniformity of rude and hideous scenery to which it has so long been confined." This peaceful and luxuriant vale has a very impressive effect from being contrasted with the bleak and elevated tracts that environ it. Its breadth is in many parts two miles, its length between five and six, and its depth below the general level of the surrounding country, nearly 1,000 feet. Through its bosom flow several meandering rivulets; and from the north and south various lesser dales open into it from different distances. The villages of Hope, Castleton, and Brough, are situated within its limits; and the former, with its spire church, forms a very agreeable feature in the scenery when Pleasing and viewed from this part of the descent. As the road winds along the declivity, the traveller obtains a prospect of Castleton, which appears clustered near the bottom of the steep eminence, at whose feet the Devil's The Devil's cavern, so well known by a coarser appellation, discloses itself, and whose summit is occupied by the ruins of the ancient castle that gave name to the place. Near the entrance of the village, a bridge has been thrown across the stream which issues from the cavern. The buildings are chiefly of stone. The support of the inhabitants is mostly derived from the mining business, and from the expenditure of those who are induced to visit the remarkable places in the neighbourhood. A ditch and vallum formerly extended in a semi-circular course round the village, from the rock on which the castle stands, and may yet be traced in certain directions. The elevated situation of the castle, and the almost perpendicular chasms that nearly insulate the eminence which it occupies, must, prior to situation of the invention of gunpowder, have rendered it almost impregnable. The east and south sides are bounded by a narrow ravine, called the cave, which ranges between two vast lime-stone rocks, and on the east is nearly 200 feet in depth. On the west it is skirted by the precipice which frowns over the great cavern, and rears its abrupt head to the height of 260 feet. luxuriant scenery. cavern. Elevated the castle. TON. Bath CASTLE- The north side is the most accessible, yet even here the path has been carried in a winding direction, to obviate the steepness of the ascent. The castle-yard, an enclosed area, extended nearly over the whole summit of the rock. The wall is nearly in ruins to the level of the area; though, in a few places, on the outside, it measures twenty feet high. On the north side stood two small towers. The entrance was at the north-east corner, as appears by the remaining part of an arched-way. Near the north-west angle is the keep. The walls of this building on the south Description and west sides are tolerably entire at the north-west corner they are of the castle. fifty-five feet high; but the north and east sides are much shattered. On the outside it forms a square of thirty-eight feet two inches; but on the inside it is not equal, being from north to south, twenty-one feet four inches; from east to west nineteen feet three inches. This difference arises from a difference in the thickness of the walls, which are composed of broken masses of lime-stone, and mortar of such an excellent temper, that it binds the whole together like a rock: the facings, both outside and inside, are of hewn gritstone. In the wall within is a little herringbone ornament. The inside, now a complete vacuity, anciently consisted of two rooms; one on the ground floor, and one above, over which the roof was raised with a gable-end to the north and south, but not of equal height with the outer walls. The ground floor was about fourteen feet high, the upper room about sixteen. The entrance to the former appears to have been through a door-way on the south side of the upper room, by a flight of steps, now wholly destroyed: the present entrance is through an opening in the wall. At the south-east corner is a narrow winding staircase, communicating with the roof, but in a ruinous condition. The antiquity of this castle is considerable. Mr. King, who has minutely described it in the sixth volume of the Archæologia, imagines it to have been a fortress, and place of royal residence, in the Saxon times; but other antiquaries suppose it to be a Norman structure, built by William Peverel of Peverel, natural son of the conqueror: the traditions of the neighbourhood also ascribe its erection to him; and its ancient appellation of Peverel'splace in the Peke, countenances the opinion. It is certain that Peverel possessed it at the time of the Domesday Survey, by the name of the Castle of Peke, with the honour and forest, and thirteen other lordships in this county. About this time a tournament is reported to have been held here on the following occasion. "Pain Peverel (half brother to William) Lord of Whittington, in the county of Salop, had two daughters; one of whom, named Mellet, was no less distinguished by a martial spirit than her father. This appeared from the declaration she made respecting the choice of a husband. She firmly resolved to marry none but a knight of great prowess: and her father, to confirm her purpose, and to procure and encourage a number of visitors, invited all noble young men who were inclined to enter the lists, to meet at Peverel's-place in the Peke, and there decide their pretensions by the use of arms; declaring, at the same time, that whoever vanquished his competitors, should receive his daughter, with his castle at Whittington, as a reward for his skill and valour. Guarine de Meez, a branch of the house of Lorraine, and an ancestor of Its antiquity and ruinous condition. the Peke. Female re solution in the choice of a husband. |