Gents Mag 1839 part 2 p.510
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Gentleman's Magazine 1839 part 2 p.510
of superior talents, as well as extensive territory, passed a long life in the exercise of vice-regal power: and what renders the place particularly interesting, is the circumstance that, from the death of that distinguished personage in the year 1640, "This castle has undergone little alterations, either in respect of the buildings, furniture, ornaments, or appearance. It seems, like few fortresses of so much strength, to have escaped during the ensuing season of devastation and bloodshed, as no record exists to show that it was held either for the King or Parliament." (P.14.) The castle of Kirkoswald being dismantled about the year 1604, by Lord Dacre of the South, the ceilings of the hall and chapel, with their curious paintings, were purchased by Lord William, who applied them to the same uses at Naworth, and the repairs were proceeding when the castle was visited by Camden in 1607." (P.23.) At the end of the picture gallery, a massive iron-grated door, secured with huge bolts, forms the entrance to the rooms which remain as Lord William Howard left them. "After passing through a short dark passage, the first apartment is entered. It is a bedchamber, retaining its original furniture, measuring 14 feet by 18 feet; the floor is formed of a hard composition, and the mantlepiece has sculpted on it three shields, with the arms of Dacre quartering those of Vaux, Lancaster, and de Morville; Dacre impaling Greystock (modern); and Boteler of Wemme impaling ---, supposed to be Vaux. The shields are all surrounded by the garter, and on labels between them is the motto Fort en loialte. The walls are wainscoted with oak and covered with tapestry. On pushing aside a panel of the wainscot near the fire-place, there is a dark apartment vaulted with stone, and guarded at the entrance by a strong door of oak. "Above the bedchamber and secret room are two other apartments, forming a library and a private chapel. A circular stone staircase, dark and narrow, admitting only one person to ascend at a time, conducts us to these rooms. The library is of the same size as the bedchamber beneath it, but more gloomy. It is fitted up with plain closets, filled with a valuable collection of old works on history, school-divinity, &c. There was formerly a good collection of MSS. in this library, but only a few of them now remain, and those of little value.* "There is, however, one extremely curious document, containing a life of Joseph of Arimathea ('extractus de libro quem invenit Theodosius imperator in Jerusalem') and his twelve disciples; together with a history of saints, with the number of years or days for which each could grant indulgences in the monastery of Glastonbury. It is written on six large skins of fine vellum, beautifully illuminated, and is pasted in a wooden case, with two folding leaves, the dimensions of which are two feet by three feet. There is an old reading desk of four sides, in the form of a pyramid, with a flattened apex; which, by means of a screw passing through the centre, can be raised or depressed at pleasure. "The windows of this chamber are narrow, and are reached by an ascent of three steps. The ceiling is richly carved, in a similar manner to the ceiling in the deanery of Carlisle. The corbels and bosses are embellished with armorial devices. Here Lord William spent much of his time; 'a lover of the venerable antiquity,' as he was styled by Camden, having closed his door, he could pursue his favourite study without interruption." Mr. Jefferson has presented us with the copy of a catalogue of the library. From the dates of some of the books, it appears to have been made some time subsequently to Lord William's day; though the greater number of them are the best historical and learned works that were published in his life-time. One volume, a Treatise on the Real Presence, contains the autograph of John Fisher, Episcopus Roffensis; another was a present from an Abbat (sic) of Fountains. On the title-page of most of the books is the autograph of Lord William Howard, written in a good hand, and, in some cases, a short remark is added. For instance, in a |
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* Lysons states that most of these MSS. are now in
the library of the Heralds' College.
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gazetteer links
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-- Kirkoswald Castle | ||
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-- Naworth Castle | ||
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-- Naworth Castle | ||
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