Part 24 (2/2)
+--+-----------------------+----------+-------------+------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles from
Lond.
Population.
+--+-----------------------+------------------------+-----+-----+ 9
Bees, St.[A] to & pa
b.u.t.termere 13
296
517
24
Beesby pa
M. Raisin 12
158
99
24
Beesby in the Marsh, pa
Louth 9
144
132
3
Beeston to
Bedford 8
48
258
+--+-----------------------+------------------------+-----+-----+
[A] BEES, (ST.) This ancient village is situated in the Ward of Allerdale, west by north from Egremont. It is understood to have derived its name and origin from a religious house, which was founded here about the year 650, by St. Bega, an Irish nun of great sanct.i.ty. On the death of Bega, a church was erected in honour of her virtues; but both these establishments having been destroyed by the Danes, William, son of Ranulph de Meschines, replaced them by a new foundation of Benedictine monks, and made it a cell to the Abbey of St. Mary at York: in the time of Henry I. The manor was granted after the dissolution to Sir Thomas Chaloner, by Edward VI. in the last year of his reign. It next became the property of a family named Wyberg, from whom, under a fore-closed mortgage, it pa.s.sed to an ancestor of the Earl of Lonsdale, about the year 1663. St. Bees church, which was erected about the time of Henry I., had the form of a cross, and great part of it is yet standing. The east-end is unroofed, and in ruins: the nave, however, is fitted up as the parish church, and the cross aisle is used as a place of sepulchre.
The ancient chancel has narrow lancet windows, ornamented with double mouldings, and pilasters, with rich capitals. At the east end are niches, of a singular form, with pointed arches, supported on well proportioned pillars, having capitals adorned with rich engravings. The whole edifice is of red free-stone. A free grammar school was founded in the village of St. Bees by Archbishop Girandal, under a charter from Queen Elizabeth, towards the close of the sixteenth century. This prelate was born in the neighbouring village of Helsingham, in the year 1519. He was educated at Cambridge, where he obtained a fellows.h.i.+p at Pembroke Hall. Being attached to the principles of the Reformation, Bishop Ridley made him his chaplain, and precentor of St. Pauls. He was also appointed chaplain to the King, and prebendary of Westminster; but on the accession of Mary he retired to Germany, and settled at Strasburgh. When Elizabeth ascended the throne he returned home, and was employed in revising the Litany. In 1559 he was chosen master of Pembroke Hall, and the same year preferred to the see of London, from whence, in 1570 he was translated to York, and in 1575 to Canterbury.
Two years afterwards he was suspended from his archiepiscopal functions, for refusing to obey the Queen's order to suppress prophecyings, or the a.s.sociations of the clergy to expound the Scriptures. His sequestration was taken off, though he never completely recovered the royal favour. He died at Croydon, 1583. He contributed to Fox's acts and monuments. James I. afterwards increased the endowments, which have been since augmented by divers benefactors. Several scholars of great eminence have received the rudiments of education in this seminary. It is remarkable, however, that, till a few years ago, the school had not undergone any material change since its foundation. Occasional repairs were indeed found absolutely necessary for the support of the buildings, but no improvement seems ever to have been attempted. Through the munificence of the Earl of Lonsdale this long respected seminary has been put into complete order, and made more suitable to the purpose intended by the pious founder than it had been at any time since its erection. Exclusive of what has been done at the s.p.a.cious school-room, the library is rendered more commodious. The master's house, which adjoins the school, has been enlarged, some parts of it rebuilt, a good garden well walled round, and the whole made a very comfortable and eligible residence.
[Sidenote: Early history.]
[Sidenote: Archbishop Girandal.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles from +--+----------------------+----------+-------------+------------- 7
Beeston[A] to
Chester
Nantwich 7
Tarporley 2
27
Beeston pa
Norfolk
Swaffham 7
E. Dereham 6
30
Beeston pa
Nottingham
Nottingham 4
Chilwell 1
45
Beeston chap
W.R. York
Leeds 2
Birstall 5
27
Beeston, St. Andrew p
Norfolk
Norwich 4
Worstead 9
27
Beeston, St. Lawren. p
Norfolk
Coltishall 4
... 3
27
Beeston Regis pa
Norfolk
Cromer 4
Holt 7
40
Beethom[B] pa & to
Westmorlnd
Burton 4
Millthorpe 1
27
Beetley pa
Norfolk
E. Dereham 4
Foulsham 6
31
Begbrook pa
Oxford
Woodstock 3
Oxford 6
34
Beggerielge ham
Somerset
Bath 4
Frome 9
+--+----------------------+----------+-------------+------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles from
Lond.
Population.
+--+----------------------+------------------------+-----+-------+ 7
Beeston[A] to
Whitchurch 14
171
434
27
Beeston pa
Castle Acre 5
100
702
30
Beeston pa
Ashby 16
124
2530
45
Beeston chap
Huddersfield 9
190
2128
27
Beeston, St. Andrew p
Acle 9
113
49
27
Beeston, St. Lawren. p
Norwich 11
120
52
27
Beeston Regis pa
Cley 8
126
246
40
Beethom[B] pa & to
Kendal 10
252
1639
27
Beetley pa
Fakenham 9
104
381
31
Begbrook pa
Islip 5
60
102
34
Beggerielge ham
Beckington 6
110
...
+--+---------------------+-------------------------+-----+-------+
[A] BEESTON. Near this village are the remains of a castle, once deemed impregnable; it is situated on a sandstone rock, 366 feet in perpendicular height. So strong was this fortress considered, that it became a proverb in the neighbourhood to say, ”It is as strong as Beeston Castle.” The area contains five acres, and was rendered unapproachable by means of a very wide ditch. In the reign of Charles I.
it underwent a lengthened siege, or rather blockade, for all communications were cut off with the neighbourhood for a long term; at last it was compelled to surrender, and the parliament ordered it to be dismantled. During the period of the threatened invasion of the French, in 1803, this castle was fixed upon by the lieutenancy of the county, as the site for a signal station and beacon. The ancient and craggy walls are beautifully mantled over with a luxuriant covering of ivy, and the base of the hill abounds with several varieties of rare plants. The well of the castle is nearly 300 feet deep, and the peasantry firmly believe that it contains a vast store of riches, which have been thrown into it during the civil wars. A mineral spring was discovered here a few years ago. The inhabitants of Chester consider it a favourite holiday indulgence to visit this castle in a pleasure excursion; and by application to an old woman in the village, who may be considered the female warden of the place, travellers can be conducted to the summit of the building. The views from the ramparts are beautiful, extending over the whole Vale Royal of Ches.h.i.+re, to the estuaries of the rivers Mersey and Dee: that side of the hill which forms a precipice rises perpendicularly 160 feet from the base of the elevation, and upon looking down from the high pinnacle of the castle wall, it is sufficient to call to remembrance the sublime poetic effusion of our immortal bard:--
”How fearful And dizzy 'tis, to cast ones eyes so low, The crows and choughs, that wing the mid-way air, Shew scarce as gross as beetles.
I'll look no more, Lest my brain turn, and the deficient sight, Topple down headlong.”
[Sidenote: Castle on a rock.]
[Sidenote: A favourite place of resort.]
[B] BEETHOM. This mountainous and highly interesting parish is situated in the Kendal Ward, at the south-western extremity of the county of Westmoreland, on both sides of estuaries of the river Kent, which is navigable for small craft as far as the hamlet of Storch, and comprises the chapelries of Witherslack, and the towns.h.i.+ps of Beetham, Farleton, Haverbrack, and Methop, with Ulpha. The parish church is dedicated to St. Michael, the patron saint of mountainous and hilly parishes: it is a neat building, situated in a fine vale, or holm ground, commanding the richest variety of wood, water, and rocky scenery. Here are two fine old monuments to the memory of Thomas de Beetham and his lady, who lived in the reign of Richard III. Here was anciently a chapel, dedicated to St.
John, and near it, in a garden, a considerable number of human bones were dug up; it was situated about forty yards from the present school-house. Some few years since a mole cast up an amber bead, and with it an oval piece of silver, about the size of a s.h.i.+lling; it was perforated through the middle, and on one side was an impression of the crucifixion, with the letters J.N.R.J.; on the right of which was a crescent, and on the left a rising sun; at the bottom, the Virgin Mary, in a weeping att.i.tude: on the reverse, a lamb, with a standard, and St.
Andrews' cross. The parsonage, or rectory-house, which stood on the north-east corner of the churchyard, was formerly called the college of St. Mary's. The Hilton family had also a handsome house near this spot, which was enlarged and improved by George Hilton, an eccentric squire, and well known character in this neighbourhood about the commencement of the last century. This George Hilton was a Roman Catholic, and joined the Scotch rebels in 1715, upon whose defeat he made his escape, but was pardoned by the act of grace the year following, and afterwards retired to a house which he built at the south end of Beethom Park. Mr. Hutton, the historian of this place, says, ”that he discovered a diary, in an old chest, which was kept by this gentleman, taken by himself every night, but which was afterwards lost. 'On Sunday, (says he in one place,) I vowed to abstain from three things during the ensuing week (Lent), viz. women, eating of flesh, and drinking of wine; but, alas!
the frailty of good resolutions. I broke them all! Conversed with a woman--was tempted to eat the wing of a fowl--and got drunk at Milnthorp.'” Of this parish the Rev. William Hutton was vicar, who wrote a folio book of collections for its history, which he deposited in the vestry for the information of posterity, with blank pages to be filled up as materials should occur. He was an amiable man, and an indefatigable antiquarian. The old manor house, called the Hall of Beethom, was a fine old castellated mansion, but now unfortunately in ruins. One large apartment in this castle is still called the hall, and according to the laudable practice of ancient hospitality, was devoted to the purpose of entertaining the friends and dependants of the family: and hence came the proverb--
”'Tis merry in the hall When beards wag all.”
The remains of a room, formerly used as a chapel, still exist; and the ruins of this fine mansion are of considerable extent. The ruins of another hall in this parish are also to be seen in Cappleside Demesne, consisting of a front and two wings, comprising an extent of 117 feet of frontage. Also an ancient tower, now in ruins, called Helslack Tower: and another tower, called Arnside Tower; equally neglected. These towers seem to have been intended to guard the Bay of Morecambe, as similar buildings are erected on the opposite side of the river. A grammar school was founded here in 1663, and rebuilt in 1827. It has an endowment of about 40. a year, arising out of lands bequeathed for the instruction of fifty poor boys.
[Sidenote: George Hilton, an eccentric character.]
[Sidenote: The Hall.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+----------------+----------+---------------+-------------+ 57
Begelley pa
Pembroke
Narbeth 4
Tenby 4
58
Beggars' Bush
Radnor
Knighton 8
Presteign 2
31
Beggars' Bush
Oxford
Nettlebed 4
Benson 2
58
Beguildy pa
Radnor
Knighton 6
New Radnor 12
21
Beigham
Kent p
Lamberhurst 3
Tunb. Wells 3
10
Beighton pa
Derby
Chesterfield 10
Sheffield 7
27
Beighton pa
Norfolk
Acle 2
Loddon 6
36
Beighton pa
Suffolk
Bury 6
Woolpit 2
46
Beilby to & chap
E.R. York
Pocklington 4
M. Weighton 6
27
Belaugh pa
Norfolk
Norwich 8
Worstead 5
9
Belbank to
c.u.mberland
Brampton 10
Carlisle 15
+--+----------------+----------+---------------+-------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+----------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+ 57
Begelley pa
Pembroke 14
257
996
58
Beggars' Bush
New Radnor 6
153
31
Beggars' Bush
Wallingford 3
44
58
Beguildy pa
Bettws 4
171
1043
21
Beigham
Brenchley 5
38
10
Beighton pa
Eckington 2
155
980
27
Beighton pa
Norwich 9
118
262
36
Beighton pa
Stow Market 8
71
238
46
Beilby to & chap
York 13
192
239
27
Belaugh pa
Coltishall 2
116
151
9
Belbank to
Longtown 13
321
485
+--+----------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+----------------------+----------+------------+-------------+ 9
Belbank to
c.u.mberland
Brampton 7
Carlisle 12
42
Belbroughton pa
Worcester
Bromsgrove 5
Stourbridge 5
46
Belby to
E.R. York
Howden 1
South Cave 11
12
Belchalwell pa
Dorset
Blandford 7
Sturminster 3
14
Belchamp Oten pa
Ess.e.x
Headingham 5
Sudbury 5
14
Belchamp, St. Pauls p
Ess.e.x
... 6
... 6
14
Belchamp Wallers[A] pa
Ess.e.x
... 6
... 3
24
Belchford pa
Lincoln
Horncastle 5
Louth 8
29
Belford[B] m.t. & pa
Northumb.
Newcastle 49
Alnwick 5
30
Belgh ham
Nottingham
Worksop 5
Ollerton 6
23
Belgrave pa
Leicester
Leicester 2
Loughboro' 9
29
Bellasis to
Northumb.
Morpeth 5
Newcastle 10
46
Bellasize to
E.R. York
Howden 5
South Cave 7
18
Bell Bar
Herts
Barnet 6
Hatfield 3
24
Belleau[C] pa
Lincoln
Alford 3
Louth 8
+--+----------------------+----------+------------+-------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
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