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1825.]

Beauties of Padstow Scenery.

woe betide the wretched mariners who are involuntarily driven towards them by the blast of the storm! Escape is hopeless their black perpendicular heads frown inevitable destruction on every vessel that approaches them, and seldom does one of the unhappy crew survive to tell the horrors of the ship wreck."

After having quoted this passage, the writer is induced to offer a few remarks on a voyage round Great Britain, by Messrs. Daniell and Ayton, a work of considerable pictorial embellishment; this is, however, its only recommendation. As a topographical sketch, there are parts in which is representation is too palpably evident, and where, in the words of poor Sheri dan, "the Gentlemen are indebted to their imagination for their facts, and to their memory for their jests."-The descriptions indeed are wonderfully influenced by the entertainment which the residence of the country Gentleman, or the more humble table of the village-inn might afford them, and ill did that place fare which failed to gratify their favoured propensity. No attainment of the pencil can propitiate for the absence of that animated perception of Nature's loveliness so sweetly expatiated on by the bard of Childe Harold:

"To sit on rocks, to muse o'er flood and fell,

To slowly trace the forest's shady scene, Where things that own not man's dominion dwell,

And mortal foot hath ne'er or rarely been; To climb the trackless mountain all unseen, With the wild flock that never needs a

fold;

Alone o'er steeps and foaming falls to lean; This is not solitude; 'tis but to hold Converse with Nature's charms, and view her stores unroll'd."

But even if the beauties of Padstow were converted into spleen by our fastidious voyagers, they might have found in the immediate vicinity a fine illustration of that scenery which they at times profess to admire. Mr. Warner, a gentleman unbiassed by local

418

predilections, in whose well-cultivated mind good temper and genuine feeling richly abound, thus expresses himself.-"An agreeable transition of scenery occurred shortly after we quitted the Kistvaen. The wild unbroken views that had so perpetually recurred, were now changed for close sequestered glens, which the most romantic parts of Devonshire could not have rivalled in beauty. The character of the perfect picturesque may be justly claimed by the village of Little Petherick, where a rude arch thrown over the road, an old mill, an ivied church, and several cottages, sprinkled on a very irregular spot of ground, produced a most striking and lovely effect. The magic of this combination is completed by an exuberance of foliage which breaks the form of the objects, and only partially admits the light.”

The charm of Little Petherick *, however, has been broken, by the extension of a bridge across the stream, erected a few years since by gratuitous contribution; and although the busy traveller may offer a passing tribute of gratitude to the liberality of the neighbouring gentlemen, and to the praiseworthy exertions of the Rector, yet the writer has sighed in vain for the bubbling brook and the rugged bridge; for the romantic mill, and the venerable ivy-mantled arch; all distributed in such happy unison, and imparting an interest so indescribable to the scene; and often has he felt inclined to exclaim like the lyric poet of old to his much-loved retreat,

"O rus, quando ego te aspiciam!"
Yours, &c.

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Δ.

Nov. 3. BOOK has lately made its appearance, called a History of Chivalry," in which the author, in his generalizing system, is lavish in his abuse of the study of costume. As is usually the case where the feeling is in reality at variance with the doctrine avowed, notwithstanding an attempt to deride detail in such matters, where

The village of Little Petherick is situated in the fertile manor of Ide, the royalties of which extend over several estates in the parishes of St. Jessey, St. Breock, St. Eval, St. Ervan, and Padstow. It was formerly part of the lands of the late Thomas Rawlings, esq. but is now the property of John Paynter, esq. of Blackheath, Kent, who married a daughter of that gentleman. The pinnacles of the church, and probably some other parts of the edifice, were brought from the old chapel of St. Cadoc near Padstow, where there was formerly a considerable village.

the

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On some Arabic Paintings at Grenada,

the author fancies he has discovered a new fact, he is curiously minute. The passage which has called forth these observations is the following:

"In a pictorial representation of a tournament at Grenada, between Moorish and Christian knights, the former are drawn with the broad shovel shoes of their country, while the latter have long pointed toes, like the cavaliers of the North. See Murphy's Arabian Antiquities of Spain."

Now there are but three paintings copied in Murphy's work, Plates XLII. XLIII. and XLIV. not one of which represents a tournament. The first of these seems to be referred to, and that is evidently commemorative of some legend. A lady, who has a lion chained sleeping at her feet, and holds the chain in her hand, is seized by a savage hairy man, from whom she appears to be rescued by a Spanish knight bearing on his shield three birds; he having thrust his spear into the chest of the monster. In another part of the picture this same knight is encountered by an Arab, who plunges his lance into his body. Instead then of there being Moorish and Christian knights, there appears but one of each; and as to the broad shovel shoes, if worn, which I doubt, they are invisible, owing to the broad stirrups which Mr. Mills seems to have mistaken for them.

These paintings have given rise to much difference of opinion in travellers, as to whether they should be attributed to the Moors or Spaniards. Swinburne inclines to the latter opinion, and gives as his reason the anathema denounced by the Koran against all representation of animated beings. He concludes that they were executed by some Spanish artist soon after the conquest of Grenada. Murphy on the other hand observes, that "it is well known that the Spanish-Arab Kalifs disregarded this prohibition. The lions which support the celebrated fountain that bears their name are a proof full in point; and in addition to this evidence, we know that one khalif (Abdurrahman III.) placed the statue of a favourite mistress over the magnificent palace which he had erected for ber use; while others, in defiance of the Prophet's mandate, caused their

[Nov

images to be stamped on their coins.' There is therefore every reason to believe, that the paintings in question are really the work of an Arabian artist."

To decide this point nothing is requisite but an acquaintance with costume; for the painters of old times invariably represented the events they intended to commemorate in the garb of their own day, no matter when they stance, therefore, is a proof of the value might have happened. This very inof such a study as the true art of verithe Christian knight are precisely those Now the habiliments of fying dates. of the time of Edward the Third, while his military belt has on it an Arabic inscription.

the extremity of the Court of Lions, This and the other paintings are at and contiguous to the apartments occupied by the Curate of the Alhamra, in the ceiling of a recess. Murphy derable degree of strength, and much says, "they are finished with a consistiffness prevails in the figures and countenances."

Plate XLIII. is from another of these paintings, and exhibits a knight in the same Spanish costume of the time of our Edward III. but without the Arabic inscription on the girdle, in the act of transpiercing a lion; and Plate XLIV. shows a horseman in a mixture of Arabic and Spanish dress, killing a wild boar.

called the Hall of the Abencerrages, is That apartment of the Alhamrā, ornamented with figured tiles, glazed, having in their centres a shield of the precise form of Edward the Third's time, bearing an heraldic bend, on which is an Arabic sentence implying "None can conquer but through God;" and one of these is in my possession.

done by a Spanish artist on the conNow if these paintings had been quest of Grenada, we should have met with indications of the period of our Henry VII. instead of that of Edward

III.

But Pedraza tells us that the AlKing Abal Uexis about the year 1336, hamra was enlarged and beautified by which, by giving the same date as the costume, decides the question in favour of the Arabian artists.

Yours, &c.

S. R. M.

COMPENDIUM

1825.] Compendium of County History.-Worcestershire.

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COMPENDIUM OF COUNTY HISTORY.

WORCESTERSHIRE.

The mountain woods

And winding vallies, with the various notes
Of pipe, sheep, kine, and birds, and limpid brooks
Unite their echoes; near at hand, the wide
Majestic wave of Severn slowly rolls
Among the deep divided glebe; the flood
And trading bark, with low contracted sail
Linger among the reeds and copsy banks

To listen; and to view the joyous scene." DYER.

SITUATION AND EXTENT.

415

Boundaries, North, Staffordshire and Shropshire: East, Warwickshire South,
Gloucestershire: West, Herefordshire and Shropshire.
Greatest length 36; greatest breadth 26; square 936 miles.

Province, Canterbury; Diocese, Worcester; Tenbury in Hereford diocese ;
Circuit Oxford.

ANTIENT STATE.

British Inhabitants, Cornavii or Dobuni.
Saxon Octarchy. Mercia.

Antiquities. British Encampments of Clent Hill; and near Four Shire-stone. Roman Encampments of Bredon; Kemsey (of considerable strength); Malvern-hills; Witchbury-hill; and Woodbury-hill (either Roman or Saxon). Danish Encampments of Conderton-hill, in Overbury; Iccomb. Abbeys, of Bordesley (founded by Empress Maud in 1138); Evesham (founded by Egwin Bp. of Wiccia in 709); Pershore (founded by Egelward Duke of Dorset, about 604); Worcester, St. Mary's (founded ante 743). Priories, of Astley (founded by Ralph de Todeni in 1160); Blockley (founded ante 855); Bredon (founded by Eanwolfus King of Mercia); Dodford (founded temp. John); Kemsey (founded ante) 799; Little Malvern (founded by Jocelin and Edred, brethren and dominicans, in 1171); Great Malvern (founded by Aldewine in 1083); Wicton (founded by Peter de Corbizon, alias Studley, temp. Henry I. or Stephen); and Westwood (founded temp. Ric. II). Nunneries, of Claines called Whitstane (founded by Walter de Cantelupe, Bp. of Worcester); Cokehill (founded in 1260, by Isabella Countess of Warwick *). Churches, of Alvechurch; Astley; Bredon; Chaddesley Corbet; Church Lench (all Saxon remains); DROITWICH; Eastham (Saxon remains); EVESHAM, All Saints (erected 13th century); Great Malvern (Saxon nave); Holt (the most complete specimen of Norman Architecture in this county); Kidderminster; Leigh; Naunton Beauchamp (built by Urso d'Abitot the Norman); Northfield; Pedmore (curious sculpture over Saxon door); Ribbesford; Rock (Saxon); Stockton (Norman remains); Stoke Prior; WORCESTER, St. Alban (originally erected by the Saxons); St. Andrew (erected 11th century); St. Clement (Saxon edifice). Chapels, of Bordesley (belonged to the Abbey, and still entire); Bredon (in ruins); another dedícated to St. Katharine of the Rock (founded by Richard de Michgros, temp. Henry III.); Cokehill (belonged to the Nunnery); DROITWICH, on the bridge; Hallowe; Frankley; KIDDERMINSTER (now changed to a Free School); King's Norton; Knighton (part Saxon); Linch; Newland (framed with timber like many antient buildings); Trimpley (no remains); Wittenton (very ancient); Wollashul (totally destroyed). Stone Pulpit at Worcester Cathedral (of very beautiful workmanship). Fonts, of Chaddesley Corbet; Eastham. Castles, of Bengeworth (belonged to the Beauchamps, no remains); Castle Morton; Elmley (the earliest settlement of the family of Beauchamp); Hagley (probably erected by Henry IV. in 1401); Hanley (the residence of the Nevills' Dukes of Warwick); Hartlebury (begun by Bp. Cantelupe and embattled by Bp. Gifford, temp. Henry III.); Holt (built by Urso

A charter, however, exists as early as 1198.

d'Abitot,

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Compendium of County History-Worcestershire.

[Nov.

d'Abitot, temp. Wm. I.); KIDDERMINSTER, called Caldwell (probably erected by Henry IV. in 1401); Weoly; WORCESTER (built by Urso d'Abitot, about 1088). Caves of Malvern; Upton (discovered in 1787).

PRESENT STATE AND APPEARANCE.

Rivers. Avon; Arrow; Ledden; Rhea; Salwarp; SEVERN; Stour; Teme. Inland Navigation. Droitwich canal (planned by the self-taught Brinley); Dudley extension canal, joining the Dudley canal near Netherton; Leominster canal; Staffordshire canal; Stourport canal; and Worcester and Birmingham canal.

Eminences and Views. Abberley Hills, seen from every part of the county; Areley Church, as fine a prospect as any in the county; Aylesborough, pleasing though confined views; Blackstone rocks; Broadway hills; Bredon hill, 900 feet high, fine view of Evesham vale; Cleeve Prior, extremely picturesque scenery; Clent hills, affording some pleasing prospects; Cliftonupon-Teme, decked with all the beauties of the most picturesque woods and hills, for which the course of that rapid river is remarkable; Croome court; Cropthorne; Farnham abbey; Hampton; Kyre park; Malvern hills, 1313 feet above the Severn, "beyond the power of an Antiquary to describe the beautiful prospects, &c. ;" Madresfield; Spring grove; Stagbury hill, fine bird's eye view of the river, forming a picturesque range of scenery; Stanford Court, extensive and delightful views; Winterdyne, a charming view of the Severn and its romantic scenery; Witchbury hills rising in three beautiful swells; Woodbury hill; Worcester bridge, a beautiful view of the Malvern hills. Natural Curiosities. Abberton wells, little, if at all inferior to Epsom; Bredon chalybeate spring; Bromsgrove chalybeate spring, and petrifying well; Churchill mineral water; Droitwich salt springs; Hallow-park chalybeate spring; Kidderminster, dropping well and two mineral springs; Malvern, St. Anne and Holy wells; Upper Areley, sulphuric spring discovered in 1795 by Dr. Johnstone of Worcester; Worcester chalybeate spring discovered in 1816.

Public Edifices. Bellbroughton School. Bengeworth Free School, founded by John Deacle, esq. in 1709. BEWDLEY Bridge; Free Grammar School, founded by James I.; Town-hall; Broomsgrove Free Grammar School, founded by Edward VI. Dudley Free Grammar School, founded in 1562 by Thomas Wattewood and Mark Bysmor of London. EVESHAM Bridge, over the Avon, part erected as early as 1374; Free Grammar School, founded by Abbot Litchfield in 1546, re-founded by Henry VIII.; Town-hall. Feckenham Free School, founded in 1611 by James I.; School founded by Sir Thos. Cookes, bart. founder of Worcester Coll. Oxford. Hartlebury Free Grammar School, foundation not known, but ante 1400, re-founded by Elizabeth. KIDDERMINSTER Free Grammar School, founded by Charles I. in 1637; Town-hall, containing the prison underground, market on ground floor, and council-room principal story. King's Norton Grammar School, founded by Edward VI. Martley Free Grammar School, founded ante 1579. Pedmore Free School, founded about 1699, by Thomas Foley, esq.; Rock Grammar School, founded by Edward VI. Stourbridge Free Grammar School, founded by Edward VI. 1553. Stourport Bridges, one built in 1775, and one of iron._ Swinford Hospital or School, founded by Thos. Foley, esq. ob. 1677. Tenbury Bridge, over the Teme, of six arches. Wolverley Free Grammar School, founded by Wm. Seabright, by will, dated 1620. WORCESTER, Berkeley's Hospital, endowed temp. Wm. III. by Judge Berkeley; Bridge opened 1781; Charity Schools, founded by Bishop Lloyd in 1713; City gaol, formerly House of Grey Friars; College or King's School, founded in 1541-2 by Henry VIII.; County prison, erected 1809; Free Grammar School, founded by Elizabeth in 1561 Guildhall, a handsome edifice built in 1721-3; House of Industry, delightfully situated, built 1794; Infirmary, established 1745, built 1767; Market-house opened 1804; Moore's Hospital, founded by Anne, sister of Judge Berkeley; St. Oswald's Hospital of very ancient foundation, built and endowed by Thomas Haynes, 1682; Subscription Free School, erected 1810; Theatre; Trinity Hospital endowed by Queen Elizabeth.

(To be continued.)

S. T.

1825.]

I

Mr. URBAN,

Original Pedigree of De Dunstanville.

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Nov. 1.

TRANSMIT for your interesting Miscellany a Pedigree (with copious notes) of the baronial family of De Dunstanville, which flourished in the vale of Avon in Wiltshire, about the period of the 12th century. Their genea logy and local history have hitherto been only partially, and hence in some instances rather inaccurately deduced. HENRY W. WHATTON....

STEMMA DE DUNSTANVILLA.

Arms Argent, a fret Gules, on a canton of the Second a lion passant gardant Or, all within a bordure ingrailed Sable.

Reginald de Dunstanville, Lord of Winter-Adeliza de Lisle', daughter and heiress of bourne in Wiltshire, temp. Hen. I.; he gave the Church there to the Monastery of Lewes. Reg. de Lewes. Ob. 2. Hen. II.

Walter Lord de Dunstan ville, Baron of Castlecombe, or Combe Castle, in Wiltshire; being the eldest son he succeeded to Winterbourne, the patrimonial estate, and died 8 Ric. I. Vinc. Corr. p. 130. Ord. Vit. p. 915 d.

Brien Fitz-Count, or Filius Comitis (sometimes written Brientius filius Comitis de Insula), son of Eudo, Earl of Brittany. Duch. Norm.

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dau. of William Marshall, Earl of Pembroke, and widow of William, Earl of Warren and Surrey. Harl.

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See their descendants in part i. p. 38.

Her name was Adeliza de Lisle, and not Warren, as some assert. A charter of King Henry, confirming her gift of the lordship of Polton to the Church of St. Mary at Tewkesbury, contains these words: "Terram de Poltona, quam dedit eidem ecclesiæ Adeliza de Iusula, pro animâ Reginaldi de Dunstanvilla viri sui." Mon. Angl. I. 163. Her mother was Maud de Wallingford, the widow of Milo Crispin, who held 88 lordships under the Conqueror, 12 of which were in Wiltshire.

2 He paid a fine of 100 marks, 2 Ric. I. and had livery of his barony and lands in Wiltshire. Rot. Pip. 2 Ric. I.

3 He purchased the manors of Shalford and Aldford in Surrey, from Robert de Wattville, temp. Hen. II., and gave the Church of Bercham, "de feodo Alani nepotis sui," to the monastery of Lewes. Mon. Angl. II. 908. Man. Surr. II. 91.—At Heytesbury it is said the Empress Maud sometime resided.

4 The manors of Heytesbury, Shalford, and Aldford, descended to him, as nephew and heir of Robert. Man. Surr. II. 91. Reg. de Lewes, fo. 198 a. GENT. MAG. November, 1825.

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