The Gentleman's Magazine
The Gentleman's Magazine is in Georgian Books.
Georgian Books, The Gentleman's Magazine Volume 59 Part 1
The Gentleman's Magazine Volume 59 Part 1 Page 392
25 Mar 1789. Mr. Urban, Blagdon House, Mar, 25. Considering your Magazine the most eligible for circulating at present, and preserving in future, the singular (as I believe) subject of this letter, I make no apology for soliciting it may be inserted therein. I entreat you will give me credit when I assert, that, exclusive of the incitements I have alluded to, I should not have hesitated in determining where my mite should be deposited; respect and gratitude indubitably point at the Gentleman’s Magazine. Yours, &c. Tho. Bere.
08 Jan 1789. On the 8th of January last, I published, in the Bath Chronicle, a short account of an extraordinary barrow, or tumulus, which had been recently discovered in the neighbourhood of my residence. This I did in hope of attracting the attention of some gentleman who, from knowledge in ancient history, might have been able to give the publick information, or probable conjecture at least, relative to this new species of sepulchral monument. To invite investigation, I subjoined my address; and happy should I have been in giving every information or assistance my locality afforded me to such an one. But as no such investigation has been made by any one of competent abilities, I venture to obtrude, rather than suffer so curious a discovery to pass back into the regions of oblivion, without that respect which, I am persuaded, its singular construction demands.
The barrow is, from North to South, 150 feet; from East to West 79 feet. This looks more like a designed proportion than the effect of chance. It has been immemorially known by the name of Fairy’s Toote [Map], and considered still, by our sagacious provincials, as the haunts of ghosts, goblins, and fairies.
This may be deemed the electrical tremblings of very remote superstition. The idle tale travelled down through many an age, long, long after the cadavers from which it originated had ceased to be had in remembrance. Desirous of obtaining stone for the adjacent roads, the proprietor ordered his workmen to see what the Toote was made of. They accordingly commenced their labours at the Southern extremity, and soon came to the stone D, which then was at A, with a considerable West inclination, and no doubt served for a door to the sepulchre, which, prior (and in some instances subsequent) to Christianity, was the common mode of securing the entrance of these repositories. Such as that which was placed at the mouth of the cave wherein our blessed Saviour was interred. The stone D being passed, an admirable unmortar’d wall appeared on the left-hand, and no doubt a similar one after the dotted line on the right side existed, as we find it continued in the same direction at F. This wall was built of thin irregular base freestone, less in length and breadth, but in general thicker, than common Dutch chimney tile. Its height was some what more than four feet; its thickness about fourteen inches. Thirteen feet directly North from A (where the stone D stood) the perforated stone B appears, inclining to the North about thirty degrees, and shutting up the avenue between the unmortar’d walls. — Working round the East side, at I a cell presented itself, two feet three inches broad, four feet high, and nine feet from South to North. Here were found a perfect human skull, the teeth entire, all found, and of the most delicate white: it lay against the inside of the stone B, the body having been deposited North and South. Several other pieces of skulls, human spinal joints, arm bones, &c., were found herein; and particularly the thigh bone of a very large quadruped, which, by comparing with the same, bone of an ox, I conjecture to have belonged to an animal of that species. As the skull appeared to me larger than common, I was willing to form some conjecture of the height of that body to which it belonged, and applied my rule to it, taking the painter’s datum, of allowing eight faces (from the hair on the forehead to the chin) for the whole, found it gave something more than eight feet. With this the length of the sepulchre agrees, being, as was before observed, nine feet. In this cell was also found the tooth of some large bead; but no one that has seen it can guess of what genus. At the termination of the first sepulchre, the horizontal bones in the top of the avenue had fallen down. With some difficulty, and no little danger, I obtruded far enough to see, by site light of a candle, two other similar catacombs, one on the right, the other on the left fide of the avenue, containing several human skull’s, and other bones; but which, from the imminent hazard of being buried in the ruins of the surrounding masses, have not yet been entered. This, as far as it goes, is a true account of the discoveries at the Southern extremity of the tumulus. The lateral section at G has afforded as yet nothing more than a view of the unmortar’d wall, seen in the Southern extremity at H, and here at F, with the continuation of the central avenue seen. at B, and here from C to C. This avenue is constructed of very large rock fragments, consisting of three bones, two perpendicular and one horizontal, as may be seen in the representation E. Three cells are here discernible, two of which are on the West side, and one on the East; these also have human bones. The proprietor means now to proceed from B to C C, propping up the avenue with wooden posts, in the same manner in which our miners do their adits, to the lapis caluminaris veins. This mode will give the visitor an opportunity of seeing the different cells with safety and convenience. I have only to add, that the tumulus is formed of small whitish stone, of which the neighbourhood affords plenty; and that the exterior appears to have been turfed, there yet remains a stratum, five or six inches deep, of graded earth on the bones. The view I took on the spot, in one of the sneaping days of the last rigorous season. I can therefore say nothing for it, but that, if it be not a good drawing, it is a true representation. When the central avenue is cleared, I purpose to send you the ichnography. In the mean time, through your publication, I beg to present my compliments to your correspondent Owain o Feirion, who, if I mistake not, is my old college acquaintance, and other gentlemen who may have a turn for such investigation; and hope, through your valuable vehicle, to have their sentiments on this subject.— But, Mr. Urban, if no other more able hand shall give the publick conjectures relative to the history of Fairies Toote, you shall again hear on this subject from your old correspondent.
Georgian Books, The Gentleman's Magazine 1808
Mr. Urban, Stamford, Jan 1 [1808].
The parish of Edenham in Lincolnshire comprizes the townships of Edenham, Grimsthorpe, Elsthorpe, and Scottlethorpe; and the site and demesnes of the Abbey of Vaudey, or de Valle Dei. The whole parish contains about 6424 acres of land ; the whole of which, except about 160 acres, is the property of his grace the Duke of Ancaster.
The village of Edenham is situate about eleven miles North from Stamford, aud three miles west from Bourne.
The Parish Church, situate in Edenham; was formerly appropriated to the abbey of Vaudey ; and is now a perpetual curacy in the donation of the Duke of Ancaster, who is Impropriator of the parith, and proprietor of the Churchyard.
The Church, dedicated to St. Michael (a South-West View of which is engraved in Plate II.) consist of a Nave with North and South Aisles, a handsome square Tower at the West end, and Chancel at the East end of the Nave, and a South Entrance Porch. The length of the Tower is 18 feet, of the Nave 71, and of the Chancel 86 feet; total 125 feet. The length of the North Aisle is 75 feet, of the South Aisle 65 feet 6 inches. The breadth of the Nave is 19 feet, and of each of the Aisles 13 feet 6 inches ; total breadth 46 feet. And the breadth of the Chancel is 18 feet. The Aisles are each divided from the Nave by four arches ; and a smaller arch, or doorway, separates the North Aisle from the Chancel. The arch which separates the Chancel from the Nave is circular, with round mouldings ; that which separates the Nave from the Tower lofty and pointed. The arches between the South Aisle and Nave are pointed, deeply moulded, and supported by clustered columns, the smaller shafts which are completely relieved from the main supports. The arches which separate the North Aisle from the Nave are pointed ; but, as well as the columns which support them, are of workmanship plainer than, and inferior to the others.
The Font, which is circular, is surrounded by eight attached columns, with ornamented capitals supporting small arches ; and seems (as indeed Fonts generally are) more ancient than any other part of the Church.
In the front of the Porch are two ancient shields, on one of which may be traced, crusiié botoné fitché, a lion rampant sinister; and on the other, seme of fleurs de lis, a lion rampant, Beaumont; impaling three garbs, Comyn.
The parapet walls of the South Aisle and Porch are ornamented with a Frieze, composed of square compartments with quatrefoils and various other fanciful devices.
The Tower and some part of the Church seem to be of the time of Henry VI; the residue of an earlier date. The West door of entrance to the Church through the Tower is a flat pointed arch, with quatrefoils in the groins.
There is on the floor of the South Aisle a blue marble (which seems to have been one of the sides of an old tomb) ornamented with plain shields in quatrefoils; and there are several other large stones on the floor, from which brasses with effigies and inscriptions to have been torn away.
The Pews, apparently coæval with the Tower, are of oak, open at the ends, perforated in the form of quatrefoils at the sides, and ornamented with carving of pointed arches at the ends.
In the Churchyard are remains of several antient tombs. One, a stone in the form of a wedge, at the North door, very old, is the recumbent figure of a lady resting her head on a cushion with her hands clasped in the attitude of prayer. Another on the South side Of the Church, at the East end of the South Aisle, is an altar-tomb of stone, divided, in the front, into four compartments, which are separated by crocketed pinnacles and each compartment decorated with rich and fanciful tracery, inclosing a shield of arms. The first and second have a fesse charged with three crosses botoné; the third has a bend between six martlets and the charge upon the south is nearly effaced, but appears, by an Harleian Manuscript, No. 6829, to have been, quarterly, 1 and 4 a chief indented, Neville; 2 and 3, three dolphins naiant, Simeon. On the tomb are the recumbent figures of a man in armour and his wife at his right side, his feet rest on a monkey. She is supported at the head by angels, has a canopy over her, and monks in cowls at her feet. This, in the Harleian MS. No. 6829, is said to be for a Neville of Grimthorpe and his wife but it is more probable it was for a Simeon who marred the heir-general of Neville.
Possibly these tombs were removed out of the Church. at the time when a part of it was rebuilt. I do not think they were originally designed, especially the beautiful one for Simeon and his wife, to be exposed to the weather, and a thousand accidents and mischievous sports, in the church-yard.
At the East end of the Norih Aisle are two tablets of black marble bordered military and naval trophies; at the top of which, within a garter, surmounted by an Earl's coronet, is a shield of 25 coats,
1. Argent, three battering-rams, barways, in pale, • proper armed and garnished Azure; Bertie.
2. Or, fretté Azure; Willoughby.
3. Ermine, five chevronels Gules, a canton of the second a lion passant Or; Orreby
4. Gules, a cross moline Argent ; Beck,
5. Gules, crufilé fitché and three round buckles Or ; Rosceline,
6. Sable, a cross ingrailed Or; Ufford.
7. Argent; three pallets valé, Gules; Valoines.
8. Sable, a maunch Or.
9.
Georgian Books, The Gentleman's Magazine 1848 Dec
Dec 1848. Viscount Midleton.
01 November 1848. At Pepper Harrow, Surrey, aged 42, the Right Hon. George Alan Brodrick (deceased), fifth Viscount Midleton (1717) and Baron Brodrick, of Midleton, co. Cork (1715), in the peerage of Ireland ; and second Baron Brodrick of Pepper Harrow, in the peerage of England (1796).
His Lordship was born June 10, 1806, the only son of George the fourth Vis- count, Lord Lieutenant of Surrey, and his fifth child by his second wife, Maria, daughter of Richard Benyon, esq. of Gidea Hall, Essex.
He succeeded to the peerage on the death of his father, August 12, 1836. He married May 14, 1833, Miss Ellen Griffiths, and has left issue, whether a son or no we are not informed. Otherwise he is succeeded by his cousin Charles Brodrick, esq. barrister-at-law, eldest son of the late Archbishop of Cashel.
At an inquest held on his Lordship's body it appeared that his death had been occasioned by the fumes of charcoal. He had latterly resided almost entirely alone, and his surgeon said that be had always considered his Lordship an eccentric man, and of a very wayward disposition. ne clergyman of the parish stated that in July 18-17 Lord Midleton came to him, and communicated the intelligence that her Ladyship had left him, and that it was all his own fault. He bad frequently since appeared in a very unhappy state of mind. The jury came to the following verdict: We find that the Right Hon. George-Alan Viscount Midleton, in a certain room in Pepper Harrow mansion, Pepper Harrow-park, in the parish of Pepper Harrow, within the county of Surrey, did on Wednesday, the 1st of November, 1848, destroy his own life, he being at the time in a state of temporary insanity."