Warwickshire

dered the chief town of the shire. It is situated upon a rocky plateau on the north side of the river Avon, and blessed

irst settlement at Warwick, and that Guiderius, the former's son, enlarged the town and bestowed upon it considerable privileges. Originally,

built; and about this time that King Vortigern gave his ill–judged invitation to the Saxons, who, arriving nominally

les for safety, and abandoned Warwick, his cath

wick in particular, was at that time subjected. And in his pages one sees the surging hosts of Picts and Scots and Britons and S

g Warremund, the forbear of the kings of Mercia, who rebuilt the town. Under his rule and that of his desce

Alfred the Great and wife of King ?thelred. This princess in the year 915 built the first castle and a fortification called the Dungeon (donjon o

wer, possessions, and influence; and he it was who was commanded by William the Conqueror to fortify t

and suburbs, to be held in capite per Servitum Comitatus. The new Earl conferred upon one of his priests one–tenth of his tolls, as an

hereby had succeeded to the earldom, granted to the burgesses a charter to enable them to hold each year a fair lasting thre

pture, the walls of Warwick Castle were destroyed. He was also obliged to pay for the ransom of himself and his Countess the then large sum of 1900 marks (about ￡1250). He died childless, and was succeeded by his sister's husband, William de Bea

umbril as well as assize of bread in connection with this fair. De Beauchamp also instit

g of its streets, was granted a patent by Edward I. by which he was entitled to receive a toll during seven years on all vendible articles. But the works

lady, and for the health of his own soul and his ancestors' souls," freed the traders resorting hither for the future from terrage, stallage, and all other sorts of toll. The petition

ncorporation and privilege continued without interruption is not ascertainable. A record, however, exists that there was a Mayor in 1279, in the reign of Edward I., and that twenty–one years later the Mayor of the day and bailiffs were ordered to allow Phil

atent were granted by Henry VIII. in 1546 to the borough under the Municipal title of "burgesses only." This grant of letters patent was confirmed by one from James I. in 1613, an

argely that of the county itself, and during the ages when wars and revolts swayed partie

mes to be found than in Warwick. One of the most interesting buildings is the ancient Chapel of St. James, now known as the West Gate, and formerly as the Hongyn Gate, standing where the High Street terminates, on the crest of t

he Church of St. Mary. That it was of very small value is proved by the fact t

S HOSPITAL

nd their numbers by admission of other inhabitants of the borough, and to build a chantry for two priests to sing mass every day in the Chapel, which stood over the west gate, for the good estate of King Richard and his consort Ann; of his mother, also Michael de la Pole, and all

advowson of the Church of St. James at the same time that the Guild breth

belonging to the Guilds sang masses; two of them at "Our Lady's Chapel" in St. Mary's, and the others in the two chapels built over the gates. This Guild also paid in part th

571, in the reign of Elizabeth, a hospital for twelve men, called brethren, and a master, who must be a clergyman of the Church of England; the preference being given to the Vicar of St. Mary's if he offered himself for the post. The appointment o

t in the county of Warwick, or soldiers of the Sovereign, more especially those who had been wounded on active service; the latter to be chosen

ave tenants resident in either of the two counties, the brethren are chosen under the second provision we have mentioned, and all of them have been soldiers of the Crown. Here now dwell in comfort and peace the master and the twelve brethren, the

d when they appear in public to wear a blue gown, on the sleeve of which is worn a silver badge with the crest of the bear and ragged staff. With one excepti

through an arch gateway, above which is the inscription, "Hospitivm Collegiatvm Roberti Dvdlei Comitis Leycestriae," with the date 1571

ected with the founder, the most distinguished having been placed over the archway leading to the inner quadrangle. On the north side of the latter is the master's res

rected in its present position some years ago. On the eastern side of the garden is an open space, and the brethren's apartments are arranged on the south and west sides of the quadrangle. On the right side of the latter is the famous old kitchen, in which the brethren pass a great deal of

by ill–fated Amy Robsart. Amongst the more martial are halberds and pistols of ancient date, the King of

tained James I., is on the western side of the quadrangle, but it ha

he almshouses at an elevation above the street. The tower of the present interesting building was in all probability erec

uth side for the purpose of strengthening it. Prior to that date the chapel was unfortunately disfigured by s

which are the stalls of the brethren and officials. Near the altar is an interesting

side of the town, built on the sandstone rock and with strong va

solution of Monasteries this ancient foundation was granted to a trusted retainer of John Dudley, Earl of Northumberland, Thomas Hawkins, whose father sold fish at the town Market Cross. Unappreciative of either anti

a magnificent old oak staircase and oak–panelled dining–room. The south front is comparatively modern, as it was re

found the Earl and Countess of Warwick at supper, and sat down to the meal with them. The owner of the house was confined to his bed; but the Queen, who, if tradition may be b

m the date of his death-occurring in 1576-his son Edward had squandered, even to the selling of his home to Sergeant Puckering, then Lord Keeper of the Great S

ardens at Hampton Court. Although this fine survival of domestic architecture of Elizabethan times was of necessity acquired by the Great Western Railway Company in the middle of the last c

known as St. John's Hospital, founded in the reign of Henry II. by William de Newburgh, E

ne Anthony Stoughton, a descendant of whom-Nicholas Stoughton-erected the present building at the commencement of the seventeenth century. The property eventually came into the posses

cree dated 1367 enjoined upon all persons that they should attend the church of St. Mary. The sites of several other churches, it is true, are known, but nearly all visible traces of them have long ago disappeared. Of these aforetime ecclesiastical buildings the church of St. Michael, in the northern part of the town, is nowadays a blacksmith's shop, whilst that

them having been dissolved, and many of them ent

P CHAPEL

s either rebuilt or very much enlarged by Roger de Newburgh in the reign of Henry I. And Thomas de Beauchamp, in the reign of Edward III., commenced to re–erect the choir; whilst his son, also Thomas, who succeeded him, completed the rebuilding of the whole church in 1394. This undertaking h

er, 1694, and eventually destroyed the greater part of Warwick. In terrible alarm many of the inhabitants removed their furniture and belongings to St. Mary's for safety, and it is generally supposed that some articles amongst the

unately had been saved. The work was entrusted to Sir William Wilson, of Sutton Coalfield; and seen from a distance the church and tower present an imposing and indeed pleasing a

g been cast during the years 1700 to 1710, and the tenth bell in 1814. The chimes every four hours play a tune, which is changed at midnight of each day. On Sundays, the Easter Hymn; on Mondays,

to the south of the chancel, presents a somewhat incongruous appearance owing to a reckless mixture of designs both inside and out. The interior, which has no

et, who was born at Warwick on January 30, 1775, in the old–fashioned

n and his wife Joan. The inscription, which is a quaint one, runs thus, "Of your charyte give thanks for the soules of Thomas Oken and Jone

became very wealthy, and left estates of very considerable

he effigies show the Earl clad in full armour, with his feet resting on a bear, whilst the Countess wears a low–bodied gown, over which is a long mantle–like garment fastened at the breast; on her head is a cap with her hair falling in long ringlets on to her shoulders; a

e of the east window, however, and the panel–work of the exterior of the east wall makes it probable that these por

ined recess, faced with three arches, which in all probability was

were deposited in the sepulchre, the door was then shut, and on that and the following night was watched by persons specially chosen for the purpose: in imitation, of course, of the

he choir, who died in 1369, with his Countess Catherine, who was a daughter of Roger Mortimer, Earl of March. The tomb is a very elaborate one, and around it are thirty–six niches, each one con

an with great solemnity, apparently her generosity extended

canopies. In the centre is a large and heavy–looking tomb of the famous Fulke Greville, the first Lord Brooke, who died at the age of seventy–four on September 30, 1628. Round the edge of the up

is service, and being expostulated with for the omission, he was stabbed in the back by Hayward in his bedroom at Brooke House, London, which stood near the present Brooke Street, on Septe

doubtedly the remains of the ancient church of Roger de Newburgh, which was erected early in the twelfth century; the rema

mer times for the ducking in a horse pond of disorde

is one of the finest buildings of its kind in the kingdom, and was founded under the will of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick,

most magnificent and pleasing examples of the Decorated Gothic style; the exterior enrichments, consisting of delicate tracery, panels, and other decorative adornments, present a most interesting and rich appearance. Elegant buttresses with pinnacle terminations suppo

ch doorway represents foliage and the ragged staff, which is the cognisance of the Beauchamps, and above th

ith good stained–glass, and beneath them are canopied niches. The ceiling is nearly fla

ce, which is in low relief, represents the Annunciation of the Virgin Mary, and is by Collins of Warwick, who executed the work from a design by Lightoler in 1735. It is perhap

wife are coloured, and placed on a tomb in front; whilst against the southern wall is the monument of "that noble impe, the young Lord Denbigh, their infant son and heir." These monuments, which represent a period of some hundred and fifty years, are not only interesting from a historical point of view, but more especially to students as representing the changes which took place in the fashion of sepu

re is a similar niche above, and these divisions are flanked by sunk panel–work, the decorative part of which is beautifully carved. Underneath each of the principal niches is a carved quatrefoil within a square, bearing a shield charged with armorial bearings enamelled on copper. The principal nic

CLIFFE

nt tomb was carried out by one William Austen, citizen and brass–founder of London, who agreed to "cast and make an image of a man armed, of fine latten, garnished with certain ornaments, to wit with sword and dagger, with a garter, with a helme and crest under his head, and at his feet a bear musled, and a griffon perfectly made of the finest latten, acco

ntermixed, setting forth how the deceased had been buried, when and where he had died, and his titles and accomplishments, and relating how his "bodye with great deliberacon and ful worshipful conduit bi see and by lond was broght to Warrewik the iiii day of

ted by Joseph Blissett in 1713, and a Mrs. Johnson and Mrs. Smith about the same date, consist of thirty–two loaves, eight threepenny and twenty–four twopenny,-the forme

but it would appear to have been prior to the Norman Conquest. The present building, which consists of a tower, spire, nave with aisles, and chancel, was erected in 1780 upon the si

only of interest in that it contains some interesting seventeenth–century monuments of the Stoughton fam

Warwick of to–day, with its country town life and its race–course, seems to have little in common, other than the survival of interesting buildings and its magnifice

f trees overlooking a fine stretch of the Avon. Anciently, and up to the reign of Henry IV., the place was known as Gibbeclyve, and the name it bears at the present day would ap

ppeal strongly, there are no mention of Guy's exploits

nd afterwards Archbishop of Wales, founded an oratory here, in which long afterwards a devout hermit dwelt. The spot remained thus, only distinguished by a hermi

operty was granted to one Sir Andrew Flammock, knight, whose daughter and heiress married John Colburne in 1579, who obtained a grant of the chapel from Queen Elizabeth. The property has since then passed

cliff overhanging the river, which widens into a large pool or lake in front. The mansion itsel

s F?rie Qeene, Book I. Canto ix. The weird ghastly figure of Despair nearly nude, with clasped hands, unkempt hair, and deeply sunk eyes, sits in the centre of the cave, staring out abstractedly at the spectator. A stabbed corpse, with up–turned eyes and an agonised expression of face, lies on the left; whilst on the right i

ng of these pictures is a portrait of Napoleon Bonaparte, which tradition says was

he autumn of 1772 and early part of 1773, that Sarah Kemble, aft