In this village is held, on the Tuesday before Michaelmas Day, a statute fair for the hiring of servants. Near TADMARTON is the large circular site of a castrametation; and at no great distance, on the north-west, are some smaller works, approaching to a square. These are believed to have been formed in the tenth century, about the time of the battle of Hooknorton; the former by the Danes, the latter by the Saxons. Many Roman coins have been found on the site of the Danish intrenchment, which would seem to prove that the spot, though adopted by the Danes, had formerly been occupied by the Romans. Mr. Wise, in a MS. letter to Mr. Gale, the substance of which is published by Gough, thinks that a Roman town extended round the foot of a hill, in SWACLIFF parish, on which is a double intrenchment, called Madmason Castle; and observes that the blackness of the soil for three feet deep shews that this town was destroyed by fire. The argument arising from blackness of soil seems of a disputable nature; and if a Roman town did indeed stand here, we want relics to prove that it was of any extent or consideration. Two miles on the south-west of Banbury is BROUGHTON CAS. TLE. The manor of Broughton formerly belonged to the family of De Broughton, who probably took their surname from the place, and who obtained a charter of free warren here, about the 29th of Edward I. It was afterwards vested in the family of Wykham. Margaret, the daughter and heir of Sir William Wykham, carried the property in marriage to Sir William Fiennes, Lord Say and Sele. The Lord Viscount Say and Sele is the present proprietor of the castle and attached domain; but has not latterly resided here. The seat is, now, in part, occupied by a gentleman, his tenant. Broughton Castle is surrounded by a broad and deep moat, over which is a stone bridge of two arches. An ancient tower forms the entrance to the court. The outer gate is still perfect, and there appear, from the remaining staples, to have been two other gates; but there are no traces of the port-cullis. The 7 eastern eastern side of the castle is the more ancient part. This was, probably, erected by the Broughtons, in the reign of one of the early Edwards. A small tower on the south-east angle has loopholes for the discharge of arrows. The north front was principally built by the family of Fiennes, in the year 1544. The hall is of large dimensions, and the fine old dining-room is entered beneath a canopy, surmounted by the family arms. The passages are curiously arched, and the present dining room has likewise a roof of arched stone. Beyond is a stone staircase leading to a dressing room, once the chapel; and some apartments, probably belonging to the chaplain. In the window of the chapel are some very antient arms. Into On the second floor is a large drawing room, the ceiling of which is enriched with armorial bearings. Adjacent is a long gallery, whose windows are replete with ancient arms, principally those of the Fiennes, and their intermarriages. this gallery open the chambers, one of which has some old painted glass, and is called the king's room. While viewing these impressive remains of baronial magnificence, we cannot avoid regretting that the rooms were some few years back deprived of their furniture, the memorials of many a scene of dignified festivity! and are now daily dilapidating from dis use. On felling a large beech tree in this domain, about ten years back, a gold ring was found deposited beneath it. On the ring was engraved a knight, with his legs crossed, and a shield with the arms of St. John of Jerusalem. Upon a scroll was this legend, in Norman French; Joie sans ni cesse: literally, Joy without cease. This curious ring was once possessed by the Rev. E. G. Walford, and now belongs to Lady Say and Sele. In the spacious church are buried several of the Twisleton family, who succeeded to the female barony of Say and Sele, by an intermarriage with the family of Fiennes. In the chancel are the fragments of a superb monument, supporting the recumbent figures of a knight and his lady. This tomb was deprived VOL. XII. 2 L of of its inscription and ornaments by the fanaticism of the seventeenth century; but it was probably intended to commemorate one of the Broughtons, or Wykhams. Against the wall are se veral brackets, designed to support either tapers, or the images of saints; and over the whole it is evident that there was once a Gothic canopy. In the south wall of the church are the recumbent figures of two knights, but without any inscription: there are also many stone monuments of the Lords Say and Sele, prior to the title descending to the Twisleton family. The manor of Alkerton (sometimes written Okerton, and formerly spelt Aulkrynton,) was the property of Christian Lydiat, father of Timothy Lydiat, the unfortunate scholar whom we have already briefly noticed in our account of New College, and to whose fate Dr. Johnson thus alludes in his Vanity of Human Wishes: If dreams yet flatter, once again attend, Timothy Lydiat was born at ALKERTON, and applied, at an early period, to mathematics and astronomy. His proficiency was great; and some of the first scholars of his era did not scruple to rank him with Lord Verulam. He was patronized by Prince Henry, son of James I.; and, after the death of this prince, he went to Ireland, under the protection of Archbishop Usher. On his return to England he married that primate's sister, and settled at Alkerton, where he accepted the rectory, of which his father was patron. Having unfortunately become security to a large amount for a relation, he was thrown first into the Bocardo at Oxford, and afterwards into the King's Bench. He was released from imprisonment by the generosity of some friends, of whom Archbishop Usher was the principal: but he was doomed to a succession of trials. The Parliament party injured him deeply at the commencement of the civil war; and he passed the close of his life at Alkerton, in poverty and obscurity. He was buried in the church of his native village; and an inscription, which merely informed the reader that he was the "faithful pas 7 tor tor of that church," was painted an the wall; but even this sordid memorial is now concealed by the merciless operations of the whitewasher's brush. In the church-yard are many grave-stones to the Lydiat family. At WROXTON, near Banbury, was a priory of canons regular of St. Augustin, founded in the reign of Henry III. and valued at 781. 13s. 4d. The buildings of the ancient priory were destroyed by fire; but, on the site, is erected an extensive mansion, the present residence of the Earl of Guilford. The estate came into the family of North by the marriage of Francis, lord-keeper Guilford, with Lady Frances Pope, sister of the fourth and last Earl of Downe. The only remains of the original priory are an arch, which was probably a door of entrance, and a small portion of the passages communicating with offices in the lower division of the building. The greater part of the structure was erected by Sir William Pope, afterwards Earl of Downe, in the year 1618. The building is of an ornamental and interesting character, though it was not completed according to the original design, as an intended wing on the south side was never commenced. The lord-keeper made some additions; and the present earl has erected an elegant library, after a plan by Mr. Smirke. The chapel is a fine room, beautified by the first Earl of Guilford. This mansion is enriched families of Pope and North. Sir Thomas Pope, founder of to the first Earl of Downe. Of the latter there is a complete series of the Lord Norths, from Edward, the first lord, created in the reign of Philip and Mary, to the present Earl of Guilford. The whole of Wroxton priory is creditable to the taste of the noble owner. Every improvement introduced (and many have been effected) is rendered subservient to the ancient baronial character of the edifice. The gardens and pleasure-grounds will be viewed with particular interest, as no innovating hand has robbed them of their monastic features. by many ancient portraits of the Among the former is an original of Trinity College, Oxford, and uncle The church of Wroxton contains many monuments which demand notice. On a black marble grave-stone is an inscription to "Elizabeth, late wife of Francis, Lord Guilford, and one of the daughters of the Right Honourable Fulke, Lord Brooke." She died in 1699. Another grave-stone, of a simi lar description, commemorates Francis, Lord Guilford, himself, lord-keeper of the great seal of England, born October 22, 1637; died September 5, 1685. On the north side of the chancel, within the rails, is a magnificent tomb, with the recumbent effigies of William Pope, first Earl of Downe, and his lady; knights kneeling and supporting the cushions on which their heads recline. Over the figures is a canopy, raised on black mar ble pillars. On the same side of the chancel is a marble tablet affixed to the wall, surmounted with angels, to the memory of the lady of the lord-keeper Guilford. On the south wall of the chancel is a monument to Francis, Earl of Guilford, and his three wives. Immediately adjoining is an elegant monument lately erected to the memory of the prime minister, Lord North, who had succeeded to the earldom of Guilford a short time prior to his death. In a niche, on the right of the communion rails, is a brass plate, formerly attached to a grave-stone in the chan cel, with this inscription :-" Here lyeth under this stone buryed, Margaret Bostarde Wydowe, sometyme the wyf of Wylliam Pope, of Dedinton, in the county of Oxford, Gent. and afterwards married to John Bostarde, of Atterbury; which Willyam and Mar garet were father and mother to Sir Thomas Pope, Knt. and John Pope, Esq." She died 1557. The church, likewise, contains one of the family of Sacheverell. -་་ The parish of DRAYTON joins that of Wroxton on the east. This lordship was formerly possessed by Sir Giles Arden, Knight. The eldest of the two daughters and coheirs of Sir Giles Arden, carried the estate, by marriage, to Lodowick Grevile, whose de scendants This monument has been lately engraved for the Life of Bishop Hough by Mr. Wilmot. |