The antiquities of Furness ... 1774

Front matter

< \,>r/// Es\.j/ /„■//?,>/ A/'/t/'/trL c r ///<"// '. JDrcwn bi/W. Alose. i THE ANTIQUITIES OF F U R JV E S S. ILLUSTRATED WITH ENGRAVINGS. BY THOMAS WEST/ A NEW EDITION WITH ADDITIONS By William ClQse. Mtoetieston : PRINTED AND SOLD BY GEORGE ASHRVRNER; And may be had of Walker No. 44 Paternoster Row Richardson, No. 91 Royal Exchange, W. Baynes, No. 54 Paternoster Row, R. S. Kirkby, london- HOUSE-YARD, LONDON; H. MoZEEY GAINSborough; and all other Booksellers. .1813. T O THE RIGHT HONORABLE LORD GEORGE CAVENDISH, FIRST UNCLE TO HIS GRACE The DUKE of DEVONSHIRE, &c. MY LORD! THE interest and connection You have with the principal object of the Antiquities of Furness is sufficient reason for the Author to address this Work to Your Lordship : but as the study of antiquities is one of Your favourite walks, the choice of a patron is evidently justified : and, when it is known how far he stands indebted to Your assistance in compiling the Topographical Account of Furness, the Dedication will then appear not matter of compliment, but a return of gratitude to the Genius that assisted, and the Taste that directed him, in the choice and arrangement of his materials.

If he has failed in the execution of his part, the subject will still remain an object worthy of Your Lordship's care. During Your periodical short recess from public business, these environs find the good effect of Your taste and judgment in the useful parts of Georgie studies, and dying Industry receives new life from Your hand. The theatre of Your improvements gives pleasure to the traveller, and the country, cultivated by Your example, promises the blessing DEBICATION. blessing of plenty to the community : for, Agro bene cul'.o, nil potest esse nee usu uberius, nee specie ornatius* . Pope savs much the same ; " 'Tis use alone that sanctifies expence, " And splendor borrows all her rays from sense." To firs rule Your Lordship strictly adheres in all Your rural amusements ; " Whose ample lawns are not asham'd to feed " The milky heifer and deserving steed."

While to raise sjnking industry is your chief care, your Abbey of Furness, once the pride oi princes, and desire o) kin"S, Ion" buried in ruins increased bv moula\ .f. , Ti J dering, all devouring time, is now to be preserved by Your protection, a las'ing monument of ancient grandeur, and, religious pomp If the history of our own country be of all others the most interesting, (and that it is so to us, is most certain) then, whatever strongly marks the public and private economy cf diffeient periods, is the most deserving of notice; for in these the diffeient principles, manners, modes, and inteirsts. are to be traced, which contain the ever-varying annals of tne human mind; and from these the most im ortant lessons of civil and domestic government are draw, p. Now certain it is, whether we consider the civil, or ecclesiastic history of ourown nation, none Iti rnislies a more illusfiious group of characters in dthei department, or a richer fund of exam ple in every civil and religious capacity.

Preface

. To the Gentlemen, and Customary Tenants, of Furness. GENTLEMEN! THE Author hopes this account of the Abbey, and ancient State of Furness, will meet with your approbation and encouragement, as it shows from what a generous stem you are descended, and places before you such laudable examples in every imitable virtue, civil and religious. It certainly will meet with approbation from the descendants of ancestors, whose memo ries are thereby redeemed from the bosom of prevailing oblivion, and recommended to their protection. Those very men, to whom you owe the blessings you now enjoy, invite you to do honour to their names ;— these Ancestors, who, after many strugles against the op pression of feudal slavery, laid the foundation of your present happiness upon the solid basis of British Liberty (the right of Personal Security, the right of Personal Liberty, the right of Personal Property) call on you to remember their virtues.

Other considerations there are to render this Work acceptable ; — its usefulness, especially, in the connected view it gives of your ancient customs, rights, privileges, and bye laws, upon which your tenures depend. By your immutable customs, the line of right is drawn between the supreme lord and his free-hofnager and customary tenant. No oppression can be introduced by the one; nor default, under so light obligation, be made by the other. It will also give pleasure to the feeling heart, in trac ing out his ancestors' names, to find what share they had in these variations productive of so many agreeable consequences to posterity, till, warmed with filial emu lation, he resolves to live a steady imitator of so many noble examples in civil and religious life. The following account is also intended to give plea sure to the curious, and satisfaction to those who visit the pompous ruins of Furness Abbey, by a particular and

PREFACE.

. and succinct account of each part of the building. foundations are accurately marked out in the Plan, and each part is called by its proper name, with letters of reference. Those who have not seen the Ruins, may from this Account, with the View and annexed Plan, form a just idea ofthe whole. The dimensions are taken from actual mensuration, and the different stao-es of the ruins are distinctly noted on the Plan. The parts yet standing are distinguished by black lines ; and dotted lines mark ruins. The groinings of the arches, in the nave ofthe church and east side of the cloisters, are taken from bases of pillars yet standing, and serve to show what the building was in its glory. As the Plan only comprehends the strait enclosure, the Abbot's quarters and eleemosynary are not deline ated.

These were situated on the north side of the church, at the distance of about three hundred and twenty feet, in the narrowest part of the Vale, near the principal entrance of the great enclosure. The family of the Prestons, when proprietors ofthe Abbey, erected a modern building upon the spot where the Abbot's quarters stood. There is only part of an arched gateway remaining of the ancient building. T 1 1 • fe • in the year 1727, an elegant east perspective view of the ruins was taken by the Society of Antiquaries ; and the same year, a south view was taken by the in genious Samuel Buck: aground plan therefore was the only thing wanting to give a just and satisfactory account of the whole, and to preserve its memory to future ages. Nothing of this kind has been attempted before this, and those who visit the ruins return with a confused idea of the premises.

The walls in many places are rased to the ground; and the foundations, in some places, are not visible to strangers. Much of what is standing, and in ruins, has been called by im proper names. All these inconveniences are by the following Account and Plan entirely removed, and for the future prevented. £[* gQ -"Si quid novisti rectius istis, •' Candidus imperti ; si non, his utere mecum." Hob.

ADVERTISEMENT.

. THE following work was first published in Quarto in 1774- In tbe present edition, which is the first that has been offered to the public since the death of the author in 1779, several material alterations have been made. The descriptive and historical part is di vided into more chapters; a new arrangement, in some places, has been adopted, in order to collect all the particulars relative to the same subject under one head ; and to comprize the whole of what was inter esting, with several additions, within the size of an octavo volume, some parts have been abridged, by omit ting a few copies of ancient writings which appeared somewhat superfluous. Considerable attention has also been used in the printing, to reduce the work to a volume of a moderate size. In place of the omis sions a Supplement is added, containing miscella neous observations relative' to various objects which appeared worthy of notice.

These additional partii culars it was thought better to subjoin, with short narratives of the excursions in which they were collected, rather than encumber the pages with numerous detached notes. The few additions which it was requisite to introduce into the body of the work, are, for the most part, included between two inver ted full points, as marks of addition ; but'a few passa ges relative to Furness, contained in the Author's Guide to the Lakes, are inserted without this notice. The

ADVERTISEMENT.

. The ground plan of Furness Abbey has been carefully laid down by new admeasurements : The views and sketches were all purposely taken for this work. A few abstracts or notes of illustration from Camden's Britannia, &c. are inserted in the Appendix. The table of Contents preceeding each chapter, the Index, and varying titles of the pages, are additions which will probably be found eminently useful and convenient to the Reader. I have been solicitous to make every addition which I could think likely to be interesting. The Proprietor has executed the typographic part with much care, and has spared no expence to render the work worthy of tlie patronage of the public. WILLIAM CLOSE. Dalton, November 26, iSo-j.. CONTENTS DEDICATION, Page iii PREFACE, vn ADVERTISEMENT, ix CHAP. I. A Description of the Boundaries of Furness, and a short Enumeration of Circumstances leading to a Con- • elusion, that the Bay of Morecambe, described by Ptolemy, is the great Opening, or Æstuary, between the shores of Cumberland and Lancashire ; with some Account of the ancient Inhabitants of Furness, and their Subjugation by the Romans; of ifi e late Discovery of certain Remains of Roman antiquity ; and of the State of Agriculture in Furness, at the time of the Doomsday Survey.

I CHAP. II. A general Descriptive View of Low -Furness, with Notice concerning the Market-towns, Villages, Buildings, and Inhabitants ; ihe Minerals, naiurrt Curiosities Soils, Tillage, and the Impediments to agricultural Improvements, in that District. 14 CHAP. III. Descriptive Accounts of High Furness, the Lakes of Coniston, Esthwaite, and Windermere ; the Villages of Coniston, and Hawkshead ; and the Roman Fort at the Head of Windermere. 28 CHAP. CONTENTS. CHAP. IV. Observations concerning the ancient and modern State of Furness ; its ancient Political Constitution, and Military Establishment ; ivith some Account of the State of Population in Furness, and the Customs and Disposition of the inhabitants. Page 38 CHAP. V. A Summary View of the Origin and Progress of Monastic Life ; of various Religious Orders; and of ihe Motives generally alleged for the Introduction of Monachism into England. 52 CHAP. VI A Description of the Abbey of St. Mary in Furness, and of its Situation, the Vale of Nightshade ; with some Account of the Origin, Order, Dress, and Privileges, of that Monastery ; and of the Donations of several Benefactors. 66 CHAP. VII.

Notice of several ancient Transactions relative to Furness Fells; the Town of Ulverston; and the Abbey of Furness : with Particulars concerning the Manor of Ulverston; and a List of the Benefactors to Furness Abbey, specifying ihe extent of their Grants and Donations. 82 CHAP. VIII. Details concerning the Order, Dress, and Privileges of ihe Abbey of Furness, and its special Patronage. 102 CHAP. IX. A Catalogue ofthe Abbots of Furness, with an Introductory Account of a singular Custom observed in registering CONTENTS." terinq their Names; and some Particulars concerning the Foundation of the Monasteries of Caldre, in Cum berland, and Russen, in the Isle of Man. Page 118 CHAP. X. Survey of the Revenues of Furness Abbey, immediately before the Dissolution ; with an Estimate of the Value ofthe same according to the present appreciation of British Coin. 131 CHAP. XI Copies of original Papers relative to the general Visitation of the English Monasteries in the reign of king Henry VIII. 14% CHAP. XII.

Copies of original Papers relating to the general dissolution ofthe English Monasteries, and of Furness Abbey in Particular, witk the Deed of Surrender. 163 CHAP. XIII. Abstract of a Bill prepared, witk an intention to be passed into an Act of Parliament, for the Support of Hospitality, Relief of the Poor, &c. after the Suppression ofthe lesser Monasteries. 173 CHAP. XIV. Reflections and Remarks on the Dissolution ofthe English Monasteries; a Translation of the Deed surrendering Furness Abbey ; and an Explanation ofthe Impression ofthe Common Seal, ivhich is still appendant to the Deed of Surrender. 183 CHAP. XV. A concise View of ihe changes produced in the State of Furness by the Dissolution ofthe Abbey, and of certain Transactions CONTENTS. Transactions particularly relating to the Tenants of Low-Furness after that event; with Remarks on the Regulations respecting the Endowment of Vicarages ; and an Account ofthe Valuation and Disposal of the Site of Furness Abbey, with the Manor, and Rectory of Dalton.

Eage IO/2 CHAP. XVI. A Description of the Boundaries of the Lordship of Furness, and a Review of its Liberties, Rights, Privileges and Ancient Customs, with Proofs of the Feudal System prevailing in Furness under the Abbots. 209 CHAP. XVII. Considerations on the several Degrees and Situations of the Tenants in Furness, and on ihe State of landed Property, from the time of the Dissolution of the Abbey, to the Reign of Queen Elizabeth; with an Abstract of the Customs of several Manors established in Furness since the Dissolution of the Abbey. 5222 CHAP. XVIII. A Survey ofthe Lordship or Manor of Furness, taken in theyear 1649. 235 CHAP. XIX. An Account of the Priory of Conishead, its Benefactors, Revenues, and Dissolution, and ofthe Disposal ofthe Site of this Priory after its Dissolution ; with some Particulars concerning the Rectory of Ulverston. 247 SYNOPSIS OF THE FURNESS FAMILIES Introductory Remarks on National attachment and family importance.

Account of the Families of Lowick and Ambrose LIST O F SUBSCRIBERS. VVlLLIAM Atkinson, Esq. Dalton. Rev. John Atkinson, A. M. Kellet. 2 Copies. Mrs. Atkinson, Furness Abbey! Miss Sarah Atkinson, Furness Abbey. Mr. Thomas Ashburner, Scales, near Aldingham. Mr. John Ashburner, Scales. Bev. William Ashburner, Ladbrooke, Warwickshire Mr. Thomas Ashburner, Junior, Dalton. . Mr. William Ashburner, Midtown, Urswick. Mr. George Ashburner, Holmebank, Urswick. Mr. George Ashburner, Pennington. Mr. Thomas Ashburner, Bridge-gate, near Dalton. Mr. William Atkinson, Dalton. Mr. John Agett, Surveyor, Liverpool. Mr. Charles Allen, Ulverston. Mr. Mathew Atkinson, Wellhouse. Mrs. Atkins, Moss-side, near Dalton. Mr. Robert Askew, Beanthwaite, Kirkby. Mr. John Atkinson, Colton. Mr. James Addison, Broughton. Mr. William Appleton, Manchester.

Mr. Edward Appleton, Manchester. Mr. John Andrew, Ulverston. Mr. Thomas Ashcroft, Liverpool. Mr. Richard Ackers, Merchant, Liverpool. Mr. Henry Atkinson, Junior, Ulverston. Mrs. Arthington, Lancaster. B. Mr. Morris Birbeck, Guildford, Surrey. Rev. James Burns, Penny-bridge. John Barrow, Esq. Admiralty Office, London. Bev. Mr. Bailes, Urswick. Mr. John Airey Brathwaite, Surgeon, Lancaster. Mr. Michael Branthwaite, Kendal, 3 Copies. Rev. John Borrowdale, Lowick. J.JST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Mr. John Brownrigg, Garstang. Mr. Thomas Bolton, Stank, near Dalton. Moses Benson, Esq. Liverpool. Mr. James Butcher, Ulverston. Mr. Thomas Baitson, Wavertree, near Liverpool Mr. Robert Bolton, Ulverston. Mr. Thomas Bond, Senior, Ulverston. Mr. William Braithwake, Ulverston. Mr. James Butcher, Ireleth. Mr. James Bouskell, Bardsea.

Mrs. Burnett, Ulverston. Mr. Ralph Brewer, Ulverston. Mr. James Banow, Ulverston. Mr. John Bowerbank, Milnthorp. Mr. James Benson, Skelwith, near Hawkshead. Miss Margaret Bispham, Kirkham. Mr. William Brocklebank, Merchant, Liverpool Mr. William Berrv, Kendal. Mr. Thomas Burton, Hawkshead. Mr. Jjmes Boulton, Oldpark, near Dalton. Mr. Thomas Blamere, Great Boat, Windermere. Mr. William Benson, Ulverston. Bootle Bookclub. Broughton Bookclub. C. Mr. Thomas Craiston, Ulverston Mr. Richard Cleater, Dalton. William Coupland, Esq. Liverpool, 2 Copies. Bev. Christopher Couperthwaite, Dalton. William Cubbin, Esq. Liverpool. Mr. Samuel Case, Dalton. Mr. William Chamley, Woodgate, Lowick. Mr. George Coward, Ulverston. Mr. John'Crosthwaite, Ulverston. Mr. James Charnock, Newton, near Dalton. Mr. Robert Charnock, Surgeon, Bootle.

Mr. John Conway. Mr. John Cannon, Sandside, Ulverston. Mr. John Cragg, Ireleth. Mr. John Coward. Mr. Jonathan Crampton. John Carter, Surgeon, Ulverston. Mr. John Carruthers, Lancaster. Rev. Mr. Taylor, Cartmel. Mr. Christopher Clark, Lancaster. Mr. Thomas Coward, Chorley. Mr. Nicholas Crooke, Liverpool. Mr. James Cheyne, Liverpool. Mr. John Brown, Cockermouth', Mr. William Cragg, Milthorp. D. John Dent Esq. Member of Parliament, 2 Copies, Rev. Robert Dixon, Myerscough, Lancashire. Mr. Robert Daniel, Highfield-house, near Dalton, Mr. John Dodgson, Ulverston. Mr. James Davis, Ulverston. Mr. William Dobson, Ulverston. Mr. William Daws, Ulverston. Mr. Martin Dunn, Ulverston. Mr. Samuel M'. Donall, Liverpool. Dalton Bookclub. E. Right Hon. Lord Elcho, Burnston, nedr Hadingtoru Rev. P. Everard, Ulverston.

F. Mr. Thomas Fell, Walney. Mr. William Fell, Hindpool, near Walney. Mr. Richard Fell, Ulverston. Mr. Robert Fell, Ulverston. Mrs. Mary Fell, Swarthmoore. Mr. John Foster, Scales Park, near Aldingham.' Mr. M. F. Lancaster. Mr. Thomas Fresh, Newbarns, near Dalton. Mr. James Fleming, Liverpool. Mr. William Rigg, Falls. G. Mr. N. C. Gibson, Liverpool. Mr. William Greenwood, Burnley. Rev. Thomas Geldart, Bishop's Ichenton, Warwick; shire. B. B. Gilliat, Ulverston, 2 Copies. Mr. Jnmes Gibson, Ulverston, Mr. Thomas Garnett, Master of the Free Grammar School, Dalton. Miss Margaret Gardner, Urswick. Mr. Miles Gibson, Walney. Mr. John Goad, Scales, near Aldingham. Mr. John Gouthwaite, Liverpool. Mr William Geldart, Scales. Mr. John Geldart, Ulverston. Mr. Joseph Gould, Rooscoat, near Dalton. Mr. William Gore, Duke-Street, Liverpool Mr. Johnson Gore, Liverpool Mr..

Robert Gr^en, Stores, near Bowness. Mr. William Grainier, Ulverston. Mr. Joseph Green, Ulverston. Mr. William Gardner, Junior, Bankend, Urswick. Mr. John Greenwood, Ulverston. Mr. John Garnett, Junior, Ulverston. Mr. William Green, Ambleside. This gentleman keeps an Exhibition of Drawings, and is in Possession of several accurate Views of the Ruins of Furness Abbey, which he took in 1804. H. Rev. Samuel Richard Hartley, A. M. Master ofthe Free Grammar School, Cailisle. Rev. John Harrison, Grimsargh, near Preston. Mrs Jane Hustlei, Bradford, Yorkshire. Miss Mary Harrison, Barrow, near Dalton. Rev. Mr. Harbottle, Tottlebank. Mr. John Hartley, Crooklands, Dalton. Mr. Philip Hartley, Dalton. Miss Mary Hunter, Walney. Mr. James Hodgson, R.N. Salthouse. Mr. Thomas Holding, Urswick. Miss Anne Holding, Urswick.

Mr John Holgate, Burnley. Mr. John Hunter, Walney. Mr. Roger Hunter, Kirkby. Mr. James Hudson, Ulverston. George Hedley, Gainsborough. Mr. Thomas Huddleston, Rooscoat, near Dalton, Mr. John Hutton, Lancaster. Mr. John Hornby, Liverpool. Mr. George Hornbv, Liverpool. Mr. Roger Hoole, Walney. Mr. George Harrison, Ulverston Mr. Isaac Holme, Ulverston. Mr. James Hoggarth, Long Ment House, Kendal. Mr. Thomas Hadwin, Lancaster. I. Mr. John Irvin, Liverpool. J. John Jones, Esq. London. Rev. Edward Jackson, Morland. Mr. William Jackson, Ulverston. Mr. Richard Jackson, Roose, near Dalton. Mr. Mathew Jepson, Manchester. Mr. William Johnson, No. io New York Street, Manchester. K. James King, Esq. Finsthwaite, in Furness. Edward Kin?, Esq Ulverston. Mr Thomas Kilner, Ulverston. Mr. Christopher Kendall, Gleaston, near Aldingham."

Mr. William Kitchen, Liverpool. Mr. John Knowles, Liverpool. Mr. James Kitchen, Lund, near Ulverston. Rev. Philip Kitchen, Liverpool. L. Mr. Thomas Leathom, Liverpool. Mr. John Rigg, Lowrav, near Hawkshead. Mr. Joseph Littledale, Ulverston. Mr. Henry Leigh, Liverpool. M. Alexander Macdonald, Esq. of Glenalladall. Henry Morritt, Esq. Ulverston. Thomas Mackereth, Bankground, Coniston.' Mr. Stephen Moore, Ulverston. John Machell, Esq. Liverpool. Mrs. Moorwood, Alfreton Hall, Derbyshire. Mr. Robert Mumford, Ulverston. Mr. William MinshuU, Lancaster. Rev. Mr. Myers, Preston. N. John Noble, Esq. Moss-side, near Kendal. Mr. Neale, Engraver, near Exeter Change, Liverpool, Mr. Charles Neville, Manchester. O. Oxenpark Bookclub, P. John Postlethwaite, Esq. Dalton. Rev. Thomas Postlethwaite, A. M. Curate of Standish, 2 Copies.

Roger Parkinson, M. D. Lancaster. Mr. Park, Solicitor, Lancaster. William Pennington, Esq. Kendal, 3 Copies. Miss Postlethwaite, Dalton. Miss Postlethwaite, Lancaster. Mr. Thomas Park, Ulverston, Mr. James Park, Dalton. Mr. John Postlethwaite, Little-mill, near Penny-bridge, Furness. Mr. William Postlethwaite, Ulverston. Charles Palmer, Junior, Esq. Ladbrooke, Warwickshire, Mr. John Platt, Liverpool. Mr. John Pearson, Ulverston Mr. John Pritt, Lancaster. Joseph Pennington, Esq. Ulverston. Mr. John Pagdin, Land Surveyor, Tickhill, Yorkshire. Mr. Robert Parker, Ulverston. R. Rev. John Romney, B. D. Fellow of St. John's Col^ lege, Cambridge. LIST OF SUBSCRIBERS. Robert Rookwood, Esq. Mr. John Robinson, Junior, Pennington. Mr. John Robinson, Senior, Ulverston. Mr. Richard Rawlinson, Northend, Walney, 2 Copies.

Mr. John Rawlinson, Greenbank, Cartmel. Mr. Robert Russel, Bardsea. Mr. John Russel, Urswick. Rev. Samuel Redhead, St. Saviottr's-gate, York. Mr. James Redhead. Mr. Hornby Roughsege, Kirkham. Mr. William Rigg, Ulverston. Mr. Alexander Ryan, Parliamentstreet, Liverpool. Thomas Ridgway, Esq. Wallsuches, near Bolton Ie Moors. Mr. Tyras Redhead, Northscale, Walney. Mr. Tyras Redhead, Junior, Ulverston. Mr. James Rushton, Liverpool. Mr. John Roskell, Liverpool. Mr. Henry Rowson, Prescot, near Liverpool. Mr. Ragg, Notinghamshire. Mr. Robert Raven, Harrowslack, Windermere. Mr. Thomas Romney, Ulverston. S. Mrs. C. Strickland, Sizergh, 2 Copies. Mr. Henry Shaw, Ulverston. Mr. Richard Shaw, Ulverston. Mr. William Bell Slater, Preston. Mr. Archibald Scott, Ulverston. Mr. Richard Simpson, Junior, Roosbeck, Furness.

Rev. Thomas Smith, Rector of Bootle, Cumberland. Mr. John Soulby, Ulverston. Mr. Richmond Robert Stubbs, Surgeon, Cockermouth. Mr. John Stable, Junior, Dalton. Mr. Thomas Salthouse, Spark-bridge, Furness. Mr. Thomas Stable, Urswick. Mr. John Stamper, Ulverston. Mr. Hugh Scott, Bardsea. Mr. Andrew Sharp, Ulverston. Mr. Robert Sandys, Lowick-green, near Ulverston. Mr. Richard Scrogham, Ulverston. William Simpson, South-end, Walney. Mr. Robert Sewell, Ulverston. Mr. John Summers, Dentist. Mr. James Spencer, Liverpool. Mr. Abraham Slater, Park, in Low Furness. Mrs. Elizabeth Slater, Park. Mr. John Slater, Orgrave Mill. T. Richard Towers, Esq. Ulverston. Rev. William Tyson, Hoosebank. Rev. William Wayles Thornton, Garstang. Mr. John Thompson, Lindale. Mr. John Thompson, Kendal. Mr. John Thompson, Ulverston.

Mr. Thomas Towers, Dalton. Miss Nancy Towers, Ulverston. Mr. Thomas Townson, Ulverston. Mr. William Tatham, Lancaster. Mr. Thomas Troughton, Liverpool. Mr. James Taylor, Beancroft, near Broughton U. Ulverston Library. W. Rev. John Widditt. John Woodburn, Esq. Crogland. Mr. Winstanley, Backbarrow. Mr. Joseph Williamson, AUonby. Mr. John Webster, Ulverston. Mr. William Wilkinson, Ulverston. Mr. William Warhurst, Ulverston. Mr. Robert Westmore, Preston. Mr. Francis Widder, Isle of Walney. Mr. James Winder, Windle, near Aldingham. Mr. John Wilkinson. *Mr. William Wright, Ulverston. Mr. John Wilcock, Manchester. CONTENTS. Ambrose, of Lowick; Bardesey, of Bardesea; Brad dyll, of Conishead Priory ; Broughton, of Broughton; Dodding, of Conishead Priory; Fleming, of Alding ham ; Fleming, of Coniston; Kirkby, of Kirkby; Nevill, of Nevill Hall; Pennington, of Pennington ; Penny, of Penny Bridge; Preston, of the Abbey; Preston, of Holker ; Rawlinson, ofGreenhead; Sandys of Furness ; Sawrey, of Graithwaite; and Sawrey of Plumpton. Page 261 CONCLUSION. 338 SUPPLEMENT. 34° Miscellaneous Observations, but principally concerning ' the Antiquities of Low Furness. By William Close.

Appendix

CONTAINING, Ancient Charters relative to Furness ; a Concise View of the present State of Population ; and Notes of Reference from Camden's Britannia and other valuable Books. 411 INDEX. Directions for placing the Plates. The North-west view of Furness Abbey to face the title page. The Map to face the description of the boundaries of Furness in page i. The North-east view of Furness Abbey to face page 69 or 359. The Ground plan of Furness Abbey to be placed opposite page 71 or 74. Plate V to face page 191. The View of Dalton Castle &c. to face page 346. The View of the Pile of Fouldrey to face page 369 or 373. ERRATA. Page 19, 1. 16, sor eau read ea. (Saxon) 19, 1. 2$, for Asher's read Ashurts. 32, 1. 3, for p omontory read promontory^ 32, 1. \,Jor s curing read securing. 35, 1. 4, erase the word always. 32, title line, and p. 33,1. 7, for bloosmithy read bloom* smithy. 64, 1. 20, for east read north.

"74,1. l,for been also read also been. 172, 1. 9, for xi perhaps read ix. 343, 1. 17, for there is read is. 1. it, for eminence read mount. 345,1. 11, for on tlie top of an eminence read upon a 16fty hill. 347, 1. 36, erase the word the. 349, 1. 13, erase esq. 357, two paragraphs should be preceeded by marks of quotation (thus ". 364, 1. 8, for specters read spectres. 367, 1. 20, erase the word the. 368, 1. l^, for 1 796 read 1798. 382, I.40, for are often attended with raasoften produced 393, 1. 17 for cot read coat. 409, 1. 24, for 1703 read 1717. A DESCRIPTIVE VIEW O F FURNESS, AND ITS ANTIQUITIES CHAP. I. A Description of the boundaries of Furness, and a short enumeration of circumstances leading to a conclusion, that the Bay of Morecambe, described by Ptolemy, is the great opening, or æstuary, between the shores of Cumberland and Lancashire ; with some account of the ancient inhabitants of Furness, and their subjugation by the Romans; of the late discovery of Certain remains of Roman antiquity ; and of the state of Agriculture in Furness, at the time of the Doomsday Survey.

THE Lordship of Furness, in the northwest of Lancashire, and hundred of Loynesdale, comprehends all that tract of land with the islands included in the following bounds: The boundary beginning where the water divides Lancashire from Westmorland, de scends from Wrinose Hills in Little Langdale, by El terwater, along the river Brathay into Windermere, then down this Lake and over Leven Sands into the sea ; extending along the sea, it includes the Isle of Foulney, the Pile of Fouldrey, and the Isle of Walney, and ascends by the river Duddon, which divides Lan cashire from Cumberland, to the place where the water comes from Wrinose Hills ; from thence it proceeds to the place where the water descends from Wrinose Hills to Elterwater, where the boundary began. Thus Furness is separated by water from Westmorland, Cumberland, and the rest of Lancashire. b This SITUATION OF THE BAY OP MORECAMBE 2 This insulated tract of land was once the site of much wealth and power; besides a richly endowed Abbey and a Priory, it contained five Knightly families, and several others in opulent circumstances.

Camden speaks of Furness as almost severed from the rest of Lancashire by the encroachment of the sea ; but he might have affirmed, that it is no where con nected with any other part of the county. The same author, taking his view of Furness from the high ground above Lancaster at the JTde of ebb, and observing the high sand-bank which sffetches from the Pile of Fouldrey to the opposite side, conjectured that the shore ' once lay out a great way westward into "the ocean, which the sea ceased not to siash and mangle,' until it ' swallowed the shore quite up at some boisterous tide, and thereby made three large bays.' Britannia vol. ii. p. 977. Agreeably to this supposition, which is not without proof, as will hereafter appear, the rivers Leven and Ken rao in separate channels, until perhaps theyjoined the river Lune, and formed the great æstuary which Ptolemy names Morecambe : In favour of this con jecture, it may be alleged, that the æstuary formed by these rivers, has the greatest bend, and the deepest bay of all others between the river Toisobius, or Con way in North- Wales, and Ituna, the mouth of the Eden ; and that the name of the mountain, or pro montory, which by advancing into the ocean forms the bay, is Camb, from Camm, a British word, signifying 'crooked,' or 'curved.' Thus Morecambe, the 'crooked sea,' or ' bending shore,' agrees not only with the nature of the place, and the observation of Ptolemy, but also with the name of the mountain which forms 'the bay on one side, and renders it visible from the high groundsin the Isle of Man; from the mountainsin Caernarvonshire; and off that part of the Irish sea, between Hillary point and St. Bee's head.

Though Camden lies considerable stress upon such agreement between the nature of a place and its name, yet he has placed the bay of Morecambe in a less eligible ANCIFNTLY SPECIFIED BY PTOLEMY. 3 gible situation, and in a less considerable bend of the shore. (See Britan. vol. ii. p. 1015.^) Itis unreasonable however to suppose, that Ptolemy, in coasting along the shore from the mouth ofthe river Dee in Cheshire to the Solway frith, should omit to notice this remark able æstuary. Ptolemy is censured * for being inaccurate in laying down the absolute and relative positions of towns in Britain, yet is allowed to be pretty exact in his geogra phy, wheii'coasting along the shore of the island; and therefore the shifting of the sand-banks, she filling up or contracting the channels ofthe rivers, and the over flowing ofthe tides betwixt the mouth ofthe Dee and the Duddon, since his time, cannot have occasioned such alterations on a coast so strongly marked, as to injure the striking permanent appearance ofthe lofty promontory that first formed, and since, from its appearance, gave name to the æstuary of Morecambe.

The æstuary ofthe Seteia, (the river Dee) and the town of Deva, (West Chester) have been long fixed. The Geography of Ptolemy, and the relative distance of Deva in Cheshire from Conovium in Caernarvon shire, prove the absolute site of both, and that Seteia is no other than the river Dee. The Mersey is not specified by Ptolemy; but the next æstuary he mentions is Belisama. This Camden (Bri tan. p. 971.) imagines to be the Ribble, and finds the sound of the ancient name retained in that of the moderns. Richard of Cirencester, in his Itinerary, has added to the difficulty, by calling the Mersey expressly the Seteia. It remained for the Rev. Dr. Whitaker to cut the Gordian knot, and in fulness of strength to remove every difficulty, and ascertain with propriety the Belisama æstuary, and the site of the Sistuntian harbour, which will lead to the Morecambe.

Having in a masterly manner proved, that the Seteia ofthe Ge ography cannot possibly be any other æstuary than the * Anecdotes of Brit. Topography, p. 2. Hist.. of Manchester, p. 112, 123. Deva SITUATION OF THE BAY OF MORECAMBE. Deva ofthe Itineraries, and the present Dee, he pro ceeds to shew, by firmness of argument, that the Mersey is the Belisama of Ptolemy, ' because,' says he, ' Beli sama is at the distance of the Mersey from the Dee ; and because such a considerable object as the Mersey could not be overlooked, any more than the Dee. (Hist, of Manchester p. 125.) The conclusion is certain. The next difficulty is to fix, with any degree of certainty, the Setantian Limen, or Portus Sistuntio rum, specified by Ptolemy, * and mentioned by Richard. Camden conjectures, (Britan. p. 798.) from an ancient copy ot Ptolemy, that the haven ofthe Setantii was on the river Seiont, near the present town of Caernar von ; but allows that other copies ' remove it much farther off.' Baxter supposes it to be the mouth of the Mersey ; Horseley, the mouth of the Ribble ; and Stukely, the mouth ofthe Lune.