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Eata, an Abbot of Melros, had previously erected a Monastery on the same spot, where, according to several ancient legends, Saint Cuthbert had received and entertained an angel. Wilfred's Monastery must have been an elegant work; Malmsbury says, it was celebrated for its curious arches, fine pavement, and winding entries: when it was dissolved is not certainly known.

The great object which attracts the attention of the traveller in this town, is the Church, dedicated to St. Wilfrid, and called

RIPPON MINSTER.

THIS is a noble Gothic pile, tolerably entire ; the west front presents a rich specimen of that style of architecture. The inside is spacious; but, from the want of its original groined roof, much of the beauty is lost; it having been considerably higher than at present. The screen, which separates the choir from the body of the Church, will be viewed by the lovers of the Gothic, as an elegant example of its kind: it is nearly twenty feet high, and profusely enriched. With the exception of the bust of William Weddell, Esq. of Newby, there is not one tolerable piece of sculpture in the Church.

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This building would become an interesting object to the lover of the picturesque, but unfortunately, the situation of the town being on a flat, it almost precludes the possibility of a general view. The west front will engage the attention of those who prefer architectural studies. The south-west angle, over the river Skell, will afford a good view, with the omission of some unsightly stone walls. The Minster is built in the form of a cross, its greatest length being from east to west. At the west end are two uniform square which had formerly on covered with lead; but

towers, 110 feet high, them spires of timber, these were removed in the year 1797, by order of the Chapter, and the materials sold. The Great, or Saint Wilfred's Tower, which is over the nave, is 110 feet high; it had on it formerly a noble spire, of larger dimensions than the other two: it was blown down in the year 1660, to the great injury of the roof of the Church.

Rippon Minster was erected by the exertions of Melton, Archbishop of York, and the contributions of many persons of distinction, after the destruction of the town by the Scots, in the reign of Edward the Second. The ecclesiastical government of this Church was dissolved in the thirtysixth of Henry the Eighth, and the greatest part of the revenues applied to temporal purposes. The manor of Rippon, with nine others, was de

livered,

livered, by the Archbishop of York, to the King, by Indenture: and on the same day (February 6) of the following year, this surrender was confirmed at York, by the Dean and Chapter of Rippon.

The following valuation of the seven Prebends of the Church of St. Wilfred, ten years previous to its dissolution, is extracted from Tanner.

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The above account was taken "out of a transcript from the first fruits office, before the rool was lost." The Church has continued under a Dean and Chapter, consisting of a Sub-dean and six Prebends, from its restoration by James the First. The King is the patron of the deanery.

About two miles from Rippon is

STUDLEY

STUDLEY PARK,

THIS noble demesne is the property of Mrs. Allanson. It would require a volume to describe all the beauties of this most enchanting place. Had the writers of the Talmud been acquainted with Studley, they must have placed their paradise here. This is the seat of contemplation.

Welcome! ye shades, ye bowery thickets; hail!
Ye lofty pines, ye venerable oaks!

Ye ashes, wild, resounding o'er the steep!
Delicious is your shelter to the soul.

THOMSON.

Here the traveller might wander with delight; but, impelled forward by the attraction of new beauties, he will proceed through grounds finely diversified, and enriched with the most elegant groups of trees. On entering the Park, take the footway to the left, which, at the end of about half a mile, will terminate at the gates of the Pleasure-grounds; in which the mind will be completely absorbed by the fascinating power of its hallowed perfections. Proceeding by the side of the lake, and turning near a mass of rocks, the eye is immediately struck with the appearance of the majestic tower of

FOUNTAINS

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