AN EXCURSION TO THE LAKE S IN WESTMORELAND and CUMBERLAND; WITH A T TOUR Through PART of the NORTHERN COUNTIES, In the Years 1773 and 1774• By W. HUTCHINSON. LONDON: Printed for J. WILKIE, No. 71, St Paul's Church-yard, MDCCLXXVI. AN EXCURSION, &c, Bowes Caft Yorkshire WHENEVER I have read the descrip tions given by travellers of foreign countries, in which their beauties and antiquities were lavishly praised, I have always regretted a neglect which has attended the delightful scenes in this island. The monuments of antiquity, difperfed over this country, are many and curious, fome of them arofe in the remoteft ages, and point out to us the revolutions and history of our own kingdom: a degree of knowledge of the first importance to Englishmen. The rapid progrefs of cultivation in the northern counties, within this century, threatens the deftruction of many of their antique remains ;-the plough share has already in many places gone over them, and perhaps in another age not even their names will remain to denote their fite.To preferve their memory to after times, to point out therefore, and defcribe their ftrength, form, and magnitude, I humbly prefume, are no infignificant pursuits in the traveller, who thereby configns to pofterity the evidence of thofe circumftances in hiftory, which will be momentous to all ages. Such fentiments gave rife to a fummer's excursion, the pleafures of which I have endeavoured to communicate to the reader in the following pages. We We were conducted to Bowes in Yorkfhire. BOWES Is of great antiquity, in which is its Bowes chief confequence.-The country around is meanly cultivated, its habitations in general melancholy; and what alone claims the attention of a traveller, is the ruin of a castle, fuppofed by fome of Roman construction; but with greater propriety by others, to be the Turris de Arcubus, built by Alan, first Earl of Richmond, in the time of the Conqueror: It is fituate near the old high street, which led from the Cataractonium of the Ro mans. Castle. This caftle is fifty three feet in height, Bowes' built of hewn ftone, of excellent workmanfhip, forming a fquare of equal fides, eighty one feet each; the windows are irregular; and the walls, which are cemented with lime mixed with small flints, are near five feet in thickness-it is now much defaced, the outward cafing being ftript off in many places.-This edifice |