Itinerarium curiosum (centuria II) : $b or, an account of the antiquities, and remarkable curiosities in nature or art, observed in travels through Great Britain. To which is added, the Itinerary of Richard of Cirencester, monk of Westminster. With an account of that author and his workStukeley, William
History
Itinerarium curiosum (centuria II) : $b or, an account of the antiquities, and remarkable curiosities in nature or art, observed in travels through Great Britain. To which is added, the Itinerary of Richard of Cirencester, monk of Westminster. With an account of that author and his work
Stukeley, William
Great Britain -- Antiquities -- Early works to 1800; Great Britain -- Description and travel -- Early works to 1800
There seem to be signs of a camp on the east side of the river,
over-against the castle, in a close where is an old chapel now become
a barn: a spring riles a little above it: if so, then this was the
garrison before the Romans built the city on the west side. Warwick is
a very neat and beautiful town; many fine houses and public buildings
of good stone, dug up at hand. The old castle is very perfect, and a
noble seat: many fine pictures of the Greville family, and others,
particularly an original of Sir Philip Sidney: the whole length of
the place is one suite of rooms very magnificent; one wainscotted
with cedar: they all look over the river. One may see here much of
the ancient manner of fortification: their methods of defence, two
gates, two portcullices at the entrance; with hole to drop down poles,
and an immense strength of stone-work: before the towers at the gates
are iron hooks fastened into the wall, which they told us were for
hanging wool-sacks on in a siege: a tower in the corner of each wing,
very high; that at the corner next the river they call Cæsar’s tower,
made of three circular segments; that at the corner next the town is
twelve-angled, called Guy’s tower: the keep is very high, now made
with a circular walk to the top. At the priory, in two galleries
which seem to be part of the first building, are some paintings on
glass, of religious stories. The chapel at Guy’s cliff is double,
having two arches within, that divide its length into two ailes or
chapels. Under the castle-walls, by the river side, upon the rock grows
much liver-wort, thriving in so agreeable a place. I observed the
lowermost rocks are perpetually dripping, which gathering together in
a channel underneath, makes a small rivulet. This seems to indicate,
that fountains are the effect of exudation from the most elevated
protuberances into some internal cavity; which though by drops only,
yet the sum amounts to enough to make a spring run perpetually; as
the alembic distills the vapors. Now the tops of the hills are kept
always moist by the natural ascent of the water below. I know nothing
against this doctrine, but springs arising in very large quantity from
narrow apexes, and where no other higher ground is near, if any such
springs there be: but we want sufficient number of instances and _data_
to determine this great question. People since the creation have been
very negligent, or very injudicious, in making observations for this
purpose. This is not an useless inquiry; for if we found out Nature’s
method in this affair, it would assist in making artificial springs, or
finding out natural ones, to the great enrichment of barren lands, and
watering all in a dry season; water being the universal instrument of
all increase and nutrition.
Warwick bridge has twelve arches. The _potamogeiton majus_ grows in
the river; a large yellow flower, tripetalous, with an apple like the
Egyptian _lotus_.
COVENTRY.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account