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
Through a very hard road, but not an unpleasant country, we entered
Westmorland. The river Can is very rapid, and full of cataracts, as
running chiefly over the rock, and having a great descent. It is
strange that the salmon coming up these rivers from the sea to lay
their spawn, when obstructed by these places, leap over them with a
surprizing force; and there they lie in wait to catch them with nets
laid on the upper edge. A mile below Kendal this river takes a circling
course, and makes a sort of peninsula, called Water-crook, where I
found the old city: its name signifies the valley upon the water Can.
It is a fine large valley, and very pleasant. Either with a cut, or
by nature, the river ran quite round the city. Mr. Tho. Guy is the
possessor of it. As soon as I came into the yard, I saw a large altar
placed by some steps: I believe it dedicate to Bacchus, because of
grapes and festoons on it: it is above three foot high: the festoons
are on three sides; the back is plain. All the house and out-houses
are built of Roman stone, dug up in the old city. The top of an altar
is put into a corner of that stable where the altar stands. At the end
of the house is a large statue or bas relief of Cupid: the gavel end
fell down some time ago, and knocked off his head and arms; but it is
well cut. In the garden, at the end of an out-house, is a very long
inscription on a stone. He showed me a little portable altar, but 7¼
Roman inches high: the dedicatory inscription is obliterated by using
it as a whet-stone; but it is prettily adorned, has two scrolls and the
_discus_ at top. Innumerable antiquities have been found here; great
arches and ruins of buildings: they never plough but somewhat is found.
The father of Mr. Guy saved many, which are since lost: this gentleman
found many brass, silver, and gold coins here; but all are dispersed,
except a large brass Faustina: he showed me an intaglia of Mercury set
in gold for a ring: another with three faces to a head; the foremost,
Mars with a helmet on; a woman’s face on each side: a paste of a light
onyx colour, with a head: a sepulchral lamp. He told me of a large
brass urn with bones in it found here: it had two ears to it, and was
used forty years ago, in the family, as a kettle, and is now at his
sister’s, Mrs. Herring, at Wall near Hexam.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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