The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 375, June 13, 1829Various
General
The Mirror of Literature, Amusement, and Instruction. Volume 13, No. 375, June 13, 1829
Various
Popular literature -- Great Britain -- Periodicals
The ancient and nearly deserted barony of Brentford still contains, in its
monuments and antiquities, vestiges of former splendour. The horse-trough
opposite the "Bell and Feathers" is to the antiquarian a most particularly
interesting _morceau_; the verdure of age has defaced it in part, but
enough still remains to prove that our ancestors had made no mean
proficiency in the rustic style of architecture. The reservoir, which
contains the sparkling element so grateful to that noble animal, is
modelled from the celebrated sarcophagus in the British Museum; and the
posts which support it are evidently Doric. On the outside of it are
several nearly obliterated specimens of carving, as well as drawings in
chalk.
Nearly parallel with the horse-trough, as you go down "Maud's Rents," is
that useful, and indeed indispensible, triumph of hydraulics, the pump.
The taste and science displayed in its execution do credit to the engineer;
and the soil in which it is imbedded, being argillaceous, partially
encrusted with strontian, reflects equal honour on his geological
attainments. This pump, which you approach by three steps, is
perpendicular, and of an elegant appearance; and forms the chief ornament
of the "Rents." The handle is of wrought iron, highly polished; the snout
copper, studded with hobnails. It is neatly coated with white paint, and
bears on its front the following inscription, which I have copied for the
gratification of the curious in antiquarian research.
This Pump was erected,
and Well sunk,
A.D. 1824,
from the proceeds of a Charity Sermon,
preached
in the Parish Church
of this Parish,
by his Grace the Bishop
of Bath and Wells.
* * *
Peter Broddupp,
Overseer,
Slingsby Stygle, and John Moles,
Churchwardens.
* * *
N.B. Whoever washes Fish at this Pump
will be prosecuted.
I cannot take leave of this interesting town without noticing the church.
It is surmounted by a neat steeple, cut in wood, in the pointed style of
architecture; on the top of which is a goodly key, to indicate the
wind,--which, the inhabitants remark, has blown due south for the last ten
years. The porch, which is a curious specimen of the Maeso-Gothic, is
rather hurt by the simplicity of the scrapers, which, being merely
segments of iron hoops, do not harmonize with the otherwise elaborate
approach.
_Tossbury._
The demesne of Tossbury (by Camden written Tossbery) was anciently a grant
in feoffment to the College of Physicians by King John. On the spot now
occupied by the burial grounds formerly stood their college; and here they
flourished until the population, originally abundant, diminished so
alarmingly, as to induce them to remove to Warwick Lane.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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