volume of the Archæologia, to have been a Roman station. The latter supposition is not supported by sufficient evidence, as the appearance of the ground alone by no means warrants the conclusion of its having been occupied as a Roman camp. Some deep trenches, and earthen banks, may be seen; but the whole by far too irregular and imperfect, to furnish a distinct idea as to what might have been their original designation or figure. A more perfect work is remaining, on the brink of the river at a little distance, but on the opposite side. This is MAIDEN CASTLE, which occupies the summit of Maiden Castle Scar, and has been described thus. "The Castle is inaccessible from the river by reason of the steepness of the cliff, which is almost perpendicular, and about one hundred feet in height. On the right and left the steep sides of the mount are covered with a thick forest of oaks: the crown of the mount consists of a level area or plain, forty paces wide on the summit of the scar, on the front or north-east side; 160 paces long, on the left-hand side; and 170 paces on the right. The approach from the south-west is fortified with a ditch and breast-work: the entrance, or passage over the ditch, is not in the middle, but made to correspond with the natural rise of the outward ground: the ditch is twelve paces wide, and runs with a little curvature to each edge of the slope, now covered with wood, as before noted; on one hand being fifty paces in length, on the other eighty paces. After passing the ditch, there is a level parade, or platform, twenty paces wide, and then a high earth fence, now nine feet perpendicular, which it is apprehended was faced with mason-work: a breast-work has run from the earth fence on each side along the brink of the hill, to the edge of the cliff, or scar. The earth fence closes the whole neck of land, and is in length 100 paces, forming the south-west side of the area.' Dr. Stukeley, in his Iter Borcale, describes this work as follows: "Eastward over the river Wear, upon another peninsula of high ground, I saw a camp, called Maiden Castle, which I judge to be Roman. It is almost encompassed too, by a rivulet falling into

the

Hutchinson's Durham, Vol. II. p. 310.

the river from the east. It is of an oblong form, 500 feet long, and very steep on three sides; the neck is guarded by a rampart, and without that at some little distance by a ditch: the prospect is very large, more especially eastward."

Between two and three miles from Durham, eastward, stands SHERBURN HOSPITAL, founded by Bishop Pudsey, about the year 1180, for sixty-five poor Lepers, a Master, and other officers. The ancient buildings were destroyed by the Scots, but restored by Thomas de Hessewell, who held the office of Master between the years 1330 and 1339; and have since been rebuilt by Dr. Gregory, who was appointed Master in 1759. They stand in a very healthful situation, on the different sides of an inclosed area, containing about an acre of ground. The Master's House is a commodious dwelling, with pleasant gardens attached to it. The body of the Chapel is probably as ancient as the foundation: "it is lighted by three narrow windows on the south, under circular arches, and ornamented with small round pilasters, belted and capitalled like those in the east part of Durham Cathedral." From the constitutions framed by Bishop Pudsey, it appears, that the hospital was to receive both male and female lepers; each sex having their respective houses on the opposite sides of the area; and the brethren being permitted to elect their prior, and the sisters their prioress. "Each leper was to have a loaf and a gallon of beer daily; three days in the week flesh meat, and four days, fish; so that one dish of meat, fish, cheese, or butter, should serve two; but on great days, two dishes were to be provided, particu larly on Quadragesima-day, when they were allowed fresh salmon, or other fish, if they could be had, for one dish; and on Michaelmas-day they were to have geese, a goose to every four, They were allowed yearly, three yards of woollen cloth, russet, or white, six yards of linen, and six yards of canvas, with other necessaries, as trusses of straw and bundles of reeds, with four yole clogs for the vigils of our Saviour." By these and similar rules, the institution was governed till the time of Cardinal Langley, who finding that the revenues had been misapplied, obtained a faculty from Pope Eugenius the Fourth, empowering him to make new regulations.

2

regulations. His ordinances, dated July 22d, 1434, effected a considerable change in the original foundation; though not more, perhaps, than necessary; as at this period, the leprosy appears to have been nearly eradicated; and two lepers only, "if they could be found," are directed to be admitted upon the establishment. To these thirteen poor people were to be added, " to be provided with meat and drink of ten-pence value every week, or ten-pence in ready money, at their own option, and have yearly the sum of 6 and 8 pence for fuel and clothes." On this foundation the hospital continued till the year 1584, when an act was passed for incorporating the brethren, and their successors, by the name of "The Master and Brethren of Christ's Hospital in Sherborne, near Durham:" the number of brethren was by the same act enlarged to thirty. Some additional statutes were made by Bishop Chandler in the year 1735; and under them the hospital is now governed. The in-brethren, fifteen in number, are each accommodated with a neat room, a sufficiency of wholesome diet, a suit of clothes annually, and forty shillings in money: the out-brethren, who are also fifteen, are allowed a similar sum. The present Master is the Bishop of Rochester, who holds it in commendam. About one mile south-east from Durham, is SHINCLIFFE HALL, the seat of Robert Scott, Esq. This mansion is sheltered by a beautiful amphitheatre of hanging woods, excepting towards the south-west, which opens upon the river Wear, and a rich expanse of meadows. On the opposite side of the river to Shincliffe, is HOUGHALL, an ancient manor-house, erected by Prior Hotoun, and forming part of the prebendal estates of Durham. This building has been surrounded by a moat, and otherwise fortified; and, according to authenticated reports, was possessed by Sir Arthur Hazelrigge during the Civil Wars, and for some time became the residence of Oliver Cromwell.

The manor of BUTTERBY, about two miles south from Durham, was part of the ancient possessions of the Lumleys, of Lumley Castle; from whom it probably passed as a portion with Margaret, daughter of Ralph Lumley, who married Sir John Clervaux, of Croft. Her daughter, the heiress of Clervaux, was wedded to

Christopher

Christopher Chaytor, who was found possessed of Butterby, or, as it was then called, Beautrove, in the eighth year of Queen Elizabeth. In the year 1695, an act was obtained to vest certain lands, the property of Sir William Chaytor, Bart. in Yorkshire and Durham, that they might be sold to discharge debts, and secure portions for younger children. Under this statute, Butterby was sold, in 1713, to Thomas, John, and Humphrey Doubleday; and soon afterwards, by purchase, became the sole property of the latter; save one third of the produce of the salt springs, which was reserved to the use of John and his heirs. Humphrey's widow devised the manor upon trust to be sold; and about twelve or fourteen years ago it was purchased by Mr. Ward, of Sedgefield.

The Manor-House, which stands in a low and recluse situation, near the banks of the Wear, is encompassed by a moat walled round, which, though now dry, can be filled with water to the depth of fifteen feet. In cleansing this moat, some years since, a coat of mail, with other armour, was discovered in a large stone trough; and in an adjacent field, in which an ancient hospital, dedicated to St. Leonard, is supposed to have stood, many stone coffins, and jars for holy water, have been dug up. The grounds belonging to this manor are remarkably fertile: "the river near the house falls swiftly over a rough channel, under high rocky shores and hanging-woods, forming a canal a mile in length, where the adjacent lands make a considerable plain. There is not a sweeter rural scene in the whole county, unadorned, and in simple nature; for art has not yet extended her hand hither, further than in the ordinary course of agriculture. This place is as remarkable for its natural curiosities as its beauty: surrounded with the river, from the fissure of a rock in the bed of the channel, about forty feet from the shore, flows a considerable spring of salt water, mixed with a mineral quality. The situation of the spring subjects it to a mixture of fresh water, so that it is difficult to know how much salt it contains in its purest state: on several trials, it has yielded double the quantity produced from sea-water. The shore, for a considerable distance, shows many ouzings, or small

issues of salt water; and by a dyke, or break in the rocks in the channel of the river, a little above the spring, it is presumed a rock or bed of salt might be won* of some value. This water is reputed to be an effectual remedy for diseases caused by the deleterious fumes arising in smelting and refining-houses belonging to the lead-works. Half a pint is sufficiently purgative for the strongest person." In a small rift or dell nearly opposite the salt spring, and within the distance of two hundred yards, is a sulphureous spring, a chalybeate spring, and a spring of fresh water, all issuing through the fissures of the neighbouring rocks. The two former, as appears from an account communicated by Mr. Hugh Todd, and published in the Philosophical Transactions, were discovered by some workmen who were employed in boring for coal. At the depth of twelve fathoms and a half, they discovered the Sulphureous spring: they tried the rock about 100 yards distant, and at nearly the same depth found the spring of Fresh water. Both these springs issue through the holes made by the instruments. The Chalybeate spring was probably opened but lately, when a narrow road was cut through the dell for the use of a stone quarry.

On some elevated ground between Butterby and Durham, is a modern PLANTATION, belonging to the Dean and Chapter, covering an extent of about nine acres. This spot is intended as a nursery for the supply of the prebendal estates, and some millions of young trees are annually sent away, and re-planted. Trees of almost every variety of oak, beech, larch, pine, fir, ash, &c. are here produced; and the attention paid to their growth, to the arrangement of the beds, and to every concern necessary to the improvement of the Plantation, merits the highest praise.

CROXDALE HALL, the seat of William Salvin, Esq. about one mile to the south of Butterby, occupies a lofty situation near the banks of the Wear, and commands a rich prospect towards

the

Won is a term employed by the miners of this and the adjacent counties, t☛ signify the actual possession or working of the ore.

+ Hutchinson's Durham, Vol. II. p. 325.