Mr. S. Lysons has published some plates, with descriptions of them, in the first number of a work entitled Reliquiæ Romanæ. BARTON UPON HUMBER, A market town, pleasantly situated on the southern side of the river Humber, about three quarters of a mile from its banks, is a place of high antiquity. It was once surrounded by a rampart and foss, the remains of which are yet visible in what are called the Castle Dikes. This place was probably otherwise fortified against the irruptions of the Saxons and Danes, who, in their predatory visits, often laid waste the country on both sides the river. Of its consequence at that period, nothing can be collected, but from tradition. At the time of the conquest it is stated to have been a place of some importance, and a principal port on the river Humber. It was then a corporate town, and, till the erection of Kingston-upon-Hull, by Edward the First, carried on a considerable trade. When Edward the Third issued mandates to raise a force for the invasion of France, Barton furnished, according to one account, three ships and thirty men; and, to ́another, five ships and ninety-one men: while some of the present sea-ports on the eastern coast were even not mentioned. The manor belongs to the crown. A court-leet is held halfyearly, for the cognizance of offences committed within the town; and a court-baron every three weeks, for the recovery of small debts. Though there is but one parish, there are two large churches. The mother church, dedicated to St. Peter, appears, from the tower, to have been built about the time of the Conqueror; but the body of the church was rebuilt after the introduction of the pointed arch. It consists of a nave and two ailes. In the window of the chancel are two figures in stained glass; the one habited as a pilgrim, said to be an effigy of the famous warrior, Lord Beaumont, to whom the manor was granted by King Henry the Second, St. St. Mary's church, considered a chapel of ease to that of St. Peter, is evidently a more modern building, and is very spacious. These being repaired by separate districts, has probably given rise to the idea, that the town contains two parishes. Barton is an improving place, and carries on a considerable trade in corn, having several flour mills in the vicinity, and others for the manufactory of Paris whiting, and French barley. But it is principally noted for being the place where the great northern road passes the Humber to Hull; and the great improvement which has been made in the ferry, and the additional accommodations made for travellers, within these few years, have rendered it a great thoroughfare. A neat packet-boat for passengers, and another for carriages, cross and recross the river every day. well supplied weekly market on Mondays, and cattle once a fortnight. Its annual fair is held the Thursday after Trinity. According to the returns under the late act, the number of houses was 412, and of inhabitants 1709. About two miles to the east of this town is The town has a another for fat BARROW, a large, but irregularly built village. It was formerly the seat of the ancient and celebrated family of Tirwhit, of Cornwall. About a mile north-west of it, in a marsh, stands a large earth work, called the Castle, which, tradition says, was erected by Humber, when he invaded Britain, in the time of the Trojan Brutus. Stukeley says, "it is dissonant from any thing I ever saw;" and, after a minute investigation, considers it to be "an alate temple" of the Britons, and places it in the third class of his "druidical buildings." Having thus decided on its origin, he gives an account of what he conceived to have been its form, and describes the dimensions. Its features, however, are more of a military than a religious kind; and it was probably an entrenched camp of the Britons, who, in many instances, preferred such inundated situations. Adjacent to the foundations are several tumuli, or long barrows. In some, on the north side, which have been opened, were found human bones, ashes, urns, &c. X x 2 At At CROXHIL, generally misnamed Gokewell and Goxhill, was a priory for Cistertian nuns, founded by William de Alta Ripa, before the year 1185. A little to the south are the noble ruins of THORNTON ABBEY, which was founded by William le Grass, Earl of Albemarle, and Lord of Holderness, A. D. 1139, for black canons. Dugdale informs us, that when first founded it was a priory, and the monks, with Richard their prior, were introduced from the monastery of Kirkham; but was changed into an abbey, and Richard made abbot, by Pope Eugenius the Third, A. D. 1148. The founder died about the year 1180, and was supposed to have been interred within the walls. King Henry the Eighth, his Queen, and attendants, were splendidly entertained, in a visit they made the abbot in the year 1541. At the dissolution, when the revenues were valued at 730l. 17s. 2d. according to Speed, the King appears not to have been unmindful of the flattering attentions he had received; for though he suppressed the abbey, he reserved the greater part of the lands to endow a college, which he erected in its room, for a dean and prebendaries, to the honour of the Holy and Undivided Trinity. This was a large establishment, for after the dissolution of it, A. D. 1553, in the sixth year of Edward the Sixth, it is asserted by Willis, that nineteen members received pensions. At that time it was granted, in exchange, to the Bishop of Lincoln. From the remains, it must have been a magnificent building. Originally it consisted of an extensive square, surrounded by a deep ditch, with high ramparts, and built in a style adapted for occasional defence. The gate-house, which formed the western entrance, is yet tolerably entire. The entrance-road is flanked with brick walls, having loop-hole arches, supporting a broad battlement, and terminating in two round towers, between which was formerly a draw-bridge. The grand entrance arch is still perfect; over it is a parapet, four feet broad, and opening into a cell, probably the porter's lodge. The front has been richly ornamented with cornices, niches, and statues. There is a groove for a portcullis, and parts of the great wooden doors are still pendant pendant on their massy hinges. The roof is finely groined, the ribs of which are supported by elegant brackets, enriched with flowers and figures. Over the gateway are two rooms, and four handsome hexagonal towers form the four angles. A winding staircase opens into a spacious apartment, probably the refectory. The brackets which supported the ceilings are half length human figures, so distorted in their countenances, as if represented in purgatory. On the east side of the refectory is another room, with recesses in both sides. To the east of the gateway, are the remains of the abbey church. The chapter house, part of which is standing, was of an octangular shape, and highly decorated, having round it, under its handsome windows, an arcade, consisting of pointed arches, with cinquefoiled heads, and in the centre of each an ornamented trefoil pendent drop. The abbot's lodge, which stood to the south, is occupied as a farm-house. The site of this abbey belonged some years to the family of Sutton, but is now the property of George Uppleby, Esq. On a high ridge of the downs, west of Thornton, is YARBOROUGH CAMP; a large entrenchment, said to be of Roman origin. From its lofty situation very extensive views are obtained, particularly to the east. Vast quantities of Roman coins have been found here, among which were some of the Emperor Licinius. East of this is BROCKLESBY PARK, the seat of Lord Yarborough. The house is not remarkable for its architecture, but his lordship has recently made many additions and alterations to the building and park; among which is an elegant Picture Gallery, from designs by C. H. Tatham, Esq. a gentleman who has distinguished himself both in architecture and in some scientific works on the subject. The length of the gallery, which was finished in 1807, is sixty-three feet, the breadth forty-eight, by twenty feet high. The ceiling is very elegant, being enriched with antique vases. That compartment appropriated to the cabinet pictures, has an arched ceiling, highly ornamented. The gallery contains a fine collection of paintings, which were bequeathed to Lord Yarborough by the late Mr. Aufere, of Chelsea, near London. A few years since his lordship erected in the park an elegant Chapel and Mausoleum, which was begun under the direction of James Wyatt, Esq. in the year 1787; and completed in the year 1794. The elevation on which it stands is a tumulus, once a place of Roman sepulture, as appears from the sepulchral urns that have been discovered here: these contained burnt bones and ashes; also rings, combs, and small perforated stones. The chapel, which was consecrated by Bishop Prettyman, in June 1794, is an elegant circular building, having fluted Doric columns, supporting a rich entablature, and surmounted by a dome, which is surrounded by an open ballustrade, &c. The interior is divided into four compartments, by eight fluted columns of the Corinthian order, supporting a highly decorated and lofty dome. Beneath the chapel is a vault, with compartments and recesses for depositing coffins. This is divided also by pillars, and has a circular sarcophagus in the centre. The whole, which displays much elegance and taste, is highly ornamental to the park, which is extensive, and diversified by numerous plantations and swelling grounds. CASTOR, CAISTOR, or THONG-CASTOR, according to Camden, who follows some old chronologists, was called by the Britons CaerEgarry, and by the Saxons Thong-Castor. The latter name, it is said, to have derived from a circumstance that occurred in the time of Hengist. This Saxon general, after defeating the Scots and Picts, obtained from Vortigern very extensive possessions in other parts of the island, and was granted as much land at this place as he could encompass with the hide, or skin, of an ox. This being cut into small strips, or thongs, extended round a large plot of ground, on which he built a fortified mansion, since called Thong |