LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. vii Raglan Castle. STEEL ENGRAVINGS. THE AVENUE, West of the Castle, from which the remains of the State Apartments are seen through the trees THE PAVED STONE COURT........................................................................... W. H. BARTLETT. S. BRADSHAW. 151 THE BARONIAL HALL, showing the great Bay Window on the right of the Dais, with the Worcester Arms overhead; the ancient Fire-place, with W worked in brick over the Arch; the Corbel-heads that supported the Roof, &c. &c.............................................................. ............................................... W. H. BARTLETT. E. J. ROBERTS. 154 GATEWAY IN THE FOUNTAIN COURT, with the Baronial Chapel........................ W. H. BARTLETT. E. Brandard. THE MOAT.-This View of the Keep and adjacent Towers is universally admired, both for the splendour of architectural detail and the picturesque grouping of the features which it displays........................................................................................................ W. H. BARTLETT. C. COUSEN. THE GATEWAY TOWERS, as described in the text, with the Moat and part of the Donjon Tower on the left............ 156 158 W.H. BARTLETT. E. BRANDARD. 177 THE KEEP or DONJON TOWER, from the Moat; on the right are seen the Gateway Towers, and in the centre is the Keep. In front, opening upon the water, is the old sally-port; and on the right bank, partially concealed by trees, is the private walk, formerly ornamented with statues and shell. work, as described in the text. The Keep is represented in the same state as when it was left by General Fairfax after the siege............................................... W. H. BARTLETT. J. C. BENTLEY. 200 VIEW FROM THE BATTLEMENTS.-This View is taken from the top of the Keep, with the Moat, the Gatehouse, the Paved Court, &c., and Landscape to Old Apartments in the Gateway Tower...................... Plan of the Castle.................... Baronial Trophies.......... The Armourer..................................................................** The Arquebusier.................................................................................................... The Tower of Gwent, or Keep....... Window in the State Apartments................. The Garter...................................................................................................................................................................................................... The old Baronial Kitchen, as described in the text............................................................................ 122 131 136 138 ................ 146 Llanthong Abbey. STEEL ENGRAVINGS. ARTISTS. ENGRAVERS. PAGE THE NAVE OF LLANTHONY ABBEY, with the Central Tower, part of the South the two Square Towers-the Nave-North Aisle-the great Tower con- LLANTHONY ABBEY from the rising Ground north of the Ruins, showing the whole Abbey, as it now appears, in the distance, with its surrounding Scenery, as presented from that point of view........................................................................................................ W. H. BARTLETT. S. T. Davis. WOODCUT. The Abbey Church from the East. 244 258 272 Aske-Pembroke Cardiff—Ceubq. STEEL ENGRAVINGS. USKE CASTLE AND TOWN, showing the river Uske and the Bridge in the foreground-the ancient Castle on the right, with the Town under the acclivity-in the back ground, the picturesque Scenery for which the banks of the Uske are so remarkable................... .............................................. W. H. BARTLETT. A. WILLMORE. 283 PEMBROKE CASTLE from the Water, comprising the Principal Gateway-the Postern-the great Round Tower, or Donjon-the Outworks. On the left, part of the Tower; and westward, in the horizon, the remains of the ancient Nunnery... PEMBROKE CASTLE.-Interior of the Great Court-Gateway, Towers, and W. H. BARTLETT. J. COUSEN. 309 WOODCUTS. Round Tower of Uske Castle-Chamber in the same-Curthose Tower in Cardiff Castle. 284,286, 311 Manorbeer Castle—Leath Abbeq—Kidwelly Castle-Clanstephan CastleCarew Castle Margam Abbey-Appendir. T has been justly remarked by statistical writers, that, in point of fertility, picturesque scenery, and classic remains, the county of Monmouth is one of the most interesting districts in the kingdom. Highly favoured by nature, it is literally studded over with the labours and embellishments of art. Watered by noble rivers, sheltered by magnificent woods and forests, interspersed with industrious towns and hamlets, and enriched by the labour and enterprise of its inhabitants, it presents all those features of soil and scenery which contribute to the beauty and stability of a country. From whatever point the traveller may enter this county, historical landmarks meet him at every step: feudal and VOL. II. B monastic ruins, rich in the history of departed dynasties, divide his attention, and fill his mind with their heroic deeds and pious traditions. In fields where the husbandman now reaps his peaceful harvest, he traces the shock of contending armies; whose deadly weapons still rust in furrows which their valour had won, and which the blood of the Roman, the Saxon, and Briton had fertilized. From these he turns aside to contemplate the fragments of baronial grandeur, which attest the glory of chivalry, but now, like sepulchral mounds, proclaim the deeds of their founders:-such is the Castle of Raglan. In another district, sculptures, pavements, altars, statues, coins, and inscriptions, bear testimony to Roman sway:-such is the Silurian settlement of Caerleon, with its classic vicinity. On another hand, where the ivy has clasped its hallowed walls, as if to prop their decay, the traveller halts at some monastic ruin; and, amid the crumbling fragments of its lofty arches, its richly-carved windows, shafts, and capitals, dwells with a deep and melancholy interest on the page of its eventful history. In such places the voice of Tradition is never mute: the vacant niche, the dismantled tower, the desecrated altar, the deserted choir-all discourse eloquent and impressive music; and in places where the sacred harp was once strung, its chords seem still touched by invisible hands:-such are the Abbeys of Tinterne and Llanthony. It is among these remains and monuments of the past-the early homes of saints and heroes of the olden day-that we propose to conduct the reader. In the tour projected, we avail ourselves of such materials as personal investigation, with that of distinguished predecessors, poets, and historians, has furnished from times of remote antiquity, down to the present day. The scenery of the Wye is of classic and proverbial beauty: it is the theme alike of poet and historian, the annual resort of pilgrims—whether admirers of the picturesque, or valetudinarians; and nowhere in the kingdom is nature more lavish of those charms which attract all classes of tourists, than in the course and confines of this beautiful and romantic river. There Be thine object health or pleasure, Or hills, and flocks, and crystal floods; "Inde vagos Vaga Cambrenses, hinc respicit hoc est celebre quondam moenibus nunc solum Castro Anglos; Qui cum jam ad ostium fere devenerit Chepstow præterfluit, id est, si è Saxonico interpreteris forum vel negotiationis locus Britannis, Castle Went, oppidum firmum, cujus domini fuerunt è Clarensium familia nobiles, à proximo Castro Strighull, quod incoluerunt Striguliæ et Penbrochiæ Comites dicti quorum ultimus Richardus." CASTLE.] WYE-CHEPSTOW-GATE-CHURCH. And haunts and homes that love to claim 3 hepstow is of Roman foundation-the Strigulia of ancient authors and was for centuries one of the favourite strongholds of the kingdom. By the antiquarian researches, which are now conducted with unprecedented success and spirit, numerous vestiges of ancient times have been brought to light, and many more, it is believed, are reserved for the labours of archæology. The vicinity abounds in military encampments, all more or less remarkable for the strength of their position, and pointing to those days of border warfare when 'might was right,' and the sword the acknowledged lawgiver. But in the description of Chepstow, our observations must be restricted to the subjects selected for illustration; and these are so correctly depicted in the scene before us, that the reader will obtain a far more correct idea from the delineations of the pencil, than from any description that could be conveyed by the pen. Chepstow is supposed, and with much probability, to have been the chief seaport of the Silurian colony, as both Caerwent and Portscwet have for many centuries been deserted by the sea. Where the Roman galleys once flanked the beach, landing their freight of mailed cohorts, the modern steamer now unloads her crowded deck of peaceful tourists, merchants, mechanics, and students of the picturesque. In its general appearance-in its street architecture-Chepstow still presents some isolated features of the primitive style. Of these, the principal is the Western Gate, of unquestionable antiquity; and, in point of date, taking precedence of the castle itself. By a charter given in the 16th Henry VIII., the bailiffs were to have their prison for the punishment of offences within the Great Gate, "which they have builded by our commandment." This is supposed to be a renewal of the ancient liberties of the town, granted by Howel Dhu, A.D. 940. The Church, part of a Benedictine priory of Norman work, has undergone many alterations and repairs; but repairs, in some cases, are more fatal to the style and symmetry of ecclesiastical monuments, than the wasting hand of time, or even the shocks of violence-for they only disfigure what they meant to adorn; and, by deviating widely from the original plan, lose or debase all its original beauty. The nave and aisles are nearly all that remain of the original edifice. The church has disappeared; but the pillars which supported the Longitudo ecclesiæ prioratus Chepstow, 50 virgæ. latitudo eccl. prædictæ, 33 virgæ.- Will. de Worc. 133. |