Milnes Bridge House, Yorkshire; THE RESIDENCE OF JOSEPH ARMITAGE, ESQ. THE valley in which this House is situated is of the most fertile and beautiful description; it is bounded by hills rising above each other to a considerable height, and cultivated to their summit. The House is built with stone of correct architecture, consisting of a plain centre, having a pediment enriched with scroll work, and two wings, in corresponding design. The shrubbery that adjoins the House is disposed with much taste; in front the lawn is bounded by two detached pieces of water, and beyond rises the rich prospect of the adjacent country. It is situated at the distance of two miles west from Huddersfield, and six from Halifax, and came into the possession of the family of Radcliffe by the marriage of William Radcliffe, Esq. with Elizabeth, daughter of John Dawson, Esq. of this place. Their eldest son, William Radcliffe, Esq. was a lieutenant colonel in the West York militia, and one of his Majesty's justices of the peace for the West Riding of Yorkshire: he died unmarried, September 26, 1795, æt. 85; having devised this estate, together with others in this county, to his nephew, Joseph Pickford, Esq. who, in compliance with his uncle's will, took the surname and arms of Radcliffe only. He also was for several years a most loyal and active magistrate, in which character he so highly distinguished himself as to call for some eminent mark of the royal favor; and he was, in consequence of the strong recommendation of the Lord Lieutenant of the county, Earl Fitzwilliam, created a Baronet, November 2nd, 1813. The high sense which the public entertained of the pre-eminent services of this intrepid magistrate was evinced by the liberal subscription entered into to defray the expense of a splendid portrait of him, which was afterwards placed in the Court House, at Wakefield, with the following inscription annexed: SIR JOSEPH RADCLIFFE, OF MILNES BRIDGE HOUSE, NEAR HUDDERSFIELD, BART. "For the prompt and judicious exertions of this intrepid magistrate during a "period of insubordination, danger, and alarm, in the year 1813, his sovereign "created him a Baronet, with the singular favor of a gratuitous patent." His grandson, the present Sir Joseph Radcliffe, is the sole issue of the Reverend Joseph Pickford, eldest son of the late Sir Joseph, who died in February, 1819. The present occupier is the only son of the late George Armitage, Esq. of High Royd House, who for nearly twenty years acted as one of his Majesty's Justices of the Peace, in conjunction with the above distinguished magistrate. F Bishopthorpe Palace, Yorkshire; THE RESIDENCE OF THE RIGHT HON. EDWARD VENABLES VERNON, ARCHBISHOP OF YORK. The Manor and estate of Thorpe St. Andrews, or Thorpe-upon-Ouse, was purchased of different possessors, who then held it, by Walter de Grey, thirtythird Archbishop of York, in the reign of Henry III., who founded and completed the Palace, which has since that time, retained the name of Bishop Thorpe. He devised the whole to the Chapter of York, on condition that they should grant it to his successors for the annual rent of twenty marks. Out of this sum, the treasurer of the Cathedral, into whose hands it was paid, was enjoined to allow six pounds yearly for the maintenance of a Chaplain, presentable by the Dean and Chapter, who was to celebrate mass in his chapel at Thorpe, for the souls of John, late King of England, of Archbishop Walter de Grey, and of all the faithful, deceased. The Archbishop died in 1255, and the Chapel is still to be seen wherein his chantry was founded. Thomas Rotheram or Scot, Lord Chancellor, who was created Archbishop of York in 1485, erected several chambers on the north side, towards the woods; and the palace was enlarged and improved by succeeding archbishops. The principal additions and alterations were made by Archbishop Drummond in the late reign: he built the walls of the Kitchen Garden, the Stables, CoachHouses, &c. in the year 1763; and in the autumn of the same year laid the foundations of the entrance Gateway and Porter's Lodge, which were finished in 1765. In the following year, the additions to the Palace were begun, consisting of a large Drawing-room, Vestibule, Audience-room, Servant's Hall, and Butler's Pantry. These Rooms, with the front given in our view, which exhibits the handsome porch designed in the pointed style, were completed in 1769, under the direction of Thomas Atkinson of York. In the Drawing-room is a well executed chimney-piece of statuary and Siena marble. In the best Diningroom is also a grand chimney-piece, with Doric columns. The same worthy Prelate also adorned the Chapel with windows of brilliant stained glass by Peckitt, of York; much of the stone used in building the new front, and the Gateway of the Palace, was brought from Cawood Castle, formerly the residence of the Archbishops of York. It was not the Episcopal Palace alone that displayed the munificence of Archbishop Drummond; he rebuilt the parish Church from its foundation in 1766, with the assistance of a small contribution from the clergyman of the parish, and two or three neighbouring gentlemen. He died at Bishopthorpe, December 10, 1776, in the sixty-sixth year of his age, and was buried, by his own desire, in a very private manner, under the altar of the church. He was succeeded in the see by Dr. William Markham, the eighty-second Archbishop, who was greatly esteemed for his learning and piety. The present most Reverend and learned Prelate, who was translated from Carlisle to the Archiepiscopal chair of York, November 25, 1807; is a younger son of the late George Venables Vernon, Lord Vernon, by Martha, sister to Simon, first Earl Harcourt. Since his accession to the See, much has been done by him to contribute farther to the comfort and convenience of the Archiepiscopal Residence. Several new apartments, particularly on the north and west sides, have been added to the Palace, and the offices have been greatly encreased and improved. The Kitchen Garden has been considerably enlarged, and extensive Hot-houses and a Green-house erected. The Shrubbery and Pleasure Grounds, which before were confined to a very small compass, now occupy about six acres. Bishopthorpe is situated two miles south of the city of York. Kirklees Hall, Yorkshire ; THE SEAT OF SIR GEORGE ARMYTAGE, BART. DRAYTON, in the Polyolbion, describing the progress of the river Calder, which flows near this mansion, and afterwards falls into the river Aire, has the following lines: "It chanced she in her course on Kirkley cast her eye, Where merry Robin Hood, that honest thief, doth lie." Its being the traditionary burial-place of that celebrated outlaw, renders the spot particularly interesting to the admirers of our ancient poetry. Kirklees, Kirkleys, or Kirkleghes Abbey, situated in the woods between Halifax and Wakefield, in the deanery of Pontefract, and archdeaconry of the West Riding, was a Cistercian nunnery, founded in honour of the Virgin Mary and Saint James, by Reynerus Flandrensis, in the reign of King Henry II. about which time Robin Hood was born. That extraordinary character, either from necessity or choice, retired with a chosen band to the woods and forests, with which, especially in the northern parts of the kingdom, immense tracts were at that time covered, of these he chiefly frequented Barnsdale in Yorkshire, and Sherwood in Nottinghamshire, The merry pranks he play'd, would ask an age to tell, And the adventures strange that Robin Hood befel." DRAYTON. At length the infirmities of old age increasing upon him, and desirous to be relieved in a fit of sickness, by being let blood, he applied for that purpose to his kinswoman, the Prioress of Kirklees, celebrated for her skill in physic, by whom he was however treacherously suffered to bleed to death. This event happened on the 18th of November, 1247, in the 31st year of king Henry III., and about the 87th year of Robin Hood's age. He was interred under some trees, at a short distance from the abbey, where a stone supposed to cover his grave is still shown, and is railed round. "And there they buried bold Robin Hood The descent of the family of Armytage, according to a pedigree by Henry St. George, Norroy King of Arms, 1637, and an ancient roll of the family, mentioned by Thoresby, in the History of Leeds, can be deduced from the time of King Stephen to William Armytage, of Kirklees, who lived in the reign of Edward IV.; from him descended Francis Armytage, Esq., who was created a Baronet by king Charles the First. The title was enjoyed by five successive members of the family. Sir George Armytage, the fifth Baronet, dying without issue, the title became extinct, and the estates were devised to his cousin, Samuel Armytage, Esq., who was advanced to the dignity of a Baronet, in the 12th year of king George II., July 4, 1738: he died in the year 1747, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir John Armytage, Bart., who represented the city of York in Parliament, and went a volunteer with General Blythe to the coast of France, where he was unfortunately killed at St. Cas, in 1758, in the 27th year of his age. Being unmarried, he was succeeded by his brother, Sir George Armytage, Bart., who likewise represented the city of York in Parliament. He married Maria, eldest daughter and coheiress of Godfrey Wentworth, Esq., of Wooley Park and Hickleton in Yorkshire. Sir Godfrey Armytage, the present proprietor of Kirk- Seege lees Hall, is the fourth Baronet of the new creation, and married, first, Mary, eldest daughter of Lord Suffield, and, secondly, in 1791, Mary, daughter of Old Howsham Hall, Yorkshire; THE SEAT OF HENRY CHOLMLEY, ESQ. HOWSHAM HALL is a large ancient quadrangular Mansion, situated on the east bank of the River Derwent, which takes its winding course through a beautiful valley, enriched with varied and delightful scenery. The House was built about the time of Queen Elizabeth, and the stone of which it is erected is said to have been brought from the ruins of Kirkham Abbey, about two miles and a half from this Seat, which was a Cistercian Monastery, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and originally founded by Sir Walter L'Espec, Knt. and Adelina his wife, in the year 1121, the 22d of Henry I. Howsham stands on a gently rising ground, within about half a mile of the river. The magnitude and antiquity of the Mansion give it an imposing appearance. Over the Porch are the Arms of four quarterings of the Family of Cholmley boldly sculptured; and the whole building is surmounted by a curious ornamental parapet. Its grounds are embellished with plantations, laid out with infinite taste and judgment. The Mansion lies between York and Malton, on the right of Spittle Bridge, about eight miles from Malton, and twelve from the city of York. The family of Cholmley are a branch of the very ancient House of Cholmondeley of Cholmondeley, in Cheshire, and the contraction of the name of the Yorkshire Branch is said to have taken place about the time of Henry VII. or VIII. After the dissolution of the Abbey of Whitby, its lands came partly by grant and partly by purchase into the possession of Sir Richard Cholmley, whose descendant, Sir Hugh Cholmley, in the time of the civil war, bravely defended the Castle of Scarborough for more than twelve months against the parliamentarian army, and during the whole time of the siege his lady remained with him in the castle, and attended the sick and wounded. At length, having surrendered on honourable terms in 1645, Sir Hugh and his family went into exile; his estates were sequestered, and his seat at Whitby converted into a garrison, and plundered of every thing valuable by the parliament's troops. He continued in exile till 1649, when his brother, Sir Henry Cholmley, found means to appease the parliament, and he was permitted to return to England; after which he joined with his brother, Sir Henry, and Sir Richard Crispe, in erecting an Alum work at Saltwick, which brought a great influx of inhabitants to Whitby. About the middle of the last century, the family left their ancient seat at Whitby, which is situated on a hill on the west side of the town, between the church and the ruins of the Abbey, only a small part of which remains, and made Howsham their chief country residence. The late Nathaniel Cholmley, Esq., of Howsham, betook himself early to the profession of arms, and had his horse killed under him at the battle of Dettingen; but, on the death of his father, he retired to his paternal estate, and represented, successively, the towns of Aldborough and Boroughbridge in parliament. |