Countess Pillar
Anne Clifford, countess of Pembroke, Dorset and Montgomery (1590–1676), spent much of her life in a long and complex legal battle to obtain the rights of her inheritance. Her mother was one of the few people who supported Anne's claim to the family estates. In 1616 Anne travelled north to see "her" estates and visit her mother at Brougham Castle. On her departure from the castle, Anne travelled with her mother a quarter of a mile to where the castle drive meets the main road, where they had "a grievous and heavy parting". Margaret died a month later.
The inscription on the pillar describes Anne as "Sole Heire" of her father, George Earl of Cumberland. It also refers to a bequest in memory of Margaret which was made to the poor of the parish of Brougham. This is commemorated annually on 2 April.
In literature
Felicia Hemans's poem "The Memorial Pillar", on the circumstances surrounding the erection of this monument, forms a part of her Records of Woman.
See also
References
- ^ Historic England. "Countess Pillar (11999)". Research records (formerly PastScape). Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- ^ "History of Countess Pillar, Brougham". English Heritage. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ Wilson, Jean (July 1998). "The Countess' Pillar, Westmoreland [sic]". History Today. 48.
- ^ "Lady Anne Clifford's story". English Heritage. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ "Countess Pillar". Visit Cumbria. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ "Benefice Profile: Clifton & Brougham and Lowther & Askham in the Diocese of Carlisle". Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 August 2014.
- ^ "Annual dole ceremony". Cumberland and Westmorland Herald. 4 April 2014. Archived from the original on 19 August 2014. Retrieved 16 March 2018.
- ^ Hemans, Felicia (1827). . The New Monthly Magazine. Vol. 19. pp. 522–23 – via Wikisource.