DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.6912#0124
74
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
conjecture entirely unsupported by the present appearance of the building ; and had
any works of that kind surrounded, or been connected with it, their superior
strength would have ensured their continuance for at least an equal length of time.
Instead of which not a vestige, or any other mention of such a building, remains.
It may even be doubted whether the walls which enclose and defend great part of
the town, were ever continued so far as this edifice. *
At the Reformation, and consequent suppression of the gilds, this chapel, of
course, fell into disuse, and it was returned as " defaced" upon the inquisition before-
mentioned. 3d Elizabeth. Various are the uses to which it has since been applied.
Great indeed was the change, and not very small the danger, when it was con-
verted into a, powder magazine ! Yet at a meeting of the hall, May b, 1638, it was
ordered, " that the town store of gunpowder be removed to Our Lady's Mount, new
prepared." During the siege of the town by the Earl of Manchester, anno. 1643,
this building appears to have been a place of arms, and a regular bastion was thrown
up in front of it. Grose supposes that the cistern, which was visible a few years
since in the lower apartment, was then provided as a reservoir for water. From
its situation, with respect to the principal post of the besieger, it must have been
much exposed to the fire of his artillery: but it does not appear to have suffered
any material injury. Perhaps there might be more mercy for such edifices in the
soldier, than in the puritan.
In the dreadful plague of 1665, it is said to have been used as a pest-house, for
which it was well adapted, on account of its separation from the town. On this oc-
casion the stack of chimnies was probably erected, which were standing at the time
Mr. Grose's view was drawn.
In 1754 there seems to have been some thoughts of converting it into a public-
house ; for the site of it was let to Mr. Mixson, with this proviso : that " William
Mixson have a lease of the Red Mount, and mill-piece, being 'the banks,' for
twenty-one years, at £2. 10s. he not to enclose or erect a public-house on any part
thereof." It was, however, reserved for a less ignoble destination: for, in 1/83,
the use of this chapel was granted to a teacher of navigation for an observatory.
* In the corporation books, 6 June, 1504, 20 Henry VII. is the following entry : "This day John Lakenham
hath taken the ground that owre Lady of the Mount standyth on, with all the ground that is from Gannock-wall-
end, unto the Town's-wall-end, for xxvs. by yere."—And on 3 October, 1516, 8 Henry VIII. " Peter Myller farms
the pasture lying on both sides of the walls, from East-gate to the walls end, next to the chapel of our Lady
of the Mount."
ARCHITECTURAL ANTIQUITIES.
conjecture entirely unsupported by the present appearance of the building ; and had
any works of that kind surrounded, or been connected with it, their superior
strength would have ensured their continuance for at least an equal length of time.
Instead of which not a vestige, or any other mention of such a building, remains.
It may even be doubted whether the walls which enclose and defend great part of
the town, were ever continued so far as this edifice. *
At the Reformation, and consequent suppression of the gilds, this chapel, of
course, fell into disuse, and it was returned as " defaced" upon the inquisition before-
mentioned. 3d Elizabeth. Various are the uses to which it has since been applied.
Great indeed was the change, and not very small the danger, when it was con-
verted into a, powder magazine ! Yet at a meeting of the hall, May b, 1638, it was
ordered, " that the town store of gunpowder be removed to Our Lady's Mount, new
prepared." During the siege of the town by the Earl of Manchester, anno. 1643,
this building appears to have been a place of arms, and a regular bastion was thrown
up in front of it. Grose supposes that the cistern, which was visible a few years
since in the lower apartment, was then provided as a reservoir for water. From
its situation, with respect to the principal post of the besieger, it must have been
much exposed to the fire of his artillery: but it does not appear to have suffered
any material injury. Perhaps there might be more mercy for such edifices in the
soldier, than in the puritan.
In the dreadful plague of 1665, it is said to have been used as a pest-house, for
which it was well adapted, on account of its separation from the town. On this oc-
casion the stack of chimnies was probably erected, which were standing at the time
Mr. Grose's view was drawn.
In 1754 there seems to have been some thoughts of converting it into a public-
house ; for the site of it was let to Mr. Mixson, with this proviso : that " William
Mixson have a lease of the Red Mount, and mill-piece, being 'the banks,' for
twenty-one years, at £2. 10s. he not to enclose or erect a public-house on any part
thereof." It was, however, reserved for a less ignoble destination: for, in 1/83,
the use of this chapel was granted to a teacher of navigation for an observatory.
* In the corporation books, 6 June, 1504, 20 Henry VII. is the following entry : "This day John Lakenham
hath taken the ground that owre Lady of the Mount standyth on, with all the ground that is from Gannock-wall-
end, unto the Town's-wall-end, for xxvs. by yere."—And on 3 October, 1516, 8 Henry VIII. " Peter Myller farms
the pasture lying on both sides of the walls, from East-gate to the walls end, next to the chapel of our Lady
of the Mount."