the family were settled in the neighbourhood of Richmond.[1] Of Thomas Foxhols also no particulars are known; he was possibly the only real man of business amongst the contractors.
The materials for the new bridge of stone, which was to be erected after the model of that at Barnard Castle, probably the same narrow bridge still standing, were to be procured by the masons contracting, the other parties stipulating to obtain free access to certain quarries, which are specified. In the church contract, "the quarell" only is mentioned. The "wherelle of Sedbery" is at Sedbury Park, the seat of Mrs. Gilpin, four miles distant from the bridge, and adjoining to Gatherly Moor, where extensive quarries are still worked. The locality is adjacent to the Roman road, and many ancient quarry holes, as Sir William observes, may be noticed. Rysedale is also distant about four miles from the bridge, due west, but on the south side of the Swale. The quarry is close to the source of a brook, or beck, which flows past Brough Hall, and is called in old maps Rysedale beck. The stone from this quarry would provide materials for the southern end of the bridge, two quarries being thus selected, one on either side of the Swale. There is abundance of fine lime-stone (magnesian) for building, within the township of Catterick.
The terms of masoncraft demand explanation. The new bridge was to be constructed with two "pilers" or piers (the former term being also still occasionally used), three arches, and two "landestathes" or abutments. It was stipulated to have five courses of "egeoves," a term which has been supposed to designate the parapet or breast-work. The ancient parapet appears in a ruinous state, in an engraved view of the bridge, dated 1745, and about eighty years since, when the bridge was widened by the county, the parapet on the ancient (the western) side was made similar to that on the new side. There is, therefore, now no means of ascertaining whether it were in fact of five courses.[2] The bridge was also to have "a tabille of hewyn stane under ye Allurynge oure water, mor (or greater) yan Barnacastelle brigge has:" this was doubtless the string course, or projecting table, of the parapet. The expression is obscure, and the term alur, aloring, or valuryng, is occasionally so used as seemingly to denote, not the passage or ally (allorium), unquestionably the primary sense of the word, but the breast-work protecting it. In the contract for Catterick Church, we read of the "tabille yt sall bere the aloring." The height of the choir-walls was to be 20 feet, "with a ualurynge abowne, that is to say, with a course of aschelere and a course of creste." The participle "alourde" is also used; thus the south aisle was to be "alourde like the choir," etc. Mr. Raine is disposed to conclude that the parapet wall is intended,[3] but with all deference to such authority, we incline to believe that the parapet is only included in the expression "aloring," as essentially appertaining to, and connected
- ↑ The name occurs in Kirkby's Inquest, as holding land in Dalton Travers; and George Conyers, of Danby Wiske, son of Christopher, named above, married Isabella, dau. and h. of Cuthbert Frank.
- ↑ The meaning of the term "egeoves" may perhaps be considered questionable. Sir William Lawson has made the following suggestion. "Could 'egeoves' mean the walling at each end of the bridge, running at obtuse angles from each 'landstathe,' up stream, for preventing the river from forcing its way behind the 'landstathes?' Such a wall, with the old masons' marks, exists on the NW. end of the bridge, with a projecting base on which there are five courses of ashlar, surmounted by a coping."
- ↑ See note, Catterick contract, p. 8.
