Families!

Yesterday I mentioned Lady Anne Clifford as being one of the ‘unsung ladies of Cumbria’ and I realised that, although she is a very familiar figure around here, other people may not be as aware of her as we are. So a little potted history. I am not the least bit interested in the squabbling of the wealthy over their inheritance – their estates, big houses, castles and what have you, whether in the past or the present. However, I have a little sympathy for Lady Anne Clifford. 

Lady Anne was born at Skipton Castle in 1590, the daughter of the 3rd Earl of Cumberland. She was the only surviving child of George Clifford and yet she did not inherit his titles and estates, they went instead to his brother Francis. Supported by her mother, but not by her husband, she embarked on a long and complex legal battle to gain her inheritance. 

Eventually, on the death of Francis, she at last took possession of the huge Clifford estates, which included the castles of Brougham, Brough, Appleby, Pendragon, (most of which I have blipped at some time or another). After her second husband died, she set about restoring the castles and houses to their former glory. She also restored churches, such as the lovely Ninekirks.

Lady Anne spent a lot of time in Appleby. She built almshouses for widows, a school, the Moot Hall . . .  and she restored the church of St Lawrence after it was badly damaged by Scottish raids. There is an inscription on one of the rafters in the Lady Chapel (see extra), which says: ANN COUNTESS OF PEMBROKE IN ANNO 1655 REPAIRED ALL THIS BUILDING.

It is in this church in Appleby that Lady Anne was buried in 1676. My photo is of the huge black marble monument to her, which she designed herself. Interesting that she made sure that her family line was clearly displayed. The church was very badly damaged in the 2015 floods and restoration work is slowly taking place. There is evidence of the damage and the work being carried out in the picture. It was good to see a few visitors in the church this afternoon and they all seemed to be making donations towards the restoration fund. I bought a book!!