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MONMOUTHSHIRE.

HISTORICAL AND DESCRIPTIVE

ACCOUNTS

OF THE

ANCIENT and PRESENT STATE.

OF

TINTERN ABBEY,

INCLUDING A

VARIETY OF OTHER PARTICULARS,

DESERVING THE STRANGER'S NOTICE,

RELATING TO

THAT MUCH-ADMIRED RUIN,

AND ITS

NEIGHBOURHOOD.

THE WHOLE NEVER BEFORE PUBLISHED.

COLLECTED FROM ORIGINAL PAPERS AND UNQUESTIONABLE AUTHORITIES.

BY CHARLES HEATH, PRINTER, MONMOUTH.

PRINTED AND SOLD BY HIM, IN THE MARKET PLACE:

SOLD ALSO AT ALL THE TOWNS IN THE COUNTY.

1806.

PREFACE.

EXPLAINING THE MOTIVES THAT OCCASIONED THE

:. PUBLICATION.

DOMESTY

OMESTICATED with my parents in the delightful bowers of HURCOTT,* near KIDDERMINSTER, in Worcestershire, the society of a few friends, assembled on a visit, induced us to form a morning party to HAGLEY, the distinguished seat of Lord Lyttleton. In walking round the picture gallery of that celebrated mansion, my attention was particularly arrested by a fine painting of Tintern Abbey; which, from being executed on a large scale, afforded the artist full scope for the delineation of this admirable (and to me novel), pile of ruins.

Dis

HURCOTT is a word of Saxon origin, and fignifies a Wood, from whence the village takes its namie,-being fituate near a most beautiful tract of fome hundred acres, interfected by long and fpacious fhady walks of fir, oak, afh, and other full-grown trees,-while the valley adjoining is occupied by three large fheets of water, the middle of which, fronting HURCOTT, extends over fourteen acres; the whole forming a very beautiful part of the opulent parifh above mentioned, the property of the Right Honorable Lord Foley.

On

Disengaged at that period from business, and turning my thoughts soon after to Monmouth, as the place of iny future residence, I went to Ragland, to pass a few days with Mr. and Mrs. Chambers, the latter of whom, from being a native of Broad-waters (in the same parish) I had known from a very early period of my youth, our families having always maintained the strictest and most cordial friendship towards each other.

The weather was most propitious, for my excursion, and the country glowing in all the profusion of plenty. Placed at an easy distance from Tintern, I soon availed myself of an opportunity of visiting the venerable Abbey, with which I had before been so much charmed at Hagley.

On the ruins of a fall fulling mill, for dreffing woollen cloth, to which purpose the stream was applied, my parents firft erected, and carried on for many years, the moft extenfive and valuable PAPER MILL in that part of the kingdom, nor is it at this day excelled but by very few in the whole range of England.

hours of to express my

I claim the reader's pardon for this intrusion on bis better attention, extorted from me by the remembrance of the many juvenile life paffed in those shades; but more particularl "hallowed reverence" for the memory of the "best of Parents," whose unabated tenderness and care for the welfare of her children fhone forth, with the most pure and lambent luftre, from the dawn of their Infancy to the latest period of her existence.

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Having lived to all the ufeful purposes of life poffeffing her foul in patience," and with a firm traft in her Redeemer, which her virtuous and well-fpent life fo juftly infpired, fhe calmly refigned her foul, to the Father of Mercies, in the 82 year of her age.

On

On my arrival at the Beaufort Arms, I was informed: that Mr. Gethen, who has the care of the Abbey, had been called from home on urgent business, while the rest of his family in the house were sorrowing over at recent domestic affliction. Under these circumstances, I did not press for an attendant, but took the key of: the door, to survey the Ruin at my own leisure.';

In common with every other traveller, I entered this interesting pile with a mingled portion of awe and admiration, and not having before seen any monastic edifice (except Newstead Abbey, in Nottinghamshire, and that only at a distance,, as I rode, during my apprenticeship, when a boy, at Nottinghain, from thence to Mansfield), I fancied myself transported into the regions of ancient fable. I surveyed again and again every part of the fabric with the most insatiable curiosity; but not having read any part of its history, I wanted some intelligent guide to impart innumerable circumstances, which the contemplation of such a scene naturally excited in the mind of every curious and. observant, stranger....:

I returned to Ragland highly gratified in having accomplished my wishes; but with ten-fold pleasure" should I have enjoyed the scene, had there THEN been · such an AccOUNT as THIS I have NOW collected.

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The Spring of the succeeding year fixing me as a Printer at Monmouth,—Tintern became the favorite object of my leisure moments, and many happy hours, were passed under the shade of its venerable walls. Ast

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