Countess Pillar

Sometimes the places we find are meticulously planned, but now and again a fabulous just jumps out on you when you least expect it. This is the case for the Countess Pillar.

We were just heading back to Penrith from a smashing walk around Buttermere in the Lakes, when I spotted an odd little tower plonked on the verge of the A66. I'm sure I saw my glamourous assistant cross her fingers that I hadn't spied it, but too late, I was taking the turn off to investigate.

This lovely little pillar was The pillar was erected in 1656 by Lady Anne Clifford, who was a bit of celebrity in this area. Born in 1590, she spent decades fighting for her rightful inheritance against male relatives who attempted to claim it, eventually becoming a pretty powerful women in 17th-century England.

Her property portfolio included multiple castles throughout the north including Skipton Castle in Yorkshire, Pendragon Castle in Mallerstang, Brough Castle near Kirkby Stephen, Appleby Castle in Westmorland, and Brougham Castle near Penrith - all of which she meticulously restored and maintained as part of her determination to preserve her family's legacy.

Having a closer look at the Countess Pillar we noticed it was covered in carvings and inscriptions. There's the Clifford family coat of arms, sundials, some rather weathered text explaining why it was built, and dates that probably meant something to Lady Anne. The writing said:

"This pillar was erected anno 1656 by ye Right Noble Anne Countess Dowager of Pembroke and sole heir of ye late Right Honourable George Earl of Cumberland &c. for a memorial of her last parting in this place with her good and pious mother ye Right Honourable Margaret Countess Dowager of Cumberland ye 2nd day of April 1616. In memory whereof she also left an annuity of four pounds to be distributed to ye poor within this parish of Brougham every 2nd day of April for ever upon ye stone table here hard by."

As we read in the inscription, the pillar was erected in memory of Anne's mother Margaret Russell (Countess Dowager of Cumberland) and it was at this exact location she said her farewell for the last time. The two were close with her mother being a staunch supporter of her battle for the inheritance. However it wasn't until 40 years later that the pillar was erected in 1656.

Next to the pillar is a curious little stone plinth which we found out to be called the Alms Table.

Erected at the same time as the pillar, Lady Anne would set aside a four-pound annuity and distribute it from the Alms Table (also known as a dolestone) to the poor and needy every April 2nd (the anniversary of that final farewell).

Brougham Castle is just around the corner if you fancy a visit to see part of Lady Anne's legacy.