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“far outshone the wealth of Ormus or of Ind,” reminding one 
of the gorgeous heraldry of H. T. M. ‘‘ with gems and golden 
lustre rich emblazed,” or of Sigismunda’s casket, ‘‘ rich with 
gems and rough with gold.” The Clough is full of interest for 
the botanist, affording magnificent specimens of Felix mas, the 
Lady-fern, and the broad shield-fern. There was a profusion of 
Stellaria nemorum, rarely seen, save under sylvan shadows, and 
the Cardamine amara, or Bittercress, was found in flower. A 
pool almost dry, in one part, presented a complete covering of 
the Callitriche aquatica. Many of the trees are very tall, and the 
rocks, fern-clad and oak-crowned, as many of them were, were 
very grand and imposing. Ascending the eastern slope of the 
ravine, the party came upon the site of the ancient castle, and 
traced out the fosse, moat, vallum, or whatever it might be, but 
found no vestige of masonry. This castle, according to Dr. 
Whitaker, was the seat of the ancient lords of Hapton, and till 
the erection of Hapton Tower the occasional residence of the 
de la Leghs and Towneleys. It must have been a most 
picturesque object, being seated upon the brink of a massive 
perpendicular rock with the beautiful wooded glen beneath. 
After having thoroughly explored the upper part of the clough, 
the members then ascended the slopes in the direction of 
Hambledon, to the hill above Tower Brook, on the summit of 
which stands Hapton Tower, nearly half-a-mile south of the 
New Barn. This magnificently situated house or fortress was 
originally surrounded by an extensive park, called Hapton Park, 
of which Porter’s Gate, above Micklehurst is said to have been 
one of the entrances or lodges. The first mention of a Manerium 
et Parcus de Hapton occurs in 1831; but Robert de Lacy, the 
second, granted to William de Arches the venison caught in 
Hapton as early as 1095. The great park inclosed in 1515 
consisted of 1100 acres. Sir John Towneley, who was born in 
1478, is said to have buils Hapton Tower, and it was there he 
died in 1541. Our excursionists examined with great interest 
what little remains of Sir John’s Tower, which now forms part 
of the wall which crosses the highest point of the ridge next to 
Hambledon. Little appears above ground, except an ancient 
loop-hole with some heavy masonry around it, but no doubt, 
remains of considerable interest, lie buried under the accumulated 
ruins, now overgrown with grass, in which outlines of the ancient 
building may be traced. Dr. Whitaker mentions a tradition that 
in 1725 the remains of the tower stood about 6 yards high, 
and.,were described as a large square building with three round 
towers on one side. It seems to have been constructed after the 
pattern of the border fortresses, and may have been intended to 
serve for defence against the Scots, ‘‘ who frequently came south 
of Clitheroe or Whalley.” The Tower was the principal residence 
