CHARNWOOD. Ill 



power : a road which, if originally of British construction, 

 was unquestionably used by the conquerors ; the remains 

 of a Roman camp too, and many Roman coins, have been 

 dug up at different times in various parts of the forest. A 

 singular remain, perhaps of the Roman period, was within 

 a few years standing on Beacon Hill. This was ' an erection 

 of rude and ancient masonry, about six feet in height, of 

 around form, and having in its centre a cavity about a yard 

 deep and a yard in diameter, the sides of which were very 

 thickly covered with burnt pitch. This had evidently 

 been used for the " beacon-fire ; " and on digging round, 

 many fragments of mortar and dark-red brick were found, 

 which lead to the inference that it was Roman workman- 

 ship.' * 



During the middle ages, the vicinity of Charnwood 

 was the dwelling-place of many a bold baron. The 

 powerful Earls of Leicester had parks here, and the 

 strong castles of Grobe and Mountsorrel rose close 

 beside ; but the greatest interest connected with Charn- 

 wood is princely Bradgate, the residence probably 

 the birthplace of Lady Jane Grey. The present 

 park of Bradgate is bounded by a wall of nearly seven 

 miles in length, and is also subdivided into several walled 

 lawns, some of which are of vary ancient enclosure. The 

 whole surface is of a very varied character, in which wild- 

 ness greatly predominates. The mansion, of which the 

 ruins form an object of such interest, is deserving of notice. 

 Thoresby mentions that James I. was entertained here for 

 some days ; as also William III. The following account 

 has been given of the destruction of the house : 



" It is said of the wife of the Earl of Suffolk (Stamford), 

 who last inhabited Bradgate Hall, that she set it on fire at 

 the instigation of her sister, who then lived in London. 

 The story is thus told : ' Some time after the earl had 

 married he brought his lady to his seat at Bradgate ; her 

 sister wrote to her, desiring to know how she liked her 



* Potter's History and Antiquities of Charuwood Forest. 



