192 THE BATH ROAD 



and babbling of other things than green fields. In 

 fact, the literary Lady Hertford found the poet of the 

 " Seasons " to be a drunkard, and he was not invited 

 to any more of her parties. 



The house passed at length to the Dukes of 

 Northumberland, who neglected it, and at last leased 

 it to a Mr. Cotterell, an innkeeper, who with pro- 

 phetic vision saw custom coming down the road in an 

 increasing tide. Appropriately known as the " Castle," 

 it remained an hotel until January 5, 1843, when its 

 doors were finally closed, to be re-opened as the home 

 of the newly established "Marlborough College." 



For nearly a century the " Castle " entertained the 

 best society in the land. Forty-two coaches passed 

 throuo-h the town every day when it was at the 

 heif'-ht of its prosperity, and a goodly proportion of 

 their occupants stayed here. Take, in fact, the lists 

 of distinouished arrivals at Bath during that time, 

 and you have practically a visitors' list of the 

 " Castle." 



Marlborough College was established in this house 

 of entertainment, and new buildings have been added 

 from time to time ; but the old "Castle Hotel" may 

 yet be traced from its characteristic architecture. 

 Amid its pleasant lawns and gardens rises that pre- 

 historic hill on which Marlborough Castle was built. 

 Indeed, here, in this "Castle Mound," is the very 

 fount and origin of the town, whose very name is 

 supposed to derive from this earthwork, being the 

 grave of the mao-ician Merliu, who with his enchant- 

 ments is said to lie here still, until Britain shall be in 

 need of him again. "Merleberg," or "Merlin's towD," 



