jo ANTIQUITIES OF NORTHUMBERLAND. 



entire in 1714, the other broken ; the perfect ones eight feet 

 high, and nine feet and an half over ; the circumference of the 

 area in which they ftood, ninety feet. Mention is made of them 

 by Bifhop GzT/on in his Camden (<v). In fuch kind of cirques, the 

 Britons held their public afTemblies, both civil and religious *. 



Sir Lancelot has given a new face, as it were, to the country 

 about Nunivick, within the fpace of a very few years, by mak- 

 ing plantations, enclofures, and good roads, one of which leads 

 to the villa of 



Simonburn, at the diftance only of half a mile from his fear, 

 and in fight. It is fituated on a riling ground, by a pleafant 

 brook, from which, and the dedication of the church to St. 

 Simw, it takes its name. It is remarkable for being the largeft 

 parim in the diocefe, extending northward from Chollerford-bridge 

 to Liddcfdale, in Scotland- a fpace of 23 computed, or 32 meafured, 

 miles ; in which are only two chapels of eafe, Bellingham, and 

 Falftone ; the laft of which had Queen Anne's bounty, by a dona- 

 tion of 200 1. from the late rector, the Revd. Mr. Stainsforth, one 

 of the proflors for the clergy of this county in the houfe of 

 convocation in 1717 ; prebendary of the collegiate church of 

 Southwell, in Nottingham/hire ; and father-in-law to the Right 

 Revd. Dr. Terrick, the prefent Bimop of London. 



The patronage of this rectory was taken from the See of Dur- 

 ham by K. Edward I, together with the Lordfhip of Work upon 

 North Tyne, and the patronage of the living of Penreth, in Cum- 

 berland, in refentment of fome undutiful behaviour from Anthony 



jv) Page, 870. 

 * See Bor/afis Antiquities of CORNWALL. 



Beck, 



