522 
TJie Cumberland and Westmoreland 
Gilbert de Burneshead. It then came into possession of the 
De Bellinghams, a Northumberland family, by whom it was 
held for at least 200 years. Seven of this powerful family lived 
here in lineal succession, and it was under them that it became 
a strong and stately residence. The main portions of the exist- 
ing buildings seem to be of the 15th century, and Mr. Weston 
has, like an enthusiastic archaeologist, traced many of the former 
features of the house in the remaining portions of the fabric. I do 
not deem it necessary to follow him in his interesting quest, 
and I will only mention that the greater part of the tower still 
remains, though the usual attempt seems to have been made to 
bring it down, for the purpose of using its material for the farm 
buildings. One of the most interesting portions of the present 
remains — and "what makes it a particularly valuable specimen 
of a border gentleman's residence " — is the outer wall of en- 
closure, called the Rarnekin, with its entrance gateway. Of 
this Machell, who saw it in 1692, says : " There was a moat with 
a lodge and battlements, through which the ascent was." The 
gateway with its massive oaken gates, the porter's room on the 
ground-floor, and the guard-room above, are in good preserva- 
tion. Inside, the house still retains many most interesting 
points, particularly a domestic chapel (with some frescoes still 
remaining on its walls) which is constructed over a vaulted 
cellar. But I have said enough to show that this is a place of 
considerable former importance, and I now proceed with my 
description of the farm. 
Farm. — This consists of a total of G25 acres, of which 249 are 
old enclosed land, arable and meadow, in close proximity to the 
house ; about 3 acres river, 6 acres wood and waste, and about 
374 acres hill allotments, lying on Potter Fell, at a distance of 
about two and a-half miles from the rest of the farm. 
The home farm is divided thus : 
A. K. p. 
Arable 96 2 18 
Pasture 110 2 29 
Meadow 35 2 32 
Character of Land. — The nature of the soil is light, subsoil 
principally gravel. It is upon the slate formation, covered with 
much diluvium. The land is exceedingly stony in appearance, 
but in this wet climate not ungrateful of good tillage, as I shall 
show. 
River Boundaries. — The farm is bordered by the river Kent 
on its south-west skirts and by the little Sprint — the stream 
descending from Long Sleddale — on the south-east. These rivers 
unite at the extreme southern end of the occupation, and form a 
capital natural boundary of this part of the farm. Some flat 
