[Illustration:  THE “ISLAND” OF ATHELNEY.

The Alfred memorial is in the foreground, and in the distance is the “Mump,” the lonely hill surmounted by the ruined church of Boroughbridge.]

RAGLAN CASTLE

=How to get there.=—­Train from Paddington.  Great Western Rly. =Nearest Station.=—­Raglan. =Distance from London.=—­151-1/2 miles. =Average Time.=—­Varies between 4-1/2 to 5-1/2 hours.

                     1st 2nd 3rd
=Fares.=—­Single 26s. 9d. 16s. 9d. 18s. 4-1/2d. 
          Return 46s. 10d. 29s. 4d. 26s. 9d. 
Fares via Monmouth are slightly cheaper.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=—­“Beaufort Arms.”

Raglan Castle stands on a hill near a tributary of the Usk.  It is the most celebrated ruin on the borders of Wales, and is well preserved.  There is a six-sided keep with walls 10 feet thick, and a gateway with two ivy-clad towers.  It dates probably from Edward IV.’s reign, although some writers give an earlier time.  Before its destruction by the Parliamentarians the castle was a magnificent structure.  A massive gateway leads to the arched bridge over the moat by which entrance was gained to the castle.  The moat, 30 feet broad, surrounded the keep.  The great hall had a fine roof of Irish bog oak, and the gallery was of great length.

This fortress was garrisoned for Charles I. by the sturdy old Earl of Worcester, who was created a marquess in 1642.  He collected an army of 1500 foot-soldiers and 500 horse, which was commanded by his son, the second marquess.  After his defeat at Naseby, in July 1645, Charles fled to Raglan and stayed till September.  Sir Thomas Fairfax besieged the castle in June 1646, and after a three months’ siege the marquess honourably surrendered to the Parliamentary forces.

This was the last stronghold in the west to hold out for Charles.  The walls of the keep were destroyed, and, in defiance of the terms of surrender, the aged marquess was imprisoned.  He died the following year, and was buried in Windsor Castle.

The second marquess was a mechanical genius, who invented what was known as a “Water-commanding Engine.”  He erected an apparatus in the moat which spouted water as high as the top of the castle.  This was the first practical attempt to use steam as a mechanical agent.  The marquess also used his various mechanical contrivances to terrify a body of villagers who came to search the castle for arms in the cause of the Parliament.  When the machines were set agoing the rustics fled, believing lions or some other forms of wild animals were after them.  This marquess died in London in 1667, and was buried in Raglan Church.

[Illustration:  Photochrom Co., Ltd.

RAGLAN CASTLE.

It probably dates from the reign of Edward IV.]

DOVEDALE