Journal of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kemble, Friday, November 26, 1773

Went to another house about 4 miles off, belonging to the same Person, in Monmouthshire, called Trediger, which is a Noble Building, but Modern, and only one fourth of a square finished, with Elegant Stables for 90 horses. Proceded Home thro' Newport, and Chepstow, with the Severn in View for many miles. past by a House of one Mr. Van's, who married a sister of Mr. Morgan's, which is a square building with a Court within, and said to Cost 20,000 Pounds. Newport and Chepstow, have both been fortified Towns, and are both Sea Ports. The first, a very dusty Place, the latter, not much better, but has the Ruins of an Ancient and very fine Castle, formerly belonging to the Earls of Pembroke, now in the possession of the Duke of Beaufort, and destroyed by Oliver Cromwell, one Tower is still so perfect, that you can go to the top of it, with the Battlements entire and Mutilated Stone figures on the top of them. The Castle was composed of three large Courts, separated by cross Walls, and is very extensive, lying on the River Wye, and Joining to the Town Wall, of which it did form a part. The Bridge over the River is remarkable for its height, and only curious on that Account. Monmouth is the County Town of the same name, a great Market for Cattle from Wales, It lies on the Wye, down which River most of the produce of the Country goes in Barges, that carry about 25 Tons, to Chepstow, and from thence into the Severn, by Shipping it for Foreign Markets.

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, p. 22

Journal of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kemble, Thursday August 19, 1773

To Arundel 9 miles, thro' a low road between Hills and not anything worth Remarking. Arundel is a small Sea Port Town in Sussex and a great Corn Market, Ship, Timber, Malt &c. Balance of trade greatly in its favor Importing little but Coal in Return. Remarkable for having near it an Ancient Castle, now in Ruins the only one in England that gives the Title of Earl to the Possessor. The Defences were destroyed by Oliver Cromwell, and is now in possession of the Duke of Norfolk, who is of the Romish faith, and a neat Chapel is now to be seen among those Appartments that are habitable, none of which are Elegant, or have any fine Paintings in them, at this time there are none but Servants, and its but seldom that the possessor resides there.

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, p. 13

Journal of Lieutenant Colonel Stephen Kemble, Saturday August 28, 1773

From Bath to Bristol is 13 miles, Bristol is a large fine City, situated partly on the side of a fine Hill, and many fine prospects from it, among the rest is that height Oliver Cromwell possessed when he took Bristol, with the perfect form of the Lines and Batterie's he threw up on that occasion, which Commanded the whole City. Prince Rupert's place of Encampment is likewise shown when he came to the relief of Bristol, which he could not effect. This Country is full of Coal, and abounds in brass and Copper Manufacturies, which are carried on here with great success on account of the ease in getting Coal for those works. The Rivers Frome and Avon meet here, large Boats go 70 and 80 miles up the Avon, and bring down the Produce of the Country and Manufacturies. About 4 or 5 Miles from Bristol, is a house of Mr. Southwell, which is most delightfully situated having an extensive prospect of the Channel, Wales, and of the low Country on the Bristol side of the Channel. Castle Blase belonging to a Mr. Farr, deserves particular notice for it's beautiful Situation, and neat appearance, having a full view of the Channel, King Road, Wales &c., near it is a very steep Valley, and if we believe Ancient Stories, where the Avon did Run formerly. but that St. Jerome having had a Quarrel with a Giant of a Monstrous size, who was in the Valley, the Saint turned the course of the Water to prevent the Giant from Washing his feet, as he was accustomd to do. Opposite to the Hills are the Vestiges of two Ancient Encampments, supposed one to be Roman from the Cement that had been used in facing the Rampart, the other British from no Cement being used, but only loose stone. The Situation of both is very Strong and requires but one face to be fortified, the other being protected by nature. From Bristol to London 113 Miles, thro' Bath, Marlborough, Reading, Maidenhead &c. but as we came the first part of the way in the dark, and the other part were very Sleepy, we made but few Observations, Reading Appeared to be a very pretty, and tolerably extensive Town, with some Water Running thro' it, and several fine looking houses in its Environs.

We left Bristol at 9 in the Evening, and were at London at six the next Evening.

SOURCE: New York Historical Society, Publisher, Collections of the New York Historical Society for the Year 1883: The Kemble Papers, Vol. 1 1773-1789, pp. 18-9