"--_Discoverie of
Witchcraft_, by Reginald Scott, 1584.
PART SECOND.
On the verge of the Castle Clough, a deep and winding dingle, once
shaded with venerable oaks, are the small remains of the Castle of
Hapton, the seat of its ancient lords, and, till the erection of Hapton
Tower, the occasional residence of the De la Leghs and Townleys. Hapton
Tower is now destroyed to its foundation. It was a large square
building, and about a hundred years ago presented the remains of three
cylindrical towers with conical basements. It also appears to have had
two principal entrances opposite to each other, with a thorough lobby
between, and seems not to have been built in the usual form,--that of a
quadrangle. It was erected about the year 1510, and was inhabited until
1667. The family-name of the nobleman--for such he appears to have
been--of whom the following story is told, we have no means of
ascertaining. That he was an occasional resident or visitor at the Tower
is but surmise. During the period of these dark transactions we find
that the mansion was inhabited by Jane Assheton, relict of Richard
Townley, who died in the year 1637.
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