1849, a position he retained till he became President in 1859. It was he who presented to it the ivory mace (which originally belonged to the Kings of Poland), still in evidence at our meetings. It was probably when Sir Edward Cust decided to make Leasowe his residence that he built the surrounding wall with the gates and gate house. This makes a striking entrance, with the stone portals surmounted by a pair of watch dogs (the crest of his family) and the motto "Qui Cust odit caveat." The so-called Canute's Seat, which occupies such a prominent position in the plate of the castle in Ormerod, was also probably the outcome of his brain, for, as we have seen, till recent times this point was separated from the sea by a range of sandhills. Close by are three boulder stones, one 6 ft. 6 in. by 3 ft. by 3 ft., the others about 7 ft. by 7 ft. by 3 ft. There is a local legend to the effect that these stones were once the favourite haunt of a very fascinating but dangerous mermaiden. To look upon her was certain death, the heart of the observer " being burnt to ashes within his breast." Some twenty years ago there was a board about 4 ft. by 3 ft. fixed to the wall close by, which (as well as I remember) went on to say that when the tide was at flood and the moon at full at midnight, the lady was to be seen here, combing her hair in the manner adopted by her kind. Owing to the more abstemious use of intoxicating liquors mermaids are hardly ever now seen on this coast, but among the folk-books mentioned in Chap-books of the 18th Century is one with this promising title: " The Wonder of Wonders, being A Strange and Wonderful Relation of a Mermaid, that was seen and spoken with, on the Black Rock, nigh Liverpool, by John Robinson, Mariner, who was tossed on the Ocean for Six days and Nights. Together with the Conversation he had with her, and how he was preserved; with the manner of his Death five days after his return Home. Licensed and entered According to Order." A slight quotation may be allowed: But to his great Amazement he espy'd a beautiful young Lady combing her head, and toss'd on the Billows, cloathed all in green (but by chance he got the first word with her) then she with a smile came on board and asked how he did. The young Man being Something Smart and a good Scholar, reply'd, Madam I am the better to see you in good Health, in great hopes trusting you will be a comfort and assistance to me in this my low Condition; and so caught hold of her Comb and Green Girdle that was About her Waist. To which she replied, Sir, you ought not to rob a young Woman of her Riches, and then expect a favour at her Hands; but if you will give me my Comb and Girdle again, what lies in my power I will do for you.' No sailor could resist such an entreaty, and— "At her departure the tempest ceased and blew a fair Gale to South West, so he got safe on shore; but when he came to his Father's House he found every Thing as she had told him. For she told him also concerning his being left on Ship board, and how all the Seamen perished, which he found all true what she had told him, according to the promise made him. He was still very much troubled in his Mind, concerning his promise, but while yet he was thus musing, she appeared to him with a smiling Countenance and (by his Misfortune) she got the first word of him, so that he could not speak one Word, but was quite Dumb, yet he took Notice of the Words she spoke; and she began to Sing. After which she departed out from the young Man's sight, taking from him the Compass. She took a Ring from off her Finger, and put it on the young Man's, and said, she expected to see him once again with more Freedom. But he never saw her more, upon which he came to himself again, went home, and was taken ill, and died in five Days after, to the wonderful Admiration of all People who saw the young Man.” The Black Rock referred to is that on which the old Rock Perch stood till replaced in 1827 by the present lighthouse. To the right of the present main entrance is a mounting stone, a reminder of the fact that Miss Boode (Lady Cust) was an excellent horsewoman. When she presented the silver bugle to the local volunteers, although the ceremony took place in a field adjoining the castle, she appeared mounted upon her Arab charger.1 Of the alterations and improvements which Sir Edward introduced into the castle itself, perhaps the decorating of his dining room with the oak panelling from the celebrated Star Chamber at Westminster is most noteworthy. This he purchased when the old Exchequer buildings were demolished in 1836. All this oak was removed from the castle after the sale of the furniture in September, 1895. Shortly after the German prisoners left the castle, a fire occurred which involved one corner of the Star Chamber, and some of the panelling when removed showed traces of having suffered by fire previously— which would be when the old Exchequer buildings were partly destroyed. Some of the tapestry in this room is said to be fairly old, and that which was burnt it was found quite impossible to replace. The room now used as the board room was Sir Edward's library, and was fitted by him with bog oak from the submerged forest. There still remains a dummy bookcase, masking a door of a passage leading to a window which looks into the basement. A list of the titles on the dummies still in situ will be found at the end of this paper. The incised stone and built-in doorway already mentioned are not at the end of this passage, but more to the left, and behind the fireplace. The 1 For further details of this ceremony the reader is referred to Memories of Birkenhead, by Mrs. Gamlin, p. 85. A copy of the poem she refers to is to be found in the Wallasey Library. |