Craik Trees is one of the oldest buildings in the parish, having
originally been of the class known as Tower Houses. The tower was at
the south end, where the groundworks may be seen. It has been pulled
down, and the material used in the farm buildings. In one of these is a
small ogee tower window, and in the modern porch is a slab with rudely
cut and almost obliterated arms of the Lancasters. There still remains
in the interior the lower portion of a turnpike stair, by which the
tower has been ascended.
It was a residence of the Lancaster family. The first of whom there is
any record are Ambrose Lancaster and Thomas, aged respectively 80 and
52 years in 1591; they were sworn as witnesses in some law transactions
between Christopher Lowther, Esq., and his tenants of Maulds Meaburn.
Ambrose was the 6th son of Lancelot Lancaster, Esq., of Sockbridge. The
next who is recorded is Christopher Lancaster, great-grandson of the
before mentioned Lancelot; in him the male heirs of the family failed;
he had four daughters, the first married to Sir Christopher Lowther of
Whitehaven, who by paying out the other sisters, swept away the whole
of the Lancaster property. Some of the Pickerings of Crosby afterwards
resided at Craik Trees, but it is now in the hands of farmers. The name
has originated from the cry of rooks; these are all gone, with the
trees in which they must have built, with the exception of one ancient
gnarled ash.
A little below is a spring of somewhat a sacred character, from which,
in Catholic times, it is said water was taken to baptise infants in
Crosby Church; it is now grown up, being a complete quagmire; but by
thrusting a stick in, stones can be found at the bottom.
On Meaburn Hill is a large stone obelisk, erected by Thomas Bland of
Reagill on the site of the house in which resided for many generations
the ancestors of the celebrated Joseph Addison, whose father, Lancelot
Addison, was born here. Lancelot Addison was the son of Lancelot
Addison. He was educated at Queen's College, Oxford; and afterwards
passed many years in travelling through Europe and Africa, and was
known as an author on various subjects. He was afterwards Rector of
Milston in Wilts, then Archdeacon of Coventry and Dean of Lichfield.
He married for his first wife Jane, daughter of Nathaniel Gulston,
Esq., and sister of Dr. Gulston, Bishop of Bristol; and had issue
Joseph, his eldest; Gulston, Governor of Fort St. George; Lancelot,
Fellow of Magdalen College, Oxford; and three daughters. For his second
wife he married Dorothy, daughter of John Danvers, of Shakerston,
Leicestershire. He died in 1703, aged 71. Joseph, his son, is well
known in the periodical productions of _Tatler_, _Spectator_, and
_Guardian_, and also from his tragedy of Cato, whose dying soliloquy is
enough to immortalise any one author.
He was in succession Commissioner of Appeals, UnderSecretary of State,
Secretary to Lord-Lieutenant of Ireland, and Keeper of the Records;
Secretary to the Lords Justices, and finally one of His Majesty's
principal Secretaries of State.
He died in 1719, aged 49 years. He left behind an only daughter by the
Countess of Warwick, whom he married in 1716.
* * * * *
NOTE.--On the next page, viz.: page 79, there is a drawing of "Flass
House, Maulds Meaburn, the seat of Wilkinson Dent, Esquire," giving a
view of the house, with the gardens in front, and the Lyvennet in the
foreground. This occupies the upper half of the page. The remainder
has been kept for a description, but it has never been written.