ON THIS DAY - 22 March 1676

On This Day (22 March) in 1676, diarist, literary patron and heiress Lady Anne Clifford, died at Brougham Castle, near Penrith, Cumberland, aged 86.

Detail from 'Lady Anne Clifford (1590-1676)', Artist: John Bracken, late 17thc. © Lakeland Arts - Abbot Hall

Anne was the only surviving child of George Clifford, 3rd Earl of Cumberland, and his wife, Margaret Russell, Countess of Cumberland. Anne had a close and loving relationship with her mother, their bond reinforced with their increased estrangement from George, prior to his premature death in 1605. Anne was subsequently disinherited from her father's will; George had made his brother Francis his heir, therefore breaching the conditions of a medieval entail. Thus began a decades-long legal battle from Anne, initially supported by Margaret, in attempting to claim her rightful inheritance.

In 1649, after 44 years, following the death of her cousin Henry Clifford, 5th Earl of Cumberland, and on the backdrop of the English Civil War, Anne was finally able to claim her estates in the North of England. She subsequently embarked on an ambitious building and restoration project, which including repairing and restoring the five castles that had now come into her possession, including Brougham, where she would spend the last few months of her life.

Brougham Castle © English Heritage

Anne was a prolific diarist from childhood, and continued to keep daily records in her 'Day-By-Day' book throughout her life, up until the day before she died; subsequently the last few months of her life are recorded. In January 1676, Anne wrote about her episodes of weakness. Whilst her leaving the castle were becoming less frequent, Anne continued to receive regular visitors; however, these visitors appear to be less frequent from mid February. By the end of February 1676, almost every day, Anne is commenting in her diary that "I went not out of the House nor out of my Chamber to-day".

Anne also reflected on specific dates, including that of her birth, as well as reflecting on a previous journey and visit to Brougham in March 1616, the last time she saw her mother Margaret before her death; it is likely that Anne was herself looking back at her own diary entries, given the details written, including the places visited on the way from London to Brougham, including Warwick and Lichfield.

On 19 March, Anne wrote "I had a violent fitt of the wind, so that it caused me to fall into a swoning fitt for above half an hour together so as I thought I should have died", but that she had recovered. However, her health must have deteriorated significantly by 21 March, as the only entry she made was "I went not out all this day."; this was the last diary entry that Anne made.

Anne died on 22 March 1676 at Brougham, in the same room that her mother had died in May 1616, this being the same one that her father had been born in. See 'The Dudley Women' Blog Post: The Death of Margaret Russell, Countess of Cumberland - 24 May 1616 for more details.

Lady Anne Clifford's Tomb, St Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmorland © historywithmegs [@threads]

Anne's funeral was held on 14 April 1676, at St Lawrence's Church, Appleby-in-Westmorland, the church where her mother had been interred, which Anne had later restored. A tomb was later erected in her memory, heraldic shields and an inscription, decorating the monument, commemorating her Clifford and Russell ancestory, as well as her two marriages.