Curiosities Of Great Britain: England And Wales Delineated Part 2

[Sidenote: Lord Burnell's effigy in bra.s.s on the altar tomb.]

[Sidenote: The seat of Sir E.J. Smythe.]

Map Names of Places. County Number of Miles From +--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+---------------+ 7 Acton Grange to Chester Warrington 4 Northwich 10 15 Acton Iron pa Gloucester Chip. Sodbu 2 Thornbury 7 33 Acton Pigott chap Salop Much Wenlo 6 Shrewsbury 8 33 Acton Reynold to Salop Shrewsbury 8 Wem 6 33 Acton Round chap Salop Wenlock 3 Bridgenorth 6 33 Acton Scott pa Salop Ch. Stretton 4 Bish. Castle 10 35 Acton Trussell to & pa Stafford Penkridge 3 Stafford 4 15 Acton Turville chap Gloucester Tetbury 11 Chippenham 12 35 Adbaston pa Stafford Eccleshall 14 Newport 5 31 Adderbury East to & pa Oxford Banbury 3 Deddington 3 33 Adderley pa Salop Drayton 4 Whitchurch 8 29 Adderston to Northumb Beiford 3 Alnwick 12 17 Adforton to Hereford Ludlow 8 Presteign 8 9 Addingham pa c.u.mberland Kirk Oswald 2 Penrith 8 45 Addingham pa W.R. York Skipton 5 Ottley 8 37 Addington[A] pa Surrey Croydon 4 Westerham 10 5 Addington pa Bucks Winslow 2 Buckingham 5 21 Addington pa Kent Maidstone 7 Rochester 8 28 Addington, Gt to & pa Northamp Thrapston 4 Kettering 7 28 Addington, Lit to & pa Northamp ... 5 ... 8 21 Addisham pa Kent Wingham 3 Canterbury 6 45 Addle[B] to & pa W.R. York Leeds 5 Ottley 6 46 Addle-c.u.m-Eccup to W.R. York 5 ... 6 45 Addlingfleet[C] pa W.R. York Snaith 11 Burton 2 +--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+---------------+ Dist.

Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population +--+-----------------------+-------------------------+-----+---------+ 7 Acton Grange to Runcorn 5 183 148 15 Acton Iron pa Bristol 9 112 1372 33 Acton Pigott chap Ch. Stretton 9 154 ... 33 Acton Reynold to Drayton 12 152 173 33 Acton Round chap Ludlow 17 145 203 33 Acton Scott pa Ludlow 10 155 204 35 Acton Trussell to & pa Lichfield 15 131 551 31 Acton Turville chap Sodbury 5 102 236 35 Adbaston pa Hodnet 7 152 601 31 Adderbury East to & pa Aynhoe 4 70 2471 33 Adderley pa Wem 12 157 468 29 Adderston to Wooler 10 319 322 17 Adforton to Knighton 8 150 218 9 Addingham pa Aldstn Moor 12 291 719 45 Addingham pa Keighley 5 213 2251 37 Addington[A] pa Bromley 5 12 463 5 Addington pa Bicester 11 50 74 21 Addington pa Wrotham 3 27 206 28 Addington, Gt to & pa Higam Ferrers 5 70 282 28 Addington, Lit to & pa ... 5 70 264 21 Addisham pa Sandwich 6 62 390 45 Addle[B] to & pa Bradford 8 205 1063 46 Addle-c.u.m-Eccup to ... 8 291 703 45 Addlingfleet[C] pa Howden 6 170 478 +--+-----------------------+-------------------------+-----+---------+

[A] ADDINGTON is on the borders of Kent. Addington Place, a seat erected by Alderman Trecothick, in 1772, was purchased in 1807, for the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The manor of Addington is held by the feudal service of finding a man to make a mess, called Gerout, in the king's kitchen, at the coronation, and serving it up in his own person at Westminster Hall. In the reign of William the Conqueror, Addington appears to have been held by Tezelin, cook to the king, which accounts for the origin of the required culinary service.

The Archbishop of Canterbury is now the claimant of the service alluded to. Near the village is a curious cl.u.s.ter of tumuli, or mounds of earth raised over the bodies of the slain, about twenty-five in number, of inconsiderable height. One of them is nearly forty feet in diameter, two are about half that size, and the rest very small.

[Sidenote: Coronation custom.]

[Sidenote: Cl.u.s.ter of tumuli.]

[B] ADDLE. The church in this town is considered to be one of the most perfect specimens of Roman architecture remaining in England. In 1702, the traces of an ancient Roman town, with fragments of urns, and of an aqueduct of stone were found in the adjacent moor.

[Sidenote: Roman architecture.]

[C] ADDLINGFLEET. A parish and towns.h.i.+p in the lower division of Osgold Cross, including the towns.h.i.+ps of Fockerby, Haldenby, and Eastoft. The village is situated very near the junction of the Trent with the Humber, the latter river being one of the largest in the kingdom, formed by the united waters of the Trent, Ouse, Derwent, Aire, and other minor streams. At this part it is about a mile broad, it is the Abus of Ptolemy. It runs towards the east, was.h.i.+ng the port of Hull, where it receives the river called by the same name; from thence, taking a south-easterly direction, it expands itself into an estuary nearly seven miles across, and mingles with the German ocean. This river, which, with very few exceptions, receives all the waters of Yorks.h.i.+re from the Ouse, and the greater part of those from the midland counties from the Trent, commands the inland navigation of very extensive and commercial parts of England; namely, those of the Mersey, Dee, Ribble, Severn, Thames, and Avon; it also forms the boundary between Yorks.h.i.+re and Lincolns.h.i.+re.

[Sidenote: Boundary between Yorks.h.i.+re and Lincolns.h.i.+re.]

Map Names of Places. County Number of Miles From +--+-------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+ 7 Adlington to Ches.h.i.+re Macclesfield 6 Stockport 6 22 Adlington[A] to Lancaster Wigan 4 Chorley 4 24 Addlethorpe to & pa Lincoln Alford 7 Spilsby 11 15 Adlestrop pa Gloucester Stow 4 Burford 11 22 Admarsh chap Lancaster Burton 11 Kirkby Lon 15 5 Adstock pa Bucks Winslow 3 Buckingham 4 28 Adstone ham Northamp Towcester 7 Daventry 8 8 Advent chap Cornwall Camelford 2 Bodmin 10 45 Adwalton[B] ham W.R. York Bradford 4 Leeds 7 31 Adwell pa Oxford Tetsworth 2 Thame 5 45 Adwick-on-Dearne ch W.R. York Rotherham 6 Barnsley 8 45 Adwick pa & to W.R. York Doncaster 4 Thorne 10 12 Aff-Piddle pa Dorset Dorchester 9 Bere Regis 4 7 Agden to Chester Malpas 3 Whitchurch 3 7 Agden to Chester Knutsford 6 Warrington 10 43 Agelthorpe to N.R. York Middleham 3 Bedale 6 8 Agnes, St[C] cha Cornwall Truro 9 Redruth 7 +--+-------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population +--+-------------------+-------------------------+------+------+ 7 Adlington to Altringham 10 2 1066 22 Adlington[A] to Bolton 9 264 1082 24 Addlethorpe to & pa Wainfleet 9 134 176 15 Adlestrop pa Moreton 6 86 196 22 Admarsh chap Garstang 12 240 ... 5 Adstock pa Bicester 11 52 445 28 Adstone ham Brackley 10 67 166 8 Advent chap Launceston 15 230 246 45 Adwalton[B] ham Huddersfield 8 192 ... 31 Adwell pa Watlington 4 41 48 45 Adwick-on-Dearne ch Doncaster 7 167 145 45 Adwick pa & to Pontefract 9 166 918 12 Aff-Piddle pa Blandford 12 111 442 7 Agden to Nantwich 11 177 104 7 Agden to Altringham 1 179 99 43 Agelthorpe to Masham 4 226 188 8 Agnes, St[C] cha Falmouth 14 256 6642 +--+-------------------+-------------------------+------+------+

[A] ADLINGTON. Through this towns.h.i.+p runs the Leeds and Liverpool Ca.n.a.l.

It contains several coal mines. Adlington Hall, the seat of Sir Robert Clayton, Bart., was rebuilt about 1780; it stands in a low situation, on the borders of an extensive park, and contains some very good pictures, amongst which is a head of Charles I., taken after death. Ellerbeck Hall is the seat of John Hodson, Esq. In this neighbourhood is Park Hall, the seat of R.P. German, Esq. The inhabitants of Adlington are chiefly employed in the cotton manufactories of the vicinity.

[Sidenote: Seat of Sir. Robert Clayton, Bart.]

[B] ADWALTON formerly possessed a market which is now disused. On Adwalton Moor, a battle was fought, in 1642, between the Earl of Newcastle, commanding for the king, and the parliamentary general, Lord Fairfax, in which the latter was defeated.

_Fairs_, February 6, March 9, Easter Thursday, Thursday fortnight after Easter, Whit-Thursday; and every second Thursday thence to Michaelmas, for lean cattle; November 5, and December 23.

[Sidenote: Battle fought here in 1642.]

[C] St. AGNES is situated on the Bristol Channel. The town and parish, including a considerable mining district, is thickly strewed with the cottages of the miners. It is more frequently called Lighthouse Island, from a very high and strong light-house erected here, to warn the mariner from the rocks, which are more numerous about this than any other of the Scilly Islands. This building is upwards of sixty feet high, and stands on the most elevated ground. The light is produced by twenty-one parabolic reflectors of copper, plated with silver, and having each an argand lamp in its focus. The reflectors are disposed of in three cl.u.s.ters, of seven in each cl.u.s.ter, and the frame in which they are fixed stands perpendicularly to the horizon, on a shaft united to a machine below, which makes the whole revolve every two minutes. By this motion the light progressively sweeps the whole horizon; and by its gradual intermission and increase, it is readily distinguished from any other. Its brilliancy is also extraordinary; and by these combined efforts its benefits are greatly increased, as the seaman is at once rendered completely sensible of his situation. This light was designed by the ingenious Mr. Adam Walker, (lecturer on natural and experimental philosophy,) under whose inspection it was constructed. The light-house itself is of stone, and was erected, as appears from an inscription over the door, by Captain Hugh Till, and Captain Simon Bayley, in the year 1680. The charges attending the light are defrayed by the Trinity House.

At St. Agnes is a pilchard fishery. St. Agnes' Beacon, six hundred and sixty-four feet above the level of the sea, is formed out of an ancient cairn, or tumulus of stones; near which, a summer-house has been built, from whence is a fine view of St. Ives, and an extensive sea prospect.

Near the same spot is St. Agnes' Well, of which many miraculous stories are in circulation, from its presumed holy and sanative properties.

This place gave birth to John Opie, whose persevering genius advanced him to the highest rank in his profession. He was born at Harmony Cot, in May 1761. The opening years of his existence indicated that he must plod through life in the dull occupation of a carpenter, as successor to his father and grandfather. He distinguished himself at a very early period, for originality and strength of mind, and at twelve years of age commenced an evening school in St. Agnes, teaching arithmetic and writing, and reckoning amongst his scholars some who had nearly doubled his years. His first humble attempts at portrait painting were with a s.m.u.tty stick, against the white-washed wall of his paternal cottage, where he exhibited, in _dark colours_, very striking likenesses of the whole family. His next step was to draw with ochre on cartridge paper.

He was apprenticed to his father, but from some unascertainable cause was turned over to a sawyer; and it was literally in the bottom of a saw-pit that Dr. Walcot, better known by the appellation of Peter Pindar, (who had previously seen and admired some of Opie's rude drawings,) first beheld this untutored child of genius, under whose patronage he was protected, and his fame promoted. After visiting Exeter, (where he was persuaded to change his surname, which originally was Hoppy, to that of Opie,) finding his success was commensurate with his abilities, it was soon determined they should be brought to act in a wider sphere; and, in 1780, the Doctor and his pupil repaired to London, where not agreeing as to the mode of living together, they separated, and although their attachment had been cemented by long-continued kindness, subsequently to this period, yet they were never after cordially united. The opinion Opie entertained of the services which he had received from the Doctor, may be gathered from the following curious _note of hand_, which was said to be in the possession of the latter: "I promise to paint, for Dr. Walcot, any picture or pictures, he may demand, as long as I live; otherwise, I desire the world will consider me as a ... ungrateful son of a ..., John Opie." It is not certain that he ever deviated from this voluntary obligation, but it is matter of pleasant remark, that he always made his friend pay eighteen-pence for the canva.s.s! Opie was as fortunate in London as he had been at Exeter.

To Pindar, however, he was indebted for his introduction to public notice. Through him his pictures were shown to Mrs. Boscawen, by whom Opie was introduced to the late Mrs. Delaney, who procured for him the notice of King George III. An opportunity was contrived for the royal family to see his picture of the _The Old Beggar Man_; soon after which, Opie was honoured with a command to repair to Buckingham House. The artist's account of this interview was given in the following characteristical manner to Walcot, who has often been heard to relate it with great humour. "There was Mr. West," said Opie, "in the room, and another gentleman. First, her majesty came in; and I made a sad mistake in respect to her, till I saw her face, and discovered by her features that she was the queen. In a few minutes his majesty came hopping in. I suppose," said Opie, "because he did not wish to frighten me. He looked at the pictures and liked them; but he whispered to Mr. West--'tell the young man I can only pay a gentleman's price for them.'" The picture which his majesty bought was that of _A Man Struck by Lightning_. The price given was 10, with which Opie returned to the Doctor full of spirits. His friend, when he heard the story, said, "Why, John, thou hast only got 8. for thy picture." "Indeed, but I have though," cried Opie, "for I have got the 10. safe in my pocket." On this he showed him the money. "Aye," rejoined the Doctor, "but dost thou know his majesty has got the frame for nothing, and that is worth 2." "D--- it, so he has," cried Opie--"I'll go back and knock at the door, and ask for the frame; D--- it, I will." He was actually about to put his resolve into execution, till dissuaded by the Doctor. Popularity naturally followed this notice of royalty. The ladies, however, soon deserted him, as his likenesses were not flattering; for where Nature had been n.i.g.g.ardly, Opie refused to be liberal. He afterwards became better acquainted with the art of pleasing them; a change which has been attributed to Mrs.

Opie, who used to stand over him, and endeavour to make him sensible of the graces of the female form. It was in the year 1786, that Mr. Opie became known as an exhibitor at Somerset House; soon after which he aspired to academical honours, and ultimately attained the rank of Royal Academician, and afterwards succeeded Fuseli, in the professors.h.i.+p of painting. He was twice married, but at what period his first hymeneal union occurred we are not informed--it was inauspicious. His second marriage, which took place on May 8, 1798, was more fortunate; and in the society of the late Mrs. Opie, the amiable author of many beautiful and interesting literary compositions, he enjoyed a delightful relief from the toilsome duties of his profession. Mr. Opie was in the daily acquisition of wealth and fame, and rapidly advancing to the very zenith of popularity, when his mortal career was suddenly closed by death, on Thursday, April 9, 1807, in the forty-sixth year of his age. "As a portrait painter he has great claims to praise, particularly in his men, which are firm, bold, and freely delineated, and occasionally well coloured. His women are heavy, inelegant, and chiefly accompanied with a hardness that destroys all beauty."

[Sidenote: Very high and strong light-house.]

[Sidenote: St. Agnes' beacon.]

[Sidenote: Birth-place of John Opie, the painter.]

[Sidenote: First attempts at portrait painting.]

[Sidenote: Genius fostered by Dr. Walcot.]

[Sidenote: Anecdotes of Opie.]

[Sidenote: Introduction to the King.]

[Sidenote: Opie's relation of his interview with royalty.]

[Sidenote: Royal economy.]

[Sidenote: First known as an exhibitor at Somerset House, 1786.]

[Sidenote: Died in 1807.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+------------------------+------------+-------------+---------------+ 9 Aglionby to c.u.mberland Carlisle 3 Brampton 6 22 Aighton to Lancaster c.l.i.theroe 6 Blackburn 7 43 Aikber to N.R. York Middleham 5 Richmond 6 46 Aike to E.R. York Beverley 6 M. Weighton 9 9 Aikton to & pa c.u.mberland Wigton 4 Carlisle 9 24 Ailsby pa Lincolns.h.i.+re Gt. Grimsby 4 Caistor 9 28 Ailsworth ham Northamp Peterboro 4 M. Deeping 9 43 Ainderby Myers to N.R. York Catterick 3 Richmond 4 43 Ainderby Quernhow to N.R. York Thirsk 6 Northallerton 8 43 Ainderby Steeple to & pa N.R. York Bedale 5 2 9 Ainstable pa c.u.mberland Penrith 11 Carlisle 11 46 Ainstie dis W.R. York 43 Aiskew to N.R. York Bedale 1 Northallerton 6 44 Aismondersly W.R. York Ripon 1 Aldborough 5 22 Ainsworth to Lancaster Manchester 7 Bury 3 9 Ainthorn to c.u.mberland Wigton 10 Carlisle 12 22 Aintree to Lancaster Liverpool 6 Ormskirk 8 44 Airton to W.R. York Settle 6 Skipton 6 43 Airyholme to N.R. York New Malton 7 York 16 43 Aisenby to N.R. York Borobridge 6 Ripon 6 43 Aislaby to & pa N.R. York Whitby 2 Scarboro 18 13 Aislaby to Durham Stockton 4 Darlington 11 24 Aisthorpe to & pa Lincoln Lincoln 7 Gainsboro 12 29 Akeld to Northumb Wooler 2 Coldstream 9 5 Akeley to & pa Bucks Brackley 9 Buckingham 3 36 Akenham pa Suffolk Ipswich 4 Woodbridge 9 18 Albans, St[A] bo & to Herts Watford 8 Dunstable 12 +--+------------------------+------------+-------------+---------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population +--+-----------------------+---------------------------+-----+---------+ 9 Aglionby to Penrith 18 302 107 22 Aighton to Preston 12 210 1980 43 Aikber to Bedale 4 234 43 46 Aike to Gt. Driffield 7 190 86 9 Aikton to & pa Abbey-holm 7 309 753 24 Ailsby pa Barton 15 165 28 Ailsworth ham Stamford 9 83 289 43 Ainderby Myers to Middleham 7 222 43 Ainderby Quernhow to Ripon 7 217 107 43 Ainderby Steeple to & pa Darlington 12 223 802 9 Ainstable pa Kirk Oswald 5 295 46 Ainstie dis ... 199 8740 43 Aiskew to Richmond 9 223 586 44 Aismondersly Masham 7 212 22 Ainsworth to Bolton 8 189 1584 9 Ainthorn to Gretna Green 8 315 203 22 Aintree to Prescott 10 212 247 44 Airton to Arnecliff 7 230 179 43 Airyholme to Helmsley 6 223 43 Aiseny to Thirsk 5 211 43 Aislaby to & pa Pickering 15 237 402 43 Aislaby to Yarm 1 244 143 24 Aisthorpe to & pa Kirton 12 140 89 29 Akeld to Kirk Newton 3 322 171 5 Akeley to & pa Sto. Stratford 6 59 291 36 Akenham pa Needham 7 73 119 18 Albans, St[A] bo & to Hatfield 6 21 4772 +--+------------------------+--------------------------+-----+---------+

[A] St. ALBANS is situated on the river Ver, or Muss, and consists of three parishes; parts of two of which, extend beyond the limits of the borough. It is said to have been the site of the ancient British metropolis of Ca.s.sibela.n.u.s, and is very near that of the ancient Roman Verulam, mentioned by Tacitus, being the same as the Saxon Watlingceaster, so called because seated on the road called Watling-street. It was here that Queen Boadicea made her celebrated a.s.sault on the Romans, and failed, after an immense slaughter of seventy thousand men. In 795, Offa, king of Mercia, erected an abbey here, in memory of St. Alban, the British protomartyr, who was born here in the third century. He served in the Roman army, but was converted to Christianity by a monk, named Amphilabus, and suffered during the Dioclesian persecution, A.D. 303. The abbey subsequently obtained great privileges, and became very rich, the revenues at the dissolution amounting to upwards of 2500. per annum. Monastic foundations had their origin in this country, about the time of St. Augustine, who came from Rome, to convert the Pagan Saxons to Christianity; and when Offa ascended the throne of Mercia, about twenty great monasteries had been founded in England, and about the same number of episcopal sees established. Offa's zeal prompted him to do what many of his crowned predecessors had done; but being undetermined whom to select as the patron saint of his establishment, it is recorded that, while at the city of Bath, an angel appeared to him in the silence of the night, desiring him to raise out of the earth the body of Alban, the first British martyr, and place his remains in a suitable shrine. Even the memory of Alban had been lost for three hundred and forty years; but the king a.s.sembling his clergy and people at Verulam, an active search was made for his body with prayer, fasting, and alms; when it is said a ray of light was seen by all to stand over the place of burial, similar to the star that conducted the magi to Bethlehem. The ground was therefore opened, and, in the presence of the king, the body of Alban was found.

Offa is said to have placed a golden circle round the head of the deceased, with an inscription, to signify his name and t.i.tle, and immediately caused the remains of the saint to be conveyed to a small chapel, without the walls of Verulam, as the town was then called, until a more n.o.ble edifice could be raised for its reception. This is said to have occurred on the 1st day of August, 791, four hundred and ninety-four years after the martyrdom of Alban. Offa afterwards made a journey to Rome, and obtained the desired privileges of his intended foundation, with great commendations for his zeal and piety, from the pope, when he undertook to build a stately church and monastery, to the memory of St. Alban. From this abbey the town originated, which early obtained considerable importance. The abbey church, which claims particular attention for its size, beauty, and antiquity, is constructed of Roman brick, to which age has given the appearance of stone. A stone screen, erected before the communion table, in 1461, is much admired for the richness and lightness of its sculpture. The tombs of the founder, Offa, and that of Humphrey, Duke of Gloucester, are shown here; and, not many years ago, the leaden coffin, containing the body of the latter, was opened, and the corpse found nearly entire. The Roman antiquities discovered on the site have been very numerous. The effect of the venerable abbey, when seen from a distance, is extremely imposing; situated upon an eminence, its ma.s.sive towers rise majestically above the houses of the ancient town, which is well, known to have derived its first importance from the Romans, since which, it has increased chiefly under the protecting influence of successive abbots of this rich and powerful monastery. The prospect of its mouldering ruins, forces upon the mind a melancholy train of reflection on the instability of all human inst.i.tutions.

_Market_, Sat.u.r.day.--_Fairs_, March 25 and 26; October 10 and 11, for horses, cows, sheep, and hiring servants.--_Inns_, Angel, and White Hart.--_Mail_ arrives 10.15 P.M. Departs 4.30 A.M.

[Sidenote: Originally the British metropolis.]

[Sidenote: King Offa's extraordinary vision, which induced him to build the abbey.]

[Sidenote: St. Alban's body found after a lapse of 494 years; a golden circle placed round his head.]

[Sidenote: Duke of Gloucester's body found nearly entire.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+--------------------+-------+---------------+----------------+ 38 Albourn pa Suss.e.x Hurst 2 Brighton 8 33 Albrighton to & chap Salop Shrewsbury 4 Wem 7 33 Albrighton pa Salop s.h.i.+ffnall 6 Bridgnorth 10 27 Alburgh pa Norfolk Harleston 3 Bungay 5 31 Albury pa Oxford Tetsworth 3 Thame 4 +--+--------------------+-------+---------------+----------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+--------------------+-----------------------+------+---------+ 38 Albourn pa Cuckfield 6 42 362 33 Albrighton to & chap Ellesmere 12 157 1054 33 Albrighton pa Wolverhamp 7 137 98 27 Alburgh pa Norwich 16 103 586 31 Albury pa Wheatley 3 45 239 +--+--------------------+-----------------------+------+---------+

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+---------------------+---------+----------------+------------+ 18 Albury pa Herts Bp Stortford 5 Standon 4 37 Albury pa Surrey Guildford 6 Dorking 7 27 Alby pa Norfolk Aylesham 6 Cromer 5 12 Alcester lib Dorset Shaftesbury 1 Sherborne 16 39 Alcester[A] m.t. & pa Warwick Warwick 16 Stratford 8 38 Alciston pa Suss.e.x Seaford 5 Hailsham 5 19 Alconbury pa Hunts Huntingdon 4 Kimbolton 8 19 Alconbury Weston chap Hunts ... 5 ... 8 27 Aldborough pa Norfolk Aylesham 5 Cromer 6 43 Aldborough to N.R. York Richmond 7 Darlington 5 46 Aldborough to & pa E.R. York Hull 11 Hornsea 6 45 Aldborough[B] pa & to W.R. York York 18 Thirsk 10 41 Aldbourn[C] to & pa Wilts Marlboro 7 Ramsbury 3 18 Aldbury pa Herts Tring 3 Dunstable 7 22 Aldcliffe ham Lancaster Lancaster 2 Garstang 10 36 Aldeburgh[D] m.t. Suffolk Orford 5 Saxmundha 7 +--+---------------------+---------+----------------+------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+---------------------+--------------------------+-----+------+ 18 Albury pa Buntingford 7 35 631 37 Albury pa G.o.dalming 7 29 929 27 Alby pa N. Walsham 6 26 346 12 Alcester lib Salisbury 20 101 227 39 Alcester[A] m.t. & pa Bromsgrove 12 103 2405 38 Alciston pa Lewes 7 64 266 19 Alconbury pa Stilton 9 63 765 19 Alconbury Weston chap ... 8 63 441 27 Aldborough pa Holt 9 126 275 43 Aldborough to Bernard Cas 10 240 522 46 Aldborough to & pa Hedon 6 185 620 45 Aldborough[B] pa & to Ripon 6 207 2447 41 Aldbourn[C] to & pa Swindon 8 73 1418 18 Aldbury pa Berkhampst 4 34 695 22 Aldcliffe ham Kirk. Londs 17 238 96 36 Aldeburgh[D] m.t. Dunwich 10 94 1341 +--+---------------------+-------------------------+------+------+

[A] ALCESTER is situated at the confluence of the two small rivers, Alne and Arrow, having a bridge over each. It is supposed to have been a Roman station; Roman coins, urns, and similar relics, having been frequently found here. The Roman way of Icknield Street also pa.s.sed through it, and from its situation it is deemed the Alana of Richard of Cirencester. It was anciently a borough by prescription, and of some note in the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries, when it became the property of the Beauchamps, and afterwards of the Grevilles. The church is a fine gothic structure; the market is well supplied with corn; and the manufacture of needles is very extensive. Here is a Free School, founded by Walter Newport, in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and various alms-houses and small charities, originating in different benefactors.

Traces of the site of an abbey, founded in the reign of King Stephen, to the north of the town, are still visible.

_Market_, Tuesday.--_Mail_ arrives 9-1/2 A.M., departs 8-1/2 P.M.--_Inn_, Angel.--_Fairs_, March 20, June 23, Tuesday before April 5, May 18, 2nd Tuesday in July, for cheese.