Curiosities Of Great Britain: England And Wales Delineated Part 11

[C] a.s.sENDON. At this township is a land spring, reputed the most eminent of its kind in England. The water only appears after a continuance of wet weather, but then issues forth in such abundance, that mills might be turned by the current, and the adjacent lowlands are inundated. This spring has been supposed by some to act on the principle of a natural syphon, and to be supplied from subterranean sources; but this is evidently erroneous, as the seasons of its flowing are uniformly after heavy rains.

[Sidenote: Wonderful spring.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+----------------+---------+------------+-------------+ 36 a.s.sington pa Suffolk Neyland 4 Sudbury 5 45 a.s.son-Thorpe ham W.R. York Thorne 4 Snaith 5 7 Astbury[A] pa Chester Congleton 2 Sandbach 6 24 Asterby pa Lincoln Horncastle 7 Louth 7 31 Asthall[B] pa Oxford Burford 2 Witney 6 22 Astley chap Lancaster Newton 6 Manchester 11 33 Astley chap Salop Shrewsbury 0 Wellington 11 39 Astley[C] pa Warwick Nuneaton 4 Coleshill 7 42 Astley[D] pa Worcester Bewdley 5 Worcester 9 +--+----------------+---------+------------+-------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+----------------+----------------------+-----+-------+ 36 a.s.sington pa Hadleigh 7 57 641 45 a.s.son-Thorpe ham Doncaster 9 170 7 Astbury[A] pa Leek 10 160 14637 24 Asterby pa M. Raisin. 13 143 231 31 Asthall[B] pa Charlbury 8 70 352 22 Astley chap Bolton 7 195 1832 33 Astley chap Oswestry 18 153 239 39 Astley[C] pa Coventry 7 98 340 42 Astley[D] pa Kiddermins 5 121 849 +--+----------------+----------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ASTBURY, or AUSTBURY, is an extensive village and contains several gentlemen's seats. The church is a handsome gothic structure, with a lofty steeple. In the church yard are two ancient monuments, ornamented with the insignia of knighthood, but the names of the families whose memories they were intended to record are now lost. The parish of Astbury contains no less than twelve townships, of which the market town of Congleton is one. Each of these townships has its overseer and other officers, but the whole parish is under the government of one church-warden, the office of which is served in rotation by eight persons, vulgarly denominated the "Posts of the Parish;" though they should properly be called Provosts.

[Sidenote: Contains 12 townships.]

[B] ASTHALL. At this village is an old manorial mansion, now used as a farm-house, which was formerly the residence of Sir Richard Jones, one of the Judges of the Court of Common Pleas in the reign of Charles the First. In the north aisle of the church stands a large stone coffin, said to contain the remains of Alice Corbett, concubine to Henry I.

_Mail_ arrives 5 morning; departs 9.35 evening.

[Sidenote: Alice Corbett.]

[C] ASTLEY. This manor was held, in the reign of Henry II., by Philip de Estley, of the Earl of Warwick, by the service of holding the Earl's stirrup when he mounted or alighted from his horse. From this person are descended two families, seated at Hill Morton, in this county, and at Patshull, in Staffordshire. In the reign of Henry V. the estate pa.s.sed by marriage to the Greys of Ruthin, from whom it descended to Henry Grey, Marquis of Dorset, and Duke of Suffolk, beheaded in the reign of Queen Mary, for an attempt to make Lady Jane Grey queen. The manor belongs at present to F.P. Newdigate, Esq. Astley Castle is surrounded by a moat, along the inner edge of which lie the remains of ma.s.sive walls. The habitable part of the mansion is probably not older than the time of Mary; but it is clad in a garb of ivy, and other evergreens, which renders it singularly picturesque. In one room is preserved a portrait of the factious Suffolk, respecting whose capture the following particulars are related:--"Finding that he was forsaken, he put himself under the trust of one Underwood, as it is said, a keeper of his park here at Astley, who hid him for some few days in a large hollow tree, standing about two bow-shots from the church; but, being promised a reward, he betrayed him." The church of Astley having been made collegiate, by Lord Thomas de Astley, was by him rebuilt, and adorned with a spire, so lofty that it served as a land-mark in the deep wood-lands of the district, and was popularly termed "The lanthorn of Arden."--The interior is curious and interesting, although many monuments and decorations have been removed or destroyed at various times. On an altar-tomb at the west-end are the effigies, in alabaster, of a warrior and a lady; and on another, is the mutilated figure of a female in a rec.u.mbent posture: both are without inscription.

[Sidenote: Singular tenure.]

[Sidenote: Lord Suffolk betrayed by his keeper.]

[D] ASTLEY. This village is situated on the Severn, it was noted before the dissolution, for its priory of Benedictines, and is now remarkable chiefly for a hermitage formed in the living rock, and recently converted into an ale-house. The church, built in the Saxon style of architecture, contains some monuments and a few fragments of stained gla.s.s. Here is the ancient seat called Gla.s.shampton.

[Sidenote: Hermitage.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+-----------------+----------+---------------+-------------+ 33 Astley Abbots pa Salop Bridgenorth 2 M. Wenlock 7 5 Aston ham Bucks Ivinghoe 1 Dunstable 7 7 Aston to Chester Northwich 3 Warrington 8 7 Aston to & chap Chester Frodsham 3 Northwich 8 10 Aston ham Derby Tideswell 6 Castleton 2 53 Aston to Flint Hawarden 2 Flint 6 17 Aston pa Hereford Ludlow 4 Leominster 10 18 Aston[A] pa Herts Stevenage 3 Watton 4 56 Aston to Montgomery Ch. Stretton 10 Montgomery 7 31 Aston ham Oxford Witney 5 Bampton 2 35 Aston to Stafford Drayton 6 Newcastle 6 39 Aston[B] pa Warwick Birmingham 2 Tamworth 13 46 Aston[C] to & pa N.R. York Rotherham 6 Sheffield 8 +--+-----------------+----------+---------------+-------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+-----------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+ 33 Astley Abbots pa Madeley 6 142 666 5 Aston ham Leighton 5 34 406 7 Aston to Frodsham 9 176 409 7 Aston to & chap Warrington 8 181 197 10 Aston ham Derwent 3 164 104 53 Aston to Chester 6 197 237 17 Aston pa Wigmore 4 143 56 18 Aston[A] pa Welwyn 6 30 494 56 Aston to Bishop's Cas. 2 161 84 31 Aston ham Ensham 7 69 699 35 Aston to Eccleshall 8 154 277 39 Aston[B] pa Coleshill 9 111 32118 46 Aston[C] to & pa Maltby 6 156 564 +--+-----------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ASTON. The village and manor of Aston was an ancient demesne of the Saxon kings. Henry VIII. granted the manor to Sir John Boteler, of Walton Wood Hall; but the house now standing at Aston Place, indicates earlier antiquity than the time of that sovereign. Westward of the village, on the eastern side of the great North road, are six large barrows, thought to be of Danish origin; from their immediate proximity to the road-side they excite the curiosity and attention of most persons travelling northward: two of them have been opened, but were not found to contain any thing of sufficient interest to be here recorded.

[Sidenote: The six hills.]

[B] ASTON is in the Birmingham division of the Hundred of Hemlingford.

It may be deemed a part of Birmingham, being inhabited chiefly by artisans in the various branches of manufacture for which that town is distinguished. Aston Hall, the seat of Heneage Legge, Esq., was first erected by Sir Thomas Holt, Bart. in the reign of James I. It was several times plundered during the troubles of his successor, who was entertained here for two nights a short time before the battle of Edgehill, which occurred on October 23, 1642, between the Royalists and the Parliamentary forces. Sir T. Holt endowed an alms-house for five poor men and women in this parish.

[Sidenote: Part of Birmingham.]

[C] ASTON, is a parish and township with Aughton, in the wapentake of Strafforth and Tickhill. In the church, which is dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient monument, under which lie buried Lord D'Arcy and his three wives. There is also a marble slab to the memory of the poet Mason, who was rector of this parish. This distinguished poet was the son of a clergyman in Yorkshire, in which county he was born in the year 1725. He became a student of St. John's College, Cambridge, and subsequently a fellow of Pembroke Hall, in the same university. His debut in the literary world was made by the publication of "Isis," a poem, in which he satirized the Jacobitish and High Church principles of the University of Oxford. A reply was written by Thomas Warton, ent.i.tled "The Triumph of Isis." In 1752 he published a tragedy with choral odes on the ancient Greek model, called "Elfrida." Having taken orders in the church, he was presented with the living of Aston, and appointed one of the royal chaplains. In 1759 appeared his "Caractacus," a drama on a kindred plan with the former. Both of these pieces were afterwards introduced on the stage, they however met with very little success. In 1762, Mr. Mason was made precentor of York, to which preferment a canonry was annexed. One of his princ.i.p.al works, ent.i.tled "The English Garden," a poem, in four books, appeared in the years 1772, 1777, 1779, and 1781. 4to.; this was translated into French and German. In 1775 he published the exquisite poems of his friend Gray, with a Memoir of his Life. At the beginning of the American War, Mr. Mason became so active an advocate for freedom, as to give offence at court, and he was in consequence dismissed from his chaplainship. It is said he felt alarmed at the frightful consequences of the French Revolution, and his zeal cooled towards the latter end of his life. He died April 7, 1797.

[Sidenote: The poet Mason's monument.]

[Sidenote: An advocate for freedom dismissed from his chaplainship.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+---------------------------+----------+-------------+-------------+ 5 Aston-Abbots pa Bucks Aylesbury 5 Winslow 7 15 Aston-Blank pa Gloucester Northleach 4 Stow 5 33 Aston-Botterill pa Salop Bridgenorth 9 Cleobury 7 39 Aston-Cantlow pa Warwick Alcester 4 Henley 4 5 Aston-Clinton[A] to & pa Bucks Tring 4 Ivinghoe 5 33 Aston-Eyre to Salop Bridgenorth 3 M. Wenlock 5 23 Aston-Flamville to & p Leicester Hinckley 3 Lutterworth 8 7 Aston-Grange to Chester Frodsham 4 Northwich 7 17 Aston-Ingham pa Hereford Ross 6 Ledbury 10 28 Aston on the Walls, to & pa Northamp Banbury 8 Daventry 9 42 Aston-Magna ham Worcester Moreton 3 Shipston 6 31 Aston-Middle to & pa Oxford Deddington 3 Woodstock 8 7 Aston-Mondrum to Chester Nantwich 4 Tarporley 8 31 Aston-North pa Oxford Deddington 2 Bicester 9 31 Aston-Rowant pa Oxford Tetsworth 4 Thame 4 5 Aston-Sandford pa Bucks Thame 4 Aylesbury 6 15 Aston-Somerville pa Gloucester Evesham 4 Broadway 4 31 Aston-Steeple[B] to & pa Oxford Deddington 4 Woodstock 7 15 Aston-Subege pa Gloucester Campden 2 Evesham 6 4 Aston-Tirrold pa Berks Wallingford 6 E. Illsley 6 15 Aston-upon-Carron pa and ti Gloucester Tewkesbury 2 Cheltenham 9 10 Aston-upon-Trent pa Derby Derby 6 Ashby 10 4 Aston-Upthorpe ham Berks Wallingford 6 Wantage 9 28 Astrope, or Asthorpe[C] ham Northamp Brackley 6 Banbury 4 28 Astwell[D] ham Northamp ... 6 Towcester 5 +--+---------------------------+----------+-------------+-------------+ Dist. Popul Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. -ation.

+--+---------------------------+------------------------+-----+-------+ 5 Aston-Abbots pa Leighton 6 40 303 15 Aston-Blank pa Winchcomb 11 86 295 33 Aston-Botterill pa Ludlow 9 143 260 39 Aston-Cantlow pa Stratford 6 99 940 5 Aston-Clinton[A] to & pa Aylesbury 4 35 1001 33 Aston-Eyre to Madeley 7 143 63 23 Aston-Flamville to & p Leicester 13 97 1703 7 Aston-Grange to Warrington 8 181 36 17 Aston-Ingham pa Newent 3 120 591 28 Aston on the Walls, to & pa Towcester 11 71 240 42 Aston-Magna ham Broadway 4 89 254 31 Aston-Middle to & pa Bicester 9 64 121 7 Aston-Mondrum to Middlewich 7 168 159 31 Aston-North pa Woodstock 9 64 305 31 Aston-Rowant pa Watlington 4 39 946 5 Aston-Sandford pa P. Risboro' 5 42 82 15 Aston-Somerville pa Winchcombe 7 98 103 31 Aston-Steeple[B] to & pa Bicester 9 64 562 15 Aston-Subege pa Broadway 4 92 103 4 Aston-Tirrold pa Streatley 5 50 343 15 Aston-upon-Carron pa and ti Evesham 10 104 166 10 Aston-upon-Trent pa Loughboro 11 121 620 4 Aston-Upthorpe ham Abingdon 8 52 172 28 Astrope, or Asthorpe[C] ham Deddington 5 69 28 Astwell[D] ham Daventry 13 64 118 +--+---------------------------+------------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ASTON CLINTON is in the first division of Aylesbury hundred. The manor was the property of the late Lord Lake, who died in 1808, during the trial of General Whitelock, who was cashiered for his misconduct at Buenos Ayres at the commencement of that year. At St. Leonard's, a hamlet of this parish, about four miles from Aston church, is an ancient chapel, said to have been a chantry chapel to the Abbey of Missenden. It contains, among other monuments, that of General Cornelius Wood, an officer who distinguished himself in the reign of Queen Anne, and who died in 1712. It is ornamented with a bust of the general in white marble, surrounded with military trophies. This chapel is endowed with an estate, vested in ten trustees, who have the appointment of the minister.

[Sidenote: Monument of one of Queen Anne's officers.]

[B] STEEPLE ASTON. At this village, Dr. Samuel Radcliffe, princ.i.p.al of Brazennose College, Oxford, and rector of this church, founded a free school in 1640, and endowed it with ten pounds per annum; he died in the year 1648, and is buried in the church. He also endowed an alms-house for poor women in this parish. A tessalated pavement was ploughed up here in the 17th century.

[Sidenote: Dr. Samuel Radcliffe.]

[C] ASTROPE. This hamlet is in the parish of King's Sutton. The village is worthy of remark, from the church having a tower crowned with a handsome and lofty spire, decorated with crocketed pinnacles. Here is a remarkably fine mineral spring, called St. Rumbald's Well, which was formerly in considerable repute. When drank at the fountain head, the water is considered a specific in cases of female obstructions, and in the first and second stages of consumptions. In the jaundice it seldom fails; and in dropsical cases is frequently administered with success.

Persons whose const.i.tutions have been weakened by free living, find themselves renovated by its virtues. The water has a brisk pleasant taste, and is very clear and spirituous. Astrope Hall was formerly the residence of the Lord Chief Justice Willes.

[Sidenote: A mineral spring famous for curing consumption, jaundice, &c.]

[D] ASTWELL. In this hamlet is an ancient mansion, formerly the seat of the Earl of Ferrers. Several of the rooms exhibit in the wainscot and chimney pieces, armorial bearings and other carved decorations. A dilapidated room at the east end was formerly a chapel.

[Sidenote: Seat of Earl Ferrers]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+----------------------------+---------+-------------+-------------+ 3 Astwick pa Bedford Biggleswade 5 Shefford 6 5 Astwood pa Bucks Newport Pag 6 Woburn 10 24 Aswarby pa Lincoln Folkingham 4 Sleaford 5 24 Aswardby pa Lincoln Spilsby 4 Alford 7 33 Atcham pa Salop Shrewsbury 4 Acton Burn. 6 39 Atch-Lench ham Worcester Evesham 4 Alcester 6 54 Athan, St.[A] pa Glamorgan Cowbridge 4 Cardiff 15 12 Athelampton pa Dorset Dorchester 7 Bere Regis 7 36 Athelington, or Allington pa Suffolk Eye 5 Framlingham 8 34 Athelney, Isle of Somerset 11 Atherington pa Devon Torrington 7 Barnstaple 8 39 Atherstone[B] m.t. & pa Warwick Nuneaton 6 Sheepy 3 +--+----------------------------+---------+-------------+-------------+ Dist. Popul Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. -ation.

+--+----------------------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+ 3 Astwick pa Baldock 3 40 97 5 Astwood pa Olney 6 51 268 24 Aswarby pa Grantham 12 110 113 24 Aswardby pa Horncastle 8 136 80 33 Atcham pa Shiffnal 14 149 463 39 Atch-Lench ham Persh.o.r.e 7 104 82 54 Athan, St.[A] pa Bridgend 10 174 312 12 Athelampton pa Blandford 13 116 79 36 Athelington, or Allington pa Debenham 6 88 129 34 Athelney, Isle of 11 Atherington pa S. Molton 9 204 592 39 Atherstone[B] m.t. & pa Tamworth 8 105 3870 +--+----------------------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ST. ATHAN. In this village is a castle, called East Orchard, built in the year 1691, by Roger Berkrols; it stands on the edge of an extensive flat: a luxuriant wild fig tree grows out of the cement of the chapel walls. Perhaps the Turkey fig tree might be propagated with more success, grafted upon this wildling, which probably originated in the cultivated fig planted in the gardens of the Norman lords. In St.

Athan's church there are two uncommonly fine gothic monuments of the Berkrol's family: there are likewise in this parish the remains of two castles--West Orchard and Castleton; but these are not of such great antiquity. From this spot there is a good view of Fonmore, or Fronmon Castle, which is the most extensive and august of the Welch inhabited castles. The kitchen is said to be the largest in the kingdom. In Fronmon castle is an excellent portrait of Oliver Cromwell. The flat and steep-holms are seen from this neighbourhood: the former has its light-house. It is situated nearly ten miles from the sea lock of the ca.n.a.l, and three miles from the adjacent steep-holms, which is a smaller island than the former, though more conspicuous from its great height above the water; it is quite barren and uninhabited. The flat holms at low tide is an extensive sheet of mud, excepting one deep channel. The landing place is near the castle rock, a dangerous, but romantic beach, so called from its similarity to a castle, it is very large, and is said to resemble Abergavenny castle. In the centre is a bold arch, which at high water is covered. The hollow sound of the sea roaring through the arch, and the waves occasionally retreating, and then forcing their way back with redoubled fury, has an uncommonly fine effect. At low tide the sh.o.r.e all around the base is dry. The island is four or five miles in circ.u.mference; the soil is good, and would, if well cultivated, be very productive. From the light-house, which is 80 feet in height, is a delightful prospect of the Bristol Channel and the sh.o.r.es of Somerset and Glamorgan. It is the resort of many visitors in the summer season.

[Sidenote: The largest inhabited castle in Wales.]

[Sidenote: Account of the dangerous beach.]

[B] ATHERSTONE. This market town is supposed to have derived its name from "a stone" under which an "adder" of enormous size was found; it is situated on the Watling Street, and divided from Leicestershire by the river Anker, and was a place of some importance at the Conquest: at which time the town was given to the monks of Bee in Normandy, who obtained for it a market day and an annual fair, which brought it into consequence. A monastery of friars, (Hermits of Saint Augustine,) was founded at Atherstone in the year 1375. The church belonging to the friary was completed in the reign of Richard II. A free grammar school was founded here by Sir William Devereux and two other benevolent persons in the year 1573. The chancel of the friary church was appropriated to the use of this seminary, and is still dedicated to the same purpose. The mansion, or hall house was sometime after separated from the chapel, and rebuilt at a short distance upon a pleasant bank, commanding an extensive view over the adjacent counties of Leicester, Derby, and Stafford. Two nights before the battle of Bosworth Field (which is but nine miles distant), the Duke of Richmond lay at Atherstone, where he had his interview with the two Stanley's, in which such measures of co-operation were concerted as occasioned the overthrow of King Richard III., and it is said, that many persons from the subsequent battle were buried below this old mansion, from which the spot has retained the name of the b.l.o.o.d.y bank. It appears, however, to have been so called from being the place where contests of less serious results were usually decided by the young champions of the ancient foundation school, which is still supported by a respectable endowment.

Atherstone Hall has recently been much improved by extended buildings and ornamental plantations. It is situated near Merevale Hall, the seat of D.S. Dugdale, Esq., and Grendon Hall, that of Sir G. Chetwynd, Bart.

Here are manufactories of hats, ribbons, and shalloons, and considerable business is done at the four annual fairs; that in September being the most considerable in England for the sale of cheese. The pa.s.sage of the Coventry ca.n.a.l, uniting with that of the Trent and Mersey, within a hundred yards of the town, adds very considerably to its facilities of trading. The poet Drayton, author of the "Polyolbion," was a native of Atherstone.

_Market_, Tuesday.--_Fairs_, April 7, for horses, cows, and sheep; July 18, holyday; September 19, for horses, cows, and cheese; December 4, for horses and fat cattle.--_Mail_ arrives 8.41 A.M.; departs 5.36 P.M.--_Inns_, Red Lion, and Three Tuns.--_Bankers_, W.

and J.H. Chapman; draw upon Spooner and Co.

[Sidenote: Some foreign monks obtained this market.]

[Sidenote: Atherstone Hall.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+------------------------+----------+-------------+------------+ 39 Atherstone-upon-Stour pa Warwick Stratford 3 Shipston 9 22 Atherton, or } Lancaster Newton 7 Bolton 5 Chowbents to & chap } 10 Atlow chap Derby Ashbourn 4 Wirksworth 6 51 Atpar m.t. Cardigan Newcastle 1 Cardigan 10 30 Attenborough[A] pa Nottingham Nottingham 6 Derby 10 24 Atterly to Lincoln Mar. Rising 9 Brigg 10 45 Attercliffe to W.R. York Sheffield 2 Rotherham 4 23 Atterton ham Leicester Atherstone 3 Hinckley 6 31 Attington ex. p. ham Oxford Tetsworth 1 Thame 3 27 Attleborough[B] m.t. & p Norfolk Norwich 15 Buckenham 4 +--+------------------------+----------+-------------+------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.