Curiosities Of Great Britain: England And Wales Delineated Part 3

[Sidenote: A Roman station.]

[Sidenote: Many relics of antiquity found.]

[Sidenote: Traces of an abbey founded by King Stephen.]

[B] ALDBOROUGH. _Fair_, September 4.

[C] ALDBOURN. _Market_, Tuesday.

[D] ALDEBURGH is pleasantly situated in the valley of Slaughton, and bounded on the eastern side by the sea, which has made considerable encroachments, and nearly washed a street away. The river Ald runs on the south side, and forms a convenient quay. The town is mean in construction, and chiefly inhabited by fishermen and seafaring people.

Soles, lobsters, and other fish are abundant. It is remarkable as the birth-place of the late Rev. George Crabbe, emphatically styled the _Poet of the Poor_, who was born December 24, 1754. His father was an officer in the Customs, and at first gave him an education, merely suitable to follow the same pursuit; but when his prospects brightened, he removed his son to a cla.s.sical seminary, where he was instructed for a surgeon and apothecary, to which profession he was in due time apprenticed, but relinquished all views of establishing himself in practice. At a very early period he became a versifier; and among his precocious attempts was a prize poem, on _Hope_, which was inserted in the _Lady's Magazine_, then published by Mr. Wheeble. Crabbe came to London, in 1778, with 3. in his pocket, and made versification his chief study. His first published work was _The Candidate_, a poem, in quarto, which came into the world anonymously, in 1780, and was favourably received. A short time afterwards, his poverty and poetry induced him to seek the patronage of Edmund Burke, to whom he submitted a large quant.i.ty of miscellaneous composition; he had no introduction to Mr. Burke, excepting his own letter, stating his circ.u.mstances; no recommendation but his distress, and yet his application was attended with success. His patron introduced him to some of the first men in the country, and soon after became the means of benefiting his fame and fortune; he selected from young Crabbe's works, _The Library_ and _The Village_, suggesting at the same time certain corrections and improvements. Among the eminent persons to whom he was thus introduced, was the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, Sir Joshua Reynolds, at whose mansion he first beheld, and was made known to, Dr. Johnson, who gave the young poet his opinion of _The Village_. Mr. Burke having directed Mr. Crabbe's views to the church, in 1781 he was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Norwich, and priest by the same dignitary in the following year; he was next appointed domestic chaplain to the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle. As Mr. Crabbe had not received a university education, he was offered a degree by Trinity College, Cambridge, but eventually received the grant from the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, and thus became a Bachelor of Laws. Burke also introduced Mr. Crabbe to Lord Chancellor Thurlow, who presented him to rectories in Dorset and Lincoln consecutively. He had previously a curacy at Strathorn, a village near Belvoir Castle, where he married and became a father; he was universally respected for his talents and virtues, and died at Trowbridge, at seven o'clock in the morning of the 8th of February, 1832. The publications of Mr. Crabbe have placed him high on the roll of British Poets.

_Market_, Wednesday and Sat.u.r.day.--_Fairs_, March 1, and May 3, for toys.--_Inn_, White Lion.--_Mail_ arrives at 9-1/2 A.M. departs 5-1/2 P.M.

[Sidenote: Birth place of the Rev. George Crabbe, the poet. Biographical sketch of his life.]

[Sidenote: Crabbe's arrival in London, 1778.]

[Sidenote: His first published work well received.]

[Sidenote: Crabbe's introduction to eminent persons.]

[Sidenote: Promoted to the church.]

[Sidenote: Died at Trowbridge 1132.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+-----------------+----------+--------------+---------------+ 27 Aldeby pa Norfolk Beccles 3 Yarmouth 11 18 Aldenham pa Herts Watford 3 St. Albans 6 41 Alderbury to Wilts Salisbury 3 Downton 4 27 Alderford pa Norfolk Reepham 3 Norwich 9 15 Alderley pa Gloucester Wickwar 4 Wooton 2 7 Alderley pa Chester Macclesfield 5 Knutsford 5 4 Aldermaston[A] pa Berks Reading 10 Newbury 8 42 Alderminster pa Worcester Evesham 10 Stratford-Av. 5 41 Alderton pa Wilts Malmsbury 6 Tetbury 7 15 Alderton pa Gloucester Winchcomb 3 Cheltenham 7 28 Alderton pa Northamp Towcester 4 Northampton 9 36 Alderton pa Suffolk Woodbridge 7 Orford 9 7 Aldersey to Chester Chester 8 Tarporley 8 16 Aldershott pa Hants Farnham 3 Odiham 8 10 Alderwasley to Derby Wirksworth 1 Matlock 4 7 Aldford to & pa Chester Chester 5 Malpas 10 45 Aldfield to W.R. York Ripon 3 Ripley 4 14 Aldham pa Ess.e.x Coggeshall 4 Colchester 6 36 Aldham pa Suffolk Hadley 2 Stow-Market 9 38 Aldingbourn pa Suss.e.x Chichester 4 Arundel 7 22 Aldingham pa Lancaster Ulverstone 5 Dalton 4 21 Aldington[B] pa Kent Hythe 6 Ashford 7 +--+-----------------+----------+--------------+---------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. population.

+--+-----------------+-------------------------+------+--------+ 27 Aldeby pa Lowestoft 7 112 530 18 Aldenham pa Elstree 3 17 1494 41 Alderbury to Farley 3 80 1323 27 Alderford pa Aylesham 7 108 40 15 Alderley pa Tetbury 8 108 200 7 Alderley pa Congleton 8 172 1338 4 Aldermaston[A] pa Kingsclere 5 49 636 42 Alderminster pa Shipston-Sto. 6 89 454 41 Alderton pa Chippenham 8 103 213 15 Alderton pa Tewkesbury 7 102 330 28 Alderton pa Sto. Stratford 9 58 162 36 Alderton pa Ipswich 12 79 575 7 Aldersey to Malpas 5 175 138 16 Aldershott pa Frimley 6 35 665 10 Alderwasley to Bakewell 9 138 424 7 Aldford to & pa Tarporley 9 177 710 45 Aldfield to Borobridge 7 2 08 133 14 Aldham pa Neyland 6 48 407 36 Aldham pa Ipswich 8 66 318 38 Aldingbourn pa Bognor 5 62 833 22 Aldingham pa Lancaster 15 277 884 21 Aldington[B] pa New Romney 8 60 732 +--+-----------------+-------------------------+------+--------+

[A] ALDERMASTON. _Fairs_, May 6, July 7, for horses and cattle, and October 11, for pedlery.

[B] ALDINGTON. Elizabeth Barton, commonly called the Holy Maid of Kent, a religious impostor, lived in the reign of Henry VIII. She was a servant at Aldington, and having been for a long time afflicted with convulsions, which distorted her limbs and countenance, and threw her body into the most violent agitations, acquired a power of counterfeiting the same appearances whenever she pleased. Richard Master, who then held this living, with other ecclesiastics, thinking her a proper instrument for their purpose, induced her to pretend that all she said and did, was by a supernatural impulse, and taught her to act her part in the most perfect manner. Thus she pretended to be honoured with visions; to hear heavenly voices and most ravishing melody; she declaimed against the wickedness of the times, against heresy and innovations; exhorting all persons to frequent the church, to hear ma.s.ses, to make frequent confessions, and to pray to our lady, and all saints. This artful management, with her apparent piety, virtue, and austerity of life, completely deceived even Sir Thomas More, Bishop Fisher, and Archbishop Warham, the last of which appointed commissioners to examine her, to whom she was instructed to say, in her counterfeit trances, that she should never recover till she went to visit the image of the Virgin Mary, in a chapel dedicated to her in this parish, which was done. After that she pretended that she was called to be a nun, and the Archbishop being fully satisfied with the reports, had her placed in the nunnery of St. Sepulchre, Canterbury, where she alleged she had visions and revelations of a divine nature, so as to completely impose upon the public. The main object of the priests, her managers, was directed publicly to announce how G.o.d had revealed to her, "that in case the king should divorce Queen Catherine of Anjou, and take another wife during her life, his royalty would not be of a month's duration, but that he should die the death of a villain," which created considerable excitement, and much controversy: encouraged by the lenity of the government, the ecclesiastics in this conspiracy, resolved to publish the revelations of the nun throughout the kingdom. They had communicated them to the Pope's Amba.s.sadors, and exhorted Queen Catherine to persist in her resolutions. At length this confederacy became a serious affair, and Henry ordered the maid and her accomplices to be examined in the Star Chamber, where they confessed all the particulars of the imposture; and afterwards, upon a scaffold erected at Paul's Cross, were compelled to hear their confession publicly read; they were confined in the Tower until the meeting of parliament, by whom the whole affair was p.r.o.nounced to be a conspiracy against the king's life, and crown. The nun, and her confederates, were eventually attainted of high treason, and executed at Tyburn, April 20th, 1534, where she confessed the imposture, laying the blame on her accomplices, the priests; craving pardon of G.o.d, and the King.

[Sidenote: The History of the Holy Maid of Kent.]

[Sidenote: Holy Maid of Kent.]

[Sidenote: The imposture detected.]

[Sidenote: Herself and confederates executed at Tyburn.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+----------------+ 42 Aldington ham Worcester Evesham 3 Moreton 10 35 Aldridge pa Stafford Walsall 3 Sut. Coldfield 4 36 Aldringham pa Suffolk Aldeburgh 2 Saxmundha 5 38 Aldrington pa Suss.e.x Brighton 5 Steyning 6 9 Aldstone Moor[A] to & pa c.u.mberland Carlisle 25 Kirk Oswald 12 15 Aldsworth pa Gloucester Northleach 4 Fairford 6 16 Aldwark to Derby Wirksworth 4 Ashbourn 6 44 Aldwark to N. R York Borobridge 5 Easingwold 4 45 Aldwarke to W. R York Rotherham 2 Sheffield 4 28 Aldwinckle-all Saints p Northamp Thrapston 3 Kettering 10 28 Aldwinckle-St Peter pa Northamp ... 3 ... 10 4 Aldsworth[B] pa Berks East Ilsley 4 Wallingford 7 +--+------------------------+----------+--------------+----------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+-----------------------+-------------------------+------+---------+ 42 Aldington ham Alcester 10 96 104 35 Aldridge pa Lichfleld 6 116 1804 36 Aldringham pa Dunwich 7 94 362 38 Aldrington pa Worthing 7 55 615 9 Aldstone Moor[A] to & pa Haltwhistle 10 272 6858 15 Aldsworth pa Burford 4 78 353 16 Aldwark to Winster 6 145 97 44 Aldwark to Knaresboro 9 202 190 45 Aldwarke to Barnsley 8 172 ... 28 Aldwinckle-all Saints p Oundle 5 76 247 28 Aldwinckle-St Peter pa ... 5 76 171 4 Aldsworth[B] pa Newbury 11 50 268 +--+------------------------+------------------------+------+--------+

[A] ALDSTONE MOOR, in Leath Ward, is situated on the borders of Northumberland, in the most picturesque and romantic part of the county.

The town itself stands upon a hill, at the bottom of which runs the river Tyne. The immediate vicinity abounds in lead-mines, on estates which once belonged to the Derwent.w.a.ter family. On the attainder of the last earl, they were granted in aid of the support of Greenwich Hospital, from the trustees of which national inst.i.tution, the mines are at present leased. Satin spar is found in this parish; there is also a pool on Gildersdale Fell, the slime of which is used for painting yellow. About three miles from the town, are the earthworks of Whitley castle, where relics of antiquity have frequently been discovered.

_Market_, Sat.u.r.day.--_Fairs_, last Thursday in May, 1st Thursday in September, for cattle, horses, linen and woollen cloth.

[Sidenote: Picturesque and Romantic scenery.]

[Sidenote: The slime of a pool use for painting yellow.]

[B] ALDWORTH is pleasantly situated on a hill: here was anciently a mansion belonging to the family of De La Beche, the site of which is now Beach Farm. In the churchyard is a remarkable yew-tree, the trunk measuring nine yards in circ.u.mference, at upwards of four feet from the ground. The church is celebrated for its very ancient monuments, nine in number, disposed in enriched arches on each side, and in the centre of the interior; these are supposed to belong to the De La Beche family, and from the costume of the figures upon the tombs, may be referred to the fourteenth century; six of them are knights in armour; two are females, and one in the common habit of the time; some of the knights are represented lying cross-legged; these had vowed, or accompanied a crusade; the workmanship is excellent, and the att.i.tude and expression of each of the figures that remain perfect, are exceedingly graceful, but several of the monuments are now considerably mutilated. The font is very ancient, and remarkably plain, but very capacious, and somewhat singular in its form.

[Sidenote: Remarkable yew-tree, nine yards round.]

[Sidenote: Church celebrated for ancient monuments.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+------------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+ 29 Alemouth to Northumb Lesbury 2 Alnwick 5 28 Alesworth ham Northamp Deeping 7 Wandsford 3 37 Alfold pa Surrey Guildford 10 G.o.dalming 7 24 Alford m.t. & pa Lincoln Saltfleet 12 Lincoln 34 34 Alford pa Somerset Shepton 7 Castle Cary 2 10 Alfreton[A] pa Derby Derby 14 Wirksworth 10 42 Alfrick chap Worcester Bromvard 6 Worcester 8 38 Alfriston pa Suss.e.x Newhaven 5 Seaford 3 24 Algarkirk pa Lincoln Fosd.y.k.e Br. 3 Boston 6 31 Alkerton pa Oxford Shipston 8 Banbury 6 21 Alkham pa Kent Canterbury 12 Dover 4 15 Alkington ti & to Gloucester Old Pa.s.sage 10 Berkeley 1 10 Alkmonton to Derby Derby 10 Ashbourn 5 22 Alkrington to Lancaster Rochdale 7 Manchester 6 41 Alcannings pa & to Wilts Calne 7 Devizes 4 29 Allendale pa & to Northumb Aldsto. Moor 10 Hexham 8 29 Allen-Head pa Northumb ... 9 Hexham 12 8 Allen, St. pa Cornwall St. Michael 4 Truro 4 17 Allensmore pa Hereford Thruxton 2 Hereford 4 29 Allenton pa & to Northumb Wooler 16 Rothbury 8 34 Aller pa Somerset Taunton 11 Somerton 6 9 Allerby to c.u.mberland Wigton 8 c.o.c.kermout 7 43 Allerston pa N.R. York New Malton 8 Pickering 5 46 Allerthorpe pa E.R. York York 11 Pocklington 2 43 Allerthorpe to N.R. York Northallerton 6 Bedale 5 22 Allerton to Lancaster Warrington 12 Liverpool 6 34 Allerton Chapel pa Somerset Wells 10 Axbridge 3 45 Allerton Chapel pa W.R. York Halifax 7 Leeds 2 45 Allerton to W.R. York Ottley 5 Bradford 4 45 Allerton Bywater to W.R. York Wakefield 6 Pontefract 5 45 Allerton Mauleverer[B] p W.R. York Wetherby 5 Knaresboro 4 +--+------------------------+----------+---------------+-------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+------------------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+ 29 Alemouth to Morpeth 19 311 415 28 Alesworth ham Peterborough 5 87 289 37 Alfold pa Haslemere 9 41 514 24 Alford m.t. & pa Louth 11 142 1784 34 Alford pa Glas...o...b..ry 8 115 137 10 Alfreton[A] pa Mansfield 9 139 5691 42 Alfrick chap Gt. Malvern 10 119 493 38 Alfriston pa Hailsham 6 55 694 24 Algarkirk pa Donnington 7 111 651 31 Alkerton pa Kineton 6 77 192 21 Alkham pa Folkestone 4 69 542 15 Alkington ti & to Dursley 3 113 1167 10 Alkmonton to Uttoxeter 7 134 79 22 Alkrington to Oldham 1 187 367 41 Alcannings pa & to Marlborough 9 88 811 29 Allendale pa & to Haltwhistle 10 273 5540 29 Allen-Head pa Allendale 4 268 ... 8 Allen, St. pa Falmouth 12 252 637 17 Allensmore pa Ross 12 131 592 29 Allenton pa & to Bellingham 15 310 822 34 Aller pa Bridgewater 8 128 490 9 Allerby to Abbey-Holm 6 313 ... 43 Allerston pa Scarborough 10 220 385 46 Allerthorpe pa M. Weighton 6 212 185 43 Allerthorpe to Thirsk 6 218 167 22 Allerton to Prescott 6 202 374 34 Allerton Chapel pa Bridgewater 11 132 313 45 Allerton Chapel pa Bradford 8 194 1730 45 Allerton to Keighly 4 200 1733 45 Allerton Bywater to Leeds 6 182 375 45 Allerton Mauleverer[B] p Borobridge 5 202 ... +--+------------------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ALFRETON, is situated about two miles from the commencement of the moors, which extend so widely in this county. The town is supposed to have been built by King Alfred, and to derive its name from him. The spot is shown where the house stood in which he lived. The inhabitants are princ.i.p.ally employed in a stocking manufactory, and in the neighbouring collieries. Earthenware is also made in this place, and the Monday market, for corn, is considerable. In Greenhill Lane, near this town, seven hundred Roman coins, were discovered by a labourer employed in repairing a fence.

_Markets_, Monday and Friday.--_Mail_ arrives 2-1/4 P.M., departs 9-1/4 A.M.--_Fairs_, horses and cattle, October 8, and November 22, statute.--_Inns_, Angel, and George.

[Sidenote: Built by King Alfred.]

[Sidenote: 700 Roman coins found here.]

[B] ALLERTON MAULEVERER, is situated in a very beautiful part of Yorkshire. The park now in the possession of _Lord Stourton_, consists of about four hundred acres, in which is a superb mansion; the land is very rich, and charmingly diversified by a variety of hills, dales, and groves, which are considerably enlivened, and receive much additional beauty, from a very fine expanse of water. An octagonal tower has been built on a lofty hill, finely shaded with trees; it consists of two rooms, and is approached by a double flight of steps, each of which, as well as the terrace around the building, are protected by iron palisades. From this commanding situation, all the various beauties of the park are seen to the greatest advantage, and many extensive and diversified prospects are enjoyed. Here was a priory of Benedictine monks, founded by Richard Mauleverer, in the reign of Henry II., which was dissolved about three centuries afterwards by King Henry VI. The manor was the seat of the Mauleverer family for more than five hundred years, when Sir Richard, the last heir, who died unmarried, left the estate by will to his mother, who, afterwards by marriage, conveyed it to the Arundel family, and from them it became the property of the Honourable, William Monkton Arundel, Viscount Galway, whose son, the late Lord Galway, sold it in the year 1786, to the late Duke of York, who afterwards occasionally resided in the park, with George IV., then Prince of Wales. The estate, comprising four thousand five hundred and twenty-five acres, was sold by the Royal Duke to Colonel Thornton, for 110,000; and was, in 1805, resold by that gentleman to the late Lord Stourton, father of the present proprietor. The mansion stands on a gentle elevation; it was erected by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and has since been considerably improved.

[Sidenote: Extensive park and mansion.]

[Sidenote: Picturesque tower.]

[Sidenote: Here was a Priory of Benedictine monks.]

[Sidenote: Sale of the estate by the late Duke of York, for 110,000.]

Map Names of Places. County. Number of Miles From +--+----------------+----------+------------+--------------+ 39 Allesley pa Warwick Coventry 2 Nuneaton 8 10 Allestrey pa Derby Derby 2 Ashbourn 14 23 Allexton pa Leicester Rockingham 6 M. Harboro 9 9 Allhallows pa c.u.mberland Wigton 5 Market Ireby 4 21 Allhallows pa Kent Rochester 7 Sheerness 5 12 Allington pa Dorset Bridport 1 Lyme Regis 8 21 Allington[A] pa Kent Maidstone 2 Rochester 7 +--+----------------+----------+------------+--------------+ Dist. Map Names of Places. Number of Miles From Lond. Population.

+--+----------------+-----------------------+--------------+ 39 Allesley pa Kenilworth 6 93 875 10 Allestrey pa Alfreton 13 128 501 23 Allexton pa Uppingham 5 89 68 9 Allhallows pa Allonby 7 308 205 21 Allhallows pa Queenboro 6 36 263 12 Allington pa Beaminster 5 136 1300 21 Allington[A] pa Wrotham 8 32 37 +--+----------------+-----------------------+-----+--------+

[A] ALLINGTON. Situated in the hundred of Larkefield, in the lathe of Aylesford, near the river Medway. ALLINGTON CASTLE was originally built in the Saxon times, by a n.o.ble family denominated _Columbary_, but was razed afterwards by the Danes. The manor was given after the conquest to Bishop Odo, (in whose time there was a _church_ at Allington,) and on his disgrace, to the great Earl Warrenne, who is stated to have had the castle rebuilt, which, however, seems to be doubtful, as the famous Sir Stephen Penchester, constable of Dover Castle, in the reign of Edward I., and then owner of this manor, had a license to fortify, and embattle, his mansion-house here. It pa.s.sed afterwards to the _Cobham_ family; and from them to the _Brents_, by whom it was alienated to Sir Henry Wyatt, a descendant from a worthy Yorkshire family; who, besides losing seventeen manors, was deprived of his liberty for engaging in the plot against Richard III. in favour of the Earl of Richmond; but when success had crowned the attempts of the latter, he was released by the new king, knighted, made banneret, a knight of the bath, and a privy counsellor. He made this castle his residence; and here was born his accomplished son and successor, Sir Thomas Wyatt. This gentleman who was equally renowned, as a scholar, a soldier, and a statesman, (in consequence of which he was considered to be "the delight of the muses and mankind") made this a "fair seat," and was visited here by Henry VIII., (as his father Sir Henry had also been,) with whom he was a great favourite; though he appears in some degree to have unintentionally excited his jealousy, through the admiration which his accomplishments had raised in the breast of the fascinating Anne Boleyn. He died in his thirty-eighth year, at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, of a violent fever. His son Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger, being deprived of his estates and life, for treason against Queen Mary, this castle and manor became vested in the crown, and were granted, on lease by Elizabeth, to John Astley Esq., master of her jewels, in her eleventh year. His son, Sir John Astley, afterwards had the whole granted to him by the queen's letters patent, dated in her twenty-sixth year, and from his family it was transferred to that of Lord Romney, and is now the property of the present earl. The remains of the castle are particularly curious and interesting, but give the idea rather of a fortified dwelling, than of a place of strength. The moat still exists, as does the entrance gateway, which was erected by the Cobhams. Besides the castle and parsonage, (a mere cottage,) there is only one house in this parish; though Sir Stephen de Penchester is recorded to have procured a grant of a market weekly, and a three days annual fair for his manor of Allington.

[Sidenote: The castle.]

[Sidenote: Mansion given to Bishop Odo.]