It is not certain that you will find your horse or cow in its stall next
morning even if you lock the door at night, for a great gulf may have
swallowed it alive. Most people like to see their fireplaces standing
above the level of the floor, but such prejudices cannot be tolerated at
Northwich, and if your fireplace goes beneath the floor, well, such is
one of the privileges of living in the place. It may happen that your
house falls over in the night, or that its roof may come crashing down
on your head. Even churches are not safe. Two at least have suffered
demolition, and one is now closed as unsafe. The town bridge leads a
vagrant life, and makes constant settlements, which impede the traffic
on the river. Northwich cannot boast a town hall, for it also was a
victim of the "moving" spirit of the place.
The details of this state of things are little known even in England,
but a graphic description recently appeared in a German newspaper. It
declared that so serious was the condition of Northwich that the
inhabitants had fled to the neighbouring mountains, and all that could
be seen on the site of the ancient town was the funnel of a passing
steamer.
Some worthy people at Bradford evidently had a similar idea, for after a
certain bank of that town had lent the Northwich authorities L5,000 they
heard such alarming things about the place that they sent two directors
to see if there was any chance of anything being left of Northwich when
the repayment of the loan was due.
It is true that boats have been seen in the streets of Northwich, for
every now and then they get flooded. The case of Northwich is serious
enough, but there is still dry land, the people have not fled to the
mountains, and the bank is pretty certain to be paid. What then is the
matter?
[Illustration: _T. Birtles, photo._] [_Warrington._