[A] ST. ANDREWS, AUCKLAND. This place is celebrated for the _Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.

having been made collegiate by Bishop Beck, although it is probable

there was some foundation here before the time of that prelate. The

edifice is situated on a rising ground, in a valley near the banks of

the river Gaunless, and has the form of a cross with a tower at the west

end. In the inside is a curious wooden figure, said to be an effigy of

one of the family of Polland, which represents a knight sitting

cross-legged and dressed in a coat of mail, with his hands raised and

his feet resting on a lion.

[Sidenote: Curious effigy.]

[B] AUDLEY END is principally celebrated for its vicinity to Audley

House, which was sold by the third Earl of Suffolk, to Charles II., for

L50,000., the king, however, left a great part of the sum on mortgage.

The present mansion, though a large and magnificent structure, consists

only of a small part of the original building, owing to its curtailment

at various times. When in its perfect state, it was esteemed one of the

most splendid and capacious mansions in the country; and, if not

superior, was nearly equal to the palaces of Hampton Court, Nonsuch, and

Richmond. At the time when it was first built, large, rather than

comfortable or handsome houses were fashionable. Influenced by these

sentiments, Thomas Howard, the first Earl of Suffolk, (as Walpole

observes,) determined to have "an immense pile of building," and

L190,000. was expended upon its erection. It is said that, when the

house was finished, King James was invited to see it. Having surveyed

the structure with great astonishment, the earl asked him "how he liked

it?" "Very well," replied James, "but troth man," continued he

sarcastically, "it is too much for a king, but it may do for a Lord High

Treasurer." An elegant domestic chapel, constructed by the late Lord

Howard, occupies the north west corner of the house. It is fitted up

with clustered columns, pointed arches, and fan like tracery; and, in

imitation of a cathedral, it has a nave, side-aisles and transepts. The

windows are filled with painted glass, by Pickett of York, who executed

them in 1771, from Biaggio Rebecca's designs.

_Fair_, August 5, for cheese.

[Sidenote: Anecdote of James I.]

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+-----------------------+----------+------------+--------------+

15|Aust, or Aust-Clive[C]}| | | |

| ti. & chap}|Gloucester|Thornbury 4|Bristol 11|

+--+-----------------------+----------+------------+--------------+

|Dist.|

Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----+--------+

35|Audley to & pa|Congleton 9| 154| 3617|

22|Aughton chap|Burton 7| 217| 199|

22|Aughton pa|Prescott 10| 208| 1462|

46|Aughton[A] to & pa|York 11| 189| 665|

45|Aughton to|Tickhill 11| 156| |

24|Aukborough[B] pa|Howden 10| 172| 467|

30|Aukley to|Doncaster 6| 158| 297|

10|Ault-Hucknall pa|Bolsover 4| 144| 618|

24|Aunsby pa|Grantham 9| 112| 117|

15|Aust, or Aust-Clive[C]}| | | |

| ti. & chap}|Chepstow 5| 123| 203|

+--+-----------------------+-----------------------+-----+--------+

[A] AUGHTON. This village is chiefly distinguished for having been the

seat of an ancient and respectable family long since extinct, or

dispersed. The Askes, who succeeded the family of Hai, resided here from

about the year 1365, till the reign of Charles I., when the head of the

family was one of the judges of that unfortunate monarch. Of this

family, also, was Sir Robert Aske, a man of daring and enthusiastic

courage, possessing considerable talents, who headed the insurrection

called "the Pilgrimage of Grace," in the days of Henry VIII. Of the

family seat, nothing remains but the site, marked by several moats.

[Sidenote: Once the seat of Sir Robert Aske.]

[B] AUKBOROUGH. Dr. Stukely having discovered a Roman castrum and a

vicinal road here, supposed it to be the Aquis of Ravennas. The Roman

station is square, each side 300 feet; the entrance is at the north, and

the west side faces the steep cliff that over-hangs the Trent. The

situation of this castle at the north-west angle of Lincolnshire,

renders it a kind of watch tower over Nottingham and Yorkshire, which it

surveys. The camp is now called "Countess Close," and tradition speaks

of a Countess of Warwick having resided here. The vallum and ditch are

nearly entire; a square plat called the "Oreen," is supposed to have

been appropriated for the soldiers when on duty. Within this is a round

walk into a labyrinth, called Julian's Bower; these bowers are usually

found in the neighbourhood of Roman towns, and are objects of great

curiosity to uninformed people. Dr. Stukeley is of opinion that they

were the arena of some of their ancient games, brought into Italy from

Troy, and that they derived their name from "borough," any work

consisting of ramparts of earth, and not from "bower" an arbour. The

views in this neighbourhood are very beautiful; the winding Trent with

its rich level plains of meadow, all alive with herds of cattle; the

cliff, commanding a noble view of the three rivers; the hanging woods

and ornamented walks, all form a great contrast to what Lincolnshire is

often represented by those who have visited only the fenny parts of this

fertile county.

[Sidenote: Julian's bower.]

[C] AUST, or AUST CLIVE. Here is a celebrated ferry over the Severn into

South Wales. The Propraetor, Ostorius Scapula, was accustomed to ferry

his legions over near this place. In the time of Edward the Elder, who

was lying here with his army, Llewellyn, Prince of Wales, was stationed

at Beachley, on the opposite bank. Llewellyn, who was required to pay

homage to the English Sovereign, refused to cross the passage; but

Edward immediately crossing in a boat, was seen, as he approached the

shore by Llewellyn, who, overcome by the condescension, rushed into the

water, and taking the monarch upon his shoulders, carried him to land,

and did him homage for the principality. The Severn is here nearly two

miles across.

[Sidenote: Celebrated passage into South Wales.]

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+----------------------+----------+-----------+-------------+

8|Austell, or St. }| | | |

| Austle[A] m.t. & pa}|Cornwall |Truro 14|Lostwithiel 9|

+--+----------------------+----------+-----------+-------------+

|Dist.|

Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+----------------------+----------------------+-----+-------+

8|Austell, or St. }| | | |

| Austle[A] m.t. & pa}|Grampound 6| 243| 8758|

45|Austerfield to & chap|Doncaster 9| 155| 280|

7|Austerson to|Tarporley 10| 177| 69|

+--+----------------------+----------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ST. AUSTELL is a considerable market town, which belongs to the

north-eastern division of the county, and is one of the polling places.

The petty sessions of the hundred of Powder are held here. Considerable

quantities of corn and other articles are brought to the market. The

town is seated on the eastern side of a hill which slopes gradually to a

rivulet which runs along a narrow valley; this stream, and the

inequality of the ground, have been rendered eminently useful to the

manufactories of the neighbourhood. The water which has been conducted

round the side of the hills, in its course impels the machinery of

several stamping-mills, which have been erected on different levels. It

is also employed to cleanse and separate the tin from the pounded mass.

Through its vicinity to the great tin mine of Polgooth, St. Austell has

within the last sixty or seventy years, considerably increased in the

number of its houses and inhabitants. The holding of the Blackmore Court

here, which is the most considerable of the stannary courts, or courts

relating to the tin works, have also contributed to augment its

prosperity. The old town, or rather village, was at some little distance

to the east, and its site is still marked by a few cottages; the present

town is the regular thoroughfare for travellers from Plymouth to

Falmouth; the streets are very narrow, and not having any pavement for

foot passengers are somewhat unsafe. The only blowing houses in the

county are at the east end of this town; they are three in number, and

very spacious; the old smelting houses are supplied with coals, and are

reverberatory; but in these blowing houses the fire is of charcoal, and

ignited by air impelled through tubes by cylinders instead of bellows;

this mode of fluxing the ore is considered by the workmen far preferable

to the other. The inhabitants of this town, from its proximity to the

sea, are principally employed in the pilchard fishery and in mining;

there is however a small manufactory of serges. The parish church is a

fine old fabric, consisting of three aisles; the tower and some other

parts of the structure are fancifully ornamented; various carvings,

monstrous heads, angels, and other figures appear on the cornices. From

the repetition of the shovel, pick, hammers, and other tools, it seems

probable that the miners were the principle contributors towards the

expences of the building. In the year 1774, as some tinners were

searching for tin in a stream work near the town, about seventeen feet

under the surface of the ground, they discovered a silver cup, which is

now used for wine at the Communion table, in which were several ancient

pieces of gold and silver ornaments; they consisted of bracelets, rings,

and buckles, evidently for a person of high rank, with many of the most

curious Saxon coins ever discovered at one time. All these articles fell

out on moving the ground, and some were probably lost in shovelling out

the rubbish; those which were picked up were dispersed about the

country, and many of them broken. The celebrated Pentuan stone quarry,

from which the materials of many churches and family seats have been

taken, is in this parish. Polgooth mine (before mentioned) was

considered the richest ever worked in England, and is situated about two

miles south-west of the town. The surrounding country appears for many

miles bleak, desolate, and barren, yet its bowels contain vast

treasures; though, as a talented author has observed, "like the shabby

mien of a miser, its aspect does not correspond with its hoards." The

shafts by which the miners descend, and through which the ore is raised

to the surface, are scattered over a considerable extent of sterile

ground, whose dreary appearance, and the sallow countenances of the

miners, concur to excite ideas of gloom, apprehension, and melancholy.

The number of shafts is not less than fifty, from twenty to thirty of

which are constantly in use. When a stranger is induced to descend, he

is previously accoutred in a flannel shirt and trowsers, a close cap, an

old hat to shelter his face from droppings, and a thick pair of shoes. A

lighted candle is put into one hand, and a spare one suspended to a

button of his jacket. Every part of the ordinary clothing is laid aside,

and the flannel dress worn close to the skin, in order to absorb the

profuse perspiration which the closeness of the mine or the labour of

mounting the ladders may occasion.

_Market_, Friday.--_Fairs_, Whit Thursday, and Nov. 30, for oxen,

sheep, and cloth.--_Mail_ arrives 12.35 afternoon; departs 10.27.

morning.

[Sidenote: Blackmore Court held here.]

[Sidenote: Silver cup found 17 ft. under ground.]

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+

+--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+

|Dist.|

Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+-----------------------+-------------------------+-------------+

45|Austhorpe[A] to|Abberford 5| 189| 150|

9|Austhwaite ham|Bootle 7| 283| 101|

45|Austonley to|Wakefield 11| 181| 1420|

39|Austrey pa|Orton 2| 112| 540|

45|Austwick to|Hawes 20| 241| 614|

24|Authorpe pa|Horncastle 13| 144| 121|

41|Avebury, or Abury[B] pa|Calne 6| 82| 747|

14|Aveley pa|Wennington 4| 21| 758|

17|Avenbury pa|Hereford 15| 125| 314|

15|Avening pa|Horseley 3| 99| 2396|

30|Averham[C] pa|Tuxford 13| 127| 182|

11|Aveton-Gifford pa|Kingsbridge 5| 208| 939|

+--+-----------------------+-------------------------+-------------+

[A] AUSTHORPE. This township gave birth to the celebrated civil engineer

John Smeaton, distinguished as the architect of Eddystone Light-house,

and, as the conductor of various other important undertakings. He was

the son of an attorney, who, observing that he had a strong taste for

mechanics, wisely allowed him to follow the impulse of his genius, and

become a mathematical instrument maker. He commenced business in that

capacity, in Holborn, London, in 1750. His great undertaking--the

erection of the light-house on the Eddystone rock, was accomplished in

the year 1759, and it was executed in such a manner as almost to bid

defiance to the power of time or accident. His death took place in his

native village, September 8, 1792.--See Eddystone Light-house.

[Sidenote: Birth-place of Smeaton the architect.]

[B] AVEBURY or ABURY, is situated within the very area of a British

temple, and claims the particular attention of the topographer and

antiquary. The enclosure, which is formed by a wide and deep ditch, and

a lofty external vallum, contains many large stones, some of which are

erect, and the others lying on the ground. Southward of this place, at

some distance, are other large stones, erect or prostrate; and,

westward, are two others, erect. Several walls and houses of the village

are constructed with broken masses of these ponderous monuments; yet

enough remains to excite curiosity and prompt research. The following is

a description of this great temple, in its original state:--Immediately

within the ditch, and encompassing the whole area, was a continued

series of large upright stones, consisting of one hundred in number;

these stones were placed at the distance of twenty-seven feet from each

other, and usually measured from fifteen to seventeen feet in height,

and about forty feet in circumference. Within the area of this circle,

the diameter of which was about 1400 feet, were two double circles; the

exterior circles were about 466 feet in diameter, and formed by thirty

stones of similar dimensions equally distant from each other, as in the

large enclosing circle. Of these singular stones there are but few

remaining; but from the extraordinary dimension of these relics of

antiquity, the traveller may judge for himself the correctness of our

notice.

_Mail_ arrives at Beckhampton Inn, (1 mile distant,) at 5.20 morning;

departs 9.45 night.

[Sidenote: A British temple formed of enormous stones.]

[C] AVERHAM. This place is principally remarkable for a monument

contained in the church erected to the memory of Sir William Sutton,

once lord of the manor, on which it is quaintly recorded that he had

sixteen children, and an equal number of each sex; of whom the one half

"Ushered to heaven their father, and the other

Remained behind him to attend their mother."

| | |

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+------------------------+----------+-------------+--------------+

+--+------------------------+----------+-------------+--------------+

| | |Dist.|

Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+------------------------+------------------------+-----+--------+

4|Avington[A] pa|Kintbury 2| 62| 191|

18|Avington[B] pa|Basingstoke 14| 60| 26|

41|Avon chap|Calne 7| 94| 226|

39|Avon Dassett pa|Southam 9| 75| |

11|Awliscombe pa|Collumpton 10| 154| 598|

16|Awre pa|Newnham 4| 124| 1309|

34|Axbridge[C] bo. m.t. & p|Bristol 18| 130| 998|

41|Axford ti|Albourne 5| 73| 450|

+--+------------------------+------------------------+-----+--------+

[A] AVINGTON. Sir Francis Burdett is lord of this manor, and patron of

the rectory. The church, which remains nearly in its original state,

exhibits a curious specimen of Saxon architecture. Within the walls it

measures 75 feet by 14 feet and a half. The nave is separated from the

chancel by an arch richly ornamented by a zig-zag moulding, and a great

variety of grotesque heads springing from two enriched piers; the arch

is formed of the segments of two circles, each having different centres.

In this church there is also a very singular font, of rude workmanship,

surrounded with grotesque figures, executed in bass-relief; that is to

say, sculpture, the figures of which do not stand out from the ground in

their full proportion.

[Sidenote: Sir Francis Burdett.]

[B] AVINGTON, anciently Abyngton, is remarkable for its beautiful park,

the seat of Chandos Grenville, Duke of Buckingham, Lord Lieutenant of

the county of Bucks. The manor was originally a royal demesne, or estate

in lands, and was given by king Edgar to the monastery of St. Swithin at

Winchester, in the year 961; it continued in the possession of that

house until the dissolution of monasteries, when it became the property

of the clerks of Mitcheldever, (a village about five miles distant,)

with whom it remained until the reign of Elizabeth; and then passed to

the Bruges, or Brydges family, afterwards raised to the dukedom of

Chandos. Anna Maria Brudenell, the infamous Countess of Shrewsbury,

married one of this family; her former husband, the Earl of Shrewsbury,

died from a wound received in a duel with the Duke of Buckingham, during

the fighting of which the Countess had the audacity to hold the horse of

her gallant, disguised as a page. Charles the Second was frequently the

guest of this notorious woman at the mansion of Avington, which thus

became the scene of that licentious monarch's pleasures. The mansion,

which is mostly built of brick, has been greatly improved since it came

into the possession of the present proprietor. It is situated in a well

planted and secluded valley, nearly environed with high downs, which

from their bare and open state, form a singular though not unpleasing

contrast with the scenery immediately contiguous to the house. Several

of the apartments are fitted up with great elegance, and enriched by a

choice collection of valuable paintings.

[Sidenote: Seat of the Duke of Buckingham.]

[Sidenote: A seat of one of the paramours of Charles II.]

[C] AXBRIDGE. This town is one of the polling places for the eastern

division of the county of Somerset, but the court for the election of

the Knights of the Shire is at Wells. The borough sent members to

parliament during the reigns of the three first Edwards, but was

afterwards excused on the plea of poverty. It consists chiefly of one

street, winding from east to west, about half a mile in length. The

shambles and market are towards the east end. Although so small, it is

governed by a corporation, consisting of a mayor, bailiff, and ten

aldermen, and twenty-two burgesses, with a recorder, town-clerk, and

other officers. Knit hose are manufactured in this town. The church,

occupying an eminence, near the market-house, is a large and handsome

gothic structure, in the form of a cross. The cloth of the communion

table is elegantly wrought in silk, by Mrs. Abigail, who employed seven

years in completing it. This lady, and several of her family, have

monuments in the church.

_Market_, Saturday.--_Fairs_, Feb 23, and March 25, for cattle,

sheep, cheese, and toys.--_Mail_ arrives 2.0 afternoon; departs 11.0

morning.

[Sidenote: A borough excused on a plea of poverty.]

Map|Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From |

+--+-----------------+----------+---------------+------------+

13|Aycliffe-Great} |Durham |Darlington 5|Sedgfield 7|

| to & p} | | | |

29|Aydon-Castle to|Northumb | 6| 2|

5|Aylesbury[B] bo.}|Bucks |Tring 7|Winslow 11|

| m.t. & pa}| | | |

+--+-----------------+----------+---------------+------------+

|Dist.|

Map|Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population.

+--+-----------------+--------------------------+-----+------+

11|Axminster[A] m.t.|Lyme Regis 6| 147| 2719|

11|Axmouth pa| " " 6| 153| 646|

13|Aycliffe-Great} |Durham 13| 246| 1564|

| to & p} | | | |

29|Aydon to|Newcastle 15| 277| 99|

29|Aydon-Castle to| 15| 277| 29|

15|Aylburton chap|Chepstow 8| 120| 388|

11|Aylesbear to & pa|Sidmouth 8| 166| 1025|

5|Aylesbury[B] bo.}|Wendover 5| 38| 4907|

| m.t. & pa}| | | |

+--+-----------------+--------------------------+-----+------+

[A] AXMINSTER is very irregularly built, and the houses are inelegant,

but the air of the town is reckoned highly salubrious. The petty

sessions of the hundred of Axminster are held here. The lower orders are

mostly employed in manufacturing carpets, leather breeches, gloves, &c.

The manner of weaving carpets here is different from that pursued at

most other places; the carpets being woven in the piece, and several

hands employed at the same loom. The common patterns are flowers, roses,

&c., though the Turkey and Persian carpets have been imitated with

success. In many large pieces Roman tesselated pavements have been

copied, which have produced a very rich effect. The tunnel between

Charmouth and was opened in the month of January, 1832. This improvement

is substantially constructed with an elliptic arch, capable of allowing

two stage waggons of the largest size to pass on it, and is rather more

than seventy yards in length. By the completion of this tunnel the

longest and steepest hill between London and Exeter is avoided. A

gentleman who visited the tunnel during the height of the ensuing

summer, remarked the astonishing coolness which he felt within this

hill's enclosed semi-cylinder; no sooner, however, had he left it, than

he fainted from the difference of temperature between this subterraneous

passage and that of the open air.

_Market_. Saturday--_Fairs_, St. Marks Day; April 30; Wednesday after

June 24; Wednesday after Oct 10.--_Mail_ arrives 1.20 afternoon;

departs 12.51 afternoon.

[Sidenote: Trade.]

[Sidenote: A remarkable tunnel through a lofty hill.]

Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set. · 第 12 / 31 段

[A] ST. ANDREWS, AUCKLAND. This place is celebrated for the church