Curiosities Of Great Britain: England And Wales Delineated - Part 3
Library

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.]