Part 2 (1/2)
[Sidenote: Lord Burnell's effigy in bra.s.s on the altar tomb.]
[Sidenote: The seat of Sir E.J. Smythe.]
Map
Names of Places.
County
Number of Miles From
+--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+---------------+ 7
Acton Grange to
Chester
Warrington 4
Northwich 10
15
Acton Iron pa
Gloucester
Chip. Sodbu 2
Thornbury 7
33
Acton Pigott chap
Salop
Much Wenlo 6
Shrewsbury 8
33
Acton Reynold to
Salop
Shrewsbury 8
Wem 6
33
Acton Round chap
Salop
Wenlock 3
Bridgenorth 6
33
Acton Scott pa
Salop
Ch. Stretton 4
Bish. Castle 10
35
Acton Trussell to & pa
Stafford
Penkridge 3
Stafford 4
15
Acton Turville chap
Gloucester
Tetbury 11
Chippenham 12
35
Adbaston pa
Stafford
Eccleshall 14
Newport 5
31
Adderbury East to & pa
Oxford
Banbury 3
Deddington 3
33
Adderley pa
Salop
Drayton 4
Whitchurch 8
29
Adderston to
Northumb
Beiford 3
Alnwick 12
17
Adforton to
Hereford
Ludlow 8
Presteign 8
9
Addingham pa
c.u.mberland
Kirk Oswald 2
Penrith 8
45
Addingham pa
W.R. York
Skipton 5
Ottley 8
37
Addington[A] pa
Surrey
Croydon 4
Westerham 10
5
Addington pa
Bucks
Winslow 2
Buckingham 5
21
Addington pa
Kent
Maidstone 7
Rochester 8
28
Addington, Gt to & pa
Northamp
Thrapston 4
Kettering 7
28
Addington, Lit to & pa
Northamp
... 5
... 8
21
Addisham pa
Kent
Wingham 3
Canterbury 6
45
Addle[B] to & pa
W.R. York
Leeds 5
Ottley 6
46
Addle-c.u.m-Eccup to
W.R. York
5
... 6
45
Addlingfleet[C] pa
W.R. York
Snaith 11
Burton 2
+--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+---------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population +--+-----------------------+-------------------------+-----+---------+ 7
Acton Grange to
Runcorn 5
183
148
15
Acton Iron pa
Bristol 9
112
1372
33
Acton Pigott chap
Ch. Stretton 9
154
...
33
Acton Reynold to
Drayton 12
152
173
33
Acton Round chap
Ludlow 17
145
203
33
Acton Scott pa
Ludlow 10
155
204
35
Acton Trussell to & pa
Lichfield 15
131
551
31
Acton Turville chap
Sodbury 5
102
236
35
Adbaston pa
Hodnet 7
152
601
31
Adderbury East to & pa
Aynhoe 4
70
2471
33
Adderley pa
Wem 12
157
468
29
Adderston to
Wooler 10
319
322
17
Adforton to
Knighton 8
150
218
9
Addingham pa
Aldstn Moor 12
291
719
45
Addingham pa
Keighley 5
213
2251
37
Addington[A] pa
Bromley 5
12
463
5
Addington pa
Bicester 11
50
74
21
Addington pa
Wrotham 3
27
206
28
Addington, Gt to & pa
Higam Ferrers 5
70
282
28
Addington, Lit to & pa
... 5
70
264
21
Addisham pa
Sandwich 6
62
390
45
Addle[B] to & pa
Bradford 8
205
1063
46
Addle-c.u.m-Eccup to
... 8
291
703
45
Addlingfleet[C] pa
Howden 6
170
478
+--+-----------------------+-------------------------+-----+---------+
[A] ADDINGTON is on the borders of Kent. Addington Place, a seat erected by Alderman Trecothick, in 1772, was purchased in 1807, for the residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The manor of Addington is held by the feudal service of finding a man to make a mess, called Gerout, in the king's kitchen, at the coronation, and serving it up in his own person at Westminster Hall. In the reign of William the Conqueror, Addington appears to have been held by Tezelin, cook to the king, which accounts for the origin of the required culinary service.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is now the claimant of the service alluded to. Near the village is a curious cl.u.s.ter of tumuli, or mounds of earth raised over the bodies of the slain, about twenty-five in number, of inconsiderable height. One of them is nearly forty feet in diameter, two are about half that size, and the rest very small.
[Sidenote: Coronation custom.]
[Sidenote: Cl.u.s.ter of tumuli.]
[B] ADDLE. The church in this town is considered to be one of the most perfect specimens of Roman architecture remaining in England. In 1702, the traces of an ancient Roman town, with fragments of urns, and of an aqueduct of stone were found in the adjacent moor.
[Sidenote: Roman architecture.]
[C] ADDLINGFLEET. A parish and towns.h.i.+p in the lower division of Osgold Cross, including the towns.h.i.+ps of Fockerby, Haldenby, and Eastoft. The village is situated very near the junction of the Trent with the Humber, the latter river being one of the largest in the kingdom, formed by the united waters of the Trent, Ouse, Derwent, Aire, and other minor streams. At this part it is about a mile broad, it is the Abus of Ptolemy. It runs towards the east, was.h.i.+ng the port of Hull, where it receives the river called by the same name; from thence, taking a south-easterly direction, it expands itself into an estuary nearly seven miles across, and mingles with the German ocean. This river, which, with very few exceptions, receives all the waters of Yorks.h.i.+re from the Ouse, and the greater part of those from the midland counties from the Trent, commands the inland navigation of very extensive and commercial parts of England; namely, those of the Mersey, Dee, Ribble, Severn, Thames, and Avon; it also forms the boundary between Yorks.h.i.+re and Lincolns.h.i.+re.
[Sidenote: Boundary between Yorks.h.i.+re and Lincolns.h.i.+re.]
Map
Names of Places.
County
Number of Miles From
+--+-------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+ 7
Adlington to
Ches.h.i.+re
Macclesfield 6
Stockport 6
22
Adlington[A] to
Lancaster
Wigan 4
Chorley 4
24
Addlethorpe to & pa
Lincoln
Alford 7
Spilsby 11
15
Adlestrop pa
Gloucester
Stow 4
Burford 11
22
Admarsh chap
Lancaster
Burton 11
Kirkby Lon 15
5
Adstock pa
Bucks
Winslow 3
Buckingham 4
28
Adstone ham
Northamp
Towcester 7
Daventry 8
8
Advent chap
Cornwall
Camelford 2
Bodmin 10
45
Adwalton[B] ham
W.R. York
Bradford 4
Leeds 7
31
Adwell pa
Oxford
Tetsworth 2
Thame 5
45
Adwick-on-Dearne ch
W.R. York
Rotherham 6
Barnsley 8
45
Adwick pa & to
W.R. York
Doncaster 4
Thorne 10
12
Aff-Piddle pa
Dorset
Dorchester 9
Bere Regis 4
7
Agden to
Chester
Malpas 3
Whitchurch 3
7
Agden to
Chester
Knutsford 6
Warrington 10
43
Agelthorpe to
N.R. York
Middleham 3
Bedale 6
8
Agnes, St[C] cha
Cornwall
Truro 9
Redruth 7
+--+-------------------+----------+--------------+-------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population +--+-------------------+-------------------------+------+------+ 7
Adlington to
Altringham 10
2
1066
22
Adlington[A] to
Bolton 9
264
1082
24
Addlethorpe to & pa
Wainfleet 9
134
176
15
Adlestrop pa
Moreton 6
86
196
22
Admarsh chap
Garstang 12
240
...
5
Adstock pa
Bicester 11
52
445
28
Adstone ham
Brackley 10
67
166
8
Advent chap
Launceston 15
230
246
45
Adwalton[B] ham
Huddersfield 8
192
...
31
Adwell pa
Watlington 4
41
48
45
Adwick-on-Dearne ch
Doncaster 7
167
145
45
Adwick pa & to
Pontefract 9
166
918
12
Aff-Piddle pa
Blandford 12
111
442
7
Agden to
Nantwich 11
177
104
7
Agden to
Altringham 1
179
99
43
Agelthorpe to
Masham 4
226
188
8
Agnes, St[C] cha
Falmouth 14
256
6642
+--+-------------------+-------------------------+------+------+
[A] ADLINGTON. Through this towns.h.i.+p runs the Leeds and Liverpool Ca.n.a.l.
It contains several coal mines. Adlington Hall, the seat of Sir Robert Clayton, Bart., was rebuilt about 1780; it stands in a low situation, on the borders of an extensive park, and contains some very good pictures, amongst which is a head of Charles I., taken after death. Ellerbeck Hall is the seat of John Hodson, Esq. In this neighbourhood is Park Hall, the seat of R.P. German, Esq. The inhabitants of Adlington are chiefly employed in the cotton manufactories of the vicinity.
[Sidenote: Seat of Sir. Robert Clayton, Bart.]
[B] ADWALTON formerly possessed a market which is now disused. On Adwalton Moor, a battle was fought, in 1642, between the Earl of Newcastle, commanding for the king, and the parliamentary general, Lord Fairfax, in which the latter was defeated.
_Fairs_, February 6, March 9, Easter Thursday, Thursday fortnight after Easter, Whit-Thursday; and every second Thursday thence to Michaelmas, for lean cattle; November 5, and December 23.
[Sidenote: Battle fought here in 1642.]
[C] St. AGNES is situated on the Bristol Channel. The town and parish, including a considerable mining district, is thickly strewed with the cottages of the miners. It is more frequently called Lighthouse Island, from a very high and strong light-house erected here, to warn the mariner from the rocks, which are more numerous about this than any other of the Scilly Islands. This building is upwards of sixty feet high, and stands on the most elevated ground. The light is produced by twenty-one parabolic reflectors of copper, plated with silver, and having each an argand lamp in its focus. The reflectors are disposed of in three cl.u.s.ters, of seven in each cl.u.s.ter, and the frame in which they are fixed stands perpendicularly to the horizon, on a shaft united to a machine below, which makes the whole revolve every two minutes. By this motion the light progressively sweeps the whole horizon; and by its gradual intermission and increase, it is readily distinguished from any other. Its brilliancy is also extraordinary; and by these combined efforts its benefits are greatly increased, as the seaman is at once rendered completely sensible of his situation. This light was designed by the ingenious Mr. Adam Walker, (lecturer on natural and experimental philosophy,) under whose inspection it was constructed. The light-house itself is of stone, and was erected, as appears from an inscription over the door, by Captain Hugh Till, and Captain Simon Bayley, in the year 1680. The charges attending the light are defrayed by the Trinity House.
At St. Agnes is a pilchard fishery. St. Agnes' Beacon, six hundred and sixty-four feet above the level of the sea, is formed out of an ancient cairn, or tumulus of stones; near which, a summer-house has been built, from whence is a fine view of St. Ives, and an extensive sea prospect.
Near the same spot is St. Agnes' Well, of which many miraculous stories are in circulation, from its presumed holy and sanative properties.
This place gave birth to John Opie, whose persevering genius advanced him to the highest rank in his profession. He was born at Harmony Cot, in May 1761. The opening years of his existence indicated that he must plod through life in the dull occupation of a carpenter, as successor to his father and grandfather. He distinguished himself at a very early period, for originality and strength of mind, and at twelve years of age commenced an evening school in St. Agnes, teaching arithmetic and writing, and reckoning amongst his scholars some who had nearly doubled his years. His first humble attempts at portrait painting were with a s.m.u.tty stick, against the white-washed wall of his paternal cottage, where he exhibited, in _dark colours_, very striking likenesses of the whole family. His next step was to draw with ochre on cartridge paper.
He was apprenticed to his father, but from some unascertainable cause was turned over to a sawyer; and it was literally in the bottom of a saw-pit that Dr. Walcot, better known by the appellation of Peter Pindar, (who had previously seen and admired some of Opie's rude drawings,) first beheld this untutored child of genius, under whose patronage he was protected, and his fame promoted. After visiting Exeter, (where he was persuaded to change his surname, which originally was Hoppy, to that of Opie,) finding his success was commensurate with his abilities, it was soon determined they should be brought to act in a wider sphere; and, in 1780, the Doctor and his pupil repaired to London, where not agreeing as to the mode of living together, they separated, and although their attachment had been cemented by long-continued kindness, subsequently to this period, yet they were never after cordially united. The opinion Opie entertained of the services which he had received from the Doctor, may be gathered from the following curious _note of hand_, which was said to be in the possession of the latter: ”I promise to paint, for Dr. Walcot, any picture or pictures, he may demand, as long as I live; otherwise, I desire the world will consider me as a ... ungrateful son of a ..., John Opie.” It is not certain that he ever deviated from this voluntary obligation, but it is matter of pleasant remark, that he always made his friend pay eighteen-pence for the canva.s.s! Opie was as fortunate in London as he had been at Exeter.
To Pindar, however, he was indebted for his introduction to public notice. Through him his pictures were shown to Mrs. Boscawen, by whom Opie was introduced to the late Mrs. Delaney, who procured for him the notice of King George III. An opportunity was contrived for the royal family to see his picture of the _The Old Beggar Man_; soon after which, Opie was honoured with a command to repair to Buckingham House. The artist's account of this interview was given in the following characteristical manner to Walcot, who has often been heard to relate it with great humour. ”There was Mr. West,” said Opie, ”in the room, and another gentleman. First, her majesty came in; and I made a sad mistake in respect to her, till I saw her face, and discovered by her features that she was the queen. In a few minutes his majesty came hopping in. I suppose,” said Opie, ”because he did not wish to frighten me. He looked at the pictures and liked them; but he whispered to Mr. West--'tell the young man I can only pay a gentleman's price for them.'” The picture which his majesty bought was that of _A Man Struck by Lightning_. The price given was 10, with which Opie returned to the Doctor full of spirits. His friend, when he heard the story, said, ”Why, John, thou hast only got 8. for thy picture.” ”Indeed, but I have though,” cried Opie, ”for I have got the 10. safe in my pocket.” On this he showed him the money. ”Aye,” rejoined the Doctor, ”but dost thou know his majesty has got the frame for nothing, and that is worth 2.” ”D--- it, so he has,” cried Opie--”I'll go back and knock at the door, and ask for the frame; D--- it, I will.” He was actually about to put his resolve into execution, till dissuaded by the Doctor. Popularity naturally followed this notice of royalty. The ladies, however, soon deserted him, as his likenesses were not flattering; for where Nature had been n.i.g.g.ardly, Opie refused to be liberal. He afterwards became better acquainted with the art of pleasing them; a change which has been attributed to Mrs.
Opie, who used to stand over him, and endeavour to make him sensible of the graces of the female form. It was in the year 1786, that Mr. Opie became known as an exhibitor at Somerset House; soon after which he aspired to academical honours, and ultimately attained the rank of Royal Academician, and afterwards succeeded Fuseli, in the professors.h.i.+p of painting. He was twice married, but at what period his first hymeneal union occurred we are not informed--it was inauspicious. His second marriage, which took place on May 8, 1798, was more fortunate; and in the society of the late Mrs. Opie, the amiable author of many beautiful and interesting literary compositions, he enjoyed a delightful relief from the toilsome duties of his profession. Mr. Opie was in the daily acquisition of wealth and fame, and rapidly advancing to the very zenith of popularity, when his mortal career was suddenly closed by death, on Thursday, April 9, 1807, in the forty-sixth year of his age. ”As a portrait painter he has great claims to praise, particularly in his men, which are firm, bold, and freely delineated, and occasionally well coloured. His women are heavy, inelegant, and chiefly accompanied with a hardness that destroys all beauty.”
[Sidenote: Very high and strong light-house.]
[Sidenote: St. Agnes' beacon.]
[Sidenote: Birth-place of John Opie, the painter.]
[Sidenote: First attempts at portrait painting.]
[Sidenote: Genius fostered by Dr. Walcot.]
[Sidenote: Anecdotes of Opie.]
[Sidenote: Introduction to the King.]
[Sidenote: Opie's relation of his interview with royalty.]
[Sidenote: Royal economy.]
[Sidenote: First known as an exhibitor at Somerset House, 1786.]
[Sidenote: Died in 1807.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+------------------------+------------+-------------+---------------+ 9
Aglionby to
c.u.mberland
Carlisle 3
Brampton 6
22
Aighton to
Lancaster
c.l.i.theroe 6
Blackburn 7
43
Aikber to
N.R. York
Middleham 5
Richmond 6
46
Aike to
E.R. York
Beverley 6
M. Weighton 9
9
Aikton to & pa