Part 10 (2/2)
Overton 3
99
209
27
Ashwell-Thorpe pa
Buckenham 7
100
471
34
Ashwick pa
Wells 6
118
995
27
Ashwicken pa
Swaffham 10
98
80
35
Ashwood ham
Wolverhamp. 6
123
...
22
Ashworth chap
Manchester 11
192
294
43
Aske to
Darlington 11
235
105
+--+-------------------------+------------------------+-----+---------+
[A] ASHTON, or STEEPLE ASHTON is remarkable for its lofty and elegant church, which was built about the year 1480, though the chapels and a part of the chancel appear of a still earlier date. The tower which is high and handsome, was formerly surmounted by a spire or steeple, whence the village had its distinctive appellation. An inscription informs us that, in the year 1670, the spire being in height 93 feet above the tower, was rent by a violent thunder storm, and that in the same year, being almost re-erected, it was by a second storm again destroyed. The roof of the nave is formed by intersecting arches, which rest on canopied niches, adorned with whole length figures or flowers; and that of the aisles is profusely decorated with sculpture and tracery work, while the windows display some splendid remains of painted gla.s.s, the whole corresponding with the exterior in style and effect. Plot informs us that there was dug up at Steeple Ashton, a pavement, which he considered to be Roman, though different in materials and design from those commonly regarded as such. The Madrepore stone is found among the fossil productions of Ashton. Rowd Ashton, the seat of Richard G.o.dolphin Long, Esq., is situated in a large and well wooded park. The Kennet and Avon ca.n.a.l from London to Bristol pa.s.ses near this village.
[Sidenote: The church steeple twice thrown down by storms.]
[B] ASHWELL. This village, situate on the river Rhee, on the borders of Cambridges.h.i.+re, derives its present name from Escewelle, and is supposed by Camden to be of Roman origin, from the frequent discovery of Roman coins, and sepulchral urns, in an adjacent earthwork, or fortification, called Arbury banks. It is in a low situation on the northern edge of the county. Here a considerable spring breaks out from a rocky bank overhung with lofty ash-trees, from which a continued quant.i.ty of water flows, and being quickly collected into one channel, turns a mill, and soon after becomes a river. From this spring and these ash-trees, it is supposed the Saxons gave it the name of Ashwell. The village was anciently a demesne of the Saxon kings; but before the time of Edward the Confessor, it was granted to the Abbots of St. Peter's, at Westminster, to whom it continued to belong till the dissolution, when the Abbey was erected into a deanery, and after that into a bishopric; it, however, followed the fate of similar foundations; and when the bishopric was dissolved, in the reign of Edward VI., it was granted, with other manors, to the see of London, in which it is still invested.
The church consists of a nave, aisle, and chancel, with a tower at the west-end, surmounted by a spire. In the chancel are several slabs, formerly inlaid with bra.s.ses. Among the inscriptions, Weever notices one with the words, ”Orate pro--Walter Sommoner.” ”I reade,” says Weever, ”that one Walter Sumner held the manor of Ashwell of the King, by pettie sergeantie; viz. to find the king spits to rost his meate upon the day of his coronation: and John Sumner, his sonne, held the same manor by service, to turne a spit in the king's kitchen upon the day of his coronation.”
[Sidenote: Powerful spring oozing from a rock.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From +--+------------------------+----------+------------+--------------+ 45
Askerne or Askeron[A] to
W.R. York
Doncaster 7
Ferry-bridge 8
11
Askerswell pa
Dorset
Bridport 4
Beaminster 8
9
Askerton[B] to
c.u.mberland
Carlisle 13
Longtown 12
30
Askham chap
Nottingham
Tuxford 3
Gamston 3
40
Askham[C] to & pa
Westmor
Penrith 4
Lowther 2
43
Askham Bryan to & pa
N.R. York
York 4
Tadcaster 6
43
Askham pa
N.R. York
York 5
... 5
43
Askrigg[D] m.t. & chap
N.R. York
Middleham 12
Reeth 7
+--+------------------------+----------+------------+--------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+------------------------+-----------------------+-----+--------+ 45
Askerne or Askeron[A] to
Snaith 10
169
256
11
Askerswell pa
Abbotsbury 7
131
228
9
Askerton[B] to
Brampton 5
316
473
30
Askham chap
E. Retford 6
140
329
40
Askham[C] to & pa
Bampton 4
280
587
43
Askham Bryan to & pa
Wetherby 10
196
341
43
Askham pa
... 9
195
234
43
Askrigg[D] m.t. & chap
Hawes 5
246
737
+--+------------------------+----------+------------+--------------+
[A] ASKERNE. This village is one of the numerous places in the West Riding, which enjoys the distinction of a mineral spring. The water resembles that of Harrowgate Spa; but taken internally, differs materially in its operation, acting chiefly as a diuretic without any of that cathartic or purgative power, for which the Harrowgate waters are so remarkable. The village is situated at the foot of a hill; the spring rises at the distance of a few yards only from a piece of water called Askerne Pool, seven acres in extent, and is much frequented by rheumatic or s...o...b..tic patients, who seldom fail to obtain the relief which they seek. Near this place it is said the British Prince Ambrosius defeated and put to death the fierce Saxon leader Hengist.
[Sidenote: The Saxon leader Hengist put to death.]
[B] ASKERTON. At this village there is a castle which was built by the Barons Dacre. This well known name is derived from the exploits of one of their ancestors at the siege of Acre, or Ptolemais, under Richard Coeur de Lion. There were two powerful branches of that name. The first family, called Lord Dacres of the South, held the castle of the same name, and are ancestors to the present Lord Dacre. The other family, descended from the same stock, were called Lord Dacres of the North, and were Barons of Gillesland and Graystock. A chieftain of the latter branch was warden of the West Marshes, during the reign of Edward VI. He was a man of a hot and obstinate character, as appears from some particulars of Lord Surrey's letter to Henry VIII., giving an account of his behaviour at the siege and storm of Jedburgh. The castle was formerly garrisoned by the Serjeant of Gillesland, who sometimes commanded and led the inhabitants against the Scots.
[Sidenote: Seat of Lord Dacre.]
[C] ASKHAM. This place consists of two manors. The hall, built in 1574, on the river Lowther, has an embattled roof, and a sombre aspect well suited to the gloom of the surrounding scenery. Several remarkable heaps of stones, among which, one is called the Druid's Cross, are in this neighbourhood; and also a large cairn, called the White-raise.
_Mail_ arrives at Lowther 1-1/2 miles distant 2.30 morning; departs 8 evening.
[Sidenote: Druid's Cross.]
[D] ASKRIGG. This ancient market town is situated near the river Ure and Swaledale Forest: it resembles a large village, and the occupations of the inhabitants are princ.i.p.ally the knitting of stockings and making b.u.t.ter or cheese. It is remarkable, chiefly, for some considerable cataracts in its neighbourhood: as Millgill Force, a fall of from twenty to thirty yards; Whitfields Force, a grand specimen of the picturesque; and Hardrow Force, where the water falls in one grand sheet from a perpendicular height of one hundred feet. This town is one of the polling places appointed under the Reform Bill of 1832, for the North Riding.
_Market_, Thursday.--_Fairs_, May 10, horned cattle; May 12, and first Thursday in June, woollen cloth, pewter, bra.s.s, and milliners'
goods; October 28, horned cattle; October 29, woollens, &c.
[Sidenote: Cataract 100 feet in height.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From +--+-------------------+----------+---------------+------------+ 45
Askwith to
W.R. York
Otley 3
Skipton 12
24
Aslackby[A] pa
Lincoln
Folkingham 2
Bourn 7
27
Aslacton pa
Norfolk
Stratton 4
Buckenham 5
30
Aslacton pa
Nottingham
Bingham 2
Newark 12
36
Aspall pa
Suffolk
Eye 6
Debenham 2
36
Aspal Stoneham pa
Suffolk
Debenham 4
Needham 5
9
Aspatria[B] to & pa
c.u.mberland
c.o.c.kermouth 8
Wigton 9
18
Aspedon pa
Herts
Buntingford 1
Stevenage 9
35
Aspley to
Stafford
Eccleshall 1
Stone 6
39
Aspley ham
Warwick
Henley-in Ar. 2
Alcester 7
3
Aspley Guise pa
Bedford
Woburn 2
Ampthill 7
22
Aspull to
Lancaster
Wigan 3
Bolton 8
46
a.s.selby to
E.R. York
Howden 2
Selby 7
31
a.s.sendon[C] to
Oxford
Henley-on-T. 4
Watlington 7
+--+-------------------+----------+---------------+------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+-------------------+--------------------------+-----+------+ 45
Askwith to
Ripley 12
208
400
24
Aslackby[A] pa
Corby 9
104
455
27
Aslacton pa
Diss 9
97
359
30
Aslacton pa
Nottingham 11
123
289
36
Aspall pa
Framlingham 9
85
126
36
Aspal Stoneham pa
Stowmarket 7
80
633
9
Aspatria[B] to & pa
Allonby 4
311
761
18
Aspedon pa
Puckeridge 9
31
560
35
Aspley to
Stafford 7
148
26
39
Aspley ham
Stratford 7
99
106
3
Aspley Guise pa
Wavenden 3
43
1014
22
Aspull to
Chorley 7
203
2464
46
a.s.selby to
Snaith 7
178
297
31
a.s.sendon[C] to
Nettlebed 3
39
...
+--+-------------------+--------------------------+-----+------+
[A] ASLACKBY. In this village, which is on the direct road from London to Lincoln, there was a commandery, or a.s.sociated body of Knights Templars, founded in the time of Richard I., by John le Mareshall. It afterwards served for the hospitallers, and at the suppression of this society, the property was transferred to Edward, Lord Clinton. A farm-house, which now occupies the site of the old circular church, is called the temple. Of that ancient structure there yet remains a square embattled tower of two stories. The lower story is vaulted, and formed of eight groins, in the centre of which is displayed eight s.h.i.+elds, and various coats of arms. The parish church is a handsome building, with an embattled tower at the west end. A castle formerly stood here, but no vestiges of the walls can now be seen: remnants, however, of the foss and earthworks point out the spot where it was situated.
_Mail_ arrives 7.40 morn.; departs 6.45 evening.
[Sidenote: Ancient village.]
[B] ASPATRIA, or ASPATRIC, is a long straggling village on the side of a hill, about five miles distant from the Irish sea. It now forms part of the estate of the Earl of Egremont, but is supposed to have derived its name from Gospatrick, Earl of Dunbar. On removing the earth of a barrow, which stood at Beacon-hill, an eminence about 200 yards to the north of the village, in the year 1790, a human skeleton was found in a kind of chest, or kistvaen, formed by two large cobblestones at each end, and the same on each side. The feet were decayed and rotted off, but from the head to the ancle-bone, the skeleton measured seven feet. On exposure to the atmospheric air the other bones soon mouldered away.
Near the shoulder, on the left side, was a broad sword five feet long, the guard of which was elegantly inlaid with silver flowers: a dirk, or dagger, lay on the right side; it was one foot and a half long, and the handle seemed to have been studded with silver. There were likewise found part of a golden fibula, or buckle, a broken battle-axe, an ornament for the end of a belt, a part of which yet remained, part of a spur, and a bit resembling a modern snaffle. Various figures, rudely sculptured, remained on the stones which enclosed the left side of the chest; they chiefly represented circles, each having within a cross in relief. Hayman Rooke, Esq., the learned antiquary, from whose account the above particulars are taken, supposed that the personage whose remains were found was buried soon after the first dawning of Christianity; and also, inferred from the rich ornaments found in the tomb, that he was a chieftain of high rank.
[Sidenote: Prodigious skeleton, 7ft. from the head to the ancle-bone.]
[Sidenote: Ancient relics found.]
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