Part 14 (1/2)
[A] AIRE, (The) rises from a small lake on the moors of Yorks.h.i.+re, north-east from Settle, descending through Aire-dale and Craven in its course to the south-east, which it pursues as far as Leeds, where, turning eastward, and meeting the Calder, it pa.s.ses under Ferrybridge, flowing through the flattest portion of Yorks.h.i.+re; and receiving the Don, a little north of Snaith, it unites with the Ouse above Booth Ferry, near Howden. This river is of greater extent than the Calder, and much its superior in navigation, being also joined by numerous ca.n.a.ls from the west. Its origin is almost mountainous, in the midst of the wildest moors; and Aire-dale retains much of the same characteristic features of that line of country. The district of Craven is singularly romantic, being a rich vale, bounded by high hills, with the town of Skipton in its centre; below which it forms a beautiful valley to Keighley, full of trade and population; the Aire pa.s.ses the picturesque ruin of Kirkstall Abbey, in its way to Leeds, the manufactories and villas of which flouris.h.i.+ng place, and its vicinity, encompa.s.s its banks; after which it divides one of the richest plains in the kingdom to Ferrybridge, not far from the eminence where the town of Pontefract appears a conspicuous object, with its ruined castle and ancient church.
Afterwards the Aire can boast little of beauty, as it advances through a level district to join the Ouse.
[Sidenote: Booth Ferry.]
[Sidenote: Kirkstall Abbey.]
[B] ALNE, (The) is a small river which rises on the border of Roxburgs.h.i.+re, but within the limits of Northumberland, and a little north of the source of the Coquet. The great and attractive objects which grace its borders are placed in the far-extended territory of the Duke of Northumberland, at the entrance to which the lofty building, called Brisley Tower, thickly environed by plantations, overlooks all the wild country of Northumberland, including the bold range of Cheviot-hills on the north-west, close to the Scottish border. The Alne then enters a charming valley, beneath the ivied walls of Hulne Abbey, winding delightfully between lawns, woods, and groupes of trees and cottages, admirably disposed. From these monastic and rustic recesses, the river emerges into a s.p.a.cious park, widened considerably by art, and gliding through the arches of a fine Castellan bridge, is proudly overlooked by the numerous towers, and lofty citadel of Alnwick Castle, the superb seat of the Northumberland family.
[Sidenote: Brisley Tower.]
[Sidenote: Alnwick Castle.]
[C] ANCHOLME. This small river, rising in the wolds of Lincolns.h.i.+re, not far from Market Raisin, is navigable from Glandford Bridge to the Humber, and in its course intersecting the extensive tract of the Wolds, which stretches out from Lincoln northward to Barton, and forms a ridge across some intermediate valleys, terminates in the fens near Spilsby Louth. Brocklesby Park, in the extensive domains of Lord Yarborough, occupies the centre of this district, on the highest point of which his lords.h.i.+p has built a superb chapel and mausoleum, in a very excellent Grecian taste, adorned with appropriate statues and marbles, from Italy.
This building, from its position, commands the whole surrounding country, with the port of Hull, across the Humber; forming also a sea-mark, and an interesting object, admirable for the elegance of its design and execution. Thornton College is a curious remnant of antiquity in this neighbourhood, founded in the reign of King Stephen; great part of which is yet preserved, with some modern additions.
[D] AVON, (The Upper) rising in Northamptons.h.i.+re, on the borders of Leicesters.h.i.+re, adds great beauty to the delightful territory of Warwick Castle, as it flows beneath the cliff on which those lofty towers projecting before the town and church are situated. It then glides through a charming country to Stratford-on-Avon, celebrated as the birth-place of Shakspeare, and where the remains of the immortal bard are deposited. From thence it traverses the great level of Worcesters.h.i.+re by Evesham, having received the lesser Stour at Stratford, and turning to the South at Persh.o.r.e, meets the Severn at the flouris.h.i.+ng town of Tewksbury.
[Sidenote: Warwick Castle.]
[E] AVON (The Lower) rises in the hilly district of North Wilts.h.i.+re, bordering on Gloucesters.h.i.+re, not far from Wootton Ba.s.set; its source is near that of the great river Thames, and both are said to have their origin from various springs, not accurately defined. Emerging from the hills, it makes a compa.s.s to fall into the vale leading from Christian Malford to Chippenham, advancing through the cloathing district of Wilts.h.i.+re, bordering upon that of Somersets.h.i.+re, and for a considerable extent divides those counties. Its course is at first southward, making a long compa.s.s by the west towards the north, and then to the west; at last, encircling the city of Bath on two sides, from whence it pursues nearly the same direction, with frequent meanders to Bristol. It then inclines to the north-west, as it conveys the abundant trade of that opulent city to the Severn, by its conflux const.i.tuting the Bristol Channel at King's-road.
[Sidenote: Bath.]
B.
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+----------------+---------+-------------+------------+ 34
Babcary pa
Somerset
Somerton 4
Ilchester 5
27
Babingley,[A] pa
Norfolk
Cas. Rising 2
Lynn 6
or Baburghley
34
Babington pa
Somerset
Frome 5
Bath 10
6
Babraham[B] pa
Cambridge
Linton 4
Cambridge 5
+--+----------------+---------+-------------+------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+----------------+-----------------------+-----+------+ 34
Babcary pa
Castle-Cary 7
120
453
27
Babingley,[A] pa
Heacham 8
102
38
or Baburghley
34
Babington pa
Shepton Mal. 9
109
206
6
Babraham[B] pa
Newmarket 12
51
273
+--+----------------+-----------------------+-----+------+
[A] BABINGLEY. In this parish, the first Christian church in East Anglia is said to have been built. Several hills in the vicinity, called Christian Hills, render the opinion highly probable. The village is situated near that part of the Lincolns.h.i.+re wash called Lynn Deeps.
[B] BABRAHAM, anciently Badburham, is situated in the hundred of Chilford. This place, which was one of the manors of Algar, Earl of Mercia, at the time of the Norman survey, formerly had a market on Mondays. About the year 1576, the whole manorial property in the parish fell into the possession of Sir Horatio Palavicini, a Genoese. According to the tradition of the neighbourhood, this gentleman was collector of the Pope's taxes in England, in the reign of Queen Mary, on whose death, and the consequent change in religion under Elizabeth, he (like the Vicar of Bray,) changed his faith, converted the Pope's money to his own use, and settled in this country. The following whimsical epitaph relates to this occurrence: it is printed in ”Lord Orford's Anecdotes of Painting”--
”Here lyes Horatio Palavazine, Who robbed the Pope to lend the Queen.
He was a thief--a thief? Thou lyest: For what! he robb'd but Antichrist, Him death with besome swept from Bab'ram.
Into the bosom of ould Abraham: But then came Hercules with his club, And struck him down to Belzebub.”
Sir Horatio was in great favour with Queen Elizabeth. He was naturalised, by patent, in 1516, and commanded one of the English men-of-war in the great battle with the Spanish Armada, in 1588; and he was employed by the Queen, in her negotiations with the German Princes: he died at his seat, in this parish, on the 6th of July, 1600. It appears by the register kept in the church, that his children were baptized and buried here: it is also recorded, that the marriage of Sir Horatio's widow with Sir Oliver Cromwell, the Protector's uncle, took place exactly a year and a day after her husband's decease. The poor of this parish are partly maintained by a bequest of 97. a year, expended under certain restrictions imposed by the donor. Here is an alms-house, and a free school, founded by Levinus Bush, Esq., and his sister, Mrs.
Judith Bennet; and the yearly sum of 25. is appropriated to the apprenticing of children.
[Sidenote: Singular anecdote of the Pope's Tax-gatherer.]
[Sidenote: The Queen's favorite.]
Map
Names of Places.
County.
Number of Miles From
+--+----------------+----------+--------------+-------------+ 30
Babworth[A] pa
Nottingham
East Retford 1
Blyth 6
56
Bacheldre, or
Montgomery
Bis. Castle 4
Montgomery 5
Bacheldref to
10
Bachymbyd to
Denbigh
Ruthin 3
Denbigh 6
49
Bach-Yrys, or
Caermarth
Llanelly 4
Lougher 4
Machunis Isle
7
Backford to & pa
Chester
Chester 3
Park Gate 12
34
Backwell, or
Somerset
Bristol 7
Pensford 8
34
Bachwell pa
29
Backworth, or
Northumb
N. s.h.i.+elds 6
Newcastle 7
Blackworth to
27
Baconsthorpe to
Norfolk
Holt 4
Cromer 7
22
Bacop chap
Lancaster
Rochdale 7
Haslingden 6
17
Bacton pa
Hereford
Hereford 12
Llanthony A 6
27
Bacton pa
Norfolk
N. Walsham 5
Cromer 10
36
Bacton pa
Suffolk
Stourmarket 6
Botesdale 7
+--+----------------+----------+--------------+-------------+
Dist.
Map
Names of Places.
Number of Miles From
Lond.
Population.
+--+----------------+-------------------------+-----+-------+ 30
Babworth[A] pa
Worksop 7
146
449
56
Bacheldre, or
Welshpool 12
163
...
Bacheldref to
10
Bachymbyd to
Mold 11
202
...
49
Bach-Yrys, or
Pont ar 7
223
...
Machunis Isle
Dulas
7
Backford to & pa
Liverpool 16
186
487
34
Backwell, or
Axbridge 12
125
1038
34
Bachwell pa
29
Backworth, or
Blyth 7
281
243
Blackworth to
27
Baconsthorpe to
Aylsham 8
121
333
22
Bacop chap
Burnley 6
205
...
17
Bacton pa
Hay 14
139
178
27
Bacton pa
Worsted 7
128
498
36