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 DKDlCATEn, BY PERMISSION, TO THE CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS OF TIIK 
 I.OXnON AND BIRMIKGHAM RAILWAY COMTANV. 
 
 f^:Jr^<K^ 
 
 ROAD BOOK 
 
 OF THE 
 
 LONDON AND BIEMTNGHAM 
 RAILWAY, 
 
 ILLUSTRATED BY AN ACCIRATE MAP OF THE LTNE, AND 
 BY NUMEROUS ENGRAVINGS. 
 
 LONDON: 
 
 HAYWARD AND MOORE. 
 
 birmingham: james drake, 52, new street. liverpool: wii.lmer 
 
 and smith, and ross and nightingale, manchester; 
 
 lovp: and barton. 
 
 t^
 
 KNTEREI) AT STATIONERS UAI,I,. 
 
 DIRM INGHAM: I'KINTKI^ RY .T\JiES DRAKE, 52, NEW STREET.
 
 j;^ ' TO THE 
 
 "/ CHAIRMAN AND DIRECTORS 
 
 "•^ OF THE 
 
 iONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY COMPANY, 
 
 IS, 
 
 
 BV PERMISSION, RESPECTFULLY INSCRIBED, 
 
 
 2 464311 
 
 THE PUBLISHER.
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 What has led the Publisher of this volume to 
 indulge the hope of being able to provide an 
 acceptable guide to the London and Birmingham 
 Railway, has been the highly gratifying reception 
 which has already been given to three editions 
 of his Road Book of the Grand Junction Railway. 
 Accordingly, he sends forth this Road Book with 
 the pleasing conviction that he is sending it among 
 persons who, by the acknowledged merits of its 
 predecessor, as well as by the high character of 
 numerous other works of a similar nature, which 
 have issued from the same press, are already pre- 
 possessed in its favour. Should a generous public, 
 by the manner in which they receive it, show that 
 the estimation in which they have hitherto held 
 his labours remains undiminished, the Publisher
 
 VI ADVERTISEMENT. 
 
 will consider that all his exertions during the 
 many months in which he has been engaged in 
 preparing it for publication, have been abundantly 
 rewarded. 
 
 The descriptive part has been written with the 
 utmost carefulness ; and, as the whole line was 
 leisurely traversed for the express purpose of obtain- 
 ing the most correct information, its accuracy may 
 be confidently relied upon. The character of the 
 scenery through which the railway passes is some- 
 what minutely described ; an account is given of 
 every neighbouring town and important village ; 
 and all other interesting objects which can be 
 seen from the line are mentioned in the order in 
 which they appear in view. The Writer has also 
 continually aimed at leading the mind of the 
 traveller into pleasant and instructive trains of 
 thought, and furnishing him with interesting sub- 
 jects for familiar railway colloquy. With respect 
 to the Illustrations, the name of the artist, H. 
 Harris, Esq., by whom the views were taken, 
 exclusively for this work, will doubtless be deemed 
 a sufficient guarantee for their faithfulness, judi-
 
 ADVERTISEMENT. Vll 
 
 cious selection, and intrinsic merit. They have 
 also been engraved by one of the first London 
 artists, and expense has not been spared in order 
 to render them worthy of the noble undertaking 
 which they are designed to illustrate. 
 
 By the completion of this volume, a Road 
 Book is provided for the whole line of railway 
 from London to Liverpool and Manchester; which, 
 besides proving a useful hand-book for the tra- 
 veller himself, will also, it is hoped, be found an 
 agreeable companion, by those who seek to enjoy 
 the pleasures of travelling while comfortably seated 
 at their own firesides. 
 
 Birmingham, Atif/tist I, 1839.
 
 THE 
 
 ROAD BOOK 
 
 LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY. 
 
 CHAPTER L 
 
 LONDON. 
 
 As the pleasure we derive from travelling, depends 
 chiefly upon the means we have of gratifying the curio- 
 sity which it excites, when we are so fortunate as to 
 have an intelligent companion to point out the spots 
 renowned in history or celebrated in poetry, to inform 
 us as to the productions of the country and the manu- 
 factures of the towns, and direct our eye to the most 
 beautiful objects in nature and remarkable works of 
 art, we are placed in the most favourable situation for 
 deriving all the enjoyment from travelling it is capable 
 of affording, and are perhaps almost inclined to com- 
 plain of reaching the place of our destination too 
 speedily. With the hope that such a companion 
 would be found in this little volume, by those who are 
 about to take a trip by the London and Birmingham 
 Railway, wc would at once introduce our readers to this 
 
 B
 
 i LONDON. 
 
 wonder of modern times, were we not too proud of the 
 metropolis of our native land to leave it altogether 
 unnoticed. It will not, we hope, be considered an 
 unpardonable digression, if, before we commence our 
 journey, we briefly glance at this city, the object of a 
 world's admiration. 
 
 London, if we may place any credit in the ancient 
 Welch chroniclers, is as old as the times of Homer ; 
 for, according to them, it was founded by Brute, the 
 great grandson of ^neas, the Trojan hero. If this be 
 true, London may vie with Rome in point of antiquity ; 
 and Troy has had the honour of giving birth to the 
 two mightiest cities the world has ever beheld. But 
 it is more probable, that, for very many ages after the 
 period mentioned b}'^ the chronologer, the banks of the 
 Thames, where the mistress of the world now sits, 
 presented no other prospect to the eye of the wander- 
 ing savage than that of a wild, unhealthy marsh, 
 the undisputed possession of poisonous reptiles and 
 ravenous beasts. The first time London appears on 
 the page of authentic history is upon its being burned 
 to the ground by Boadicea, after its temporary 
 evacuation by the Romans. Thus London enters upon 
 the stage of history in the interesting character of a 
 sacrifice offered up by vengeance upon the desecrated 
 altar of British independence. It would appear as if 
 this circumstance had in it something ominous ; for 
 few cities have suffered so severely from fire and 
 pestilence as London has, since it was burned by 
 Boadicea. Five times has the plague swept through 
 its crowded streets and thinned its inhabitants; and
 
 LONDON. 3 
 
 the 10th, 11th. r2th, and 17th centuries were all 
 marked by the occurrence of awfully wide and de- 
 structive conflagrations. Yet none of these calamities 
 have been able to check its rising greatness. From 
 the ashes of every conflagration it has arisen more 
 vigorous and beautiful than before. In 1377, the 
 number of its inhabitants amounted to 35,000 ; in 
 1680, to 670,000; in 1801, to 864,000; and in 1831, 
 to 1,500,000, — a population which far surpasses that 
 of the most renowned cities of ancient or modem 
 times. Various are the causes which have swelled 
 it to this unparalleled greatness ; but the chief one 
 has undoubtedly been its commerce. Its situation 
 on the banks of a noble river, and at a safe distance 
 from the ocean, renders it peculiarly available for 
 purposes of trade ; and, the circumstance of being 
 the metropolis of a great and wealthy empire, 
 necessarily creates a brisk internal traffic. Even so 
 early as the twelfth century, a learned monk of 
 Canterbury, in " A Description of the noble City 
 of London,'' speaks of Arabia, Seythia, Egypt, and 
 Babylon, as pouring their costly merchandise at 
 her feet. If, then, London in the twelfth century, 
 when the metropolis of only a third part of Great 
 Britain, be spoken of in terms so glowing, what 
 language can we find sufficiently elevated to describe 
 London in the nineteenth century, reigning, as she 
 now does, over wide extended dominions in Asia, 
 Africa, and the New AVorld? Into her warehouses 
 thirteen thousand vessels are on an average continually 
 pouring the riches of the world, and through the 
 hands of her merchants property to the value of one 
 
 B 2
 
 4 LONDON. 
 
 hundred and twenty millions sterling annually passes. 
 Her citizens furnish foreign princes with the means of 
 making war ; her merchants regulate the markets of 
 the world ; and her manufacturers produce articles 
 which can nowhere be equalled, and which every 
 nation under heaven is anxious to obtain. In London, 
 also, sparkles the bright crown of " the fair virgin 
 enthroned in the west ;" and in its halls the unrivalled 
 aristocracy of England, and the chosen representatives 
 of British freemen, regularly assemble to decide the 
 fate of nations, and consult for the welfare of a hundred 
 million subjects. 
 
 Great and powerful as London is, it is daily pro- 
 gressing ; and the numerous railways which are now 
 entering it, will doubtless give considerable impulse 
 to its increasing grandeur. The following railways, 
 which are either already completed, or in course of 
 construction, meet in it as their grand focus: — the 
 London and Birmingham, the Great Western, the 
 London and Southampton, the London and Croydon, 
 the Central Kent, the London and Greenwich, the 
 Blackwall Commercial, the Great Eastern, and the 
 North Eastern railways. Commercial prosperity will 
 necessarily result from the rapid communication with 
 all parts of the empire, which the completion of 
 these great arteries will open ; and from commer- 
 cial prosperity will infallibly flow increase of popula- 
 tion, and extension of boundary. The benefits of 
 these railways, in a political point of view, will also be 
 considerable; since speedy intercourse between the 
 different parts of an empire has a natural tendency to 
 consolidate and keep it united. Should railways
 
 LONDON. 5 
 
 become as extensive on the Continent as they are in 
 England, the political consequences will be of still 
 greater importance. Indeed, as quick and easy inter- 
 national intercourse powerfully tends to produce the 
 coalition of small states into large empires, may we 
 not suppose, that when Europe has been intersected 
 by railways it will present to the eye of the beholder 
 the august spectacle of one vast and mighty republic, 
 firmly bound together by these iron bands ? 
 
 Lest the reader should begin to think we are detain- 
 ing him too long from his journey, we will now suppose 
 ourselves in front of the beautiful Grecian propylseum, 
 which forms the entrance of the London and Birming- 
 ham Railway, and where accordingly our duties do 
 properly commence. 
 
 B 3
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 CHAFIER II. 
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 Seventeen and f miles. 
 
 The historical account of this grand national under- 
 taking may be comprised in a very few words : for 
 the history of a railway is like that of the life of a 
 philosopher — rich in important results, but poor in 
 interesting narrative. The project of constructing a 
 railway between London and Birmingham was first 
 formed in the year 1825; it slumbered, however, till 
 1830; and it was not until 1835 that the company, 
 which had been formed to carry it into execution, 
 could obtain the sanction of parliament. By the act 
 which was then obtained, the company were authorised 
 to raise £2,500,000 ; and if more should be required, 
 to borrow an additional sum of £835,000, which sum, 
 by a subsequent act, was increased to £1,000,000. 
 By a third act, obtained on the 30th of June, 1837, 
 power was given to raise, under the common seal of 
 the company, another million sterling; and towards 
 the end of 1838 half a million was borrowed ; so that 
 the whole cost of the undertaking has been no less than 
 five millions sterling. The railway was opened through- 
 out the entire line on the 17th of September, 1838. 
 The talented engineer by whom it was designed, and
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 7 
 
 under whose superintendence it has been completed, 
 is Kobert Stephenson, Esq., whose name, with that of 
 his illustrious brother, will henceforth be honourably 
 linked with those of Arkwright and Watt. 
 
 Camden Town was originally intended to be the 
 locality of the London station ; but the company, 
 desirous of keeping the merchandise and passenger 
 departments separate, and of bringing the public 
 nearer to the centre of business, afterwards resolved to 
 extend the line ; and at an expense of a quarter of a 
 million produced it as far as Euston Grove. Even 
 this, however, was insufficient to satisfy some discon- 
 tented individuals, and a "City Railway " has been 
 projected to whirl the impatient traveller like a 
 Congreve rocket over the heads of the astounded 
 citizens of London, and to cause him to alight within 
 a few yards from St. Paul's. We do not think, how- 
 ever, that the good people of Gray's Inn Lane, 
 notwithstanding this scheme is sanctioned by act of 
 parliament, need be very much alarmed by the appre- 
 hension of having their midnight slumbers disturbed 
 by the rushing past their garret windows of a train of 
 "City Railway" carriages. 
 
 The offices and other buildings at the Euston Grove 
 station occupy an area of seven acres, and have been 
 erected in a style of great magnificence. The noble 
 edifice which forms the entrance does honour to the 
 public spirit of the directors ; and Mr. P. Hardwicke, 
 from whose designs it was erected, deserves the thanks 
 of every admirer of Grecian architecture, for having 
 exhibited the unadulterated Doric style on a scale of 
 grandeur unequalled in modern times, and scarcely 
 
 B 4
 
 O LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 surpassed by classic Athens herself. The diameter of 
 each pillar is eight feet six inches ; the height of the 
 gateway, measured from the top of the pediment, is 
 seventy feet; and the entire line of frontage, including 
 the piers and the two lodges connected with them by 
 massive gates of bronze, measures 320 feet. We will 
 now enter the spacious court yard which measures 100 
 feet by 470, and passing through the booking offices, 
 proceed into the spacious shed where the carriages 
 await our arrival. Here a scene is presented which to 
 the stranger is most striking and bewildering. The 
 whole scene appears more like one of enchantment than 
 reality. The light and lofty arch thrown across the 
 spacious court seems upheld by fairy hands ; the huge 
 row of triple-bodied carriages resembles nothing we 
 are accustomed to see in the world ; and the power of 
 self motion of which these ponderous machines exhibit 
 signs, is rather startling to the uninitiated stranger. 
 Upon the arrival of the night trains, this scene is still 
 more striking ; as the yard is then brilliantly illuminated 
 with gas. The roof of the shed is constructed princi- 
 pally of wrought iron ; is two hundred feet in length, 
 and eighty in width ; and is supported in the middle 
 by a row of cast iron pillars. 
 
 Upon examining the internal fittings up of the 
 carriages, upon which so much of the comfort of 
 his journey will depend, the traveller will find that 
 the first class carriages are divided into three entirely 
 distinct compartments, and these compartments into 
 six divisions, (except in the mails, in which there 
 are only four,) so that each traveller has an entire 
 seat to himselfj in which he can recline as freely
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 9 
 
 and comfortably as in the most luxurious arm 
 chair ; and after the shades of evening have gathered 
 over the scenery, can read the news of the day, 
 or turn over the pages of our little volume, by 
 the light of a lamp which is fixed in the roof of 
 the coach. The second class carriages are, however, 
 of a very different character. These cushionless, 
 windowless, curtainless, comfortless vehicles, seem 
 to have been purposely constructed so that the 
 sweeping wind, enraged at being outstripped in his 
 rapid flight, might have an opportunity of wreak- 
 ing his vengeance upon the shrinking forms of their 
 ill-fated occupants. At night, however, the partner- 
 ship of the railway with Messrs. Rheumatism and Co. 
 is dissolved, and even second class passengers are 
 provided with shelter from the cold and chilling blast. 
 But leaving this unfortunate race to their fate, we 
 will suppose ourselves voluptuously reclining in the 
 cushioned interior of a first class carriage, and enjoy- 
 ing the pleasurable sensations of a smooth, easy, 
 and rapid motion up the inclined plane of the Grand 
 Excavation. This excavation is made in a stratum 
 of London clay, and is one mile in length. The 
 curved walls which support its banks are generally 
 between eighteen and twenty-two feet in height ; and 
 being surmounted with iron palisading, present a very 
 handsome appearance. The seven remarkable bridges 
 by which it is crossed deserve a much more minute 
 examination than the rapid flight of the trains will by 
 any means allow. The principal are the Wriothes- 
 ley-street bridge, which crosses the line at an angle 
 of seventy-six degrees ; the Hampstead-road bridge,
 
 10 
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 the total length of which is 339 feet ; and the Park- 
 street bridge; all of which consist of iron work, 
 
 PARK STREET BRIDGE. 
 
 stone and brick work. Emerging from the excavation, 
 we rapidly pass along the Extension Embankment ; 
 cross the Regent's canal by an elegant suspension 
 bridge, the rails on which are only thh'teen feet above 
 the level of the water; and then enter the company's 
 goods depot at Camden Town. Here the scene is 
 deeply interesting ; and the commercial and scientific 
 resources of Britain are exhibited on a truly magnifi- 
 cent scale. As Englishmen, we should feel greater 
 pride in standing with a foreigner in the spacious area 
 of this depot, than on the plains of Waterloo, or blood- 
 washed shores of Trafalgar. The buildings, which 
 consist of warehouses, manufactories, ofl[ices, &c., 
 occupy thirty-three acres of land, and will, when com- 
 pleted, be noble erections. The most conspicuous
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 11 
 
 and attractive objects are two tall and elegant chim- 
 neys, which stand like monumental columns on each 
 
 ENGINE HOUSE, &c,, CAMDEN TOWN. 
 
 side of the line. We have only to suppose that these 
 are pillars reared in honour of those who conceived and 
 executed the vast works which lie around ; and nobler 
 ideas will be suggested to the mind than could be 
 excited by the famed pillars of ancient conquerors, 
 raised to tell succeeding ages of kingdoms ravaged 
 and towns demolished. It never enters, however,
 
 12 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 into the plans of railway directors to erect monuments 
 to commemorate their actions ; they prefer adopting 
 the motto inscribed upon the tomb of Sir Christopher 
 Wren, in St. Paul's cathedral : " Stranger, do you 
 seek our monument ? Look around ! " The real 
 practical use of these chimneys is, to draw the car- 
 riages up the inclined plane from Euston Grove. 
 This is effected by means of an endless rope, passing, 
 at each extremity of the incline, round sheaves which 
 are sunk beneath the railway, and are consequently 
 invisible to the traveller. The stationary engines, 
 which are each of sixty horse power, are also placed 
 below the level of the line. 
 
 The telegraphic communication, which is opened 
 between this station and Euston Grove, by means of 
 electro-magnetic wires, is another instance of the 
 enterprising spirit of the company, and, indeed, forms 
 one of the most astonishing achievements of modern 
 science. Not satisfied with the mighty agents we 
 have pressed into our service, and the victories which 
 by their means we have obtained over time and space, 
 we must needs bring down the lightnings from heaven 
 to carry our messages and go on our errands. 
 
 The engine to which we are now for the first 
 time attached has checked his deafening roar, and 
 this is a sign we are about to start. Now he 
 begins to pant, and we begin to move; the panting 
 grows quicker and quicker, and we move faster and 
 faster, and in a very few moments we are bounding 
 along at the height of our speed, with Regent's Park 
 and Hampstead on the left, and the beautiful high 
 grounds about Ilighgate on the right. The short
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 13 
 
 incline down which we are rapidly shooting brings 
 us to Chalk Farm, — a spot celebrated, by repeateii 
 duels, in the annals of modern love and chivalry. 
 Leaving Kentish Town on the right, and passing 
 under Chalk Farm bridge, we enter the Primrose Hill 
 cutting. If the traveller should now happen to look 
 out from the window of the carriage, he will behold 
 stretching across the line the noble entrance of the 
 Primrose Hill tunnel. This is a bold and massive 
 
 PRIMROSE HILL TUNNEL. 
 
 structure, erected in that style of architecture which 
 is usually termed the Italian; and consists ol two wings
 
 14 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 and a centre, raised upon a rusticated basement. If, 
 however, the traveller should prefer keeping his seat 
 and closing the windows, which is certainly the most 
 advisable plan, he will find himself suddenly, and 
 without a moment's warning, plunged into worse than 
 Cimmerian darkness, and hurried along through clouds 
 of smoke and vapour; amid flying sparks, jarring 
 atoms, rushing winds, and every sign of elemental strife; 
 whilst stunning sounds, and a rattling, clashing din, 
 form a hubbub than which what Satan heard in his 
 flight through the realms of Chaos and Old Night 
 could scarcely be more terrific. But let not the most 
 timid traveller imagine that there is any real danger; 
 for, although appearances are rather alarming, and the 
 consideration that fifty feet of earth are suspended 
 above him, is somewhat startling; yet if he will close 
 his eyes for the space of a minute, at the end of that 
 period he will find himself, like many thousands who 
 have daily preceded him, safely restored to the pure 
 air and the light of dav. The height and width of 
 this tunnel are equal, namely, twenty-two feet ; and 
 its length is nearly two thirds of a mile. Its excava- 
 tion, owing to the clayey nature of the soil, was 
 attended with an enormous expenditure of money, 
 and occupied a period of three years. 
 
 This tininel is followed by a succession of beautiful 
 bridges, the most elegant of which is one of three 
 arches, which carries the Edgeware-road across the 
 line. Beyond this bridge is the pretty village of 
 Kilburn, which is interesting as standing upon the 
 ancient Roman Watling-street. As the traveller 
 darts across this ancient ^A ay, his mind will naturally
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 15 
 
 turn back to the time when the victorious eagles of 
 Rome were seen proudly flying where Stephenson's 
 "Wildfires" now majestically sweep; and perhaps 
 he may be disposed to draw a parallel between Roman 
 ways and British railways, both of which form the 
 grandest works of their respective nations, and both of 
 which are carried in direct lines with very little respect 
 either for natural or conventional obstacles. Were 
 the comparison of the respective grandeur of these 
 noble undertakings fully carried out, we think the palm 
 must eventually be given to the moderns; for the 
 ancients, not needing perfect levels, could pass over 
 mountains through which we have to cut our passage ; 
 and they having to consult the convenience of men and 
 horses merely, found that blocks of solid granite would 
 answer their every purpose; whereas we, having to 
 humour the caprices of locomotive engines and flying 
 trains, must pave our roads with bars of cast iron. 
 
 The open country, which now appears on either 
 hand, is as beautiful as the glimpse we obtain of it is 
 transitory. On the left are the Bell Inn tea gardens, 
 which, on every fine day, present an animated scene ; 
 being then thronged with numerous gay parties, who 
 have flocked thither from all parts of the metropolis, to 
 breathe the pure air, enjoy the delightful prospect, and 
 watch the passing trains. On the right, Hampstead, 
 with all its natural and artificial beauties, its hand- 
 some houses, its gardens and shrubberies, is seen to 
 great advantage. This respectable village, in the 
 early part of last century, became a fashionable water- 
 ing place, in consequence of the discovery of a chaly- 
 beate spring ; and many were the concerts, ridottos,
 
 16 LOKDOX TO WATFORD. 
 
 assemblies, cuid other amusements, which the Upper 
 and Lower Flasks, Belsize House, and the Spaniards, 
 afforded the visiter ; but either through the spring 
 losing its properties, or the place its haul ton, it has 
 now ceased to be frequented, and valitudinarians of 
 quality go elsewhere, to sacrifice at the shrine of 
 Esculapius by day, and mingle in the circles of 
 Terpsichore by night. 
 
 We have scarcely enjoyed this view three parts of a 
 minute before we are again enclosed between the lofty 
 banks of a deep cutting, along which we run for a few 
 seconds, and then plunge into the dismal obscurity of 
 another tunnel. This subterraneous passage, how- 
 ever, does not long exclude us from the light of day, 
 its length being only 360 yards. Kensal Green, from 
 which it takes its name, is a small and insignificant 
 hamlet. Its cemetery, from which alone it derives 
 any note, approaches close to the line, and almost 
 stretches over the tunnel. 
 
 As the beauties of nature have hitherto been almost 
 totally veiled from us, by a succession of tunnels and 
 excavations, we hail with pleasure the delightful pro- 
 spect which now begins to open upon our view. 
 Instead of hiding ourselves underground, as if afraid 
 to be seen, we now rise from our concealment, and 
 sweep along a level tract ; or, mounting aloft as in 
 the chariot of Phaeton, look down from our aerial 
 flight upon an almost boundless extent of varied 
 landscape. It is now that we begin to feel the exhi- 
 lirating effect of railway travelling. AVhilst rushing 
 through cuttings, between walls, and under bridges, 
 the proximity of every object causes the velocity of
 
 LO^"DON TO WATFORD. 17 
 
 the motion to be fully apparent, and the mind is 
 wound up into a state of excitement which, though at 
 first not altogether disagreeable, is not of a perma- 
 nently pleasant character ; but, when sailing through 
 the open country, where the eye can range unconfined, 
 the rapidity of the motion seems softened into an easy 
 and graceful swiftness, and the only sensations ex- 
 perienced are those of delight and enjoyment. The 
 eloquent speculator on the origin of our ideas of the 
 sublime and beautiful, would probably be inclined to 
 class our feelings in the one case under the head of the 
 sublime, in the other under that of the beautiful. 
 
 The scenery between Kensall Green and Harrow is 
 extremely pleasant; and the variety afforded by the 
 undulating nature of the ground adds to its interest. 
 Sometimes we are gliding along on the level of the 
 surrounding country, and admiring the more adjacent 
 beauties of the landscape ; then we are rising on an 
 embankment or sweeping over a viaduct, and throw- 
 ing our eye with freedom and delight over a wide 
 extended prospect; till rushing between the sides of a 
 cutting, the scenery for a moment totally disappears, 
 but only to burst upon us again with its charms 
 enhanced by their momentary eclipse. For the first 
 mile or two the prospect is contracted, but prettily 
 diversified with trees. It begins to expand after we 
 have passed the station house of the Birmingham, 
 Bristol, and Thames Junction Eailway, and its loveli- 
 ness gradually increases. On our right appears some 
 of the finest scenery in Middlesex ; on our left is the 
 rich foliage of Twyford Abbey ; and before us stretches 
 the wide vale of the Brent. The river gracefully 
 
 c
 
 18 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 meanders through the valley ; Harrow Hill rises 
 gradually beyond ; and above the trees which sur- 
 round its summit, Harrow church lifts its lofty 
 spire. 
 
 The little river Brent, which we cross by a hand- 
 some viaduct, rises near Chipping Bainet, and flows 
 into the Thames at Brentford, opposite the Kew 
 Gardens. The wide valley through which it flows has 
 been the scene of several sanguinary combats. In 
 1016, Edmund Ironside, having compelled the Danes 
 to raise the siege of London, pursued them to this 
 valley, and routed them with great slaughter ; and in 
 the civil wars, the contending parties here fought a 
 battle, in which the Royalists were victorious. 
 
 Rising out of the valley of the Brent, we pass 
 Apperton and Sudbury on our left, and the handsome 
 villa and richly wooded park of Wimbley on our right, 
 and rapidly approach Harrow Weald and Stanmore 
 Heath. The town of Harrow soon forms an interest- 
 ing object on the left ; whilst in the contrary direction 
 may be distinguished Preston Hall, the seat of Miss 
 Philpots, and a tumulus or mound called Bell Mound 
 or Belmont, near which is a monument in honour of 
 Cassibelannus, the king of the Tribonantes, who led 
 the combined British forces against Caesar's invading 
 armies. Embosomed in the distant woods lies Bentley 
 Priory, the splendid seat of the Marquis of Abercorn ; 
 and beyond it, near Stanmore, is the place where 
 formerly stood the magnificent palace of Canons, built 
 by the first Duke of Chandos, at an expense of 
 £250,000. 
 
 After passing under Harrow Bridge we soon
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 19 
 
 become sensible of a diminution of speed; and in a 
 very few moments come to a stoppage for the first 
 time since leaving Camden Town. 
 
 Harrow Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 11 J — Birmingham, 101 miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 *** Those printed in small capitals are market towns. 
 
 Places W. of Station. 
 
 Pinner 2 miles. 
 
 Ruislip 5^ — 
 
 UXBKIUGE 9>\ — 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 Stunmore '2i miles. 
 
 Edsreware 4| — 
 
 Elstiee 5 — 
 
 IIarrow-on-the-Hill, the conspicuous church of 
 which has for many miles formed so interesting an 
 object in the landscape, lies about a mile to the south of 
 the station. It is chiefly distinguished on account of 
 its Free Grammar School, founded in 1571, in the 
 reign of Elizabeth, and which ranks amonsf the most 
 celebrated classical schools in England. The founder, 
 John Lyon, a native of the neighbouring hamlet of 
 Preston, amongst other regulations, directed that the 
 pupils should be instructed in archery; and it was 
 customary, till about the middle of the last century, 
 for the scholars, at an annual festival holden on the 
 4th of August, to shoot at a mark for a silver arrow. 
 The town has no staple manufacture, its trade depend- 
 ing almost exclusively upon the school, and numerous 
 visiters from the metropolis. The population is 3,862. 
 The learned Dr. Samuel Parr was born here in 1747; 
 and in the nave of the church is the tomb of Sir 
 Samuel Garth, a celebrated poet and physician. The 
 church is a spacious structure, with a tower and lofty 
 
 c 2
 
 20 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 spire at the west end ; and was founded by Lanfranc, 
 Archbishop of Canterbury, in the reign of William the 
 Conqueror. 
 
 On account of the delightful prospect which the 
 churchyard affords, it is a place of frequent resort. 
 There, on the serene evenings of summer, leaning on 
 the moss-covered tombstone, may be seen the ardent 
 lov'er of nature gazing with rapture on her peerless 
 beauties. The wide rich valley through which the 
 Thames rolls its mighty waters stretches before him in 
 all its incomparable loveliness ; the high grounds and 
 richly wooded scenery in the neighbourhood of Stan- 
 more bound the view towards the north ; and on the 
 south and south-west the eye ranges with delight over 
 a charming variety of landscape in Middlesex and 
 Berkshire. But there is also thrown over the whole 
 scene a deep and overpowering interest by the lofty 
 turrets of the royal castle of Windsor rising in the 
 distance, and the mighty metropolis reposing in stillness 
 with all its busy myriads and swelling bosoms. Other 
 scenes may vie with this in loveliness, but certainly 
 none can be viewed with deeper interest. 
 
 Upon leaving Harrow station Little Stanmore 
 appears on the right. It is a small village, containing 
 876 inhabitants. The church is an elegant little 
 structure, partly erected by the munificent Duke of 
 Chandos, who bestowed some very costly decorations 
 on the interior. For its consecration Handel com- 
 posed the sacred drama of Esther ; and within its 
 walls is a vault constructed by the Duke of Chandos 
 for the members of the Handel family. Great Stan- 
 more is two miles distant, and stands in a very
 
 LOISDON TO WATFORD. 21 
 
 elevated position, and in a neighbourhood abounding 
 with handsome seats and villas. It is celebrated as 
 being the place at which, on the conclusion of the late 
 war, Louis XIV. had his first interview with the Prince 
 Regent, the Emperor of Iiussia, and the King of 
 Prussia. The respectable village of Edgeware, con- 
 taining 591 inhabitants, lies at a distance of half a 
 mile from Little Stanmore ; and from its favourable 
 position with regard to the metropolis, is become 
 the residence of numerous opulent and respectable 
 families. It stands on the line of the Roman Watling- 
 street : as does also the neighbouring village of Elstree, 
 which is said to have been first erected out of the ruins 
 of tlie ancient city of SuUoniacim, of which there are 
 still some vestiges about one mile southward. 
 
 After passing through a short cutting the little 
 village of Hatchend, which closely adjoins the railway 
 on the right, appears pleasantly situated on the gentle 
 slope of a hill. The bridge, beneath which we are 
 here carried, connects Hatchend with the village of 
 Pinner, which, with the trees scattered around it, and 
 the rich foliage of Pinner Park, forms a landscape of 
 very considerable beauty. Beyond Pinner, but not 
 visible from the line, is the village of Ruislip ; and 
 three miles and a half furdier south the town of 
 L^xbridge. 
 
 By looking back the last glimpse may now be 
 obtained of Ilarrow-on-the-IIill. On the left appears 
 Oxhey Ridge. This ridge is part of a chain of hills 
 which extend from Chipping Barnet to Uxbridge, and 
 for a considerable distance form the b(mndary be- 
 tween ^Middlesex and Hertfordshire, The materials 
 
 c 3
 
 22 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 of which they are composed are principally sand and 
 clay ; and it was on account of the difficulty of carry- 
 ing a tunnel through such a description of ground, 
 that the railway was made to cross them by a cut- 
 ting, notwithstanding their great elevation. In passing 
 through this excavation, we cannot avoid being 
 struck with astonishment at the immense amount 
 of labour which its construction must have required ; 
 it being a mile and a half in length, and in many 
 places between thirty and forty feet deep. It is 
 crossed by several bridges, the principal of which is 
 Oxhey-lane bridge, — a noble structure of three arches, 
 but attracting attention chiefly by its extraordinary 
 height. A short opening which occurs immediately 
 after passing this bridge enables us to catch a glimpse 
 of Oxhey Wood; and, upon the termination of the 
 cutting, we behold amid some prettily wooded scenery 
 on the left, the little village of Oxhey, with its anti- 
 quated chapel and remarkable churchyard, — remark- 
 able, indeed, if we may place any credit in the 
 asseverations of a rustic, who solemnly assured us 
 that its silent denizens were wont to be buried in a bolt 
 upright posture. 
 
 AVe have now entered the county of Hertfordshire ; 
 and as our elevated position affords us a very extensive 
 prospect, we have an opportunity of forming a tolerable 
 estimate of its general appearance. Its beauties are 
 principally of the gentler sort, and are greatly 
 enhanced by the villas and ornamented grounds 
 which abound in every direction. The well-watered 
 valley of the Colne stretching before us forms a pleas- 
 ing and extensive landscape ; and delightfully situated
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 23 
 
 at the western extremity of the valley, may be distin- 
 guished the market town of Rickmansworth. We 
 may observe, respecting Rickmansworth, that the 
 manor originally formed part of the demesne of the 
 Saxon kings, and was bestowed by Offa, of Mercia, 
 upon the abbot and monks of St. Albans ; and that it 
 subsequently passed through the hands of Ridley, the 
 martyr, and the notorious Archbishop Bonner. After 
 crossing Watford Heath, we proceed along Watford 
 embankment, and obtain a very interesting prospect, 
 in which the town of Watford in the hollow, and the 
 church of Watford on the hill, form conspicuous 
 objects. Moor Hall, the residence of Lord Grosvenor, 
 may likewise be distinctly perceived among the 
 distant trees on the left. This splendid mansion has 
 been the abode of an unusually large number of illus- 
 trious personages ; it has been successively occupied 
 by Archbishop Neville, Cardinal Wolsey, the unfor- 
 tunate Duke of Monmouth, son of Charles the Second, 
 and by Lord Anson, the circumnavigator. 
 
 We now come to the celebrated viaduct over the 
 Colne ; but if the traveller has been anticipating the 
 pleasure of beholding it, he will suffer a severe dis- 
 appointment ; it being totally hidden from the view 
 of those who rapidly thunder across its lofty arches. 
 In this respect, the humble pedestrian has the ad- 
 vantage ; and we can scarcely avoid feeling some 
 touches of envy when we look down into the valley, and 
 behold him wandering through the verdant meadows, 
 and gazing with admiration on the noble structure which 
 stretches across the stream, and is reflected in the bosom 
 of its limpid waters. A lovelier and more enchanting 
 
 c 4
 
 24 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 scene can scarcely be imagined than is presented by this 
 viaduct, when the sinking sun is diffusing over the face 
 of nature his richer and more mellowing tints. Nature 
 always appears most lovely just before she assumes 
 her sable mantle ; but here, art reposes so sweetly in 
 the bosom of nature, that the departing sun seems 
 compelled to throw on them his brightest, sweetest 
 smile, ere he draws over them the curtain of night, 
 and leaves them in each other's embrace. The entire 
 length of the viaduct, which consists of five arches of 
 thirty feet span, is 300 feet; and its height is no less 
 than fifty feet above the stream. The view of the 
 river winding through the meadows on the right is 
 extremely beautiful, and may in some measure com- 
 pensate us for the loss of a peep at the viaduct itself. 
 
 The Watford embankment, which is continued a 
 short distance after crossing the Colne, is a work of 
 immense labour. It is the longest embankment on 
 the line, being a mile and a half in length, and is in 
 many places carried over unstable and marshy ground. 
 The material employed in its formation is chalk, which 
 substance forms the substratum of the whole of the 
 county. At the termination of the embankment is 
 
 WATFORD STATION. 
 
 Distance to Loudon, 17^ — Birmingham, 94| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Places W, of Station, 
 
 Watford | mile. 
 
 RicKMANSwoRTH .. .. 4 miles. 
 King's Langley .. .. 4| — 
 Beaconsfield . . . . 13 — 
 
 Places E. of Sfaiion. 
 
 St. Albans 6 miles. 
 
 Abbot's Langley .. .. 3^ — 
 Hunton Bridge 3^ — 
 
 The accommodations at this station, which is the 
 first principal one on the line, are much superior to
 
 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 25 
 
 those at Harrow; and the arrangements with respect 
 to entermg and leaving the carriages, are very similar 
 to those which are observed at Euston Grove. 
 
 The town of Watford is three quarters of a mile 
 from the station, and is situate on the banks of the 
 Colne. It derives its name from its vicinity to Wat- 
 ling-street, and to a ford over the river, to which its 
 origin is attributed. It consists of one principal street, 
 about a mile in length, which is built in a very irregular 
 manner. Its population is 2,960, which is chiefly 
 employed in the manufacture of straw plat, and in the 
 throwsting of silk. The town is bounded on the north 
 by Cashiobury Park, the grounds of which are exten- 
 
 CASHIOEURY AB3EY. 
 
 sive, tastefully laid out, and highly ornamented. The 
 river Gade and the Grand Junction Canal both pass 
 through them, and it was originally intended that the
 
 26 LONDON TO WATFORD. 
 
 railway' should do so likewise ; but the noble pro- 
 prietor, happening to differ from the directors as to 
 the picturesque effect of a railway upon a prospect, 
 opposed them in the House of Lords, and by his 
 influence there compelled them to abandon their 
 design. 
 
 The hamlet of Cashiobury lies a mile and a half 
 north-west from Watford, and derives its name from 
 its having been, in the time of the early Britons, the 
 seat of Cassibelaunus, king of the Cassii. It was 
 afterwards the residence of the Saxon kings of Mercia, 
 and was included by Offa in the possessions which he 
 gave to the monastery of St. Albans. 
 
 Seven miles north of the station is St. Albans, with 
 the eventful history and numerous antiquities of which 
 we might fill many pages ; but as our engine is now 
 beginning to move, we must content ourselves with 
 remarking, that this venerable city was the metropolis 
 of ancient Britain ; that it was the scene of the cele- 
 brated assault upon the Romans by Boadicea, in which 
 70,000 Britons fell ; and that in its Abbey Church the 
 tomb of king Offa,* its founder, is still to be seen. 
 
 * This prince, whom we have so frequently had occasion to 
 mention, ascended the throne of Mercia, one of the kingdoms of 
 the Heptarchy, in 755, and was contemporary with Charlemagne. 
 He reigned tliirty-nine years, and distinguished himself equally 
 by his crimes and his acts of piety. He treacherously murdered 
 Ethelbert, a neighbouring monarch, and then, to appease the re- 
 morses of his conscience, gave the tenth of his goods to the church, 
 performed a i)ilgrimage to Rome, and levied the celebrated Peter's 
 Pence, which the Roman Pontiti" afterwards claimed as a tribute. 
 — Hume's Hist, of England.
 
 WATFORD TO TRING. 27 
 
 CHAPTER in. 
 
 WATFOED TO TRING. 
 
 Fourteen miles. 
 
 And now, having received a fresh supply of water, we 
 are again "yoked with whiilwinds and the raging 
 hlast," and sweep the long tract of a narrow ravine, 
 which appears as if cut in rivah'y of those which nature 
 in her playful mood has formed among the mountains 
 of Wales and the higiilands of Scotland. One would 
 suppose that precipitous banks, sixty feet in height, 
 would be almost sufficient of themselves to exclude 
 the light of day ; but after we have passed between 
 them for upwards of a mile, we are again plunged into 
 one of those gloomy burrows which afford so sensible 
 an ilhistration of what is implied in " darkness that 
 may be felt." The necessity for the construction of 
 this tunnel arose from the unwillingness of the Earls 
 of Essex and Clarendon to allow the railway to pass 
 through their parks ; and accordingly it is usual for the 
 second class passengers, as the damp and smothering 
 wind drives against their improtected faces, highly to 
 extol the rchned taste of these noble peers, and that 
 nice perception of the picturesque to ^^hich they are 
 indebted for their delightful subterraneous airing. 
 The length of this tunnel is one mile and eighty yards,
 
 28 WATFORD TO TRING. 
 
 and the number of ventilating shafts is five. Upon 
 issuing from the tunnel, the traveller will scarcely avoid 
 noticing the very mean appearance of the northern 
 entrance compared with that at the southern extremity. 
 Indeed, it is observable of all the tunnels and bridges 
 on the line, that they invariably present their most 
 handsome front to those who are letiving the metro- 
 polis. When first we remarked this singular cir- 
 cumstance, we were reminded of Dr. Johnson's 
 picture of a Scotchman, whom he always repre- 
 sented as having his face turned to the south ; and 
 of whom he was accustomed to say, that although 
 he had some truly wild and romantic scenery in his 
 native highlands, yet the noblest prospect which 
 a Scotchman ever beheld was the high road which 
 led him to England. The excavation continues 
 for a short distance after emerging from the tunnel ; 
 and the Hazlewood road is carried across the railway 
 by a bridge which is more than fifty feet above the 
 level of the line. Upon the prospect opening on the 
 left, we behold among the trees the village of Langley 
 Bury. In the rear may be perceived Grove Park, the 
 richly w^ooded seat of the Earl of Clarendon ; and 
 beautifully situated on the distant rising ground is the 
 ancient village of King's Langley. This interesting 
 place derives its regal appellation from its having been 
 the occasional residence of some of the kings of Eng- 
 land. Henry HI. built himself a palace here, and in 
 it was born Edmund de Langley, the fifth son of 
 Edward III., and Duke of York. In the parish 
 church lie the ashes of the same Duke of York; as did 
 also the remains of that unfortunate prince, king
 
 WATFORD TO TRING. 29 
 
 Richard II., for some time after his tragical death at 
 Pomfret. To the lovers of the marvellous it may 
 be interesting to know, that a few years ago this 
 village and neighbourhood were thrown into consterna- 
 tion by the discovery of a gigantic human skeleton ; 
 to account for the existence of which, however it 
 might puzzle the savans of the British Association, 
 would doubtless be a matter of very little difficulty 
 to the ancient Elspeths of such a place as King's 
 Langley. 
 
 We now enter upon an embankment ; and in crossing 
 Hunton Viaduct obtain an interesting view of the 
 village of Himton Bridge, reposing in the hollow of a 
 sylvan amphitheatre. About half a mile beyond this 
 village may be seen Bury Langley House, the seat of 
 Francis Whittingstall, Esq., and on the right of the 
 line a neat edifice called Rose Hill House. 
 
 The sight of the Grand Junction Canal, which here 
 runs close to the line, naturally causes our mind to 
 turn upon the comparative merits of railways and 
 canals, and the immense superiority of the former ; 
 and whilst sweeping across the lofty viaduct, we can 
 scarcely avoid a smile of contempt as we look down 
 upon our pitiful rival, — 
 
 " Which like a wounded snake drags its slow length along." 
 
 What would Brindley, the celebrated canal engineer, 
 who, when asked why Providence had created rivers, 
 replied, he supposed it must have been to feed canals — 
 what would he say, were he to behold one of Stephen- 
 son's engines flying with the speed of a racehorse, with 
 a load heavier than was ever placed in the hugest canal
 
 30 WATFORD TO TRING. 
 
 boat? He would, one would think, have changed his 
 mind as to rivers being created to feed canals, and have 
 made the design of their creation to be that of supplying 
 water for locomotives. The reign of canals has been 
 
 o 
 
 short ; it being only eighty years since the first English 
 Canal Act was passed. Should the triumph of rail- 
 ways be as short lived, and should travelling by steam 
 be superseded in another eighty years, by some other 
 invention as far surpassing it as it does the old 
 methods of transportation, metaphysicians may begin 
 to tremble for the tenability of their hitherto undis- 
 puted axiom, that a person cannot be in two places at 
 one and the same time. The Grand Junction Canal 
 will now remain in sight for a considerable distance ; 
 and, forming a prominent feature in almost every 
 landscape, will prove an agreeable and interesting 
 companion. 
 
 We now pass Gallows Hill on the right, and after 
 crossing the viaduct which bears its name, obtain a 
 view of Abbot's Langley. This village is also on 
 the right ; and, from the summit of the eminence 
 upon which it stands, the square tower and short 
 spire of its ancient church rise conspicuously. The 
 parish of Abbot's Langley has had the honour of 
 giving birth to the only Englishman that was ever 
 raised to the papal crown, namely, Adrian IV. A 
 little further onwards is Home Park Paper Mill, the 
 property of Messrs. Longman and Dickenson, who 
 have several other extensive establishments in the 
 immediate neighbourhood. The pretty little village 
 which is seen across the meadows on our left, and 
 which continues for some time to form an interesting
 
 WATFORD TO TRING. 31 
 
 object in the beautiful landscape which lies in that 
 direction, is King's Langley, of which we have already 
 given some account. After crossing the King's 
 Langley Viaduct, we presently come to a bridge over 
 the Grand Junction Canal, from which the prospect 
 is extensive and beautiful. On the left, we behold 
 llickmans worth and Moor Park in the distance, and 
 Primrose Green and King's Langley in the foreground. 
 On the right, and near to the line, are Nash Mills ; 
 a little beyond them a picturesque dingle, called 
 Boggy Bottom, and in the distance Gorhambury Park, 
 the seat of Earl Verulam. Mr. Dickenson's handsome 
 new house, standing on an eminence, and the anti- 
 (|uated cottages of his workmen interspersed amongst 
 the trees, and almost covered by the foliage, give con- 
 siderable interest to the scenery, until it is hidden from 
 our view by the banks of a slight excavation. Upon 
 emerging from this cutting, the same interesting 
 objects again appear in sight ; and with the village of 
 Two Waters, of piscatory celebrity, and Corner Hall, 
 surrounded with rich foliage, form an unusually pleas- 
 ing landscape. The cutting which we now enter is 
 nearly two miles long, and in some parts forty-five 
 feet in depth. It is crossed by two bridges; the first 
 of which supports the road leading from the town of 
 Ilemel Hempstead to a village called Bovingdon, 
 which lies three miles west of the line, and contains 
 a population of 962. Upon gaining once more the 
 open country, we immediately arrive at the Boxmoor 
 station.
 
 32 WATFORD TO TRIKG. 
 
 Boxznoor Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 24^ — Binniugham, 87| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Place W. of Station. 
 Bovington 2| miles. 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 Hemel Hempstead .. .. li mile. 
 Redbourue 5| miles. 
 
 The moor, from which this station derives its name, is 
 situated at some little distance from it ; and the sur- 
 rounding scenery is very different from what we should 
 expect to find at a place bearing the appellation of 
 Boxmoor. No wild and barren heath stretches 
 around : a lovely and fertile valley smiles before us. 
 As we leave the station, and proceed along the embank- 
 ment, the charms of the scenery grow and increase. 
 On the left, Rowdon Common, with the richly wooded 
 hills v/hich rise beyond it, and the Boxmoor cottages, 
 almost buried in beautiful foliage, presents a highly 
 picturesque appearance. Yet this view can scarcely be 
 said to excel that on the right, in which are comprised 
 the interesting village of Two Waters ; a considerable 
 extent of country, interspersed with the pretty cot- 
 tages of the paper makers ; and the church of Hemel 
 Hempstead, which lifts its lofty spire among the distant 
 hills. 
 
 The town of Hemel Hempstead is one mile and a 
 half east of Boxmoor station, and twenty-three miles 
 from London. Its name is derived from two Saxon 
 words, hean and hampstede^ and signifies a dwelling 
 ill a high place. There is no mention of it previous to 
 the Heptarchy ; but it was included by Offa in the pos- 
 sessions which he gave to the abbey of St. Albans.
 
 WATFORD TO TRING. 33 
 
 A charter of incorporation was granted to its inha- 
 bitants by Henry VIII. ; a copy of which, as renewed 
 by Cromwell, is still preserved. The town is pleasantly 
 situated on the declivity of a hill, and consists princi- 
 pally of one street, which is nearly a mile in length. 
 Althoiish its streets do not form those res-ular mathe- 
 matical figures which we frequently find in the 
 mushroom towns of a single generation, yet it has 
 upon the whole a very neat and respectable appear- 
 ance. The principal article of manufacture is straw 
 plat; and the number of its inhabitants is 4,75v9. 
 The church, which forms so pleasing an object from 
 the railway, is a spacious cruciform structure, with 
 an embattled tower, and lofty spire. At the west end 
 is a finely painted window, presented by the eminent 
 Sir Astley P. Cooper, whose seat is not far from the 
 town. 
 
 Crossing the Box-lane Viaduct we run for a consi- 
 derable distance by the side of the Grand Junction 
 Canal, the smooth silvery surface of which forms 
 another lovely feature in the picturesque scenery of 
 this beautiful valley. We cross the canal by a hand- 
 some iron bridge, and continue to proceed along an 
 embankment, the elevation of which is very favourable 
 for the prospect. The hamlets of Felden and Long- 
 croft appear pleasantly situated on the left ; and 
 Counters End, Hill End, and Pouching End, are suc- 
 cessively passed on the right. The pretty village of 
 Eourne End soon afterwards forms an interesting 
 object on the left; and after passing it, the embank- 
 ment along which we have proceeded for more 
 than a mile terminates, after having frequently 
 
 D
 
 34 WATFORD TO TRING. 
 
 reached a height of from twenty-five to thh-ty feet. 
 A slight cutting now hides from our sight the land- 
 scape which has charmed us so much ; but it will 
 quickly make amends by introducing us to one still 
 more picturesque. After passing under Haxter End 
 bridge, the right hand bank of the cutting ter- 
 minates ; but the country is not visible in the other 
 direction until we arrive at Bank Mill bridge, when 
 the bank on the left hand also terminates, and a land- 
 scape of surpassing beauty bursts upon our view. 
 The rural cottages of Bank Mill, the unruffled waters 
 of the canal, and the rippling stream of the Gade, are 
 in themselves " beautifull exceedinglie ;" but they 
 appear still more so when contrasted with the dark 
 rich foliage which envelopes the distant hills. After 
 we have caught a glimpse of the tower of Berkhamp- 
 stead church, the town itself, and the ruins of its 
 ancient castle, we rapidly dart through a cutting, 
 sweep along an embankment, and arrive at Berkhamp- 
 stead station. 
 
 Berkhampstead Station. 
 
 Distance to London^ 27| — Biiiuingham, 84^ miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BY KOaDS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES ! 
 
 Places W. of station. 
 
 Chesham 4f niiles. 
 
 Amersham li — 
 
 High V\ vcojibe .. .. 14f — 
 
 Place E, of Station. 
 Nettledeu 2^ miles. 
 
 The elevated position of this station, affords a delight- 
 ful prospect of the lovely valley in the bosom of which
 
 WATFORD TO THING. 
 
 35 
 
 the town of Berkhampstead reposes. The mtrinsic 
 beauties of this romantic vale are in themselves 
 
 
 GREAT BERKHAMPSTEAD. 
 
 calculated to excite our warmest admiration ; but the 
 interest with which we survey it is heightened tenfold 
 by the remembrance, that in its groves and meadows 
 the amiable Cowper first imbibed that ardent love of 
 nature, which breathes throughout his incomparable 
 poems. This was the scene of his childhood. Here, 
 where the rushing trains now drown every softer 
 sound, Cowper was wont to listen undisturbed to the 
 sweet warblings of the songsters of the grove, as he 
 wandered pensive and alone by the rippling waters of 
 the Bulbrooke. What would have been his feelings 
 had he beheld his lovely valley divided by an artificial 
 embankment, and sullied with the smoke of steam 
 engines ! We can imagine a tear bedimming his eye, 
 
 D 2
 
 36 WATFORD TO TRIXG. 
 
 as he beheld the beauties of nature thus marred by the 
 hand of man. But too true a lover of his country was 
 he, to allow the feelings of the poet to predominate over 
 those of the patriot. As a poet, he might lament the 
 disfiguring of nature ; but as a patriot, he would exult 
 in what constituted the glory of his country ; and in- 
 stead of launching a minstrel's curse on the rude invader 
 of the lovely scenes of his childhood, he would weave a 
 poetic wreath for the brow of those who were encircling 
 the head of Britannia with a halo of glory scarcely less 
 bright than was gathered around it by those who 
 fought her battles on the burning sands of Egypt, and 
 the sultry plains of Hindoostan. 
 
 As we have been led to associate poetry with steam, 
 we will take this opportunity of expressing our surprise 
 that poetry has not yet presented her tribute to an agent 
 so powerful and grand. The sons of Apollo have 
 sung sublimely of those who have wielded the thunder- 
 bolts of destruction, and shattered the foundations of 
 society ; and shall no lofty lyre be strung in honour of 
 those who have drawn its bonds of union closer, and 
 fixed its foundations deeper and firmer '? It is a 
 grand sight to behold a master spirit rising from amid 
 the chaos of anarchy, gathering the scattered elements 
 of revolutionary fire and fury, and forging them into 
 one mighty thunderbolt for his own grasp ; but is it 
 not as noble a sight to behold a fellow mortal gathering 
 together the elements of nature, and moulding them 
 into an engine of terrible might, enduing it with the 
 power of self-motion, clothing it with thunder, winging 
 it with lightning, and flinging it from his hand as a 
 specimen of his power '? On such a subject the bard
 
 WATFORD TO TRING. 37 
 
 would have no ground to complain of a want of sub- 
 lime imagery ; and he would have the advantage of 
 wandering in fields hitherto untrodden by the muses' 
 feet, and visiting streams as yet untouched and virgin. 
 Seeing, then, there is so ready a path by which the 
 wanderer on Parnassus may reach its loftier cliffs, may 
 we not expect that the next immortal poem which 
 shall issue from the British press, will begin with — 
 
 I slug the Railway, I who lately sung, — 
 
 —we will not say, " Thalaba," "The Pelican Isle," 
 or, the " Corn Law Ehymes," through fear of dis- 
 couraging those whose brows have never yet been 
 shaded by an olive wreath. 
 
 The town of Berkhampstead, in which the author 
 of "The Task" was born, is beautifully situated in 
 the bottom of a deep valley on the left of the line. 
 It stands on the banks of the Bulbrooke, and is a place 
 of considerable antiquity. It was called by the Romans 
 Durohrwce. Its Saxon name was Berghamstede, sig- 
 nifying a town standing on a hill ; but as this appears 
 a rather unaccountable appellation for a town lying in 
 the bottom of a valley, we must suppose Berc/hamslede 
 to be a corruption of Burghamstede, which signifies a 
 town beside a fortress, and then we shall have an 
 explanation of its name perfectly consistent with its 
 actual position. The kings of Mercia had a castle 
 here ; and here, at the time of the Conquest, William 
 received the submission of Stigand, Archbishop of 
 Canterbury. A castle was built by Bobert, Earl of 
 Moreton, to whom the Conqueror gave the town ; but 
 it was subsequently razed to the ground by Henry I., on 
 
 D 3
 
 38 WATFORD TO TRING. 
 
 account of the rebellion of Moreton's son. The castle 
 was rebuilt in the reign of John, and soon afterwards 
 besieged by the Dauphin of France, who had come 
 over to assist the barons in their contest with the king. 
 James I. having selected Berkhampstead as a nursery 
 for his children, granted the inhabitants a charter of 
 incorporation ; but they were so impoverished during 
 the civil wars, that they were unable to maintain their 
 privileges, and the charter became forfeited. There 
 are still, on the north side of the town, slight vestiges 
 of the palace of the Mercian kings ; and at the north- 
 east end of Castle-street are the remains of the 
 castle, consisting of elliptical walls, double and 
 triple moats, and two wide piers, between which was 
 probably the drawbridge. The church is a spacious 
 cruciform structure, ornamented with a richly sculp- 
 tured tower. The population is 2,369, the greater 
 part of which are employed in the manufacture of 
 straw plat. The prsenomen " Great" is affixed to this 
 town to distinguish it from Little Berkhampstead, 
 which is a small village in the neighbourhood of 
 Hertford, and twenty miles distant from its superior 
 namesake. 
 
 After leaving this station, we see the houses of the 
 town extending by the side of the line for a consider- 
 able distance, whilst White Hill is the most interesting 
 object in the contrary direction. After crossing the 
 Berkhampstead viaduct we obtain a distant view of 
 Wigginton ; and, accompanied by our interesting 
 companion, the Grand Junction Canal, pass Lady 
 Grimstone's grounds, which lie on the right. Here 
 the embankment terminates ; and, after passing under
 
 WATFORD TO THING. 39 
 
 an accommodation bridge, we enter a cutting, which 
 quickly brings us to Northchurch tunnel. As this 
 tunnel is only a quarter of a mile long, and is made 
 through a stratum of chalk, we pass through it with 
 less trepidation than we did its predecessors ; never- 
 theless we are not at all displeased when the light of 
 day again bursts through the windows of our carriage, 
 and we find ourselves once more on an embankment, 
 with a charming prospect before us. Ashbridge Park, 
 the seat of the Countess of Bridgwater, lies on the 
 right ; and on the left the village of Northchurch, with 
 its pretty towered church. This village, which is also 
 called Berkhampstead, is a mile and a quarter from 
 Great Berkhampstead, and contains 1,156 inhabitants. 
 It is situated in a valley, and is composed principally 
 of mean cottages. On the top of the western hill are 
 the small but interesting ruins of Marlin chapel, which 
 is supposed to have been demolished by Oliver Crom- 
 well. As we proceed onwards, with Northchurch 
 Common on our right, we pass Duds well bridge, and 
 the hamlet from which it takes its name. Here the 
 embankment terminates, and the line is crossed by 
 Holybush bridge. Berkhampstead Common lies on 
 the right ; but is very soon excluded from our view 
 by a deep excavation. Upon emerging from this 
 cutting, which is rather more than a mile in length, a 
 beautiful prospect is unfolded on each side ; but, after 
 passing Wigginton Bridge, the rich foliage of Ash- 
 bridge Park, which is now not very distant from the 
 line, together with Oldbury Wood, and the Chiltern 
 Hills, form a landscape of still greater beauty. The 
 simple monument erected by Lady Bridgwater, in 
 
 D 4
 
 40 WATFORD TO TRING. 
 
 memory of the late duke, may be distinguished amongst 
 the distant trees in the park. At the foot of the 
 Chiltern Hills, the summits of which are crowned 
 with thick plantations, is pleasantly situated the 
 village of Aldbury. On our left is Pendley Park, 
 and also the village of Wigginton, near which is an 
 extensive common, that has been the scene of many 
 a well-fought battle, even as early as the days of 
 Roman supremacy. Tring Park next appears on the 
 same side of the line ; it is beautifully situated among 
 hills which are clothed with fine beech, and contains 
 a splendid mansion, which was originally built by 
 Charles II., for his favourite mistress, Eleanor Gwynn, 
 but which has since been decorated in a more modern 
 style. After passing under an elegant three-arch 
 bridge, connecting two portions of Lady Bridgwater's 
 domains, we speedily arrive at Tring station. 
 
 Tuiis'a sTATzorr. 
 
 Distance to London, 31^ — Birmingham, SOJ miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Places W. of Station. Place E. of Station. 
 
 Tring 2i miles. Ivinghoe Smiles. 
 
 Meutmore 6| — 
 
 Wen DOVER 7l — 
 
 Aylesbury 9| — 
 
 Princes Kisborough 12| — 
 
 At this station the railway reaches its greatest eleva- 
 tion, being 420 feet above the level of the sea, and 300 
 above that of Camden Town depot. This elevation is 
 attained by a series of gradients never exceeding 1 in 
 330, a section of which the reader will fmd on the 
 engraved map at the commencement of this volume. 
 The town of Tring lies two miles west of the railway,
 
 WATFORD TO TRIXG. 41 
 
 and contains a poiDulation of 3,488. It is a place of 
 remote antiquity, and is supposed to have derived its 
 name from its shape having originally been triangular. 
 In Alfred's time, it was called Treung^ and was con- 
 sidered of sufficient importance to give its name to the 
 hundred in which it was situated. The Roman Ick- 
 nield Way, leading from Dorchester to Colchester, 
 passed in its vicinity. It consists of two principal 
 streets, of which the longer is crossed at its upper 
 extremity by the shorter. Its appearance is neat, 
 and its atmosphere very salubrious. The church is a 
 handsome embattled structure, in the ancient English 
 style, with a large tower at the west end, surmounted 
 with a low spire. 
 
 Four miles beyond Tring, at the foot of the 
 Chiltern Hills, and near the entrance of the vale of 
 Aylesbury, stands the market town of Wendover. 
 This place contains a population of 2,008 inhabit- 
 ants. It returned members to parliament, from the 
 twenty-eighth year of the reign of Edward I., to the 
 second of Edward II., when the right ceased. It was 
 restored, however, by the parliament of James I., 
 notwithstanding that monarch's declaration " that he 
 was troubled with too many burgesses already." 
 During the five parliaments preceding the protectorate, 
 Wendover "troubled" one of James's successors with 
 one who durst venture to call a king to account for 
 daring to trample upon the laws of the realm, — the 
 courageous Hampden. However, the appearance of 
 its name in the unlucky schedule A of the Reform 
 Act has finally disfranchised its 130 potwallopers.
 
 42 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 Twenty-one miles. 
 
 Immediately after leaving the Tring station, we enter 
 a deep cutting through the Chiltern Hills. These 
 hills are part of a great chain of chalk hills, extending 
 from Norfolk south-westward into Dorsetshire. They 
 here form the northern boundary of the basin of the 
 Colne, and separate it from that part of Buckingham- 
 shire which is designated the Vale. The almost 
 impervious nature of the woods with which these hills 
 were anciently covered, rendered it necessary for the 
 king to appoint an officer to keep them clear of 
 banditti, and thus was originated the stewardship of 
 the Chiltern Hundreds, — an office which still exists, 
 though its duties have long since ceased. They are 
 still plentifully wooded, chiefly with trees belonging 
 to the beech family. In passing through these hills, 
 the traveller cannot avoid being powerfully struck 
 with the whiteness of the sides of the cutting, which 
 will form a striking contrast to the sombre hue 
 of the cuttinQjs through the Staffordshire coal dis- 
 trict. Two walls of chalk, sixty feet in height, and 
 running two miles in a straight line, cannot but 
 present a very singular appearance; whilst three 
 bridges spanning the deep chasm serve to remind 
 the traveller of nothing more forcibly than the
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 43 
 
 perilous adventures of the Orkney bird catcliers. 
 Upon making our exit from this cutting, a great extent 
 of country becomes visible on both sides of the line, 
 and the villag-es of Pitstone and Great Seabrook 
 appear in sight. After admiring the pretty tower and 
 steeple of Pitstone church, and the variegated range 
 of the Clipperdown and Wards Combe Hills, we may 
 cast our eye across Pitstone Green, and behold, in an 
 elevated situation, on the side of a chalk hill, the town 
 of Ivinghoe. The manor of Ivinghoe formerly be- 
 longed, according to tradition, to the Hampden family ; 
 and the ancient couplet, — 
 
 " Tring, Wing, and Ivinghoe did go, 
 For striking the Black Prince a blow," — 
 
 Would seem to intimate that it was Hampden of 
 Hampden's choleric disposition that occasioned the 
 loss of his manorial possessions. The population at 
 present is 1,665; and the only manufacture is that of 
 straw plat. On the left the tower of Marsworth 
 church appears among the hilly fields ; and shortly 
 afterwards the rich vale of Aylesbury opens on our 
 view, and the eye ranges delighted over a wide extent 
 of beautiful fields and meadows. The natural fertility 
 of this vale has been highly extolled, and is almost 
 unrivalled. It lies between the Chiltern Plills and a 
 parallel range of hills of calcareous stone, running at a 
 distance of only a few miles along the western side of 
 Buckinghamshire. Eich clays and loams compose its 
 soil, and the greater part of the land is occupied by 
 grazing and dairy farms. 
 
 Proceeding along the side of the canal, we have on
 
 44 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 our left Cheddington Hill, which, for a short time, 
 hides the village of Cheddington from our view. On 
 the right, the villages of Eddlesborough, Northall, and 
 Ivinghoe Aston, lying at the foot of the chalk hills, 
 form, with Crawley Wood and Clapperdown in the 
 distance, an interesting landscape. Cheddington 
 church now appears on the left ; and in the opposite 
 direction the most favourable view may be obtained of 
 the town and church of Ivinghoe. The next bridge 
 beneath which we pass is Cheddington bridge ; and 
 here, at a distance of thirty-six miles from London, the 
 Aylesbury Railway joins the London and Birmingham 
 line. The town of Aylesbury, for the accommodation 
 of which this branch has been formed, lies nine miles 
 west of the line. It derives its importance chiefly 
 from its being the mart for the produce of the rich 
 vale in which it is situate. In the reign of the 
 Conqueror it was a royal manor, and some parcels 
 of it were granted by that monarch upon the extra- 
 ordinary tenure of providing straw for his bed, sweet 
 herbs for his chamber, and two green geese and three 
 eels for his table, whenever he should visit Aylesbury. 
 The houses are principally of brick, and several hand- 
 some residences have lately been erected at the 
 entrances from London and Buckingham. Aylesbury 
 can boast of a Florist's and Horticultural Society, which 
 has always been liberally supported ; and of giving the 
 titles of Earl and Marquis to the ancient family of 
 Bruce. The church is an interesting structure, in the 
 decorated style of English architecture. The popula- 
 tion of the town is 4,907 ; and its only manufacture 
 is that of bone lace.
 
 TP.IXG TO WOLVERTON. 45 
 
 The embankment by which we are crossing Ayles- 
 bury vale is here upwards of twenty-five feet in height, 
 and affords an extensive prospect in every direction. 
 The interesting chalk hills still bound the easterly 
 view, and the fertile valley extends to the west. 
 On the right, the village of Mentmore may be distin- 
 guished on the side of a gentle slope ; and after cross- 
 ing Horton viaduct, the villages of Horton and Slapton 
 are on the right, and the first glimpse is caught of the 
 elegant spire of Leighton Buzzard church. The pro- 
 spect now embraces the lovely country beyond Leio-h- 
 ton Buzzard, and the villages of Great and Little 
 Bellington and Stanton ; but the attention is quickly 
 diverted from every other object by the appearance of 
 I.eighton Buzzard itself. After passing Ascot church 
 on the left, the embankment along which we have been 
 proceeding during the last six miles terminates ; but 
 a short cutting soon brings us to another, from which 
 the prospect is beautiful and extensive. Pottisgrove 
 and Battlesdon Park appear on the high ground above 
 Leighton Buzzard ; and on the left, are Ledbury 
 Green, the village of Wing, which contains 1,152 
 inhabitants, and the little hamlet of Ascot, where the 
 Empress Maud founded a Benedictine Priory, which, 
 after the suppression of monasteries, came into the 
 possession of Cardinal AVolsey. Another cutting and 
 another embankment bring us to Leighton Buzzard 
 station.
 
 46 
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 Iieighton Buzzard Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 40^ — Birmingham, 7]| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Places W. of Station. 
 
 Wing 2^ miles. 
 
 Stewkley 4i — 
 
 Aylesbury 10 — 
 
 Whitchurch B — 
 
 Mentmore 4 — 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 Dunstable 8 miles. 
 
 Eddlesborough 5i — 
 
 Stanbridge 3| — 
 
 Great Bnckhill 4i — 
 
 The town of Leighton Buzzard, which, with the fine 
 massive tower and octagonal spire of its noble church, 
 
 LEIGHTON BUZZARD CHURCH. 
 
 has formed so interesting an object during the last few 
 miles, lies a little to the north of the station, and is in
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 47 
 
 the county of Bedfordshire. It is supposed to be the 
 same as the Lygcan-hurgli of the Saxon Chronicle, 
 and its present name is said to be a corruption of 
 Leigliton Beau Desert. In the centre of the town 
 there is an ancient and elegant cross, of pentangular 
 form, and elaborate workmanship ; but concerning 
 the origin and design of which, both history and tradi- 
 tion are silent. However, as it is reported to have 
 existed more than 500 years, and as there was formerly 
 a cell of Cistercian monks in the neighbourhood, it has 
 most probably been in some way connected with that 
 establishment. It was repaired in 1650, the expense 
 being defrayed by a rate of fourpence, levied on each 
 of the inhabitants. The chief articles of trade are 
 timber, iron, lime, brick, and corn, and several females 
 are employed in making lace and straw plat. The 
 population is 3,330. 
 
 Seven miles from Leighton Buzzard is the town of 
 Dunstable, so celebrated as the emporium of those 
 unclassic coverings of the female face which have con- 
 tributed more to produce the marble complexion of 
 " the pale unripened beauties of the north," than even 
 the unkindness of Phoebus, whom the poets of softer 
 climes roundly charge with this direful crime. It was 
 formerly distinguished for the number of its inns, and 
 was wont to derive considerable wealth from the 
 numerous travellers in whose route it lay ; but it has 
 now, in a great measure, suffered the fate of Babylon, 
 when Cyrus had cut off the waters of the Euphrates, — 
 the tide has been turned into a difierent channel. 
 With regard to antiquity, Dunstable will yield to no 
 town we have yet described. The ancient Britons
 
 48 TRIXG TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 had a settlement here, called Maes Gtvyn, or the 
 " White Field," and with which the Magiomnium of 
 Antoninus is thought to have been identical. The 
 derivation of its present appellation has been a subject 
 of controversy ; some deriving it from Dun., a hill, and 
 staple, a commercial mart ; whilst others contend that 
 the first syllable was the name of a famous freebooter, 
 who spread terror through this neighbourhood in the 
 reio-n of Henry I. The town was rebuilt by Henry 
 after he had cleared the country of robbers ; and by him, 
 also, a royal residence was erected, and a priory of Black 
 Canons was founded. In the chapel of our Lady at the 
 Priory, Archbishop Cranmer pronounced the sentence 
 of divorce between Henry VIH. and Catharine of 
 Arrao-on. The church, which is now almost all that 
 remains of the ancient Priory, was originally a magnifi- 
 cent and extensive cruciform structure ; but after 
 Henry VIII. had abandoned a design which he had 
 had of converting it into a cathedral, a considerable 
 part of it was demolished. The remains consist of 
 the west front, the nave, and two aisles ; and exhibit 
 both the Norman and the early and later English 
 styles of architecture. The town of Dunstable con- 
 sists of four principal streets, which intersect each 
 other at right angles, and correspond exactly with the 
 four cardinal points. Its population is 2, 11 7. 
 
 Upon leaving the Leighton Buzzard station, we 
 traverse a larger extent of level country than we have 
 yet met with ; the inclination during the next fifteen 
 miles being seldom more than 1 in 1,100. Yet natural 
 obstacles have not been wanting. The first which 
 presents itself is Jackdaw Hill, which is perforated by
 
 THING TO WOLVERTON. 49 
 
 a tunnel a quarter of a mile in length. The tunnel 
 is succeeded by a short cutting, the perpendicular 
 sides of which are sixty feet in height ; and shortly 
 afterwards we make the sharpest turn which occurs on 
 any part of the hne. Upon again reaching the open 
 country, Linslade Wood is seen on both sides of the 
 line, and Linslade Hall and Church quickly appear on 
 the right. The village of Linslade has little to recom- 
 mend it to our notice, unless it be that six centuries 
 ago it was highly celebrated on account of a holy well 
 to which our deluded forefathers were wont to make 
 many a long and toilsome pilgrimage. 
 
 The next object to which we would direct the atten- 
 tion of the traveller, as we pass through some common- 
 place scenery, is the town of Great Brickhill, standing 
 on one of the hills which lie to the right. In the same 
 du-ection, but close to the line, is Stoke Hammond ; 
 whilst on the left are Stewkley, Soulbury, and Lis- 
 combe Park. Of these places the most important is 
 Stewkley : it has a population of 1,053, and is deserv- 
 ing of notice on account of its church being one of 
 the most enriched and complete specimens of the 
 Norman style of architecture now existing. Near the 
 town is a lime quarry, which would probably repay a 
 visit from those who are fond of geological researches, 
 as there have been found in it many curious antidi- 
 luvian remains, and large fossil shells. Liscombe 
 Park is the property of Lady Lovatt, and contains a 
 tine mansion, standing on the brow of a gentle emi- 
 nence, and commanding a beautiful view of the level 
 country which is traversed by the railway. 
 
 As we proceed, the scenery improves considerably ; 
 
 £
 
 50 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 and after passing through a short cutting, and under 
 one or two accommodation bridges, Great and Little 
 Brickhill, with the simple spires of their respective 
 churches, appear on the right, and form interesting 
 objects in the landscape. The hills on the right are 
 mantled with rich foliage, and the little village of 
 Bow Brickhill can just be discerned peeping from 
 amongst it. In the contrary direction there is little to 
 attract attention, save the spire of Stewkley church, 
 and a distant windmill, which marks the site of Drayton 
 Parslow. As the line now preserves a rectilinear 
 course for several miles, the traveller who is willing to 
 venture his head out of the window of the carriage, at 
 the risk of its assuming the appearance of that of the 
 luckless rider of Edmonton, may have an uninterrupted 
 prospect of the railway, with the cuttings through 
 which it passes, almost as far as Denbigh Hall. We, 
 however, would advise him to suspend his observations 
 until he can make them at Bletchley station, without 
 putting his hat and wig into jeopardy. 
 
 Bletcliley Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 47 — Birmingham, 65} miles. 
 
 J^lSTANCKS BY KOAUS FIIOM TIJIS STATION TO TilK FOLLOVVINU PLACES: — 
 
 Plates W. of Station. 
 
 Bleti'hley 1 miJe. 
 
 Newton Lontrville . . , . 2i miles. 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 Fenny Stratford. . .. 1 mile. 
 
 AVoBURN -5^ miles. 
 
 Bow Brickhill 4 — 
 
 In taking a survey of the surrounding country from 
 this station, Bletchley appears close to the line on the 
 left. On the extreme left, Drayton Parslow can be 
 distinguished, and a little in advance of it is the village
 
 TRIXG TO WOLVERTON. 51 
 
 of Newton Longville. More distant is Whaddon 
 Chace and Hall, in which Queen Elizabeth was enter- 
 tained by Arthur Lord Grey ; and in which Spencer, 
 the poet, who was secretary to that nobleman, fre- 
 quently resided. The village of Whaddon contains 
 889 inhabitants, and is celebrated as having been the 
 birth-place of Richard Cox, one of the principal com- 
 posers of our English Liturgy, and also as having 
 given to Villiers, the celebrated favourite of James I. 
 and Charles I., his first title, namely, that of Baron. 
 
 On the right of the station, and standing on a gentle 
 eminence, at a distance of rather more than a mile, is 
 the little market town of Fenny Stratford. This place 
 takes its distinguishing appellation from the nature of 
 the ground by which it is surrounded. In 1665, it 
 was almost depopulated by a plague, and it has not yet 
 recovered from its effects. It at present contains 635 
 inhabitants, who are chiefly supported by travellers 
 and lace making. 
 
 Continuing our survey from the Bletchley station, the 
 village of AVater Eaton is seen on the right, in the fore- 
 ground ; and on the richly wooded hills which rise be- 
 yond, the three Brickhills are still discernible. In 
 the beautiful vale beyond these hills, and, of course, 
 invisible from the railway, stands the healthy town of 
 Woburn. This town is about six miles from the sta- 
 tion, and occupies a gentle eminence on the main road 
 from London to Leeds. It is surrounded with planta- 
 tions of evergreen, and consists of four broad and 
 handsome streets, which intersect each other at right 
 angles. In the centre of the town is a noble market 
 house, erected by the Duke of Bedford, in the Tudor 
 
 E 2
 
 52 . THING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 Style of architecture. The church was erected by the 
 last abbott of Woburn, and being nearly covered with 
 ivy, has a remarkably beautiful appearance. In the 
 immediate vicinity of the town is Woburn Abbey, the 
 seat of his grace the Duke of Bedford. It occupies 
 the site of an ancient Cistercian Abbey, and is sur- 
 rounded by a noble and extensive park ; but to 
 attempt to describe all the splendid adornments of 
 this magnificent seat, — the statues, paintings, galleries, 
 and columns, — the noble Ionic entrance, the artificial 
 lake, the miniature temple, and all the other valuable 
 works of art, which unbounded wealth and refined 
 taste have collected together, — would be very incon- 
 sistent with the brevity required in a Road Book, 
 We will, therefore, here conclude our survey, and 
 suppose ourselves again bounding with the fleetne'ss of 
 the mountain roe along our iron pathway. 
 
 After rapidly sweeping through a cutting, we cross 
 the London road by a stupendous iron bridge, which 
 has a most noble appearance from below, and come to 
 what was formerly known as the Denbigh Hall station. 
 Here, for several months after the first opening of the 
 railway, the trains were accustomed to stop, and the 
 traveller had to adopt the ancient methods of convey- 
 ance, for the performance of the next thirty-eight 
 miles of his journey. To describe in all its serio- 
 comic reality the scene which this now secluded spot 
 was wont then to present, would require the pen of a 
 Washington Irving. Luggage lost, tickets missing, 
 coaches overfilled, and a thousand other disastrous 
 occurrences, altogether formed a spectacle which we 
 would defy the most sorrowful disciple of Heraciitus
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 53 
 
 to view without a smile. All the busy multitudes, 
 however, that so lately thronged this spot, and rendered 
 it a scene of intense animation, have now vanished, 
 like the fabric of Mirza's vision ; and as we rapidly 
 sweep by, and look in vain for some tokens of anima- 
 tion, we are reminded of the feelings which travellers 
 have had while sitting on the ruins of some ancient 
 city. The building called Denbigh Hall, respecting 
 which it is very probable our reader may have formed 
 the same conception as ourselves, and imagined it to 
 be the august mansion of some illustrious grandee, is 
 nothing but a paltry public house, or " Tom and Jerry 
 shop," as we heard an indignant fellow-traveller con- 
 temptuously style it, which has taken the liberty of 
 assuming this magnificent appellation. Tradition 
 ascribes the origin of the name to the circumstance of 
 Lord Denbigh having been compelled, to tarry here for 
 a night, through an accident happening to his car- 
 riage ; and also inforais us that his lordship left some 
 property to his host in return for the kindness with 
 which he had been entertained ; but whether this 
 story is deserving of credit, or has merely been in- 
 vented for the amusement of the visiters at this 
 Denbigh Hall, we pretend not to say. After leaving 
 this ci-divant station, and passing through a cutting 
 three quarters of a mile in length, we perceive on the 
 left the church of Loughton, and also that of Shenstone, 
 which is a very good specimen of the Norman style of 
 architecture. Close to the line on the risht is the 
 village of Bradwell, where was formerly a priory of 
 Black Canons, founded in the reign of Stephen, and of 
 which the abbey, transibrmed into a farm house, may 
 
 E 3
 
 54 TRIKG TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 Still be seen standing on the left of the line. A short 
 cutting, which is crossed by a bridge handsomely 
 faced in a rustic style, brings us to Wolverton station. 
 
 WOLVEBTOiM STATION. 
 
 Distance to London, 52| — Birmingham, 59| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BY ROADS FROJr THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES! — 
 
 Places W. of station. 
 Buckingham.. .'. .. 10| miles. 
 
 Bracklet I7| — 
 
 Stoney Stratford . . 2 — 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 Wolverton . . .... . . 1 mile. 
 
 Newport Pagnell . . .. 4 miles. 
 
 Fenny Stratford .. .. 2 — 
 
 Olney 9 — 
 
 This being the central, and consequently the most 
 important station between London and Birmingham, 
 the buildings connected with it are on a scale of 
 unparalleled magnificence. In addition to the loco- 
 motive engine house on the left, where these immense 
 machines are manufactured, repaired, and kept in 
 store, there is an extensive depot for goods on the 
 right, and an area of several acres set apart for the re- 
 ception of cattle. The style of architecture chiefly 
 employed is the Doric ; the beautiful simplicity of 
 which harmonises well with the character of the build- 
 ings. But no useless ornament is employed : all is 
 simple, grand, and imposing. Those passengers who 
 wish to take some refreshment after a ride of fifty-two 
 miles, have here ten minutes allowed them for that 
 purpose. The town of Wolverton, hitherto unnoticed 
 on the map of Great Britain, is now rapidly rising into 
 importance ; houses are springing up on every side, 
 streets are being laid out, and a large and busy popu- 
 lation is rapidly gathering ; whilst its fame as the birth- 
 place of English fire steeds is spreading through the 
 civilized world. Previously to the commencement of
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. OO 
 
 the railway, it contained only 417 inhabitants ; but 
 now, the railway company alone give direct employ- 
 ment to nearly a thousand hands. 
 
 This station will be found the most favourable for 
 travellers proceeding to the towns of Stoney Stratford, 
 Buckingham, Newport Pagnel, and Olney. The first 
 of these places stands on the banks of the Ouse, one 
 mile south-east of the station, and contains 1,700 
 inhabitants. It is celebrated in English history as 
 having been the place where Eichard III., when Duke 
 of Gloucester, seized Edward V. It has suffered 
 greatly from accidental fires, 53 houses having been 
 burned to the ground in 1736, and 113 in 1742. Prior 
 to the introduction of v/aggons, it was a noted place of 
 rendezvous for pack horses conveying goods to London, 
 and the traflfiic through it is still very great. 
 
 Eight miles south-west of Stoney Stratford, is the 
 ancient county town of Buckingham. Respecting the 
 derivation of its name, etymologists diflfer widely ; but 
 it appears most probable that the Saxon JBucca^ which 
 signifies a stag, lies at the root, since, in the early 
 ages, the neighbourhood abounded with forests well 
 stocked with deer. It is pleasantly situated on the 
 river Ouse, which nearly encompasses the town, and is 
 crossed by three stone bridges. The trade chiefly 
 consists in the sorting of wool, the tanning of leather, 
 and the manufacture of lace. The church stands on 
 the site of an ancient baronial castle. It is a hand- 
 some structure, with a square embattled tower, and is 
 internally elegantly fitted up in the Grecian style of 
 architecture. Two miles west of Buckingham is Stowe 
 Park, the magnificent seat of the Duke of Buckingham 
 
 E 4
 
 56 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 
 
 and Chandos. The mansion was originally built by 
 Sir Richard Temple, K.B., who died in 1697 ; it was 
 enlarged by his son, Lord Cobham, and was brought to 
 its present state of unrivalled magnificence by the late 
 Marquis of Buckingham. The gardens or pleasure 
 grounds of Stowe are more celebrated than even the 
 mansion itself : they comprehend a space of more 
 than 500 acres ; and contain a broad lake, a beautiful 
 cascade, and a noble monument to Lord Cobham ; 
 together with a profusion of statues, temples, and every 
 species of architectural adornment. A building in the 
 flower gardens contains the mineralogical and geolo- 
 gical collections of the Abbe Haiiy, and an immense 
 number of specimens in every branch of natural 
 history collected by the Duke of Buckingham. 
 
 Newport Pagnell is a well built market town, lying 
 six miles north-east of the station, and containing 
 3,385 inhabitants. The latter part of its name is 
 derived from the family of Paganell, to whom the 
 manor descended from the powerful baron, William 
 Fitzansculfy who held it at the time of the conquest. 
 The church stands on an eminence which affords a fine 
 prospect of the surrounding country ; and in the 
 churchyard may be seen the beautiful epitaph, written 
 by Cowper, on Thomas Abbott Hamilton. 
 
 The other town which we mentioned as lying at a 
 convenient distance from the Wolverton station, was 
 that of Olney. This town lies ten miles north-east 
 from the station, and, in common with the two last 
 mentioned places, stands on the banks of the Ouse. It 
 has a population of 2,418. The bridge over the Ouse 
 is a handsome structure, consisting of five large arches,
 
 TRING TO WOLVERTON. 67 
 
 and two smaller ones. In the church, which is a large 
 and ancient edifice, an unusually large number of 
 celebrated literary personages have regularly officiated ; 
 amongst whom we may notice Moses Browne, author 
 of Piscatory Eclogues ; John Newton, the popular 
 preacher and writer ; Thomas Scott, the celebrated 
 biblical commentator ; and Kenry Gauntlett, \^ho 
 wrote on the Apocalypse. Of all the great names, 
 however, that are associated with Olney, there is 
 none which recals so many pleasing remembrances as 
 that of the poet Cowper. It was to this place that he 
 retired to seclude himself from intercourse with a 
 world, the rude gaze of which was alone sufficient 
 to frighten his timid spirit ; and here, under the 
 pastoral care of the Rev. John Newton, referred to 
 above, he was in some measure relieved from that deep 
 religious despondency into which he had foUen, and was 
 enabled to form truer conceptions of that Divine system 
 of religion which professes to be to all mankind glad 
 tidings of great joy. Should our traveller be visiting 
 Olney, we would sincerely recommend him to pay a 
 visit to the house and garden of this amiable poet; 
 and if he has ever dropped a tear on the grave of 
 Byron's dog, in Newstead Abbey, perhaps he may not 
 be unwilling to bestow the same tribute of sympathy 
 on Cowper's hare, in his garden at Olney ; for, 
 although Puss may not perhaps have been bewailed in 
 elegiac strains quite so pathetic as those inscribed on 
 Boatswain's tomb, yet her memory, also, is preserved in 
 immortal verse, and future ages will hear of her inno- 
 cent attempts to divert the melancholy of her sorrowful 
 master.
 
 58 WOLVERTON TO ROADE. 
 
 CHAPTER V 
 
 WOLVERTON TO ROADE. 
 
 Seven miles and a half. 
 
 Upon leaving Wolverton station, we behold directly 
 before us the lofty steeple of Hanslope church, which, 
 in point of conspicuousness, may almost vie with that of 
 Harrow church. The delightful prospect which is now 
 unfolded before us in every direction, includes Brad- 
 well Wharf, Linford, and Mill Mead, on the right, and 
 the village of Wolverton on the left. After crossing 
 the Grand Junction Canal by a handsome iron bridge, 
 and the Newport Pagnell and Stratford road by one of 
 a more ordinary description, we arrive at the stupendous 
 viaduct over the Ouse valley. This magnificent struc- 
 ture consists of six arches of sixty feet span, besides 
 six smaller ones placed in the abutments ; and, to a 
 spectator in the valley below, presents a most noble 
 appearance. The view of the surrounding country, 
 from the viaduct, is also exceedingly interesting. 
 That on the right is thus beautifully described by a 
 hand more graphic than ours : — 
 
 " Here Ouse, slow winding through a level plain 
 Of spacious meads with cattle sprinkled o'er, 
 Conducts the eye along his sinuous course 
 Delighted. There, fast rooted in their bank,
 
 WOLVERTON TO ROADE. 59 
 
 Stand, never overlooked, our favourite elms, 
 That screen the herdsman's solitary hut ; 
 While far beyond and overthwart the stream, 
 That, as with molten glass, inlays the vale, 
 The sloping land recedes into the clouds ; 
 Displaying on its varied side the grace 
 Of hedge-row beauties numberless, square tower, 
 Tall spire, from w liich the sound of cheerful bells 
 Just undulates upon the listening ear, 
 Groves, heaths, and smoking villages remote." 
 
 The Task. 
 
 One could almost imagine that the poet had written 
 these lines while leaning on the parapet of the viaduct, 
 and viewing the distant spire of Haversham church, 
 and the pretty cottages of Mead Mill. On the left 
 the scenery is not less interesting. There also — 
 
 The Ouse, dividing the well-Avatered land, 
 Now glitters in the sun, and now retires 
 As bashful, yet impatient to be seen. 
 
 And not far distant is the stupendous embankment 
 and cast iron viaduct by which the Grand Junction 
 Canal is carried over the valley ; the towers of the two 
 churches at Stoney Stratford rise above the viaduct ; 
 Wolverton is seen amonoj the rich foliage on the ex- 
 treme left ; whilst the village of Cosgrove appears a 
 little more in advance, and Castle Thorp in the 
 distance. After the termination of the Wolverton 
 embankment, we pass through a short cutting ; and 
 then proceed along another embankment, through 
 some finely wooded country, with a fertile valley on 
 the left, and the village of Hanslope, with its lofty 
 church spire, which now appears to the greatest
 
 60 WOLVERTON TO ROADE. 
 
 advantage, on the right. Another cuttmg. a quarter of 
 a mile in length, being passed, we discover on the left 
 the villages of Stoke Bruern, Yardley Gobion, Potters- 
 bur}^ and Furthro, and also Whittlebury Forest, all 
 of which are in the distance ; whilst, amongst the 
 adjacent woodlands, the picturesque village of Grafton 
 Regis, with the tower of its venerable church, can be 
 distinctly perceived. This village is celebrated in 
 history as having been the place where the clandestine 
 marriage between Edward IV. and the widow of Sir 
 John Gray, of Groby, was solemnized. 
 
 On the right is the village of Hartwell, and the 
 forest of Salcey, which, together with that of Whittle- 
 bury, which bounds the view on the left, is under the 
 superintendence of the Duke of Grafton. These 
 forests formed part of the ancient woodlands of North- 
 amptonshire, the remains of which are still very exten- 
 sive. The three forests of Rockingham, Whittlebury, 
 and Salcey, occupy 20,000 acres ; and the chaces, 
 purlieu woods, and plantations, are computed to cover 
 20,000 more; so that this county contains upon the 
 whole about 40,000 acres of woodland territory. 
 
 The scenery on the left retains its interest for several 
 miles. The country surrounding Stoney Stratford 
 forms a fine rear view ; and Easton and Stoke Parks 
 soon add to the beauties of the landscape. The 
 former of these, which, till lately, belonged to the 
 Earls of Pomfret, has been rendered eminent by the 
 splendid collection of ancient marbles and pictures 
 with which the mansion was decorated. The statues 
 were presented to the university of Oxford, in 1755, 
 by the Countess who was so highly celebrated on
 
 WOLVERTON TO KOADE. 61 
 
 account of her literary attainments. Stoke Park is a 
 highly decorated spot ; and the mansion, which was 
 erected in the reign of Charles I., is a noble edifice. 
 Immediately after coming within sight of these parks, 
 we cross the boniidary line between Buckinghamshire 
 and Northamptonshire ; and are prepossessed in favour 
 of the latter county, by the interesting appearance of 
 some })retty thatched cottages, which stand on each 
 side of the line, and constitute the village of Ashlon. 
 Here the embankment, which has extended nearly a 
 mile, and afforded so many delightful prospects of the 
 surrounding conn try, comes to a termination. After 
 })assing through three moderate cuttings, and under 
 Roade skew bridge, — which is a handsome erection, 
 faced with dark grey stone, — we reach the Hoade 
 station, 
 
 IlOB.SE STATIC n. 
 
 Distance to Loiidou, GO — Birniiiighaii], o'J^ lUilcs. 
 
 UlST.VNCtS BY UOADS FEOli THIS STATION TO TUi. iOLLOWl:<G I'LAtES : — 
 
 Place Vt'. of Station. 
 Stoke Bruern liinile. 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 NORTHAMI'lON b mile; 
 
 Piddiiigtou 3i — 
 
 The village of Roade, of which a momentary glimpse 
 might occasionally be caught before arriving at the 
 station, is a small village on the right of the line, and 
 contains a population of 553.
 
 62 BOADE TO WEEDON. 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 
 ROADE TO WEEDON. 
 
 Nine miles and f. 
 
 Very shortly after leaving this station, we enter the 
 stupendous excavation made through the Blisworth 
 ridge. As we rapidly sweep through this narrov/ 
 defile, which is one mile and three quarters in length, 
 and look up at its lofty walls, v/hich are often 
 sixty feet in height, we cannot help admiring the 
 astonishing achievements of united physical force, 
 guided and applied by one directing mind ; and as, 
 without straining a muscle, we pass with the speed of 
 the eagle in its swiftest flight, through the heart of 
 lofty mountains and solid rocks, the pride of our heart 
 would almost lead us to doubt whether w^e belong to 
 the same order of beings as the uncivilized savage, who 
 has no pathway through the desert save the track 
 formed by his own and his forefathers' feet, and which 
 he uses in common with the wild beast of the wilder- 
 ness. When the open coimtry again appears, the most 
 interesting scenery lies on the right. Hunsbury Hill, 
 Dunston W^ood, and Harpole Hill, with the village of 
 Wooton, among the hills, and the conspicuous village 
 of Milton, or Middleton, and its neat church, form a 
 landscape which is far from being void of beauty. 
 Bugbrook Downs appear in advance ; and Gayton
 
 ROADE TO WEEDON. 63 
 
 church, standmg on the rising ground, throws that 
 interest over the landscape which the appearance of a 
 sanctuary, however humble, always bestows. Imme- 
 diately before our arrival at Biis worth station, we catch 
 a glimpse of the pretty village of Blisworth, which, 
 standing on the gently sloping ground on the right, 
 has a very lovely appearance. The number of its 
 inhabitants is 769. 
 
 Blisv^ortli Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 63i — Birmingham, 48| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THR FOLLOWING PLACES: 
 
 Placs W. of station. 
 
 Gayton 1^ mile. 
 
 TowcESTER 4 miles. 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 Middleton,oi- Milton Malson 1 mile. 
 Rothersthoipe Smiles. 
 
 Three miles and a half south-west from this station, 
 on the banks of the Tove, is the ancient market 
 town of Towcester. From the coins and other rehcs 
 which have from time to time been discovered in its 
 neighbourhood, it is supposed to be of Eoman origin. 
 In the church is a monument of Archdeacon Sponne, 
 who held the living in the reign of Henry VI., and who 
 conferred much posthumous benefit upon his fellow 
 townsmen, by the large amount of property which he 
 devoted by his will to the paving of the town, the estab- 
 Ushmcnt of a free grammar school, and other public 
 purposes. The population amounts to 2,671, who are 
 chiefly supported by the manufacture of bobbin lace, 
 boots, and shoes. 
 
 Upon leaving Blisworth station, we proceed along 
 an embankment, which terminates after we have crossed 
 the Grand Junction Canal. We then run by the little
 
 64 T^OADE TO WEEDOX. 
 
 village of Gayton Wharf on the left, glide rapidly 
 through a short excavation, and enter the wide ex- 
 panse of beautiful country called the valley of the Nene. 
 The prospect is interrupted on the left by a ridge of 
 hills which approach close to the line ; but on the right, 
 and in advance, it comprises an extent of many miles. 
 The eye, in ranging over the wide valley, views with 
 delight the wide sweep of gentle hills forming its distant 
 boundary, and the broad and verdant meadows skirt- 
 ing the stream which winds through its capacious 
 bosom. The tract of meadow land which commences 
 in this part of the valley, attends the Nene in the 
 whole of its progress through the county, and, by 
 reason of its sinuosity, exceeds sixty miles in length. 
 The river Nene is the principal one in Northampton- 
 shire : it becomes navigable at Northampton ; and, 
 alter crossing the Isle of Ely, and forming part of the 
 western boundary of Norfolk, falls into that part of the 
 German Ocean called the Wash. 
 
 The principal villages now comprised within the 
 j&eld of vision, and which, in succession, become 
 clearly distinguishable, are Rothersthorpe, Dunston, 
 Harpole, Upper Classthorpe, and Great Brington, on 
 the brow of a distant hill. In the extreme distance, 
 five miles from the railway, and scarcely distinguish- 
 able, except under very favourable circumstances, is 
 the town of Northampton, the capital of the county. 
 
 The derivation of the name of this town has 
 had very little light thrown upon it by the in- 
 vestigations of the most acute philologists. Some 
 have supposed Northampton to be a contraction of 
 North Aufonto7i, Aufona being the ancient name of
 
 ROADE TO WEEDON. 65 
 
 the river Nene upon which it stands. This etymo- 
 logy having a somewhat clumsy appearance, others 
 have maintained that Ilamtune was the name of 
 the town in the time of the Saxons, and that North 
 was prefixed to distinguish it from other towns of the 
 same name. To give a tolerable historical account of 
 a town which has been the scene of so many remark- 
 able events as Northampton, would require several 
 chapters, rather than a solitary paragraph. Suffice it 
 to say, therefore, that it is a place of very great antiquity ; 
 that it was burned by the Danes in 1010; sacked by 
 the Northumbrians, under Earl Morcar, in 1064; and 
 strongly fortified in the reign of Vrilliam the Con- 
 queror ; since which time it has frequently been 
 honoured by the presence of royalty, and the conven- 
 tion of councils and parliaments. The decisive battle 
 between the houses of York and Lancaster, in which 
 Henry YI. was defeated and taken prisoner, was fought 
 near the town; and many of the illustrious personages 
 who fell on the king's side, amongst whom were the 
 Duke of Buckingham, the Earl of Shrewsbury, Yiscount 
 Beaumont, and Lord Egremont, were interred in St. 
 John's Hospital, and the Church of the Grey Friars. 
 In 1675, an accidental fire consumed 600 houses, and 
 is calculated to have done damage to the amount of 
 £150,000. The effects of this catastrophe, however, 
 were soon repaired by the munificence of Charles II., 
 and the vigorous exertions of the Earl of Northampton ; 
 and from the ashes of the old town rose the clean, 
 regular, and handsome streets which now excite the 
 admiration of every beholder. The town is divided 
 into four nearly equal portions by two spacious streets, 
 
 F
 
 66 ROADE TO WEEDON. 
 
 which are nearly a mile in length, and which intersect 
 each other at right angles. The County Hall is an 
 admirable specimen of the Corinthian order. The 
 churches are four in number, namely ; All Saints', a 
 spacious Grecian edifice of the Ionic order, built soon 
 after the fire, and containing a statue of Charles II., 
 and another of the Right Hon. Spencer Percival, grace- 
 fully sculptured in marble by Chantrey ; St. Giles', a 
 large cruciform structure, displaying various styles of 
 English architecture ; St. Peter's, supposed to have 
 been erected about the time of the Conquest, and ex- 
 hibiting a most beautiful and perfect specimen of the 
 Norman style of architecture, of which, indeed, some 
 of the finest models may be found in its exquisitely 
 wrought details ; and St, Sepulchre's, which is sup- 
 posed to have been built by the Knights Templars, 
 after the model of the church of the Holy Sepulchre, 
 at Jerusalem. The principal charitable institutions 
 are, the General Infirmary, a handsome building of 
 white stone, erected and fitted up at an expense of 
 nearly £25,000, and the hospitals of St, John and 
 St. Thomas a Becket ; together with various educa- 
 tional establishments, supported by subscription and 
 endowment. The population is 15,351 ; and the 
 principal articles of manufacture are boots and shoes, 
 stockings and lace. 
 
 Proceeding along the western declivity of the valley 
 of the Nene, the village of Bugbrook, the church of 
 which appears half hid among the trees, lies close to 
 the- line on the right. Its population is 863. On the 
 left, the elevated tract called Bugbrook Downs inter- 
 rupts the distant view, until a slight opening occurs,
 
 ROADE TO WEEDON. 67 
 
 when we are enabled to see as far as Littleborouffh 
 Hill. The village of Littleborough now contains only 
 451 inhabitants ; but was formerly a place of consider- 
 able importance, having been one of the four garrisoned 
 towns which the Saxons took from the British in 571. 
 Two miles east of Litchborough, but not visible from 
 the railway, are the villages of Higham and Pattishall ; 
 and about one mile in a northerly direction is 
 Farthingstone, — a little village which is interesting 
 to the antiquary on account of the ruins of a 
 Saxon fort which lie in the neighbourhood, and 
 two subterranean chambers, which have lately been 
 discovered. 
 
 In crossing the viaduct over the Harstone Brook, 
 we obtain a favourable view of the aqueduct by 
 which the Grand Junction Canal is carried over the 
 same stream. A short cuttino: which follows brinos 
 us within sight of Upper and Nether Heyford, and 
 Brington and Harpole Hill, all of which lie on the 
 right. We Hhen rapidly sweep by the foot of 
 Alderman Hill, and suddenly plunge into the jaws of 
 Stowehill tunnel. This tunnel is 500 yards in length, 
 and passes nnder the great Holyhead road. The 
 village of Stowe lies about a mile to the left. It is 
 called Stowe-Nine-Churches, from the manor having 
 had nine advowsons appended to it in the time of 
 Henry VII. Upon issuing from this tunnel, a land- 
 scape of extreme beauty is presented to the eye : the 
 canal approaches close to the line on the right ; and a 
 semicircle of woodland hills encloses a wide and 
 fertile vale of surpassing loveliness. The embank- 
 ment by which the railway is carried across the valley, 
 
 p 2
 
 68 ROADE TO WEEDON. 
 
 commences simultaneously with that of the Grand 
 Junction Canal; and as they run nearly parallel 
 with each other, they form an artificial valley, from 
 which all view of the surrounding country is totally 
 excluded. Among the unfortunate buildings thus 
 shut out from the world, is the church of Weedon, 
 the beauties of which the traveller along the turnpike 
 road would formerly stop to admire ; but of which 
 he can now distinguish nothing save the top of the 
 tower. After passing this incarcerated beauty with a 
 smile of pity, we come within view of the village of 
 Weedon, which lies close to the line, in a valley on the 
 left ; and, after crossing the viaduct over the Nene, 
 are struck with the imposing appearance of its ancient 
 thatched cottages, and extensive ranges of modern 
 barracks. 
 
 "WEEDOS^ STATION. 
 
 Distance to Loudon, 69 J — Birmingham, 4'i| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE lotfLOWlNG PLACES: — 
 
 Places W. of Station. 
 
 Weedon Beck i mile. 
 
 Stowe U — 
 
 Davf.ntry 4 miles. 
 
 Cold Higham '^I ~ 
 
 Towcester 8| — 
 
 Southam 11 — 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 Floore f mile. 
 
 Northampton . . . . 7;| miles. 
 CLuich Brampton . . . . 7| — 
 
 The large village of Weedon, containing 1,439 inha- 
 bitants, is divided into Upper and Lower Weedon. 
 The latter is bisected by the railway, and the former 
 lies at a short distance on the left. It possesses con- 
 siderable claims to antiquity, and is supposed by 
 Camden, the celebrated antiquary of Queen Elizabeth's 
 time, to have been the Beneeenta of the liomans.
 
 ROADE TO WEEDON. 69 
 
 The village, however, is chiefly interesting to the 
 stranger on account of its Royal Military Depot. 
 This magnificent establishment, which is supposed to 
 be equal to any of the kind in Europe, consists of a 
 handsome centre and two detached wings, and is 
 capable of containing 240,000 stand of small arms, 
 with a proportionate quantity of artillery and ammu- 
 nition. The barracks, in which troops are continually 
 kept for the protection of the place, stand on the top 
 of the hill, and are intended to accommodate 500 men. 
 A cut made from the Grand Junction Canal to the 
 magazines, for facilitating the conveyance of stores, 
 gave considerable trouble to the engineers of the 
 railway, by its having to be crossed at a height very 
 little above its own level. This object was, however, 
 at last effected by means of a drawbridge, of peculiar 
 construction and extraordinary strength. 
 
 Four miles west of the Weedon station is the 
 ancient town of Daventry. The name is a corruption 
 of Drvy-avon-tre, which, in the ancient British lan- 
 guage, signified the town of the two Avons, and 
 evidently refers to its situation between the sources of 
 the Leam, which falls into the western Avon, and the 
 Nene, the ancient name of which was Aufona, or Avon. 
 It was a place of considerable importance at the time 
 of the Conquest, and has since been the scene of many 
 important transactions, especially during the civil 
 wars of the seventeenth century. It stands on a gentle 
 eminence, sheltered on three sides by surrounding 
 hills ; and consists of two principal and several smaller 
 streets. The population is 3,646 ; one half of which 
 are employed in making shoes, and a considerable por- 
 
 F 3
 
 70 ROADE TO WEEDON. 
 
 tion of the remainder in the manufacture of whips. 
 The government is vested in a corporation, which was 
 first granted by King John. 
 
 The stranger in Daventry, whether the objects 
 which he delights to contemplate be nature in the beau- 
 tiful robe thrown over her by the hand of her Creator, 
 or the venerable relics of other days, surrounded with 
 the fascinating charm which the scythe of Time com- 
 municates to whatsoever it fails to destroy, must on 
 no account omit a visit to Borough Hill. There, 
 with the town of Daventry at his feet, he can command 
 a noble and beautiful prospect as far as Naseby, 
 Northampton, Weedon, and Coventry ; and there he 
 may spend hour after hour in examining the remains 
 of an ancient Roman camp, broken ramparts thrown 
 up by Roman hands, and vestiges of British and 
 Roman tombs and dwellings. Stoical, indeed, must 
 he be v/ho can lean on one of these ancient ramparts, 
 surrounded by the tombs of his ancestors, and gaze, 
 without emotion, on the wide landscape smiling still 
 with just the same loveliness that it did when the 
 silver eagle of Rome glittered on the top of the 
 mount, and the proud chieftains of Britain scowled 
 on the symbol that told they were slaves. If the be- 
 holder be at all gifted with the powers of imagination, 
 fifteen centuries will vanish before him, and he will 
 fancy he is gazing on the woods and valleys where 
 naked barbarians are lurking, and savage rites are 
 being celebrated; but one glimpse of the railway 
 stretching across the plain, and the little white cloud 
 rising from the steam engine, will dissolve the spell, 
 and bring a change o'er the spirit of his dream ; he
 
 ROADE TO WEEDON. 71 
 
 will remember the ages that have rolled away, the 
 changes which have taken place, and the mighty 
 stride the intellect of man has taken, since the war 
 chariots of Caractacus dashed across the plain now 
 swept by the almost omnipotent steam engine. 
 
 F 4
 
 72 WKEDON TO RUGBY. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 
 WEEDON TO KUGBY. 
 
 Thirteen miles and a half. 
 
 Leaving Weedon station, we pass close to the 
 barracks and officers' rooms, go under the North- 
 ampton and Daventry road, and enter a lengthened 
 cutting. Through occasional openings in the right 
 hand bank, we now and then catch a glimpse of 
 Brington Hill, Floore Hill, and Brockhall Park, the 
 seat of S. R. Thornton, Esq. Upon emerging from 
 this cutting, the commanding hill on the right, upon 
 the brow of which Great Brington stands, is the most 
 interesting object; but the hilly country on the left 
 presents us with nothing of an attractive nature. 
 After the Holyhead road has crossed the line at a very 
 great angle, we pass through Mr. Thornton's beautiful 
 grounds, and have our eyes charmed with the richness 
 of its foliage, — and ought to have our ears also de- 
 delighted with the lofty carolings of its feathered 
 inhabitants ; since, on the fine evenings in summer, 
 the sweet warblings of these songsters of the grove, 
 with the occasional accompaniment of the trumpet at 
 the distant barracks, are said to form an harmonious 
 and delightful concert : but the humble pedestrian 
 only need expect to enjoy it; for the railway tra- 
 veller will be sadly disappointed if he calculates
 
 WEEDON TO RUGBY. 73 
 
 upon hearing any melody more euphonious than 
 the snorting of the engine, and the rattling of the 
 carriages. 
 
 The mansion of Brockhall presents its front to the 
 railway, and has an imposing appearance surrounded 
 with the large trees of the park. Brockhall Hill, and 
 the village of Whilton, fonii the distant view on the 
 right ; whilst in the opposite direction is the village 
 of Hall Norton, visible among the trees, and the town 
 of Daventry, hid from our view by Borough Hill 
 of which we have already spoken so largely. After 
 we have passed "Whilton Wharf, crossed the canal by 
 a handsome iron bridge, and left Buckby Wharf on 
 the right, the embankment, along which we have 
 been proceeding for nearly two miles, terminates, and 
 we soon afterwards enter Clay Hill cutting. This 
 cutting soon terminates, and the open country again 
 appears ; but the only object of interest which is 
 presented to our view is Borough Hill : this still con- 
 tinues to be a conspicuous object on the left, when- 
 ever the view is open in that direction. On the right 
 lies Watford, a small village, with a population of 353. 
 Its little church, with several of the houses, can be 
 clearly distinguished amongst the woods which sur- 
 round it. 
 
 Crick Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 73.4 — Birmingham, 38f miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Place W. of Station. 
 Ashby St. Ledgers 1 mile. 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 Crick 2 miles. 
 
 Yelvertofl 4 — 
 
 West Haddon 5 —
 
 74 WEEDON TO RUGBY. 
 
 The village of Crick lies two miles north-east from 
 the station, and is a place of very little note. The 
 number of its inhabitants is 945. 
 
 The hills which now appear stretching before us, 
 would seem to interpose an inseparable barrier to 
 our further progress. They form the separating ridge 
 between the valley of the Avon and that of the Ouse 
 and Nene, and contain the sources of rivers which 
 flow to different sides of the island. In approaching 
 them we enter a cutting which gradually becomes 
 deeper and deeper, and at length brings us to the 
 entrance of the Grand Kilsby Tunnel. This stu- 
 pendous work is 2,398 yards in length, twenty-four 
 feet in width, and twenty-two in height. But these 
 figures, astonishing as they are, can furnish no idea 
 of the difficulty of the undertaking ; for the varied 
 nature of the strata to be cut through, and the vast- 
 ness of the quicksands to be drained, presented diffi- 
 culties which it is impossible for a person who is 
 not practically acquainted with undertakings of this 
 nature duly to appreciate. Whilst contemplating 
 modern works of such astonishing magnitude as this, 
 we cannot avoid instituting a comparison between 
 them and the lauded monuments of antiquity ; and 
 much as the cyclopean structures of the ancient world 
 have been admired and extolled, we think they are 
 equalled, if not surpassed, by many of the stupendous 
 works which have lately been completed in our own 
 country. The railway along which we are travelling 
 is, doubtless, as great a work as the pyramids of 
 Egypt ; and the tunnel through which we are passing, 
 is just about the same length as the passage which
 
 WEEDON TO RUGBY. 75 
 
 Xerxes cut through Mount Athos, and which occupied 
 his whole army for three years. Were we to confine 
 our attention to tunnels alone, we might point to one 
 on the Grand Junction Canal, 3,080 yards in length ; 
 another on the Thames and Severn Canal, 4,300 yards ; 
 and to that on the Huddersfield Canal, which is no 
 less than 7,000 yards, or nearly four miles in length ; — 
 works w^hich would not suffer much by a comparison 
 with the most colossal erections of Egyptian kings, or 
 the mightiest monuments of primeval pride. The 
 greater effect which the grandeur of the ancient 
 structures produces on the mind, arises from the 
 chief, if not the only, design of those who erected them 
 having been to create astonishment in the minds of the 
 beholders ; whilst, in the works of the moderns, utility 
 alone is aimed at, and it is generally not until after a 
 process of mental ratiocination that we become duly 
 aware of their amazing magnitude. 
 
 In passing through the tunnel, a gleam of light is 
 now and then seen descending through the ventilating 
 shafts which are sunk through the hill. These shafts 
 are twenty-one in number, and average nearly 100 feet 
 in depth ; whilst two of them are no less than sixty 
 feet in diameter. To stand on the top of the hill, and 
 look down one of these huge caverns, is said to 
 produce feelings of an awfully sublime and terrific 
 nature. 
 
 Upon the conclusion of our subterranean flight, we 
 behold a wide extent of well wooded but uninteresting 
 country. Dunchurch lies about six miles distant on 
 the left, and we can just distinguish the square tower 
 of its beautiful Gothic church. Having crossed the
 
 76 WEEDON TO RUGBY. 
 
 boundary line between Northamptonshire and War- 
 wickshire, we pass under Moreton Hill bridge, which 
 consists of three arches, of fifty-four feet span, and 
 obtain a view of Dunsland on the right, and Hill 
 Moreton, with its exceedingly pretty church, on the 
 left. 
 
 As we proceed, the scenery assumes a more inter- 
 esting character. The village of Lilbourne appears on 
 the right; and amongst the distant hills beyond it, 
 lie Yelvertoft, Clay colon, and Elkington. A deep 
 and rather lengthened cutting brings us opposite the 
 little villages of Clifton and Newton, which lie at a 
 short distance on the right. Brov/nsover soon after- 
 wards appears in the same direction. It stands upon 
 an elevated spot, near the confluence of the Swift 
 and the Avon ; and is worthy of notice as being the 
 birth-place of Lawrence Sheriff, founder of the cele- 
 brated school at the neighbouring town of Rugby. 
 The village of Newbold can be distinguished in the 
 distance ; and the pretty hills on which it stands form 
 an interesting back-ground. On the right, we can 
 perceive a few of the houses of Rugby ; and after 
 having entered upon an embankment, we speedily 
 arrive at the Rugby station. 
 
 KTTGBY STATION. 
 
 Distance to London, 83— Birmingliam, 29J miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Places W. of a tat ion. 
 
 EuGBY ^ mile. 
 
 Duncburch 3| miles. 
 
 Places E, of Station. 
 
 Lutterworth Of miles. 
 
 Market Harborocgh. . 17| — 
 Leicester 17| —
 
 WEEDON TO RUGBY. 77 
 
 The Lutterworth road passes beneath the railway at 
 this station, and the beautiful bridge by which the 
 line is carried over it, is in the purely Gothic style of 
 architecture. The introduction of this style into the 
 building of a bridge, had to us an exceedingly novel 
 appearance, accustomed as we had been to associate 
 its massy pillars and high embovved roof — 
 
 " With those deep solitudes and awful cells 
 "Where heavenly pensive Contemj^lation dwells, 
 And ever musing Melancholy reigns." 
 
 The reason of so gorgeous a style being employed in 
 the construction of this bridge, arose from the desire 
 of the trustees of the Rugby school, that it should har- 
 monise with the buildings of that institution : they, at 
 the same time, giving £1,000 towards the increased 
 expenditure. 
 
 The town of Rugby is pleasantly situated upon 
 rising ground, on the left of the line. It is supposed 
 to have been one of the many fortresses erected in the 
 reign of Stephen, and to have derived its name from 
 Henry de Rokeby, who possessed it in the following 
 century. The streets present an incongruous mixture 
 of modern brick houses, and ancient plastered edifices 
 with thatched roofs. The latter, however, arc rapidly 
 decreasing in number, and several entirely new streets 
 have been formed during the last few years. The 
 church is an ancient structure, m ith a massive square 
 and embattled tower, and is built in the early style of 
 English architecture. The population of the town is 
 2,501. The Grammar School, which we have already 
 mentioned, and by which especially Rugby is distin-
 
 78 WEEDON TO RUGBY. 
 
 guished, is a noble and magnificent establishment. It 
 was founded in the reign of Elizabeth, and endowed 
 with about eight acres of land, near the Foundling 
 Hospital, in London, which produced, at that time, a 
 very inconsiderable revenue. This revenue, however, 
 like that of many other institutions similarly endowed, 
 has gradually increased, as the land has become more 
 valuable ; and the trustees of the institution have now 
 the annual disposal of no less a sum than £5,000. 
 The trustees are twelve in number, and have the ap- 
 pointment of the masters, and the general superintend- 
 ence of the school. The head master has a fixed 
 salary of £113. 6s. 8d., together with a house and 
 land, besides an annual payment of six guineas per 
 annum, for every boy on the foundation. Of the 
 classics, there are six assistant masters ; and the 
 various modern languages, writing, drawing, and 
 mathematics, have each their respective teachers. 
 The number of boys receiving instruction in the 
 school is usually about 300 ; of whom there are seldom 
 more than fifty or sixty foundationers. Those boys 
 only are eligible to the school who reside within five 
 miles from the town, if in the county of Warwdck, or 
 within ten miles if in any other county. Belonging to 
 the establishment are twenty-one exhibitions, of £60. 
 per annum, and several fellowships, amounting in the 
 aggregate to £1,000. per annum. The present mag- 
 nificent edifice was erected in 1808, and forms a noble 
 range of building in the Elizabethan style of archi- 
 tecture. The group is of a quadrangular form, and 
 consists of spacious and lofty school rooms, — extensive 
 apartments for the masters, — and an elegant chapel of
 
 WEEDON TO RrGB\". 79 
 
 more modernized appearance, splendidly decorated in 
 the interior, and containing a monument, by Chantrey, 
 of Dr. James, the late head master of the school. 
 
 Lutterworth, a market town in Leicestershire, lies 
 seven miles north-east from the station, on the small 
 river Swift, and contains 2,262 inhabitants. It is 
 chiefly interesting to the stranger as having been the 
 scene of the venerable WicklifFe's pastoral labours, 
 and the place where he first promulgated his glorious 
 doctrines. In the church are preserved, his portrait, 
 the communion cloth which he was accustomed to 
 use, the pulpit in which he preached, and the chair in 
 which he died. The bones of the reformer once rested 
 here also ; but after they had quietly reposed for 
 forty years, the sanctity of the grave was violated, the 
 poor remains of what once was Wickliffe were raised 
 from their peaceful bed, and by the order of the 
 Council of Constance publicly burned, to show the 
 detestation in which the Court of Rome held his 
 doctrines, and what they would do to his soul if they 
 could reach it with their anathemas. His ashes were 
 then scattered on the waters of the river, and thus dis- 
 persed over every part of the globe, emblematical, as 
 the event has proved, of the still more extensive diffu- 
 sion of the principles which he taught. 
 
 Near this station it is intended that the London and 
 Birmingham Railway should be joined by the Midland 
 Counties Railway. This railway will pass through 
 Leicester, Loughborough, and Nottingham, and, by 
 means of a branch to Derby, will join the North Mid- 
 land line, and thus open a communication with York- 
 shire, and the other northern counties.
 
 80 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 CHAPTER YIIT. 
 
 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 Ten miles and |. 
 
 The embankment upon which we entered before 
 arriving at the Rugby station, continues for a short 
 distance after leaving it, and affords a very pretty pro- 
 spect of the valley on the right, in which the Swift 
 and several other small rivers from Northamptonshire 
 and Leicestershire unite their waters to form the 
 Avon. Newbold-upon-Avon appears prettily situated 
 on the opposite side of the valley ; and across the 
 fields on the left, the spire of Bilton church can be 
 perceived, rising above the surrounding woods. 
 Bilton is celebrated as having been the residence of 
 Addison, during the latter part of his life, and the 
 place where he wrote his admirable " Evidences of 
 the Cliristian Religion," — in which we behold the 
 brightest star that ever shone in the firmament of 
 British literature, veiling its brightness with the love- 
 lier rays of sanctified erudition and ingenuous piety. 
 Long Lawford cutting interrupts the prospect for 
 about half a mile ; at the conclusion of which we pass 
 under Long Lawford bridge, and perceive the village 
 lying close to the line on the right. There are three 
 Lawfords; Long Lawford, Church Lawford, and 
 Little Lawford; of which, the two former only can be
 
 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 81 
 
 seen from the railway. Balbrook Grange also appears 
 on the right ; and Mount Pleasant gives a somcwhai 
 pleasant appearance to the otlierwise tame scenery on 
 the left. After another deep cutting, the scenery on 
 the right assumes features of increased interest. The 
 eye ranges over a considerable extent of beautiful 
 rising ground in the distance ; whilst, in the fore- 
 ground, it rests with delight upon the rich charms of 
 the valley through which the Avon rolls its sacred 
 flood. There are many Avons to be found in the 
 kinfrdom ; but the vallev along^ which v/e are now 
 proceeding, is the valley of ^/^6' Avon, — the Avon upon 
 whose sunny banks — 
 
 " Sweetest Shakspeare, Fancy's child, 
 Y^'arbled liis native Avood-notes wild." 
 
 As we rapidly glide along so sacred a vale, we would 
 fain suspend our description for a moment, that the 
 traveller may give the tribute of a reverential pause to 
 the memory of the bard with whose immortal name the 
 Avon will for ever be associated. When, on our 
 solitary walks, we never can pass a spot where genius 
 has poured forth its magnificent creations in lofcy 
 strains of impassioned poetry, without seeming to 
 feel— 
 
 " Those god-like breathings in the air, 
 Which mutely tell her spirit hath been there." 
 
 And, notwithstanding the desperately prosaic character 
 of a railway, the cacophonious rattling of the carriages, 
 and the whirlwind rapidity of our flight, we cannot 
 look down into the valley where Shakspeare sung, 
 
 G
 
 82 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 without peopling the lofty elms which shade the banks 
 of his gentle Avon with the shades of kings and 
 heroes moving along in the sceptred pomp of tragedy, 
 whilst all the passions throng around them, " filled 
 with fury, rapt, inspired." 
 
 Five miles from Kugby the Brandon embankment 
 commences, which is two miles in length, and affords 
 some beautiful prospects. The village of Bretsford, 
 with its rich woodlands, and the more remote Brink- 
 slow, form the first pretty scene on the right. On the 
 left, the country has the same sylvan appearance, the 
 fields being, in general j separated from each other by 
 rows of goodly timber trees ; and amongst the profu- 
 sion of foliage, the house of Mr. Hemming, the con- 
 tractor, and the village of Wolstone, can be distinctly 
 perceived. 
 
 Brandon Station. 
 
 Distance toLondou, 89 — Birniiugham, 234 ™iles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FEOM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES: — 
 
 Places W, of fetation. 
 
 Wolstone h, mile. 
 
 J^ylon.. 2" miles. 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 Brinklow 2^ miles. 
 
 Church Lawford . . . . 3 — 
 
 Brandon Wood bounds the prospect in the direction 
 we are travelling, and the village of Brandon quickly 
 appears on the right of the line. The railway here 
 crosses the Avon, by a noble viaduct of fifteen arches ; 
 and for a while that river gives a highly picturesque 
 character to the scenery on the left ; but it very 
 soon stretches avray into the distant country. . We 
 now have Ryton Wood before us ; and in the fore- 
 ground, on the left, appears the tower of Eyton
 
 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 83 
 
 church. Upon a little hill on the right, are the re- 
 mains of what once was Brandon castle. This for- 
 tress was first built soon after the conquest, was 
 destroyed in the reign of Henry III., and having b?tn 
 subsequently rebuilt, was finally destroyed by Cromwell, 
 who is said to have built the neighbouring church out 
 of its ruins. We now have Ryton Wood on the left, 
 Willenhall Wood in the distance, and Brandon W^ood 
 on the right. These woods form part of the fev/ re- 
 mains of the mighty forest of Arden, which anciently 
 stretched from the Severn on the one hand, to the 
 Trent on the other. 
 
 After passing through a cutting about three 
 quarters of a mile in length, and which is crossed, 
 at a very great angle, by a handsome skew bridge, 
 we enter a wide extent of open country, and catch 
 the first glimpse of the Coventry spires. From 
 the embankment along which we now proceed, we 
 can also see on the right. Stoke, Ernsford Grange, 
 Binley, and the woods surrounding Combe Abbey. 
 The last mentioned place takes its name from a reli- 
 gious house of the Cistercian order, which formerly 
 existed there, and which was founded in the reign of 
 King Stephen. Some remains of the cloister still 
 exist, and upon the site of the ancient building, a 
 splendid mansion has been erected, of which Earl 
 Craven is the present proprietor. After passing the 
 seat of " Squire Goodall, the banker,*' also on the right 
 of the line, we cross the Sow by a beautiful viaduct, 
 of seven arches, and obtain a favourable view of 
 Baginton Hall, the residence of the Bev. W. D. 
 Bromley, embedded in the dense woods on the left, 
 
 G 2
 
 84 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 The village of Baginton contains 257 inhabitants. 
 The castle, which it anciently possessed, was, in the 
 reign of "Richard II., honoured with the presence of 
 the Duke of Hereford, afterwards Henry IV., on the 
 eve of the day appointed for the combat, which was to 
 take place at Coventry, between him and the Duke of 
 Norfolk. Rapidly proceeding in the direction that 
 the spires of Coventry are seen rising majestically 
 above the intervening woods, we sweep past Whitley 
 Abbey, which stands commandingly on the left, cross 
 a seven-arched viaduct over the Sherbourne valley, 
 and a smaller one over the Holyhead road, and enter a 
 deep cutting, which commences as soon as the embank- 
 ment terminates, is crossed by five elegant bridges, 
 and, after continuing about a mile, brings us to the 
 Coventry station. 
 
 COVB2JJTRY STATIOM", 
 
 Distance to London, 94 — Birmingham, 18^ miles, 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES : — 
 
 Places W. of Station. 
 
 Baginton 2i miles. 
 
 Kenilwortli 4| — 
 
 Leamington 8 — 
 
 Warwick ,, .. 9| — 
 
 Heuley-in-ArJen . . . . 14| — 
 
 Places E. of Station. 
 
 Meriden 6 miles. 
 
 Nunraton 8| — 
 
 Over Whitacre 9| — 
 
 Hinckley 13^ — 
 
 Atherstone M — 
 
 We are now in the bottom of a cutting, and not the 
 slightest indication can be perceived of the proximity 
 of a large and populous city. This produces a very 
 disagreeable feeling in the mind of those who have 
 experienced the exhilirating effect (and who has not) 
 of entering a populous town on the top of a stage 
 coach, especially when the lamps are all lit, the 
 shops brightly illuminated, and the footpath thronged
 
 RUGBY TO COVEiNTUY. 85 
 
 with passers to and fro. A bridge, however, which 
 crosses the railway usually has its parapet adorned 
 with a row of human faces, and the physiognomical 
 traveller may amuse himself with marking the various 
 degrees of wonderment depicted upon each ; some 
 seeming to intimate that their owners know quite as 
 much about steam engines as George Stephenson 
 himself; whilst others seem to gaze upon the belching 
 animal with as much amazement and dread as the 
 inhabitants of the New World looked upon the winged 
 offspring of the Sun that brought to their shores 
 Columbus and his adventurous Spaniards. 
 
 The city of Coventry stands upon a gentle eminence 
 on the right of the station, and about a quarter of a mile 
 distant from it. The story of its varied fortunes forms 
 a deeply interesting narrative, and is intimately inter- 
 woven with the most eventful portions of the history 
 of our country. Its name in the most ancient records 
 is written Conventrey, and has evidently been given 
 to it on account of the convent which stood on its site 
 in the tenth century, and which was burned by Canute, 
 the Dane. The history of the tov.n commences with 
 St. Osburgh being abbess of this convent ; and we are 
 informed that, after its destruction, a monastery was 
 built upon its site by Leofric, Earl of Mercia, and Lady 
 Godiva, his wife. The legend respecting this earl and 
 his lady, occupies a prominent place in the early history 
 of the city. The tradition is, that the countess rode 
 through the city in a state of nudity, in order to pro- 
 cure the exemption of the citizens from various 
 oppressive services and taxations. This feat of the 
 countess, and the miraculous punishment of a tailor, 
 
 G 3
 
 86 HUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 who is said to have been the only individual indiscreet 
 enough to look from his hiding place, and upon whose 
 veracity, therefore, the actual performance of the task 
 by her ladyship must depend, is commemorated by 
 a silly figure, which goes by the name of " Peeping 
 Tom," and stands at the corner, of a house in High- 
 street, and also by a triennial procession, which is 
 generally viewed by thousands of individuals, from 
 all the neighbouring towns. The south window of 
 Trinity Church is decorated with portraits of Godiva 
 and her husband, and also with a poetical inscription 
 reciting the legends respecting them. Leofric died 
 in 1057. 
 
 In 1355, the erection of the city walls was com- 
 menced. These extended three miles in circuit, were 
 strengthened with thirty-two towers, and contained 
 twelve gates, defended by portcullises ; but they were 
 demolished in 1662, as a punishment on the inhabit- 
 ants for the part they had taken in the civil war. There 
 have been two parliaments held in Coventry, the one 
 by Henry IV., usually called JParliamentum Incloc- 
 torum^ from all lawyers having been excluded from it ; 
 and the other by Henry VI., styled by the Yorkists, 
 Parliamentuin Diaholicum, from the great number of 
 attainders issued by it against the partisans of the 
 " White Rose." In the war between the rival houses 
 of York and Lancaster, Coventry was seized for the 
 Yorkists by the Earl of Warvv'ick ; and Edward IV. 
 was repulsed from its gates. As a punishment for 
 this, the king, after he had gained the battles of 
 Barnet and Tewkesbury, deprived the citizens of 
 their charter, which he withheld until redeemed by
 
 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 87 
 
 a payment of 500 marks. During the parliamentary 
 war, the king, who had erected his standard at Not- 
 tingham, was refused admittance into the town, and it 
 was shortly afterwards regularly garrisoned by the re- 
 publican forces, and the very women were employed 
 in strengthening its defences ; nevertheless, when the 
 restoration took place, and Charles II. ascended the 
 throne of his fathers, the people of Coventry were 
 among the loudest in their expressions of gladness, 
 proclaiming him king with every mark of exultation 
 and triumph; and causing even the public conduits 
 to flow with wine. 
 
 The city of Coventry, with a district of four miles 
 round it, constitutes a county of itself, under the title 
 of " The City and County of Coventry." The govern- 
 ment is vested in a corporation, the charter of which 
 was first granted by Edward III., in 1344, and the 
 freedom of which is obtained by a servitude of seven 
 years to any branch of trade within the city or its 
 liberties. The population of Coventry is 27,070. 
 The weaving of ribands is the staple trade ; but the 
 manufacture of watches is also carried on to a con- 
 siderable extent. 
 
 The houses are neat and well built, and are now 
 assuming a somewhat modern appearance; the more 
 ancient parts of the city having been lately taken down, 
 and many new streets formed. The principal buildings 
 are, a neat Theatre ; a handsome range of Barracks ; 
 a respectable County Hall; the Drapers' Hall ; and 
 St. Mary's Hall, which is a beautiful and magnificent 
 structure, in the later style of English architecture, 
 designed for the larger meetings and civic entertain- 
 
 G 4
 
 88 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 ments of the corporation, and replete, internally, with 
 the richest and most elaborate ornaments. 
 
 Coventry was a cathedral city until the year 1188, 
 when the seat of the diocese was removed to Lichfield. 
 Of the cathedral, which was formerly a magnificent 
 and sumptuous edifice, scarcely a vestige can now be 
 discerned : its proud walls have long since crumbled 
 to the ground, and dwelling houses have been erected 
 on its consecrated site. St. Michael's is now the 
 principal church. It is altogether a splendid structure ; 
 but is chiefly remarkable on account of its lofty, finely 
 proportioned, and richly decorated steeple. This 
 beautiful piece of architecture, which is 300 feet in 
 height, was commenced in 1373, and finished in 1395. 
 There is, also, the venerable church of the Holy 
 Trinity ; the interesting one of St. John the Baptist, 
 with its square embattled tower, and four circular 
 turrets ; and one dedicated to our Saviour, the ancient 
 and beautiful steeple of which originally belonged to a 
 monastery of Grey Friars. 
 
 Before we proceed with our description of the line, 
 we will carry the traveller to a few of the many inter- 
 estins: towns which lie at a convenient distance from 
 the Coventry station. Ten miles south-west, stands the 
 venerable town of Warwick, the history of which is as- 
 sociated with that of the ancient Britons, and the wars 
 of Caractacus. It is delightfully situated on a gently 
 rising rock, which is washed on the north by the 
 Avon, and surrounded by rich and diversified scenery. 
 On the south of the town, the venerable castle rises 
 in stately magnificence, and carries the mind back to 
 the gloomy ages of baronial ascendancy. The stranger
 
 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 89 
 
 who may visit this relic of feudal times, however high 
 his expectations may have been raised, can hardly 
 avoid being struck with surprise at the surpassing 
 beauty of its situation, the noble grandeur of its build- 
 ings, and perfect state of its preservation. The lawns, 
 gardens, and shrubberies, also, which form the castle 
 grounds, are lovely spots ; and the walks, which are 
 occasionally cut in the solid rock, and overshadowed 
 by cedars of Lebanon, and other noble and lofty 
 trees, are well suited to the high-wrought feelings of 
 one who has been pacing the gloomy galleries and 
 stately halls of powerful barons and illustrious chief- 
 tains. 
 
 Upon the banks of the Avon, about a mile above 
 Warwick, is a celebrated rock, which goes by the 
 name of Guy's Cliff. Hewn in this rock there is a 
 cave, in which it is said that the famous Guy, Earl of 
 Warwick, lived many years in voluntary concealment, 
 within sight of the proud turrets of his own castle, 
 and the casements at which his widowed countess 
 might occasionally be seen. 
 
 The stranger who has been led by curiosity to 
 Warwick, and whose spirit has ever been stirred by 
 the wizard hand of Scott, will not be very liable to 
 forget his proximity to the famed castle of Kenil worth. 
 The town of Kenilworth is five miles north from War- 
 wick. It contains 3,097 inhabitants, and is well and 
 handsomely built ; but would not be deemed worthy 
 of our notice, were it not for the superb ruins of its 
 castle, — that castle, in the spacious courts and stately 
 halls of which the lofty queen Elizabeth, with all the 
 high-born ladies of her court, and the proud chivalry
 
 90 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 
 
 of her land, were entertained by the favourite Lei- 
 cester, with many a gorgeous pageant and sumptuous 
 banquet ; but whose mouldering turrets and ivy-clad 
 walls now serve only to form a subject for the 
 painter's pencil, or the pen of the moralist. The 
 destruction of this magnificent fortress was effected by 
 the ruthless soldiery of Cromwell, determined, it would 
 seem, to equal the Goth and Vandal tribes in utter 
 detestation of whatever was beautiful or grand. 
 
 From Kenilworth we will transport our reader to 
 Leamington Priors, in order that the brilliant scenes of 
 a fashionable watering place may dispel the cloud of 
 gloom which has, doubtless, gathered on his brow, 
 while contemplating the frowning towers of War- 
 wick, and the venerable ruins of Kenilworth. Lea- 
 mington lies two miles and a half from Warwick, in an 
 easterly direction. Its importance is owing to the 
 celebrity of its mineral springs, which, in a space of 
 twenty-three years, have raised it from an inconsider- 
 able hamlet to a large and elegant town, with a popu- 
 lation of 6,209. The springs are of three kinds, — 
 sulphureous, saline, and chalybeate. The assembly 
 rooms, libraries, hotels, and baths, are equally hand- 
 some in their appearance, and splendid in their decora- 
 tions. Here, if anywhere, the invalid may forget his 
 ailments, and the faded beauty recover her charms 
 and spirits. We must confess, however, that the 
 false glitter and pageantry of a watering place have no 
 charms for us. Instead of exciting gay and buoyant 
 feelings, they bring over our spirits a gloom which 
 the most dismal scenes in nature would fail to produce. 
 The balls, concerts, and promenades, seem to speak of
 
 RUGBY TO COVENTRY. 91 
 
 happiness and enjoyment ; but, as the gay figures have 
 passed by us, and then* light laugh has fallen on our 
 ear, we have noticed that the garland of gladness 
 which seemed to encircle their brow was fadtd and 
 dead, for its freshness had been withered by a cold 
 blast from the grave. 
 
 The short distance at which Leamington, Warwick, 
 and Kenilworth, lie from each other, and the many 
 objects of historical interest and scenes of impressive 
 beauty with which the intermediate country abounds, 
 will doubtless cause many railway travellers to slip 
 away from Coventry and pay them a visit ; and this 
 must form our apology for having so long detained the 
 reader from the route. We will now, therefore, pro- 
 ceed; premising, however, that Nuneaton, a town with 
 7,799 inhabitants, lies eight miles from the station, on 
 the right ; and Hinckley, with a population of 6,491, 
 four miles bevond it.
 
 92 COVENTRY TO BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 COVENTRY TO BIEMINGHAM. 
 
 Eighteen miles and a quarter. 
 
 The excavation which the reader will remember 
 brought us to the Coventry station, continues for a 
 short distance after leaving it. The first opening 
 presents us with a view of Allesley church and park, 
 seen across the Coventry Lammas ground ; and also 
 with the best view which can be obtained from any 
 part of the line of the city of Coventry, with its lofty 
 spires rising majestically from the dense mass of 
 houses. After passing a cutting three parts of a mile 
 in length, we have Hearshall Common on our right, 
 and Crackley Wood on our left. Elsdon-lane then 
 crosses the line, and two slight cuttings bring us to an 
 embankment. The prospect, however, which it 
 affords possesses little interest ; and after passing Ten 
 Shilling Wood, and Beech Wood, and crossing the 
 Hockley road, we enter another cutting, which, after 
 we have been carried through Beechwood tunnel, past 
 the tank which supplies the engines with water, and 
 under several bridges, comes to a conclusion, after 
 having extended for the space of a mile. We have 
 scarcely time to regale our eyes with the green fields 
 and waving foliage, or to distinguish the village of 
 Berkswell, which lies at a short distance on the right.
 
 COVENTRY TO BIRMINGHAM. 93 
 
 before the sides of another excavation exchide the 
 rural prospect, and drive us again to our own reflec- 
 tions. Of the bridges, which are the only objects to 
 relieve the monotony, the principal is that by which 
 the Kenilworth road is carried over the line. A mile's 
 rapid flight brings us again into the open country, and 
 Wooton Green appears on the left ; and presently, 
 from the elevation of an embankment, Balsal Grange 
 is seen in the same direction, and also the church and 
 village of Earston. The landscape improves as we 
 advance, its wide sweep on the left embracing Rigton 
 End, Walsal End, and Escote, with Hampton-in- 
 Arden church, and the distant spire of that of Soli- 
 hull ; whilst, on the right, is an equally interesting 
 view, comprising Mercote Hall, Packington Park, seat 
 of the Earl of Aylesford, the pretty village of Meriden, 
 which stands on the Holyhead road, at a distance of two 
 miles, and the spire of Coleshill church, which can 
 barely be distinguished in the extreme distance. 
 After crossing the Blythe, by a noble viaduct of six 
 arches, the traveller will perceive on his left a group 
 of interesting objects ; — a very old and almost ruined 
 bridge, with five arches, forms the centre, whilst a 
 pretty windmill and rich surrounding scenery complete 
 the picture. 
 
 Haxupton-in-Arden Station. 
 
 Distance to London, 100| — Birmingham, 11| miles. 
 
 DISTANCES BYROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:— 
 
 Place W. of Station. I Place E. of Station. 
 Solihull 4 miles, Coleshill Smiles.
 
 94 COVENTIIY TO BIRMIKGHAM. 
 
 The village of Hampton-in-Arden lies on the left of 
 the line, and consists of little besides an ancient look- 
 ing church, formerly adorned with a lofty spire, but 
 which now lifts a square tower unpretendingly towards 
 heaven. Near the village the Derby and Birmingham 
 Junction Railway will join the London and Birming- 
 ham line. 
 
 Solihull is about four miles from this station. It is 
 a well built town, standing in a somewhat pleasant 
 situation, on the high road from Birmingham to War- 
 wick, and containing 2,878 inhabitants. The church 
 is a large cruciform structure, with an embattled tower, 
 and octagonal spire. 
 
 Coleshill, which is five miles distant from the sta- 
 tion, stands upon the brow of a hill, M'hich rises 
 gradually from the south bank of the river Cole. It 
 consists principally of one long street, and one short 
 but wide one, which affords a convenient area for the 
 marketplace. Its population is 1,853. Its spacious 
 church is an ancient building, in the decorated style, 
 with a lofty tower, surmounted by an octagonal spire. 
 About a mile to the east of the town is Maxtoke Castle, 
 which is in a high state of preservation ; and about a 
 mile and a half from the castle, are the remains of 
 Maxtoke Priory, from which there is said to have been 
 a subterranerai passage communicating with Coleshill 
 Church, with w-hich, indeed, both the castle and priory 
 appear to be coeval. 
 
 After leaving this station, and passing through a 
 considerable cutting, we behold Hampton-in-Arden 
 behind us, the gracefid spire of Bickenhill church 
 rising across the fields on the left, and Fackington
 
 COVENTRY TO BIRMINGHAM. 95 
 
 Park, with the village of Little Packington, on the 
 right. Another short cutting, which is crossed by the 
 Bickenhill bridge, brhigs us to an embankment, which, 
 however, presents us with no new object of interest. 
 After passing under Marston Hall bridge, we traverse 
 some prettily wooded country, having Marston Vv'ood 
 on the right, and Elmdon Park on the left. After 
 passing Marston Green bridge, we have a good view of 
 the village lying near the hne on the right; whilst, in 
 the distance, the spire of Coleshill church continues to 
 form an interesting object. From the Sheldon em- 
 bankment, which here commences, a prospect is 
 obtained which is considered by many as equal in 
 beauty to any which the line affords : on the right, is 
 Alcot Park, the town and church of Coleshill, and 
 Maxtoke Park ; on the left, Elmdon, with its fine 
 rich woodlands, and the pretty village of Sheldon, 
 with the unassuming tower of its little church ; whilst, 
 in advance, the high spire of Yardley church rises 
 above the sloping fields, and completes a landscape in 
 which it would certainly be difficult to imagine any 
 alteration which would not be detrimental to its beauty. 
 Proceeding, we pass the hamlet of Makidov/n on 
 the right, and shortly afterwards a plain brick build- 
 ing called Lea Hall. A short cutting brings us 
 opposite the village of Yardley, in which immense 
 quantities of tiles are manufactured ; and after ad- 
 miring the fine tov/er and spire of its church, we 
 pass under Stitchford bridge, and perceive the village 
 of Stitchford on therighi:, surrounded with some inter- 
 esting foliage. We are now two miles and three 
 quarters from Birmingham, and are able to cast our
 
 96 COVENTRY TO BIR^I INGHAM. 
 
 eye along the railway as far as the station house ; the 
 line henceforth preserving a perfectly rectilinear course. 
 After passing the intended point of junction of the 
 Derby Eailway, and emerging from the Saltley excava- 
 tion, we obtain an imperfect glimpse of Birmingham, 
 which soon, however, widens into a full and magnifi- 
 cent view. From the vast and dense mass of confused 
 buildings, rise the beautiful spires of its numerous 
 churches, and the tall chimneys of its still more 
 numerous manufactories ; whilst, proudly conspicuous 
 in the centre, the Town Hall majestically lifts its 
 noble front. 
 
 Barr Beacon is now on the right, and also Aston 
 church, park, and hall. Ashted and Vauxhall soon 
 afterwards appear; and not far distant the Grand 
 Junction Railway is seen stretching away in a northerly 
 direction. The Catholic College on Sutton Coldfield 
 forms a conspicuous object in the distant scenery ; and 
 more adjacent to the line is Duddeston Hall, with its 
 beautiful pleasure grounds. After admiring the noble 
 tier of arches by which the Grand Junction Railway 
 enters Birmingham, we pass along a similar tier our- 
 selves, and arrive at the Birmingham terminus of the 
 London and Birmingham Railway. 
 
 The station yard and offices resemble, in all mate- 
 rial points, those at Euston Grove ; and the arrange- 
 ments for entering and leaving the carriages are also 
 similar. The grand entrance is a noble and command- 
 ing structure. It is of about the same dimensions as 
 that at Euston Grove, with the exception of being 
 rather deeper, and thus very nearly forming a perfect 
 cube. It has in front four insulated Ionic columns,
 
 COVENTRY TO B IRMf N'GHA:\1 , 97 
 
 and is flanked on each side by an arched entrance. 
 The central entrance, which is also arched, in order to 
 preserve a degree of unity in the design, is closed 
 with lofty doors, and surmounted with two shields, 
 bearing the arms of the citv of London and the town 
 of Birmingham. 
 
 Upon arriving at the end of (.)ur journey, we cannot 
 take a retrospective view of our wonderful flight with- 
 out deep feelings of astonishment. In five hours and 
 a half we have travelled 112 miles, and swept through 
 seven of the fairest counties in England ; and this we 
 have eflfected by the mighty energy of a little vaporised 
 water. Truly, if sublimity is to be found anywhere in 
 nature, it is where the power of steam is manifested. 
 The mind that can perceive no sublimity in the opera- 
 tions of this tremendous agent, either when revealed 
 in the convulsions of the earthquake, or when put- 
 ing forth its terrific might in the service of man, is as 
 yet a total stranger to the highest and noblest emo- 
 tions of the human soul.
 
 98 
 
 BIRiMINGHAM 
 
 mnmm 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 BIRMINGHAM AND ITS MANUFACTURES. 
 
 As the second division of this itinerary, namely, that 
 which is intended to form a companion to the Grand 
 Junction Railway, contains an historical and topo- 
 graphical description of the town of Birmingham, it 
 would only occasion needless repetition to insert such 
 a one here. Our endeavour in this chapter, therefore, 
 will be, to bring together a few facts connected with 
 the celebrated Manufactures of this town, which may 
 prove interesting to the stranger, and perhaps furnish 
 him with pleasing and instructive topics for table-talk. 
 "What first strikes the attention of the stranger upon 
 approaching Birmingham, either by railroad or the 
 antiquated coach roads, is the dense cloud of smoke
 
 AND ITS MANUFACTURES. 99 
 
 issuing from its confused mass of buildings, and brood- 
 ing over it in sullen gloom, as if it were the crater 
 of some vast volcano, or one of the chimneys of the 
 Cyclops' forge. The manner in which this scene is 
 viewed, might, perhaps, furnish a good index to the 
 character of the beholder. Yet, whatever may be the 
 first emotions to which it gives rise, few, we think, can 
 be able to gaze upon it long without feeling elevated 
 and ennobled. Beneath that hemisphere of smoke, 
 the mind of man has put forth its majesty of power, 
 and has gained its mightiest victories. The agent by 
 which it here works is that, the possession of which 
 distinguishes man from the brute, namely, Fire : the 
 material in which it works is that, the knowledge of 
 which chiefly distinguishes civilized man from the 
 savage, namely. Iron. 
 
 The Manufactures in Iron, as being those which 
 confer upon Birmingham its principal celebrity, of 
 course demand our first notice. Their early history 
 would lead us far back into the remote and obscure 
 periods of Grecian and Egyptian fable ; nor should we 
 then be able to discover anything with certainty 
 respecting their origin. Their introduction into our 
 country is enveloped in similar obscurity; though, 
 from various allusions in Roman authors, it would 
 appear to have been anterior to the invasion of our 
 island by their armies. The mines in the Forest of 
 Dean, which are known to have been in operation in 
 the year 1066, were restrained by the government of 
 the country in 1581, on account of the immense 
 quantities of wood consumed in the smelting of the 
 ore. Shortly afterwards. Lord Dudley made his in- 
 
 11 2
 
 100 B^mI^'GHAM 
 
 valuable discovery, that pit-coal would form a fuel in 
 every respect more advantageous than wood ; but, 
 owing to the mad opposition by which this invaluable 
 discovery was met by the ignorant populace, it was not 
 initil 1740 that it began to be generally turned to bene- 
 ficial account. Since that period this manufacture 
 has flourished amazingly ; the same rich treasure house 
 from which the precious mineral itself is drawn, yield- 
 ing also, by a kind provision of Nature, the fuel by 
 which it is separated from its earthy alloy, and the 
 limestone without which this separation could scarcely 
 be effected. The iron districts around Birmingham 
 are possessed of peculiar advantages with respect to 
 the juxta-position of the various substances required 
 in its manufacture: the iron, the coal, the limestonp, 
 and also the clay with which the furnaces are built, 
 being generally found within a few yards from each 
 other. The characteristic excellence of the Stafford- 
 shire metal is that of forming admirably fine and sharp 
 castings. 
 
 The smelting furnaces are chiefly situated in the 
 neighbourhood of Dudley, in the southern part of the 
 county of Staffordshire. The foundries, where the 
 rough metal is cast into various forms of utility and 
 ornament, are dispersed in different parts of Stafford- 
 shire, Shropshire, and Warwickshire ; but the most 
 important are within the town, or in the immediate 
 vicinity of Birmingham. The number of foundries 
 within the town is about twenty-three ; of which, the 
 largest is the Eagle Foundry, in Broad-street. This 
 foundry has been established upwards of three quarters 
 of a century ; and the plan which is now generally
 
 a:sd its iiA^' u fact u res. 101 
 
 adopted, of testing the iron of which important cast- 
 ings are to be made, has been there systematically pur- 
 sued for the last fifteen years. The simplest method 
 of performing this operation, is that of raising a bar by 
 one end, and striking it across the edge of an anvil 
 at the centre of percussion ; although there are other 
 tests of a much severer character than this to which it 
 is frequently subjected. 
 
 Upon coming from the foundry, most of the iron 
 which has to be further manufactured, goes to the 
 engineers to be employed in the construction of steam 
 engines and other massive machinerv, or to the metal 
 rolling mills, in order to be reduced into thin plates. 
 Of the establishments for the manufacture of heavy 
 machinery, the works of Boulton and Watt, at Soho, 
 of course take the lead. The partnership of these two 
 celebrated engineers commenced in the year 1759. 
 The unequalled machines, and other articles of hard- 
 ware which they have sent forth from their workshops, 
 have carried their fame to the most distant regions of 
 the earth ; and the improvements which they have 
 effected in whatever they have taken in hand, and 
 especially in the construction of the steam engine, have 
 surrounded their names with an imperishable lustre. 
 
 In order to render the stubborn metals serviceable 
 to the platers, button makers, and various other manu- 
 facturers, it is necessary that they should be reduced 
 into thin plates of uniform thickness. This is done in 
 the ponderous Metal Rolling jMills, in the operations 
 of which we behold a tremendously powerful agency, 
 guided with astonishing precision, to the performance 
 of an almost incredible work. 
 
 II 3
 
 102 
 
 kir:,ii>:giiam 
 
 The Platers bestow the requisite form upon the 
 articles which they manufacture by means of stamps ; 
 finishing them, when necessary, with a punch and 
 hammer. The stock of die-moulds, which this system 
 renders it necessary to keep on hand, is immense : 
 some of the foctories possess no fewer than 300,000, 
 all of different patterns. This manufacture can be 
 witnessed with the greatest facility at the works of 
 Messrs. Collis and Co., in Church-street; and we 
 vrould particularly call the attention of the stranger to 
 this establishment, as he may there also witness the 
 manufacture of guns, medals, buttons, and various 
 kinds of jewellery ; and may examine, in the extensive 
 show-rooms, a magnificent collection of the choicest 
 specimens of Birmingham art, in all its departments. 
 The productions of the sister manufactories of Shef- 
 field may be advantageously viewed in connexion 
 with those of Birmingham, by persons inclined to in- 
 stitute a comparison betv/een them, at the show rooms 
 of Mapplebeck and Lowe, in the Bull-ring, and of 
 Edwards and Ball, in High-street; and we certainly 
 do not think that the opportunity of making such a 
 comparison ought to be neglected by the intelligent 
 visiter who is in search of amusement combined with 
 instruction. Of metallic buildings for horticultural 
 purposes, Messrs. Daft and Son, of Paradise-street, 
 and Mr. Thomas Clark, of Lionel-street, are the prin- 
 cipal manufacturers. Those erected by Mr. Clark, in 
 the Botanic Gardens, at Edgbaston, are well worthy of 
 inspection. The conservatory is composed entirely of 
 metal and glass, and is a beautiful specimen of the taste 
 and skill which is now displayed in this branch of art.
 
 AND ITS MAiSUFACTURES. 103 
 
 Of all the remaining manufactures, that of steel pens 
 is perhaps the most interesting. These little substi- 
 tutes for the grey goose quill are made by means of a 
 standing press, and auotiier little machine which rounds 
 the nibs and cuts the slits. They are afterwards polished 
 by mutual attrition caused by agitation in an eccentri- 
 cally revolving cylinder. In the manufacture of this 
 apparently insignificant article, upwards of one hundred 
 tons of steel are annually consumed, and a vast number 
 of hands constantly employed. Owing to the rapidity 
 with which it has sprung into importance, a vast influx 
 of wealth has been the consequence to the fortunate 
 speculators who were the first to enter the field. One 
 individual has lately reared a gigantic factory on New- 
 hall-hill, and calculates that he manufactures upwards 
 of thirty-six millions of pens every year. 
 
 Japanning is another staple manufacture of Birming- 
 ham ; and its productions, in this branch of art, already 
 bid fair to rival their oriental architypes in fanci- 
 fulness of design and brilliancy of ornament. The 
 show-rooms of the principal japanners will carry the 
 visiter back, in imagination, to the gorgeous halls of 
 Arabian fable, adorned, not by the art and labour of 
 man, but, by the creative power of invisible genii. 
 
 This cursory survey of the leading manufactures 
 will be sufhcient to give the stranger a general idea of 
 their character. They are of that class which has 
 raised England to her exalted rank among the nations : 
 and the practical traveller will here find more objects 
 worthy of engaging his attention than he would pro- 
 bably do during a three months' tour through the most 
 famed cities of the continent. All knowledge is here 
 
 H 4
 
 104 BIRMINGHAM 
 
 rendered practical. The antiquarian comes from the 
 sacred vales of Greece and Italy, laden with designs 
 of classic elegance, grace, and beauty, to enrich the 
 pattern book of the plater and founder. The chemist 
 issues forth from his laboratory to show what effect 
 the agents with which he is conversant will have upon 
 the various metals made use of, and what alloys can 
 be advantageously substituted for more expensive ma- 
 terials ; and the mathematician descends from his 
 abstract speculations to regulate the construction of 
 machinery, and furnish the engineer with infallible 
 data. In short, Art here holds her imperial court, and 
 the magician Science bows in obsequious vassalage. 
 At her command he waves his potent wand, and nature 
 owns her authority, and the elements murmur sub- 
 mission to her sway ; Earth opens to her his 
 hidden treasuries; Fire pours at her feet the puri- 
 fied riches; Water, reconciled to his bitterest foe, 
 puts forth his latent power, and places at her dis- 
 posal his gigantic and hitherto undiscovered energies ; 
 whilst Air affords her his tribute of service, by waft- 
 ing her merchandise from land to distant land, as far 
 as the swelling waves of ocean have ever rolled. 
 
 For further information respecting the history, 
 topography, and famed manufactures of this town, we 
 must refer our reader to the " Picture of Birmingham/' 
 — a picture which possesses qualities which no artist 
 has ever been able to communicate to his most 
 elaborate productions ; as it unites the brilliancy, 
 faithfulness, and animation, of the camera obscura, 
 with the miraculous properties of the Italian necro- 
 mancer's mirror, across which visions of the past, and
 
 AND ITS M A?{ U FACT U RES. 105 
 
 shadows of the future, were wont to flit; — and we will 
 content ourselves with giving the following list of a 
 very few of its numerous manufacturers: — 
 
 PRIXCIPAL SHOW ROOMS AND MANUFACTORIES. 
 
 Sdlio, Handsworth. 
 
 BRASS FOUNDERS. 
 
 Audertou, W., and Sous, 6, Wliittall street. 
 
 Barber, J., and Green, 15, Newhall- street. 
 
 Bouni, John, 31, Lionel-street. 
 
 Docker, Thomas, and Sons, Wliittall- sti'eet. 
 
 Heaton, Ralph, 70 and 71, Bath-street. 
 
 Honi, Thomas, Temple-roAv. 
 
 liingham Brothers, 1 70, Little Hampton-street. 
 
 Messenger, Thomas, and Sons, 22, Broad-street. 
 
 RatclifF, J. and E., St. Paxil's Square. 
 
 Simcox, Pemberton, and Co., 42, Livery-sti'eet. 
 
 Smith, Timothy, and Sons, 4, Bartholomew- street. 
 
 Standley, James, 43, Stani forth- street. 
 
 Swift, James, 7, Whittall-street. 
 
 Winfield, R. W., Cambridge- street. 
 
 BRITISH PLATE MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 Brown and Ball, Paradise-sti-eet. 
 
 Kvans and Askin, George-street, Sand Pits. 
 
 MeiTy and Co., Cherry-street. 
 
 Sturges an(J Son, 26, Lichtield-street. 
 
 BUTTON MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 Armtield, Edward, Newhall-street. 
 
 Aston, J., St. Paul's Square. 
 
 Bartleet, T., and Sons, 126, Great Gharles- street. 
 
 Elliott, W., Frederick- street. Regent-street. 
 
 Hammond, Turner, and Sons, Snow-hill. 
 
 Hai'dman, J., and Co., 12, Paradise-street. 
 
 Jennens and Co., Old Meeting-house-yai'd, Deritend. 
 
 Ledsam, Thomas, and Sons, 10, Great Charles-street.
 
 lOG 
 
 BIRMI.NGIIAM 
 
 Smith, C. v., 14, NtMvhall-slreet. 
 Steadman, R. Jim., 35, Edmund-street. 
 
 CUT AND PLAIN GLASS MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 Bedford, Sarah, and Co., 16, New-street. 
 Henderson, (Staiuer of Glass,) New-street. 
 Price, Higli-street. 
 
 Rollason, Thomas, (Manufacturer to the Royal Family,) Steel- 
 house lane. 
 Osier, F. and C, Broad-sU-eet. 
 
 GLASS WORKS. 
 
 Bacchus and Green, Union Glass Works, Dai-tmouth- street. 
 Gammon, W., and Co., Belmont Glass AYorks, Great Brook-street. 
 Goold and Co., ^tna Glass AVorks, Broad-street. 
 Harris, Rice, Islington Glass Works, Sheepcote- street, Broad-street. 
 Thomson and Shaw, Bagot- street. 
 
 GUN AND PISTOL MAKERS. 
 
 Busby, J., 30f, New-sU'eet. 
 Dugard, R., 29, Whittall- street. 
 Jones, Charles, 16, Whittall-street 
 Meredith, H., and Son, 48, St. Paul's Square. 
 Powell, W., 49, High-street. 
 Pritchard, W., 135, New street. 
 Redfei-n, B., Caroline-street. 
 Richards, Westley, 82, High-street. 
 Sargant and Son, 74, Edmund- street. 
 Wheeler, R., and Son, 27, Snow-hill. 
 
 HOTHOUSE AND HORTICULTURAL BUILDING CONSTRUCTORS 
 
 METALLIC AND COPPER SASH MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 Clark, Thomas, Jun., 55, Lionel-street. 
 
 Daft, Thomas, and Son, Towti Hall Foundry, Paradise- street. 
 
 IRON FOUNDERS. 
 
 Boulton, Watt, and Co., Soho. 
 Capper, Chai'les Henry, Broad-street. 
 Jones, George, Phoenix Foundry, Snow-hill. 
 Jones, Thomas, and Sons, Bradford -street.
 
 AND ITS MANUFACTURES. 107 
 
 Mole, T. and W., Pagoda V/orks, Bordesley. — Shjw Rooms, 
 
 Smiibfield. 
 Smiili and Hawkes, Eagle Foundry, Broad-street. 
 
 MALLEABLE IRON FOUNDERS. 
 Clive and Cardall, 50, Stauiforth-street. 
 
 JAPANNERS. 
 
 Bill, R. and G., 1 i, Summer-lane. 
 
 Jennens and Bettridge, (Paper Tray Makers to her Majesty,) 99, 
 
 Constitution-hill. 
 Lane, Thomas, Great Hampton-street. 
 Room, James, 28, Summer-row. 
 
 JEWELLERS, SILVERSMITHS, AND EMPORIUMS FOR EVERY 
 DESCRIPTION OF CLTLERY, PLATED WARES, &C. 
 
 Soho Plate Company, Handsworth. 
 Collis, G. R., Church-street. 
 Edwards, Ball, and Co., 82, High-street. 
 Mapplebeck and Lowe, Bull Ring. 
 
 LAMP, CHANDELIER, CANDELABRA, LUSTRE, &€., MANIFACTIUERS. 
 
 Aspinall, T., 33, Lower Temple street. 
 Blakeway, John, Edgbaston-street. 
 Blake way, Thomas William, Broad- street. 
 Messenger, Thomas, and Sons, Broad-street. 
 Osier, Follett, Broad- street, Islington. 
 Phipson and Evans, Newhall-street. 
 Ratclifl', John and Charles, 140, Suffolk-street 
 Salt, Thomas Clutton, 17 and 18, Edmund-street. 
 Smith, Timothy, and Sons, 4, Bartholomew-street. 
 
 METAL ROLLERS. 
 
 Cooke, Roome, and Harley, Fazeley-street. 
 Mimtz, George Frederick, AVater-street. 
 Phipson, William, Fazeley-street. 
 Union Rolling Mills, Cambridge-street. 
 
 PIN MAKERS. 
 
 Phipson, T., and Sons, Broad-street 
 Latham and Kilmister, Lancaster- street.
 
 108 BIRMINGHAM AND ITS MANUFACTURES. 
 
 PLATERS, AND MANUFACTURERS OF SILVER AND PLATED WARES. 
 
 CoUis, G. R., Church-street. 
 
 Dixon, Matthew, 137, Snow-hill. 
 
 Parkei', J,, and Sons, 23§, Summer-row. 
 
 Parker, John Frederick, 72, High-sti'eet. 
 
 Ryland, William, 167, Great Charles-street. 
 
 Soho Plate Company, Soho. 
 
 Spooner, Painter, and Co., 12, New Market-st., Great Charles- st. 
 
 Watei-house and Son, 22, Hill-street. 
 
 Wilkinson, Thomas, and Co., 15, Great Hampton -street. 
 
 Willmore and Co., Bread-street. 
 
 STEAM ENGINE MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 Boulton and Watt, Soho, Handsworth. 
 
 Capper, C. H., Broad-street. 
 
 Donaldson and Glasgow, 53, Suflblk- street. 
 
 Smith and Hawkes, Eagle Foundry, Broad-street. 
 
 Jones, George, Phaniix Foundry, Snow-hill and' Lionel-street. 
 
 Penn, Samuel, Great Lister Street Steam Mill. 
 
 SCREW MANUFACTURERS. 
 
 James, J., Bradford- street. 
 Ledsam, Messrs., Edmund-street. 
 Ryland, H., Oozell-street, Broad-street. 
 
 MISCELLANEOUS MANUFACTURERS, &c. 
 Knight, Heni-y, Machinist, 15, Aun-sti*eet. 
 Middlemore, — , Holloway-head, Saddlers' Ironmonger. 
 Room, W. and F., Pai-ade, Wholesale Saddlers and Bridle Makers. 
 Rodgers and Co., Broad- street. Brace and Belt Manufacturers. 
 Bright, H., Jeweller, 2, Union-street. 
 
 Farmer, R., Upholsterer, 11, New-street, and 30, Bath row. 
 Harris, T., Upholsterer, 9, New sti'eet. 
 
 INNS. 
 The Royal Hotel, Temple-row, and 
 
 The New Royal Hotel, (kept hy ]Mr. Lambley, successor to Mr. 
 Radenhurst,) New-street, ai-e the principal Family Houses.
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Al.DBlRY, 40 
 
 Alderman Hill, 67 
 Allesley, 92 
 Appevton, 18 
 Ascot, 46 
 
 Ashhridge Park, 39 
 Ashted, 96 
 Ashlon, 61 
 Aston, 96 
 Avon, the, 81 
 Aylesburgb, 44 
 
 Baginton, 83 
 BalLrook Grange, 81 
 Balsal Grange, 93 
 Bank :Mill, 34 
 Barr Beacon, 96 
 Barston, 93 
 Battle;^don Park, 45 
 Beech Wood, 92 
 
 liuinel, ih. 
 
 Bellington, 4o 
 Belmont, 18 
 Bentley Priory, ib. 
 Berkhampstead, 34 
 Berkswell, 92 
 Bilton, 80 
 Birmingham, 98 
 station, 96 
 
 iron manufactures, 99 
 
 fomidries, 100 
 
 steam engine manufac- 
 tories, 101 
 
 metal rolling mills, ib. 
 
 plated ware, 102 
 
 giins, ih. 
 
 medals. Hi. 
 
 buttons, il). 
 
 Birmingham, horticultural 
 buildings, ih. 
 
 steel pens, l(i3 
 
 japanning, ih. 
 
 character of its manu- 
 
 factures, 104 
 
 list of principal manu- 
 facturers, 105 
 
 Binley, 83 
 
 Bletciiley, 50 
 
 Bliswortii, 63 
 
 Blythe viaduct, 93 
 
 Borough Hill, 70. 73 
 
 Bourne End, 33 ' 
 
 Boxmoor, 32 
 
 Bradwell Wharf, 58 
 
 Bradwell, 53 
 
 Brandon, 82 
 
 Brent, river, 18 
 
 Brickhill, Great, 49, 51 
 
 Little, 50, 51 
 
 Bow, ih. 
 
 Brockhall Park, 72 
 
 BroAvnsover, 76 
 
 Buckby Wharf, 73 
 
 Bugbrook, 66 
 
 Downs, 62, 66 
 
 Buckingham, 55 
 
 Camden Town, 10—12 
 Carriages, fittings up of, 8 
 Cashiobury, 26 
 
 abbey, 25 
 
 Castle Thorp, 59 
 Chalk Farm, 13 
 Cheddington, 44 
 City railway, 7 
 Claycolon, 76
 
 110 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Chiltem hills, 40—42 
 Clapperdo-mi, 44 
 Clifton, 76 
 
 Clipperdo-mi hills, 43 
 Coleshill, 94 
 Colne, valley of, 22 
 
 viaduct, 23 
 
 Combe abbey, 83 
 Cosgi-ove, o9 
 Counters End, 33 
 CoAentrv, 84 — 88 
 
 _ ^ history of, 85—87 
 
 legend of, 85 
 
 trades of, 87 
 
 , buildings of, ib. 
 
 clmrches of, 88 
 
 Cowper, 35 
 Crackley Wood, 92 
 Crawley Wood, 44 
 Crick, 73 
 
 Daventry, 69 
 Denbigh hall, 52 
 Derby and Birminghara Junc- 
 tion Railway, 94, 96 
 Drayton Parslow, 50 
 Duddestou hall, 96 
 Dudswell, 39 
 Dunchurch, 75 
 Duns] and, 76 
 Dunstable, 47 
 Dunstou Wood, 62, 64 
 
 Easton Park, 60 
 Eddlesborough, 44 
 Edgeware, 21 
 Edgeware-road, 14 
 Elradon Park, 95 
 Elkington, 76 
 Elsdon-lane, 92 
 Elstree, 21 
 Ernsford Grange, 83 
 Escote, 93 
 Euston Grove, 7, 8 
 
 Farthingstone, 67 
 
 Felden, 33 
 Fennv Stratford, 51 
 Floore Hill, 72 
 Furthro, 60 
 
 Gavton church, 62 
 
 — '- Wharf, 64 
 
 Grafton Regis, 60 
 Grand Excavation, 9 
 Great Brington, 64 
 Great Seabrook, 43 
 Grove Park, 28 
 Guy's CliflF, 89 
 
 Hall Norton, 73 
 Hampstead, 15 
 Hampstead-road, 
 Hampton-iu-Arden, 93 
 Han slope, 58 
 Harpole, 64 
 
 . Hill, 62 
 
 Harrow-on-the-Hill, 19 
 Harstone Brook -sdaduct, 6" 
 Hartwell, 60 
 Hatchend, 21 
 Haver sham, 59 
 Haxter End, 34 
 Hearshall common, 92 
 Hemel Hempstead, 32 
 Heyford, Upper, 67 
 
 . Nether, ib. 
 
 Higham, 67 
 Highgate, 12 
 Hill End, 33 
 Hinckley, 91 
 Horton, 45 
 Hunsbury Hill, 02 
 Hunton Bridge, 29 
 
 Icknield Way, 41 
 
 Ivinghoe, 43 
 
 Aston, 44 
 
 Jackdaw Hill, 48 
 
 Kenilworth, 89
 
 IISDEX. 
 
 HI 
 
 Kensal Greeii tunnel, 16 
 Kilbum, 14 
 Kilsby tunnel, 74 
 King's Langley, 28 
 
 Langley Bury, 28 
 Lawford, Church, 80 
 
 Little, ib. 
 
 Long, ih, 
 
 Leamington Priors, 90 
 Ledbury Green, 45 
 Leighton Buzzard, 46 
 Liibounie, 76 
 LLiilbrd, 58 
 I,in.slade, 49 
 Liscombe Park, ih. 
 Littleborough, 67 
 London, history of, 2 
 
 greatness of, 3 
 
 antiquitv' of, 2 
 
 its plagues, ih. 
 
 its fires, 3 
 
 traffic of, ih. 
 
 railways entering, 4 
 
 London and Binniughaia Rail- 
 way, history of, 6 
 
 Longcroft, 33 
 Loughton, 53 
 Luttenvorth, 79 
 
 Makidown, 95 
 Marston wood, ih. 
 Marsworth, 43 
 Maxtoke castle, 94 
 
 piiory, ih. 
 
 Mentraore, Ao 
 
 Mercote hall, 93 
 
 Meriden, ih. 
 
 Midland Counties Railway, 79 
 
 Mill Mead, 58 
 
 Milton, or Middleton, 62 
 
 Moor Hall, 23 
 
 Moretou Hill, 76 
 
 Mount Pleasant, 81 
 
 Nene, valley of the, 64 
 
 Newbold, 76 
 Newbold-upon-Avon, 80 
 Newport PagneU, 56 
 Newton, 76 
 Newton Longviile, 51 
 Northall, 44 
 Northchurch, 39 
 
 tunnel, ih. 
 
 Northampton, 64 
 Nuneaton, 91 
 
 Oldbury Wood, 39 
 Olney, 56 
 Ouse Aiaduct, 
 Oxhey, 22 
 Oxhey ridge, 21 
 
 Packington Park, 93 
 Packiugton, Little, 95 
 Paik-street bridge, 10 
 Pattishall, 67 
 Pinner, 21 
 Pitstone, 43 
 Pottersbury, 60 
 Pottisgrovc, 45 
 Pouching End, 33 
 Primrose Kill tunnel, 13 
 
 Regent's Park, 12 
 Rickmansworth, 23 
 Rigton End, 93 
 Roade, 61 
 Rothersthorpe, 64 
 Rugby, 76 — 79 
 
 school, 78 
 
 Ruislip, 21 
 Ryton, 82 
 
 Salcey, forest of, 60 
 Saltley Excavation, 96 
 Shakspeai-e, 81 
 Sheldon, 95 
 Shenstonc, 53 
 Sherbounie viaduct, 84 
 Slapton, 45 
 Solihull, 94
 
 112 
 
 INDEX. 
 
 Soulbury, 49 
 St. Albans, 26 
 Staumore, liittle, 20 
 
 Great, il>. 
 
 Stanton, 45 
 Stephenson, Robert, 7 
 Stewklev, 49 
 Stitchfoi-d, 95 
 Stoke, 83 
 Stoke Brueni, GO 
 
 Hammond, 49 
 
 Park, 60 
 
 Stoney Stratford, 55 
 Stowe, 67 
 
 Stowe bill timnel, 67 
 
 Park, 55 
 
 Sudbury, 18 
 
 Telegraph, electro magnetic, 1 2 
 Ten Sliilling wood, 92 
 Towcester, 63 
 Travelling, pleasures of, 1 
 Tring, 40 
 Tunnels, 75 
 Two ^Yaters, 32 
 Twyford, 17 
 
 Upper Classthorpe, 64 
 Uxbridge, 21 
 
 Vauxhall, 96 
 
 Walsal End, 93 
 Wards Combe Hills, 43 
 Warwick, 88 
 Water Eaton, 51 
 AVatford, 73 
 
 ■ 25 
 
 tunnel, 27 
 
 Weedon, 68 
 AVendover, 41 
 Whaddon Cbace, 51 
 Wbilton, 73 
 White Hill, 38 
 Whitley abbey, 84 
 Whittleburv Forest, 60 
 WillenhairWood, 83 
 Wing, 45 
 Wigginton, 38, 40 
 Wimbley, 18 
 Woburn, 51 
 
 abbey, 52 
 
 Wolverton, 54 
 Wooton, 62 
 
 Green, 93 
 
 Wriothesley-street bridge, 9 
 
 Yardley, 95 
 
 Gobi on, 60 
 
 Yelvcrtoft, 76
 
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 W .33 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
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 I? P.i 
 
 12 .W 
 
 1 15 
 
 
 1 .5t 
 
 2 5 
 
 
 2 40 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7W 
 
 
 3 21 
 
 3 IB 
 
 4 4 15 
 
 4 30 
 
 4ii 
 
 ••> 4 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 5 P.M. 
 
 5 30 6 50 
 
 |745 
 
 10 
 
 6 20 
 
 6 35 
 825 
 9 56 
 
 
 9 16 
 10 54 
 
 
 9 50 
 
 10 6 
 
 11 60 
 
 10 40 
 
 
 11 10 
 1 
 
 
 t tbe Aylesbury Junction. 
 
 Up Tr ains f ro m Birm ingham^ 
 
 MIXED, from Wolvln 
 MIXED .... 
 
 'MAIL 
 
 •MIXED .... 
 •MIXED, 1st CI. Stns. 
 •FIRST .... 
 MIXED .... 
 
 1^11 
 
 10 2fi 
 
 5 2 2.5 
 lO' 3 31 
 
 Sunday Trains. 
 
 ivili call at the Aylesbury Ju 
 
 MIXED, from Wolvt 
 
 •MAIL 
 
 •MIXED . . . . 
 
 iieral, under the powers granteil by act of Parliament, 
 - - ■ - -. -- . ' jijctioii Railway ; suffi- 
 
 a female attendant. 
 
 e of the GrandJu 
 
 e Square 
 ■ -y.Aldg 
 
 -, Aldr 
 
 -,HonioriiBaisI 6 
 
 — Golden Cross 2 
 
 t Garden, Piazza. 2 
 I and Anchor, Strand 2 
 
 iwich Kiiihv 
 
 ?r Cof. Hse .Dsf.l.St. 2 
 
 irn.George&BlueBoarl 
 
 2 14 
 
 Lad Ln. Swan with two Necks 2 6 18 
 
 Loudon Hospital . . 4 2 8 
 
 lnstitn,.MoorfleId8 3 2 
 
 Loudon Bvidpe Wharf . 3 2 
 
 Lambeth, Three Stags . 3 C 3 4 
 
 Mint, Tower Hill . . 3 2 4 
 
 Marsh Gate, Lambeth . ,10 3 
 
 Middlesex Hospital . 1 Q 10 
 
 Opera House . . 2 14 
 
 Obelisk, St. George's Fields 3 6 2 4 
 
 Porimau Stiuare . . 2 14 
 
 Pantheon Bazaar . . 16 10 
 
 Pantechnicon, KnightsbridgeS a 2 
 
 Ratcliff Higwy.CoachSland4 6 3 
 
 RgntCircus, Oxford Street 1 fi 10 
 
 JtKDt.Cir.PiGdly.,Chap.0ffice2 14 
 
 Soho Squsre . . I 6 10 
 
 Somerset House . . 2 14 
 
 Saddlers Wells Theatre 2 14 
 
 Sessions House, Cierkenwell2 I 4 
 
 SnireyCbapel.BIKfrs.Road 3 6 2 4 
 Shoreditch Church 
 
 St. Paul' 
 
 St James's Palai 
 
 Wharf . 
 
 tiUil 
 Ludi'ute Hill 
 
 Conduit House . 2 
 Wood Street, Cross Keys 2 
 Yorkshire Stingo . . 2 
 ZooIogicaIGrdns.,Rguts.Prk.2 
 
 4 6 3 
 
 AB'iilOLET FARES p 
 
 :nn, Bristol Rd. . 1850-16 
 
 ingham Canal, 
 
 Use St, . . onemile-l 
 
 ent, (any part) • 1 6 
 
 Dees Royal Hotel ■ 98.'j-l 
 
 Deaf & Dumb Insts. . 3050-2 6 
 
 Deritend Bridge . . 1120-1 
 EtIgbtn.Ch., by Bi-stl, Rd. 3900-2 6 
 
 by Broad Street 3050-: 
 School, New Sti-eet 1130-10 
 General Hospital . onemile-l 
 
 
 Old Square, Stork Hotel 840-1 
 Post Office . . 1433-1 
 
 Plough & Hanow Inn, 
 
 Hapley Road . , 3670-2 6 
 Swan Hotel . . . 1065-1 
 St. Martin's Church . 1000-10 
 St.PhlpsCb..(Dee'sHotI.) 990-1 
 St. George's Church . 1980-16 
 St. Mary's Chapel. . 1030-10 
 Sl.PaursChpI.Lgtfi.Hill 1860-1 6 
 Sand Pits Toll-gate . 2990-2 
 Trinity Chapel, Deritend 3000-1 6 
 Town Hall . - . 1590-1 
 Theatre .... 1430-1 
 and every 20 
 
 n the Station 
 
 le mile of tbe 
 
 ;ediog4n,6d. for being detained. 
 
 and Inn' 
 
 
 AYLESBURY RAILWAY, 
 Ziondon and Birmmgham Sailway. 
 
 The Hovm of J>f,mr{,7rr ore as miJe}-.— 
 . calling a 
 
 Ziondon to Aylesbury. 
 
 t. calling 
 I. do. onlj 
 
 I. joins 6| 
 
 Btrmingha 
 
 i to Aylesbury. 
 
 buryt 
 
 rom Wo 
 
 
 
 
 BERKHMPSTD. 
 
 m It 4 
 
 ill 
 
 ii: 
 
 
 10.6 
 
 i: 
 
 :: 
 
 -_ ■ 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 7-1 - 
 
 ". ^ 
 
 t.a 
 
 « 
 
 6.6 
 
 S 
 
 °;° 
 
 2.6 
 
 it: 
 
 ■« 
 
 s 
 
 ;::: 
 
 ;;': 
 
 :r 
 
 ia.o 
 
 1" 
 
 9.0 
 
 !::: 
 
 .3.1 
 
 .:■: 
 
 LONDON AND BIRMINGHAM RAILWAY 
 
 1^ P.M. ditto Ditto Catling only at 1st Class do. 
 
 Aylesbury to Birmingham. 
 I i.M, Train Irom London, calling at all the Stations. 
 
 On Sundays.— Ztondon to Aylesbury- 
 
 " ditto ' ditto 
 
 Birmingham to Aylesbury. 
 
 , Calling at all the Stiitiuns. Ihie nt CwLDDlNGTOf 
 
 Aylesbury to London. 
 
 joins 6J4.M. Train from Wolvf.uton. .jailing i 
 
 .. IJP.M ditto ElUMINGIIAM. 
 
 Aylesbury to Blrminghi 
 
 all tbe Stations. 
 
 ERPOOL AND 
 les of departure fr._ 
 Liverp^l-road, Mancheslei 
 
 Uverpool to Manchester. 
 
 " ^- id 'i,A%, 7, {mixed,) p.m.— 
 and 2J,54,7, (stopping only 
 
 MANCHESTER RAILWAY, 
 Lime.street, Liverpool 
 iQpl-rr"-' ■»' — ' 
 
 First Class, "t^ W,'vi 
 Second Class, TJ, 10, llj, 
 at Newton,) p.m. 
 
 _. Prom Manchester to Liverpool. 
 
 First Class, , 9 lU. a.m., and 2, 5, 7. {mixed.)p.m— Second 
 Sl*'i?''iv^°' "i'«™- and 2i,' flj, 7, {stopping only at 
 ot start till 3. 
 ..and 5} p.m. 
 
 5, p.m.— 2ud Class, 
 Fares. 
 
 Royal Mnil 
 
 Newtou,) 
 Except 
 
 IstClnss, 
 
 By First 
 
 D 
 
 By 2ud ( 
 
 B 
 
 Charge for the Conveyance ofF. 
 
 Ditto Two-wheeled ditto .. 
 
 Horses— For 1 Horse, Hs —2 Horses, i 
 N.B. — All Horses must be embarked 
 Station, EDGE HILL, (Wavertree-lane.) unless 
 
 u which they belong; i 
 
 Company'! 
 
 For better se 
 Carpet Bags an 
 every descriptio 
 
 ! requested to take 
 
 eipht allowed for each Passenger is Wlbs,, beyond 
 
 R^, Mixed; 11. Fiisti 
 
 Second Class ; 4J, Mixed. 
 
 
 , -'i ; 
 
 On S 
 
 ■ARES.— From i.nir|i<,>i>l i.r Muiichesterto Preston, Is 
 7s. 6d.; 2nd Class 59.— Ditto to Wigan, Ist. Class 5s 
 Class 3s. 6d. 
 
 To Bolton. 
 
 First Class, SJ, 11, a.m.— Second Cla8S,2J,flJ,p. 
 
 1st Claaa.9, m.'am.— 2nd Class, 23, 5J, 
 )n Sdndays (both u'oys;.— 2nd Class, 7, a.m., a 
 "ares.— From Liverpool, In, fis. 6d., Out, 48.; 
 Manchester, 2s. 6d. and 2s, 
 
 d^i,] 
 
 Secoud Class, 7^, 10, llj, a.m., and 2}, 5\, p.n 
 
 Second Class, 7J, 10, llj.a.m., and 2|, 5j, p.n 
 On SvsDkY'A (both Hflj/s/— 2nd Class, 7a.ro., and i 
 Fares. — From Livei-pool, In., 3s., Out,, 28, 6d.; ac 
 
 Mancbeeter, 
 From Liver; 
 On Sundays (hoth u-aj/sj.— 2nd Class, 
 
 To Buneorn Gap. 
 
 OOL — Second Class, 74 a.m. 
 - .?iu.,. 
 
 Liverpool, In., 3s,, Ou 
 Manchester, 4s. and 3s. 
 
 Parcels 
 
 and 2} p.n 
 
 
 "l^-^ i '-i^- 
 
 igan, Pre! 
 
 ^ Dui and M 
 
 Manehester, and Lii 
 
 ■or tbe Intermedia 
 Railway may beki 
 
 Liverpool 
 
 Oflici 
 
 i.and The North, are booked o 
 hestcr Parcel Offices, {Market-; 
 
 Liverpool); and the Coach 
 ipping Places on the Non 
 at tbe Liverpool and Ma 
 
 t Class Carriages, carrying Six Inside, and of Second Class 
 is a small roof lamp inside by day and aigbt.— Children, 
 
 Parcels by Weight. 
 
 ningbaui. as fur as WuIvlHuu 
 
 r further than Wolvertou ... 
 
 VTagon ( 
 
 a London anil Hi k 
 
 liagic, Gracechurch-s 
 and SliU, Oxford-stri 
 
 Chickens. In Cov 
 
 N.B.— Persons des 
 
 paid for accordingly. 
 
 n\\ be dismi 
 
 In addition U 
 leceivinp Hou; 
 nay beoblained; — 
 
 In London: — Swan with Two Necks, Lad-lane; Cross Keys, Wood- 
 itreet; Golden Cross, Charing Cross; Eagle, Regent Circus; Spread 
 
 ly, " Per Railway," 
 
 nd all Passengers t 
 
 ud Packages 1 
 
 i Offices E 
 
 I, there beini 
 
 ouch Trains, 
 foundation 
 
 
 Officers of, theliondon & Birmingham Bail^nr^ 
 
 ■ B. CREED, 
 Engineeiriu Chief. . . .R. STEPHENSON, Esq. 
 Resident Eni 
 
 . FOX, Esq. 
 
 .. DOCKRAY, Esq. 
 
 Agen 
 
 Great IVastern Ballviray. 
 
 Slough &\ 
 Slough 
 Slough &\ 
 
 DUATTON 
 calling at Hanwell and Ealing. 
 
 Sundays 
 
 \, \\, 4^, and 8^, 
 .— J8, Jll, i3, and J7 
 
 t Ealing & Slough 6 direct t( 
 
 •?.Drytii.& .. 8 calling 1 
 
 Slough j 9 
 
 t7.Di7tn,& .. 
 
 . Slough 
 
 p.m., calling at Ealing 
 <. — ^8, and ^7, calling
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 Geneva aad Improved Patent Lever Watches. 
 
 
 HENRY BRIGHT, 
 
 WATCH MAKER, AND JEWELLER, 
 
 2, UNION STREET, BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 Geneva, Repeating, and other Watches, expeditiously and accurately 
 
 repaired. 
 
 *«* Mourning Rings, Watch Appendages, ^'c. 
 
 JAMES BROWN, 
 
 MANUFACTURER OF TABLE SERVICES, 
 
 AND EVERY OTHER DESCRIPTICTN OF 
 
 BKITAOTIA MI2TAiL WARES, 
 
 Paradise-street, Bi't'xningliaxn.
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 STAINED GLASS WOEKS, 
 
 CHINA, GLASS, EARTHENWARE, LAMPS, 
 BRONZES, &,C._, 
 
 {Opposite the New Roijal Hotel,) 
 62, NEW. STREET, BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 R. HENDERSON 
 
 EXECUTES IN THE FIRST STYLE 
 
 STAINED CLASS WINDOWS. 
 
 IN HERALDIC, HISTORICAL, AND ORNAMENTAL SUBJECTS • 
 AND HAS CONTINUALLY ON SALE 
 
 AT HIS UNRIVALLED ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 EVERY DESCRIPTION OF 
 
 CHINA, CUT &; PLAIN GLASS, BABTHEN & ST017B 
 
 WARE, LAEOPS, LUSTRES^ BRONZES, &c.. 
 
 In Great Variety, 
 
 OF THE 
 
 MOST MODERN PATTERNS AND APPROVED SHAPES, 
 
 SELECTED FROM THE 
 
 BEST MANUFACTORIES IN THE KINGDOM. 
 Circular eonbri ffilassw, 
 
 AND FRENCH COVERS, OF EVERY SIZE.
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 Wholesale and for Exportation. 
 
 
 JOSEPH GILLOTT, 
 
 PATENT 
 
 STEEL PEN MANUFACTURER, 
 
 59, NEWHALL-ST., AND GRAHAM-ST., 
 BIRZKEirrGKAUfX. 
 
 Joseph Gillott has been for nearly t^venty years 
 engaged in the manufacture of Sieel Pens, and during 
 that time has devoted his unceasing attention to the im- 
 proving and perfecting this useful and necessary article : 
 the result of his persevering efforts, and numerous experi- 
 ments upon the properties of the metal used, has been the 
 construction of a Pen upon a principle entirely new, 
 combining all the advantages of the elasticity and fineness 
 of the quill, with the durability of the metallic pen, and 
 thus obviating the objections which have existed against 
 the use of Steel Pens. 
 
 The Patentee is proud to acknowledge that a discerning public has 
 paid the most gratifying tribute to his humble, though useful labours, 
 by a demand for his Pens far exceeding his highest expectations. 
 The number of Steel Pens manufactured at Joseph Gillott's 
 
 Works, from October, 1837, to October, 1838, 
 was 35,808,452 
 or 2,984,03 7 2-3rds dozens 
 
 or 248,669 gi'oss, 9 dozen, and 8 pens. 
 
 This statement will show the estimation in which these Pens are 
 
 held, and it is presumed will be an inducement to those who desire 
 
 to have a really good article, at least to make a trial of JOSSPK 
 
 GIIiIiOTT'S Steel Pens. 
 
 *»* The universal celebrity of these Pens has induced certain 
 disreputable Makers to foist upon the Public a spurious article, 
 bearing the mis-spelled name of the Patentee and Sole Manufacturer, 
 thus ," GILOTT ," by omitting the"L"; and in some instances the 
 omission of the final " T " is fraudulently resorted to, in order to re- 
 tain the same SOUND as GILLOTT: but observe, 
 NONE ARE GENUINE BUT THOSE M.VRKED IN FULL, 
 JOSEPH aiZ.I.OTT. 
 
 Printed by James Drake, o2. New-street, Birmingham, 
 
 I 2
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 THOMAS & JAMES UPFILL, 
 
 157, GREAT CHARLES STREET, 
 Birmingliazu. 
 
 MANUFACTURERS OF 
 
 WROUGHT AND CAST IRON 
 
 GATES, PARK FEMCIWG, HURDLES, 
 
 INVISIBLE WIRE FENCE, HAIR FENCE, 
 
 RACKS, MANGERS, CHAINS, 
 NAILS, BOOK CASES, TIN, IRON ARMS, &c. 
 
 BIRMINGHAM COMMERCIAL 
 
 AND 
 
 PIRITATE BOAMBIE'O- MOILJBEj 
 
 BTo. 12; Union Passage 
 
 MR. AND MRS. JONES 
 
 Respectfully inform their Friends and the Public, that Ladies 
 and Gentlemen visiting or i)assing through Binningham will 
 meet with every atlendon and comfort at this Establishment, at 
 very reasonable charges. 
 
 THE HOUSE IS CENTRAL AND RETIRED.
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 V. ^^m^^^m R. 
 
 MAPPLEBECK AND LOWE'S 
 
 EMPORIUM FOB THE MANUFACTURES OF 
 
 BIRMINGHAM, LONDON, AND SHEFFIELD, 
 
 aiANUF^CTUEIXG AND FURXISHIXG IRONMONGERS, 
 "Wliclesale and Hetail. 
 
 BY APPOINTMENT, 
 
 Agents to Messrs. JOSEPH RODGERS and SONS, Sheffield, Cutleis to Her 
 
 Majesty. 
 
 The Nobility, Gentry, and Strangers, visiting BiiTningham, are respectfully 
 invited to this Establishment, whether as Purchasers, or Parties in search of 
 amusement. The Show Rooms contain the finished articles for Sale that are 
 manufactured in this Town, London, and Sheliield, — and are open to ail per- 
 sons of respectability. Cards of admission, to inspect some of the distin- 
 guished Manufactories, may be obtained at this establishment. 
 
 Cutlery Shoinr Kooms^ 
 Contain an elegant and splendid assortment of every description of articles in 
 Cutlery, and beautiful specimens from the Manufactory and Show Rooms of 
 Messrs. Rodgers and Sons, and various other articles which present novelties 
 of unusual taste and variety ; also, an extensive variety of rich Sheffield Plated 
 Wares, (with strong Silver edges and shields for engraving anns or crests 
 upon,) German Silver and Britannia Metal Goods. 
 
 Furnisliing Sliov^ Boom, 
 Contains splendid Patent Fire Places, elegant Bronzed Steel and Or-molu 
 
 Stove Grates, Fenders, Fire Irons, and Supports. Bronzed Tea and Coflfee 
 
 Urns, Kettles on Stands, &c., &c., of the best manufacture, and entirely new 
 
 patterns. A splendid assortment of the best Japanned Papier Machee Trays 
 
 and Waiters; also, Ladies' Work Tables, Fiie Screens, Card Racks, and Cases, 
 
 from the first manufacturers. Bronzed Inkstands, Lustres, Thei-mometers, 
 
 Card Racks, Wax Tapers, &c., &c. Chandelier, Table, Hall, Candle, and 
 
 other Lamps, and Candelabras in Bronze and Or-molu. 
 
 Establisliiuent for Furnishing 
 Gentlemen's Seats, Halls, Houses, &c.,in the most complete manner and first 
 style of elegance ; Kitchen Ranges, on most improved principles; Economical 
 Cooking Apparatus, with the latest improvements, and every description of 
 Ironmongery, and superior Braziei-y Goods ; improved Shower Baths, with 
 Pump; Warm, Cold, Hip, and Feet Baths; Horticultural Implements in great 
 variety, viz., Tool Chests, Fumigating Bellows, Scott's Portable Garden 
 Pumps, Engines, and Mennogrammes (or improved Labels) for Flower Pots, 
 &c., highly approved of by the first Horticulturists. 
 
 EXPERIENCED BELL-HANGERS AND LOCKSMITHS SENT TO ANY 
 PART OF THE COUNTRY. 
 
 The Wholesale Ironmongery business connected with this Establishment, 
 is conducted at No. 1, Golden Court, adjoining. 
 
 *»* Goods for Exportation and Shipping Orders, executed on the most 
 advantageous terins. 
 
 6, Bull Bing^, Birmingliam. 
 __
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 ECONOMICAL AND SUPERIOR CLOTHING, 
 
 AND 
 
 NA^EST OF ENGLAND CLOTH MART, 
 
 38, New-street, (next door to the Journal Office,) 
 
 93irmmgf)am. 
 
 H. JOWETT & Co. 
 
 WOOLLEN DRAPERS, AND TAILORS, 
 
 A Suit of Clothes made in six hours. Price and quality not to 
 
 be exceeded by any establishment in Birmingham. 
 
 THE 
 
 ILITEI^FOOIL TEA COMFAE'T, 
 
 9l3olti=$trcct, Sibtrpool, 
 
 F. HORNBLOWER & Co., 
 
 FAMILIES VISITING LIVERPOOL WOULD FIND 
 THIS ESTABLISHMENT UNEQUALLED EITHER 
 FOR PRICE OR QUALITY. 
 
 F. H. and Co. have always on hand a large assortment of the 
 most useful Teas, in Chests and Boxes, from tnelve to eighty- 
 four povuids' weight, for family use, so that orders received from 
 the country wovild meet with iromediate attention. 
 
 FINEST COFFEES, SPICES, AND 
 REFINED SUGARS.
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 LIVERPOOL, 
 
 No. 24, CHURCH STREET, CORNER OF POST OFFICE PLACE. 
 
 W. B. PROMOLI, 
 
 (successor to THOMAS WOOLFIELD,) 
 
 OOILBSMITM ^ JEWjEILILEIR, 
 
 IMPORTER OF 
 
 FRENCH CLOCKS & GENEVA WATCHES, 
 
 Manufacturer of Desks, Dressing Cases, and Work Boxes. 
 
 WARRANTED OF THE BEST QUALITY AND NEWEST FASHION; 
 
 gTJFERB CILOCKSc, 
 
 IN ORMOLU, BRONZE, PORCELAIN, AND ALABASTER; 
 Oil. AND GAS Z.AIXCFS AND CHANDEIiIEBS ; 
 
 Fane;/ Bronzes and other Chimney Ornaments ; 
 RODGERS 8c SONS' SUPERIOR CUTLERY,- 
 
 farina's EAU DE cologne, FRENCH DRESS SHOES, COMBS 
 BRUSHES, RETICULES, PURSES, PAPER CASES, AND FOLIOS; 
 
 AND AN ALMOST ENDLESS CHOICE OF ALL THE VARIOUS 
 
 FAS'CT MAE'irjIF ACTUIKES 
 
 OF ENGLAND, FRANCE, AND GERMANY. 
 
 AU kinds of Instruments for fitting up Work Boxes and Dressing Cases. 
 
 Visiters and Strangers in Liverpool, and the Public in general, are 
 respectfully invited to visit this tinique Establishment, whether as purchasers 
 or parties in search of amusement ; the whole of the stock (certainly one of the 
 largest and most varied in England) being conveniently arranged for their in- 
 spection, and the price plainly marked on each article, from which no deduc- 
 tions are made, nor credit given. Every article warranted perfect, and the 
 quality fairly and honourably stated; the object being to establish a Concern 
 where the public may pui-chase with such confidence and economy, as to 
 insure their future favour and support. 
 
 VT. B. Promoli begs to assure the Public, that the great and unpre- 
 cedented patronage bestowed upon his Predecessor, Thomas WooLFiELD,will 
 incite him to persevere in selecting, both from Loudon and the Continent, 
 such articles of taste and novelty as are likely to be pleasing to an extensive 
 connexion, and to maintain an Establishment in Liverpool decidedly superior 
 to any other single concern in London or the Empire, the choice of goods being 
 greater, their quality the best, and the prices extremely moderate. 
 Fixed Cash Prices. — No Abatement nor Credit given. 
 
 . . __
 
 AEVERTlSEMEM'g. 
 
 
 ■> 
 
 ^\J 
 
 
 ^\ 
 
 
 EDWARDS, BALL, and CO., 
 
 82; High-street; Birzuingliazn, 
 
 JEWELLERS, SILVERSMITHS, CUTLERS, &c., 
 
 FOR THE MANUFACTURES OF 
 
 BIRMINGHAM, SHEFFIELD, AND LONDON. 
 
 Established nearly a century. 
 
 This spacious suite of Rooms offers to the inspection of the 
 Visiter, an extensive selection of fashionable Jewellery, Gold 
 and Silver Plate, and a large assortment of second hand Plate ; 
 Plated Wares of every variety; Fancy Silver Goods; Gilt 
 Jewellery and Trinkets; Gold and Silver Watches; Gei-man 
 Silver and Plated-ou-Steel Articles; Wan-anted Cutlery, Elastic 
 Razors, and Strops; Fancy Hearth Brushes; Papier Machee 
 Trays and Japanned Wares; Bronze Tea and Coffee Unis; 
 Britannia Metal Goods; Bronze and Or Molu Suspenduig and 
 Table Lamps; Candelabra, Lustres, Inkstands, &c.; Regulation 
 and Dress Swords; Patent Corkscrews; Snuffers and Polished 
 Steel Articles of every description. 
 
 N.B. Canteens made and fitted to contain Plate. Livery 
 Button Dies cut, and Buttons made to order on the shortest 
 notice. Medals and Seals for Public Companies and Scientific 
 Societies, Communion Seiwices, Presentation Plate, and Silver 
 Cups, designed and executed in the first style of Art. 
 
 'arms, ©rests, antJ jDHlottos Sngrabetr. 
 
 FURNISHING IRONxMONGERY IN GENERAL.
 
 ADVERT 1 SEMENTS . 
 
 SMITH AND HAWKES, 
 GENERAL IRONFOUNDERS 
 
 BTOTIE (&MATE MAE'UJIFACTIJIEEMgp 
 
 SMITHS AND ENGINEERS, 
 EAGLE FOUNDRY, BROAD STREET. 
 
 Established llliy. 
 
 Who also manufacture every description of Chilled and Sand Rolls, for 
 Rolling Metals; Mill Work; Steam Engines, with the Patent Self-feeding 
 Fire Regulator and Smoke Consumer; Sugar Mills for exportation; Saw 
 Mills; Cranes upon an improved construction, capable of raising from 
 One to Ten Tons; Bone Mills; Malt Mills; the Patent Bark Mill, and 
 improved Leather Rolling Apparatus ; Clay Mills, to work by hand, horse 
 power, or steam; Pumps; Pully Blocks; Stamp Anvils, Hammers, and 
 Press Castings, of every description ; Weighing Machines, from Ten Cwt. 
 to Ten Tons, for Railway or common Roads ; Heating Apparatuses, by 
 warm water, steam, or warm air; Dr. Arnott's Stoves ; Garden and 
 Meadow Rolls; Book Case Doors and Frames; Patent Safety Fire 
 Proof Chests and Deed Boxes ; Cast and Wrought Iron Palisades, 
 Fencing, Hurdles, Verandahs, Geometrical Stairs, Balustrades, Iron 
 Windows, with every kind of Stove, Stove Grate, Kitchen Range, Cooking 
 Apparatus, Ovens, Hot Closets, Bath Boilers, Stewing Plates, Hay Racks 
 and Mangei-s, Water Troughs, &c. 
 
 S. and H. have constantly on hand a large assortment of Grates, 
 Stoves, and Fenders, both of their own and the Sheffield make; also. 
 Kitchen Ranges and Cooking Apparatuses, Stewing Stoves, and Hot 
 Closets. 
 
 N.B. — The whole of the Iron is Tested, of which the Rolls and 
 Machinery are made ; and they believe they are the only Foundeis who 
 
 have systematically pursued this plan for the last fifteen years. Books 
 
 containing Lists of Patterns may be forwarded on application.
 
 10 ADVERTISEMENTS. 
 
 CLARK'S 
 ORIGINAL ESTABLISHMENT 
 
 FOR THE MANUFACTURE OF 
 
 METALLIC CONSERVATORIES, 
 
 AND HORTICULTURAL BUILDINGS OF EVERY DESCRIPTION; 
 
 ISron'jftJ ©opper Sasl^es for ilWansiottS, 
 
 GOTHIC AND OTHER ORNAMENTAL WINDOWS, 
 
 Sky-lights^ Fan-liglits^ 
 
 GARDEN HAND-GLASSES, (^c. ^-c. ^r. 
 
 55, LIONEL STREET, BIRMINGHAM. 
 
 proprietor, 
 Mr. THOMAS CLARK, Jun. 
 
 SUPERINTENDENT OF THE MANUFACTURING 
 DEPARTMENT,- MR. JOHN JONES.
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. H 
 
 JOHN RODERICK, 
 
 AUCTIONEER, APPRAISER, 
 
 GENERAL AGENT, AND SHARE BROKER. 
 
 WHOLESALE AND RETAIL 
 
 llealer in ^aptx J^angings* 
 
 OFFICES, 54, NEW STREET, 
 
 AND OPPOSITE THE POST OFFICE, 
 
 {Comer of Bennett's Hill,) 
 
 AND 
 
 SALE ROOMS, No. 16, UPPER TEMPLE STREET. 
 
 TO THE 
 
 LICENSED VICTUALLERS' 
 
 AND 
 
 GENERAL FIRE AND LIFE ASSURANCE COMPANY, 
 Adelaide Place, I<ondon Bridge.
 
 12 ADVERTISEMENTS, 
 
 GENERAL FURNISHING 
 
 ESXABLISHMEN-r, 
 No. 9, NEW STREET, BIRMINGHAM, 
 
 THOMAS HARRIS, 
 
 proprietor. 
 
 Families ■who may be about to furnish, will find many 
 decided advaatages in visiting this Establishment, where 
 there is always on hand (at the lowest possible prices) a 
 most extensive and complete Stock of every Description of 
 Goods required for Furnishing a House on any Scale: — 
 
 Consisting of 
 Dining, Pembroke, Loo, and Card Tables; Mahogany, Rose- 
 wood, and Painted Chairs; Sofas, Couches, Recumbent and 
 other Easy Chairs; Sideboai'ds, Wardrobes, Chests of Drawers, 
 Dressing Tables, Bedsteads, Feather Beds, Mattresses, Draperies, 
 and every other Article of Upholstery and Cabinet Furniture ; 
 
 ALSO 
 
 A Splendid Assortment of Paper Hangings, Brussels, Kid- 
 derminster and Venetian Floor and Stair Carpets, Hearth 
 Rugs, Druggets, Floor Cloths, &c., 
 
 WITH 
 
 TABLE COVERS, SHEETINGS, COUNTERPANES, 
 And every Article of Furnishing Drapery.
 
 ADVERTISEMENTS. 13 
 
 PERMANENT ELASTIC SPRING HYGEIAN BEDS, 
 
 CARRIAGE, GIG, SOFA, AND CHAIR SEATS, 
 
 Patronized by Her Koyal Kighness the Bucbess of Kent. 
 
 RICHARD FARMER, 
 
 nsanufacturer^ 
 
 With the greatest deference submits to the attention of his Friends and the 
 Public the subjoined Documents, as flattering Testimonies of the high estima- 
 tion in which the above very superior and much approved Articles are held:— 
 
 From Sir John Conroy, Secretary to Her Eoyal Highness the 
 Duchess of Kent. 
 
 " Sir John Conroy is honoured with the Duchess of Kent's command to 
 acquaint Mr. Farmer, that he has permission to use Her Royal Highness's 
 Name and Arms, as Manufacturer of Permanent Elastic Spring HygeianBeds 
 to Her Eoval Highness. 
 
 "Malvern, Sept. 13, 1830." 
 
 " Sir John Conroy is to acknowledge the receipt of the Bed and Mattress of 
 Mr. R. Farmer's invention, which he has made for the Princess Victoria ; 
 and Sir John is commanded by the Duchess of Kent to express her Royal 
 Highness's highest approval of the principle of his Mattresses, Cushions, &c. 
 
 " Kensington Palace, Dec. 17, 1830. 
 " Mr. Richard Farmer, ^c, 4'c." 
 
 From Congreve Selwyn, Esq., Surgeon of the Ledhury Dispensary. 
 
 " Mr. Congreve Selwyn, Surgeon of the Ledbury Dispensary, begs to 
 offer his Testimony of the value of Mr. Farmer's invention of his Elastic Mat- 
 tresses and Cushions, The one he has sent to Mr. Selwyn, answers all the 
 purposes for an Invalid, and is particularly serviceable where the patient 
 suffers from hectic fever and night perspirations. 
 
 " Ledbury, May 2, 1834. 
 " Mr. Richard Farmer, Si~c., ^'C." 
 
 From Sir Wilmam B. Cave, Bart. 
 
 " S'.retton, Atherstone, July 22, 1835. 
 
 "Sir "Wm, B. Cave has much satisfaction in informing Mr. Richard 
 Farmer, that the Elastic Steel Spring Bed which he purchased from Mr. F. 
 has fully answered every expectation he had foimed of it. Sir W. C. lay upon 
 it for five months, without ever being able to be moved in the least from it, 
 and for the last six months has not beeii lenioved from it for more than two 
 hours at a time, and is now as perfect in tbe elasticity and strength of the 
 springs as when he received it from Mr. Farmer. Sir V,\ Cave's weight is 
 sixteen stone and upwards. Dr. Palmer, of Birmingham, who has been in 
 the habit of attending Sir W. Cave for many years, gave it as his opinion, 
 that, had he been lying on a bed of any other description, the consequences 
 would have been very serious. 
 
 " Mr. Richard Farmer, ^'C, S,-c." 
 
 CARPETS, PAPER HANGINGS, OIL CLOTHS, DRUGGETS, 
 CRVMB CLOTHS, DOUBLE- STOVF.D FEATIJEItS, ^T. 6fC. 
 
 Upliolstery and General Cabinet Business. 
 
 Richard Farmer acknowledges with gratitude the very extensive patron- 
 age he has received Irom the Nobility, Gentry, and Public at large, and begs to 
 inform them, that, in addition to his Warehouse in New-street, he has entered 
 upon spacious premises in Bath-row, Birmingham, adapted to the carrying 
 on of his business in all its branches, on a vei'y extended scale, and respectfully 
 solicits a continuance of tbeir support, assuring them that no exertion shall be 
 wanting on his part to give satisfaction. 
 
 11, New-street, and 30, Bath-row, Birmingham,
 
 o 
 
 •4 
 
 (A
 
 WORKS PUBLISHED BY JAMES DRAKE. 15 
 
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