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Stratford on Avon, celebrated as the birth-place of Shakspeare. The house in which he was born is situated in Henley Street. It has lately been purchased by subscription, and will be carefully preserved for the inspection of future generations. The approach to the church, which is delightfully situated on the banks of the Avon, is by an avenue of lime-trees. In the chancel is the celebrated bust of the poet, in front of which he and his wife are buried. The town-hall in High Street was erected in 1769, at the time of the jubilee. A good statue of Shakspeare stands at the north end of the building. The interior is adorned with portraits of Shakspeare, Garrick, and the Duke of Dorset. In the High Street also are the remains of an ancient cross, and adjoining them is the guildhall, a portion of which is occupied as a grammar school, where it is said Shakspeare received his education. When completed, the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton line, will connect Stratford with all parts of the kingdom. Pop. of township, 1851, 3372.

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LXXXII. LONDON TO BIRMINGHAM BY AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAM,

BANBURY, AND WARWICK, 1151 Miles.

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ON LEFT FROM LOND.

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ON RIGHT FROM LOND.

Three miles distant is Stowe, the magnificent seat of the Duke of Buckingham, celebrated by the muse of Pope, and, until lately, enriched by a choice collection of valuable works of art, including plate and furniture of the most costly description a fine gallery of paintings, a library of 10,000 vols., and an extensive collection of MSS. Owing to the pecuniary embarrassments of the noble owner, these were all disposed of by public auction in 1848.

Morton House, Rev. W.! Andrewes.

Morton Lodge, H. Smith,

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BUCKINGHAM, an ancient and irregular built town on the Ouse. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in agriculture and lace-making. The church is an clegant building, erected in 1780 on an artificial mount formerly occupied by a castle. The altar is adorned with a copy of Raphael's transfiguration, presented by an ancestor of the present Duke of Buckingham. The other public edifices are the town-hall, new gaol, tree grammar school, meetinghouse, and the remains of the chapel of St John and Thomas á Becket. This town suffered greatly b fire in

1725. It returns two M.P. Pop. 1951, 8069.

Westbury.

BRACKLEY (Northamp.) is one of the oldest borough's in Eugland, and still contains many remnants of its pristine greatness. It has a handsome market-house, two churches, a free school, and the ruins of an hospital. said to have been erected by the Zouche family. Pop. 1851, 2157.

cr. Oxford Canal.

BANBURY (Oron.)

on the Cherwell. is famous for its malt liquor, its cheese, and the cakes which are called by its name. Here was formerly a castle of great strength, which su tained two savore s eges during the civil wars. The only remains now in existence are a small portion of the wall. Pop. 1851, 8715. One M.P.

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33 Upton, (Warwicksh.) 78 Upton House, Captain

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J. Russell.

To Stratford on Avon, 129 miles.

Radway Grange, F. S Miller, Esq.

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Warwick is situated nearly in the centre of the county. It stands on a rocky hill, having a somewhat abrupt acclivity, watered by the Avon. This town is believed to be of Saxon origin, and was formerly surrounded with walls. It has three churches, of which St Mary's is the most remarkable. It has a lofty square tower, supported by piers, between which carriages may pass. The interior is richly adorned, and contains a number of ancient and curious monuments. Beauchamp chapel, a beautiful specimen of the Gothic style, contains a monument to the memory of Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, the founder of the Lady chapel. This chapel is considered the most splendid in the kingdom, with the exception of that of Henry VII., in Westminster Abbey. Here is also a monument to Dudley, Earl of Leicester, Elizabeth's favourite. The other public buildings are, the county hall, the court house, gaol, bridewell, theatre, market house, free grammar school, the county asylum, public library and news-room, and several meeting houses. The races are held twice a-year on a plain near the west end of the town. Warwick returns two M.P. Population, 1851, 10,973. Several manufactures are carried on here, particularly those of combing and spinning long wool. Warwick Castle, the magnificent residence of the Earl of Warwick, is situated at the south-east end of the town, on a rock washed by the Avon. The date of its original erection is unknown. Cæsar's tower, the most ancient part of the structure, is 147 feet high. Guy's tower, 128 feet high, was erected in 1394. The approach to the grand front exhibits three stupendous towers, and the entrance is flanked with embattled walls covered with ivy. The interior is remarkable for splendour and elegance. The principal suite of apartments extends 333 feet in a straight line, and is adorned with valuable paintings and curious specimens of ancient armour. In the green-house is a beautiful antique vase, well known as the Warwick vase, found at Tivoli, and capable of containing 168 gallons. About a mile from Warwick is Guy's Cliff, the retreat of the famous Earl Guy, and where he and his

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Countess are supposed to be interred. Blacklow hill, opposite, is the spot where Piers Gavaston was beheaded in 1312

Two miles from Warwick is LEAMINGTON, OF LEAMINGTON PRIORS, one of the most fashionable spas in the kingdom. It is pleasantly situated on the Leam, which is crossed by a handsome bridge. The waters are used, both internally and for the purpose of bathing, and are found very efficacious in many chronie disorders, in diseases of the skin, and visceral obstructions. The principal buildings are the new pump-room and baths, which are supposed to be the most elegant in Europe; the assembly-rooms, concert and ball-rooms, the reading-rooms and library, the billiard-room, the Regent Hotel, the museum and picture gal lery, the theatre, &c. The Ranelagh and Priory Gardens form delightful promenades. Leamington possesses also two churches, an Episcopal chapel, á meeting-house, a Roman Catholic chapel, an institution for the gratuitous supply of baths to the poor, national schools, several libraries, &c. The rides and walks in the vicinity are interesting and attractive; and very delightful excursions may be made to Warwick Castle, Kenilworth, Stratford, &c. Pop. 1851, 15,692. KENILWORTH is five miles distant from Leamington, and about the same distance from Warwick and from Coventry. Its name is said to have been derived from Kenulph, a Saxon King of Mercia, and his son Kenelm. In Queen Elizabeth's time it was called Killingworth; but the original and correct designation is now restored. The ruins of its magnificent castle form one of the most splendid and picturesque remains of castellated strength to be found in the kingdom. It was founded by Geoffrey de Clinton, Lord Chamberlain and Treasurer to Henry I., but it shortly passed to the Crown. Henry III. granted the castle to the famous Simon de Montfort, Earl of Leicester, and Eleanor his wife, for their respective lives; and when the Earl took up arms against the King, it was the great place of resort for the insurgent nobles. After the defeat and death of the Earl of Leicester, his eldest son, Simon de Montfort, continued to shelter himself in this fortress. He shortly afterwards withdrew to France, but his adherents held out the castle for six months against all the forces the King could bring against it, and they ultimately capitulated upon highly favourable terms. In the time of Fdward I. it was the scene of a splendid and costly tournament. Edward II. was kept a prisoner in this castle before his removal to Berkeley Castle, where he was ultimately murdered. In the reign of Edward III., Kenilworth passed into the possession of John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, who made large additions to it. When his son, Henry Bolingbroke, became King, it again became the property of the Crown, and so continued till the reign of Elizabeth, who conferred it on her favourite, Robert Dudley, Earl of Leicester. This nobleman expended enormous sums in adorning and enlarging this structure. The following description of the appearance of the castle at this period is given by Sir Walter Scott in his novel of " Kenilworth :"-" The outer wall of this splendid and gigantic structure enclosed seven acres, a part of which was occupied by extensive stables, and by a pleasure-garden, with its trim arbours and par

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