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Denbigh, the capital of Denbighshire, is pleasantly situated on a rocky eminence in the beautiful vale of Clwyd. The castle, now in ruins, was founded in the reign of Edward I. It underwent a siege during the civil wars, and after the Restoration of Charles II. was blown up with gunpowder and rendered completely untenable. The ruins cover the summit of the craggy hill, and the prospect through the broken arches and frittering walls is extensive and beautiful. Denbigh has been compared to Stirling in Scotland, and has a very imposing aspect from a distance, with the ruinous castle crowning the summit of the hill. The parish church is situated at Whitchurch, one mile from the town, but is seldom used by the inhabitants, who generally attend divine worship at the ancient chapel of St Hilary. In the porch of the parish church, partly ruinous, are the effigies in brass of Richard Middleton of Gwaenynog, and Jane, his wife. He was governor of Denbigh Castle in the reigns of Edward VI., Mary, and Elizabeth. William, his third son, was a sea captain, and a poet; Thomas, fourth son, became Lord Mayor of London, and founder of the family of Chirk Castle; Hugh, the sixth son, expended an immense fortune in bringing the new river into London. An ancient priory for Carmelites existed at Denbigh, but the conventual church, now converted into a malt-house, is all that remains of the institution. Denbigh had formerly a considerable manufactory of gloves and shoes. It unites with Holt, Ruthin, and Wrexham, in returning one M.P. Pop. of Par. bor. 1851, 5498. The vicinity abounds with beautiful and interesting scenery. It gives the title of Ear! to the Fielding family.

* Mr Fitzmaurice was brother of the first and uncle of the present Marquis of Landsdowne, and having married Mary third Countess of Orkney in her own right, was grandfather of the present Earl. In order to encourage his tenantry in Ireland, and promote the national manufacture of linens, he erected a bleaching establishment here at an of L.2000, in which, under his own superintendence, 4000 pieces were bleached yearly. It is said he usually travelled in his coach to Chester, and when there stood behind a counter.

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LXXXVI. LONDON TO CHESTER AND HOLYHEAD, THROUGH ST AL-
BANS, WOBURN, NORTHAMPTON, LUTTERWORTH, LICHFIELD,
STAFFORD, AND NANTWICH, 274 Miles.

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is finely situated on a branch of the river Trent. It is divided by a sheet of water into two parts, the city and the close, the latter being fortified. The cathedral, erected chiefly in the twelfth and thirteenth centuries, is the most interesting object in the town, and, from its elevated situation, visible at a great distance. It is 491 feet by 153, and surrounded by a wall. It suffered much in the famous siege which it underwent during the Parliamentary war, but has since been twice thoroughly repaired. The exterior is almost unrivalled for the elegance of its architecture, and the interior corresponds in splendour and magnificence. Of the numerous monuments, those of Dr. Johnson and Garrick, the former a native of

the town, chiefly merit attention. There are also monuments to Lady Mary Wortley Montagu and Miss Seward, and the celebrated work of Chantrey representing two sleeping children. The other places deserving notice are, the house in Bacon Street, where Dr Darwin wrote his Zoonomia, and the house on the west side of the Market Place, the birth-place of Dr Johnson, a statue of whom now adorns the same street. This statue is 19 feet high, in a sitting position, and on the pedestal are three bas reliefs illustrative of the doctor's life. Also the markethouse, the town-hall, the Hospital of St. John, the spot where Lord Brooke fell during the siege of the cathedral, indicated by a pavement of white pebbles, and an inscription recording the event, and the free school of St John, where Ashmole, Addison, Johnson, Garrick, Wollaston, Hawkins Browne, and many other eminent men received the rudiments of their education. Lichfield contains three parochial churches, several chapels and meeting-houses, charitable institutions, a theatre, library, &c. The city is a county in itself, with exempt jurisdiction. and sends two members to the House of Commons. It affords the title of Earl to the Anson family. There is little trade except with the interior by means of canals and railway. The brewing of ale also yields considerable profit. The markets are held on Tuesdays and Fridays. Pop. 1851, 6573.

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Weeping Cross.
cr. the Stafford
and Worcester Canal,
and the river Penk.

cr. the river Sow.
STAFFORD,

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1409

To Stone, 7 miles 133 To Newport, 10 miles. Sandon, 5 miles. the capital of the county of that name, is situated on the north bank of the river Sow, about three miles above its junction with the Trent. The situation. of the town is low but pleasant, the streets being in general regular, and built of stone. A castle, erected here at a very early period, was several times demolished and rebuilt, but finally destroyed during the Parliamentary war. Its ruins now occupy the summit of a neighbouring hill. The county-hall is an elegant and spacious edifice in the centre of the town. Near it is the marketplace, well adapted to the purpose intended. There are also four churches, (the most remarkable of which, St. Mary's, is cruciform, and contains a curious font), several Dissenting places of worship, a free school founded by Edward VI., a county infirmary, county jail, and lunatic asylum. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of boots and shoes, cutlery, and the tanning of leather. Isaak Walton was a native. There is also considerable traffic with the neighbouring counties by means of railways and canal. The town returns two M.P., and has done so since the reign of Edward I. It gives the title of Marquis to the Dukes of Sutherland, and that of Baron to the Jerningham family. Population, 1851, 11,829.

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a neat and pleasant town, situated on the banks of a small stream that flow into the Sow. In its church Bishop Halse concealed Queen Margaret when she fled from Muckleston. It contains a few monuments of the Bosville family. Eccleshall Castle, the residence of the Bishops of Lichfield and Coventry, founded at a very early period, and rebuilt in 1310, in consequence of damage l in the civil wars, was repaired in 1695.

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