LXXIX. LONDON TO OXFORD, BY RAILWAY, 63 Miles. 10 Long Wittenham. Appleford. The Thames, and bevond, Nuneham Park, G. G. V. Harcourt, Esq., much visited by Oxonians. Sandford. Iffley. Junction of the Cherwell with the Isis. Oxford will become an important centre of railway communication by the completion of the various lines in connection with it, now in progress, and partly opened, of which the two most important are the Oxford and Rugby, and the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton. The Oxford and Rugby line will run through the valley of the Cherwell, by Banbury, and, entering Warwickshire, pass near Southam, and join the London and North Western Railway at Rugby; thus opening a communication with the midland and northern districts. The Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton Railway will extend from Oxford in a general north-westerly direction as far as Worcester, passing a short distance to the west of Woodstock, and by Moreton-in-the Marsh, Chipping-Campden, and Evesham; from Worcester its course is chiefly northward by Droitwich (where a branch is intended to connect it with the line of the Birmingham and Gloucester Railway), Kidderminster, Stourbridge, and Dudley, to Wolverhampton, near which town it will join the northern section of the London and North-western line. Large portions of both these lines are open for traffic, and the others are in active progress. Acts of Parliament have also been obtained for the construction of lines to unite Oxford with Bletchley (on the London and Northwestern Railway) on the one side, and with Cheltenham on the other. The former is completed and open for traffic. LXXXI. LONDON TO BIRMINGHAM BY Oxford, WOODSTOCK, AND ON RIGHT FROM LOND. From Birmin From London. ON LEFT FROM LOND. town-hall, erected in 1757, by John, Earl of Shelburne, a free grammar school, and an ancient church, ornamented with a fine altar piece, and a superb monument to Henry Petty, Earl of Shelburne, and Sophia, the first wife of the first Marquis of Lansdowne. The Wycombe stream turns fifteen paper and corn-mills. Two M.P. 31 Pop. 1851, 7179. West-Wycombe. Here is a handsome mau soleum, erected by the late 361 Lord Le De Spencer. Wycombe Park, Sir G. H. Dashwood, Bart. 421 74 Tetsworth. 69 62 60 54 47 2 miles distant are the 439 Roll-rich Stones, the most, cr. river Cherwell. 54 564 62 69 72 curious memorial of anti-404 Compton Hill, (War-75 Chapel House. wickshire.) Long Compton. 77 Castle, (Earl of Macclesfield.) containing two libraries, an armoury, several fine specimens of painting and sculpture, and among other portraits an original of Catherine Parr, Queen to Henry VIII. Nethercote House, Sir R. P. Jodrell, Bart. Adwell House. Cuddesden Palace, Bishop of Oxford. Shotover House. Blenheim, the magnificent seat of the Duke of Marlborough, erected in the reign of Queen Anne for the great Duke. Sir J. Vanbrugh was the architect employed, and half a million was granted by Parliament for the erection. The interior is splendidly adorned, and contains a valuable collection of pictures, a library of more than 17,000 volumes, and an elegant chapel. The gardens are extensive, the park, consisting of about 2700 acres, is richly wooded, and the grounds are laid out with great taste. Ditchley Park,* Viscount Dillon; and beyond, Cornbury Park, Lord Churchill. Tidmington Hall. 3 miles dist. Foxcote 33 SHIPSTON, (Worcesters.) 83 House, P. H. Howard, Esq. * See Scott's Woodstock. 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. LXXXII. LONDON TO BIRMINGHAM BY AYLESBURY, BUCKINGHAM, BANBURY, AND WARWICK, 1151 Miles. From London. ON LEFT FROM LOND. To Kensal Green. Brandesbury House. At a distance, Wembley Park. |