Imatges de pàgina
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after it shall have been decided who shall have a right to put in cattle as aforesaid, every person so decided to have a right shall declare the species of cattle he or she proposes to put into the said portion or allotment; and each such person shall, for every gelding or mare, immediately pay down to the said clerk or treasurer the sum of ten shillings, and for every cow the sum of eight shillings, for the herbage or eatage for that season; and that the like rates or sums shall be paid in every future year by the persons who shall be decided to have a right to turn on any gelding, mare or cow for each season respectively, until the end and expiration of the term of fifteen years from the passing of this act, and afterwards such sum or sums, not exceeding the sums above mentioned, as the said trustees shall, from time to time, order and direct; and in case any person or persons shall neglect to pay such money as aforesaid at the time aforesaid, then the person or persons so neglecting shall have no right to stock, but the vacancy or vacancies occasioned thereby shall be immediately filled up by ballot in manner aforesaid out of the persons there appearing, who shall not have obtained a right to stock, or have obtained a right of stocking with the smallest number."

"And be it further enacted, That the persons who shall have obtained a right of stocking in manner aforesaid shall and may put their cattle into the said portion or allotment on or after the twelfth day of May in every year, and continue them there until the tenth day of October next following, but not longer; and in case the

gelding, mare, or cow of any person shall happen to die, or be sold or exchanged, or if it shall happen to be convenient to any such person to take out such gelding, mare or cow, that then he or she shall have a right to put in another gelding, mare or cow in the stead of such gelding, mare or cow, so dying, sold, exchanged, or taken out."

"And be it further enacted, That another meeting of the said trustees shall be held at the said town's hall, on the twentieth day of September in every year, at ten of the clock in the forenoon, in order to decide what number of sheep only shall be put into the said portion or allotment from the tenth day of October to the. thirteenth day of February in every year, and in order to give such directions to the herdsman respecting the manner of stocking the said portion or allotment with sheep during the time aforesaid as they may think proper and necessary; and no person whatsoever shall have a right to put any kind of stock into the said portion or allotment, from the said thirteenth day of February to the said twelfth day of May."

"Provided always, and be it further enacted, That no person shall be permitted to ballot for or have a cattle gate in the said portion or allotment, who is not, at the time of his or her appearing to claim the same, an inhabitant, householder resiant within one of the said townships of Pontefract and Tanshelf; and that all fresh cattle put into the said portion or allotment shall be shewn to the herdsman at the time of their being first put in; and that no

cattle shall be put into or continue in the said portion or allotment except mares and geldings three years old and upwards, and cows in milk or with calf, intended to be kept milch cows for the owners own use, and not intended to be fattened for sale or slaughter; and that no person shall take out of the said portion or allotment his or her gelding, mare or cow, and put in another in the stead thereof, oftener than twice in a summer, (except in the case of the death of such gelding, mare mare or cow) and that no exchange shall be made, except for one of the same species; and that no scabbed, infectious, or other uncommonable cattle, shall be put or continued in the said portion or allot ment on any account whatsoever, nor any cattle which are not bona fide the property of the persons appearing or pretending to be the owners thereof, nor any mare having a sucking foal."

In case any person is convicted of putting into the park scabbed, infectious, or other uncommonable cattle, or such as are not bona fide his, or her own, such person becomes liable to a penalty of five pounds.

The trustees have a power to grant short leases for four or seven years, of certain parcels of the park, for the improvement thereof, such parcels not exceeding one hundred acres. They have also a right to make brick; but are wholly restrained from digging mines, or getting coals.

The whole of the above mentioned parcels of land have been cleared, and after producing large crops of grain, converted into excellent pasture-ground. The trustees have this year admitted three hundred head of cattle.

A few years ago, the innkeepers, joined by a considerable number of the inhabitants of the town, set on foot annual races. Numbers of sporting gentlemen, residing in the neighbourhood, encouraged the scheme, and it has been carried into execution. The ground of the park is considered highly eligible as a course; and the ridge above the course as affording one of the finest prospects for an immense concourse of spectators. A grand stand has also been erected; and hitherto the races have been well attended, and the stand filled with fashionables.

That part of the park which continues to belong to his Majesty, as parcel of his dutchy of Lancaster, was, by the above mentioned act, made a new district, to be called Pontefract Park District, for which constables, overseers, &c. are appointed, and assessments made and levied as in other townships. This has been inclosed and formed into several good farms.

The entire park consisted of one thousand three hundred and sixty-one acres three roods and thirty-seven perches, and is divided and held as under.

Allotment belonging to the inhabitants

resiant of Pontefract and Tanshelf,

Rt. Hon. Earl of Gallway, on lease,

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Mr. Appletree,

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Mr. Thistlewaite,

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Stump Cross,

Is on the road from Ferrybridge to Pontefract. The shaft of this cross has perished long ago, and nothing but the base now remains.

At what

period it was erected, or for what particular purpose is uncertain. Browne, in ancient sculpture and painting, observes, "that the sculptures which were on the shaft of this cross, bespeak it Roman". These consisted of a circular-headed recess with an eagle; foliage, twisted bands, pateræ, &c *.

It is not probable that this cross was erected so early as the time of the Romans. The shaft indeed might be Roman, and erected by that people, as a monument of some victory obtained; and after the introduction of christianity, it might be chosen to form part of the cross, on account of its antiquity and the elegance of its workmanship.

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The veneration paid to the cross soon converted it from its original design, and it was made to answer a variety of civil purposes. The Romans had their Terminus, the god who presided over bounderies and land-marks, and in honour of this god they kept the feast terminalia. The Christians rejecting this profane idol, substituted the cross in its place; and hence crosses were erected to mark the boundaries of townships and parishes. The Stump-Cross now

Vid. Gentlem. Mag, March, 1806, In Gough's edition of Camden's Britannia, the figures on three sides of this cross are given, but nothing is said from whence they are taken. They are, most probably, engraven from some drawings in the possession of the Antiquarian society.

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