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To Lutterworth, 7 m.; 29

to Market Harboro', 19 m. Midland Railway joins.

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One mile distant is Rugby, a market-town in the county of Warwick, famous for its grammar-school, founded in the reign of Elizabeth by Lawrence Sheriff. The school is now considered one of the best in the kingdom. The late celebrated scholar, Dr. Arnold, author of the History of Rome, &c., was one of its head masters. Adjacent to the town is an eminence called Castle Mount, from its having originally been the site of a castle supposed to have been erected in the time of King Stephen. The Midland Counties, the Trent Valley, the Stamford and the Leamington Railways commence here. Pop. of Rugby 1851, 6317. One mile and a half from Rugby is Bilton Hall, remarkable as having been the residence of Addison. In the garden is a long avenue called Addison's Walk, this having been his favourite promenade. To Dunchurch, three miles.

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Branch to Leaming

ton.

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Branch to Nuneaton.

Allesley Park, E. V.
Neale, Esq.

15

13

Berkswell Hall, Sir J. E. Eardley Wilmot, Bart. At a distance, Packington Pa., Earl of Aylesford.

The Birmingham and Derby Junction branches off here.

91 Hampton Junction St. 1031

6

Marston-Green Station. 1061

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109

BIRMINGHAM St. 112

BIRMINGHAM, a large commercial and manufacturing city, is situated in the

north-east corner of Warwickshire. It is seventy-nine miles south-east from Liverpool, and the same distance north-east from Bristol, both in a straight line. As Birmingham is nearly in the centre of England, its situation is elevated. The soil around it is light, but has lately been much improved. The appearance of the city itself is mean-a great multitude of the houses being inhabited by workmen. St. Martin's church is the only building of great antiquity. Its exterior is poor, having in 1690 been cased with a covering of bricks to preserve it from falling. The spire alone remains in its original state, a graceful monument of olden architecture. The interior is grand and imposing, though disfigured by a coating of plaster and by tawdry ornaments. St. Philip's Church is an elegant building, and, in the opinion of many, forms the chief architectural ornament of the city. Besides these two, there are upwards of 12 churches and chapels belonging to the Established Church, and forty-five Dissenting chapels, several of them elegant in form. Till lately, Birmingham possessed few public buildings worthy of notice, but the citizens are adding to their number. The town-hall is a splendid edifice of the Corinthian order, the material being Anglesea marble. Its length is 166 feet, breadth 104 feet, and height 83 feet. The saloon, 140 feet long, 65 feet wide, and 65 feet high, contains one of the largest organs in Europe. The grammar-school is a fine Gothic edifice, designed by Mr. Barry, and erected at an expense of L.4000. The theatre, the banks, the libraries, Society of Arts, &c. are also worthy of notice. The schools in Birmingham are numerous and flourishing. Among these may be mentioned the free grammar school founded and chartered by Edward VI. Its income derived from land is L.3000 per annum; the Blue Coat School and the Protestant Dissenter's charity school are supported by subscriptions. There are several associations for moral and intellectual improvement, such as a mechanic's institution with a library of more than 1500 volumes, the Society of Arts, and a philosophical institution. The old library contains above 30,000 volumes, and the new library above 5000. The savings banks, and provident institutions and societies, are numerous and highly beneficial. There are also many charitable institutions well supported. The Dispensary, Humane Society, and Magdalen Institution merit great praise. From a very early period Birmingham has been renowned for its manufactures in steel, iron, &c. This trade is now carried on to an extent elsewhere unequalled. The principal branches of it are, plate and plated wares, ornamented steel goods, jewellery, japannery, papier maché, cut-glass ornaments, steel-pens, buckles and buttons, cast-iron articles, guns and pistols, steam-engines, toys, &c. Birmingham is connected with London and various places by means of canals, and forms a centre of railway communication with every part of the kingdom. The railway from London to Birmingham, which was opened in 1837, is now amalgamated with the Grand Junction line, the two forming the London and North Western Railway. Birmingham returns two M.P. The population in 1831 was 110,914; including the suburbs, 138,252. In 1841 it was 182,922; and in 1851, 232,841.

The journey is performed in about five hours. Omnibuses leave the following offices in London and Birmingham for the railway stations. London offices: -Spread Eagle, Gracechurch Street; Cross-Keys, Wood Street; Bolt-in-Tun, Fleet Street; Swan with Two Necks, Lad Lane; George and Blue Boar, Holborn; Spread Eagle, Regent Circus; Golden Cross, Charing Cross; and Green Man and Still, Oxford Street. Birmingham offices:-Swan, Castle, Hen and Chickens, Albion, and Nelson.

LXXXV. LONDON 10 DENBIGH THROUGH BIRMINGHAM, NEWPORT, WHITCHURCH, WREXHAM, AND MOLD, 2061.

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ing-houses, charity schools,

and alms-houses.

Pop. of

town, 1851, 3619,

391

Little Green.

1674

321 Bangor Iscoed, (Flint-174}

shire.)

cr. the river Dee.

30 Marchwiel, (Denbigh- 1763 shire.)

274

The church contains several monuments, and a stained glass window, executed by Eggerton.

WREXHAM,

a flourishing town, noted for its fairs. The principal object is the church, a noble structure of the fifteenth century, surmounted by al tower of great beauty. The interior is highly ornamented, and contains a superb altar piece, besides a number of monuments of peculiar beauty. Pop. of Parl. bor. 1851, 6714. Both Wrexham and Ruthin are included in the Denbigh district of burghs. (See also p. 148.)

224 Caergwrle, (Flintsh.)

179

184

1 mile distant Hanmer Hall, Sir J. Hanmer, Bart.

Gredington, Lord Kenyon, and Bettisfield Park, Sir J. Hanmer, Bart.

To Ellesmere, 10 miles. Erthig, S. Yorke, Esq.

To Oswestry, 15 m.,Llangollen, 12 miles,Ruthin, 16 miles.

Another road, 24 miles in length, leads from Wrexham by Ruthin, 31 miles shorter than the road by Mold. Ruthin is situated on the declivity of hill in the vale of Clwyd The principal objects arel the church, the town-hall, the free school which has produced many eminent scholars, and the remains of the castle. Pop. of Parl. 2 m. bor. 1851, 3373. from Ruthin is Pool Park, Lord Bagot.

Leeswood, J. W. Eyton, Esq., and beyond Nerquis Hall Tower.

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To Ruthin, 8 miles.

Rhual.

Rhual Issa.

Penbedw.

Nannerch.

197

Moel-y-Gaer mounts П1280 feet high. The s mit has upon it fine remains of a mil work.

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