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BUXTON is situated on the lower part of a deep valley surrounded by bleak hills and extensive tracks of moorland. The old town stands upon much higher ground than the new, and has the remains of a cross in the market-place. Buxton is celebrated for its waters, which annually attract from 12,000 to 14,000 visitors. They are of the calcareous class of mineral waters, and have long been celebrated for their medicinal virtues. Their temperature is lower than those of Bath, and they are more agreeable for bathing. They are administered internally to persons in whom the digestive organs are feeble, and are found very efficacious in the cure of gout and rheumatism. The Crescent at Buxton is an extensive and elegant structure, comprising two hotels, a library, an assemblyroom, &c. The stables, which are of very great extent, are built in a circular form, and have a covered ride 160 yards round. This immense pile of building was erected by the 5th Duke of Devonshire at a cost of L.120,000. Near the Crescent is the Old Hall, built in the reign of Elizabeth by the Earl of Shrewsbury, in whose custody Mary Queen of Scots was placed. Here are still shown the apartments which the unfortunate Queen occupied in one of her visits to Buxton. The public baths at Buxton are very numerous, and are fitted up with every attention to the convenience of the visitors. St. Ann's Well is remarkable, because, by means of a double pump, either hot or cold water may be obtained within a few inches of each other. The church at Buxton is an elegant edifice built in 1812 by the late (sixth) Duke of Devonshire. Here are also places of worship for Presbyterians, Independents, and Wesleyan Methodists. The public walks at Buxton are laid out with much taste, and the environs abound with

natural curiosities and romantic scenery. Half a mile distant is Poole's Hole, a cavern of considerable dimensions, containing among other curious objects an immense congelation, called the "Flitch of Bacon," and a large mass of stalactite called the "Queen of Scots Pillar," from having been visited by Mary during her sojourn at Buxton. Two miles from Buxton is the Diamond Hill, where the Buxton diamonds are found, close to which there is a tower built by the Duke of Devonshire. Four miles distant is Chee Tor, a huge mass of limestone, which rises above 300 feet perpendicular from the river Wye. There are various other places in the vicinity, which deserve a visit, such as Miller's Dale, Cresbrook, Monsal Dale, Ashford, Axe Edge, from which on a favourable day the mountains of North Wales may be seen, the Marvel Stone, &c. About five miles from Buxton, on the road to Castleton, is a spring called the "Ebbing and Flowing Well." Pop. of Buxton 1604.

MANCHESTER, as its name shows (Man-castra) was a Roman station, and is supposed to have taken its rise in the reign of Titus. Under the Saxons, it became the abode of a Thane. After the Norman Conquest, William gave the place to William of Poictou. The barony descended to the Gresleys, and the De la Warres, and at length the manorial rights became vested in the family of Moseley. In the civil wars, Manchester ranged itself on the side of the Parliament, and sustained a siege conducted by Lord Strange, afterwards Earl of Derby. Manchester was distinguished for its manufactures so early as the times of Henry VIII. and Edward VI. At first the woollen was its chief branch of trade; but since the middle of last century, cotton has taken the lead, and Manchester has now become the great centre of that manufacture. Of late, the spinning and weaving of silk have been introduced, and the printing and dyeing of silk are also extensively carried on in this city. The manufacture of machinery has risen to great importance and perfection in Manchester, and it has also manufactures of linen, small-wares, hats, umbrellas, &c. Its commerce is greatly aided by its communications with almost every part of England, by means of railways and canals. The district in which the city stands contains some of the best coal strata in England; a circumstance to which the place is indebted in no small degree for its prosperity. One of the most interesting buildings in Manchester is the collegiate church (now the cathedral), a noble Gothic building, containing several chapels and chantries, a richly ornamented choir, a number of monuments, &c. It was built in 1422. The reputed founder was Thomas Lord De la Warre, but several other persons assisted in building it. Considerable additions were made in the sixteenth century and many alterations and additions are of recent origin. Of the numerous chapels all but one are private property. The chapel of the Derby family Is that which possesses the greatest share of historic interest. St Mary's chapel contains several interesting monuments of the family of the Cheethams; and the Trafford chapel, in addition to the memorials of the ancient family from which it takes its name, possesses a very handsome monument to

the memory of Dauntsey Hulme, Esq. a distinguished philanthropist. There are about 50 churches in Manchester, besides the cathedral; and a church-building society has been formed to promote additional church accommodation. The Dissenters have also numerous places of worship, and Manchester has been long distinguished as possessing a greater dissenting population than most other towns in the kingdom. The ecclesiastical government of Manchester was formerly vested in the warden and four fellows of the collegiate church, but it has recently been erected into a bishoprick, and the collegiate church consequently elevated to the rank of a cathedral. The first bishop was consecrated in 1847. The free grammar-school of Manchester was founded in the early part of the fifteenth century by Hugh Oldham, Bishop of Exeter, and is very richly endowed, but is far from effecting the good which its splendid resources might produce. Cheetham's Hospital, or the College, was originally founded by the De la Warres in the reign of Henry VI. After the dissolution, it became the property of the Derby family, and was purchased from the celebrated Countess of Derby, in compliance with the will of Humphry Cheetham, an eminent merchant, for the purpose of forming a Blue-coat hospital and library. This institution provides for the education and support of eighty poor children. The library consists of upwards of 25,000 volumes, and there is an annual provision for its augmentation. The inhabitants of the town are allowed free access to it under certain regulations. The educational institutions in Manchester were long defective both in number and quality, but great exertions have been, and are now making to extend the benefits of instruction to all classes of the community. One of the results of this commendable spirit is the Swinton School for poor children; a model of its kind. The Independent and Unitarian bodies have each a college. There are two Mechanics' Institutions in the town, several Lyceums, an institution called the Athenæum, a Literary and Philosophical Society, numerous charitable institutions, &c. The other public buildings worthy of notice are, the Exchange, the Infirmary, the Society of Arts or Royal Institution, the Town-Hall, the two Theatres, the new Museum of Natural History, the New Bailey Prison, Manchester Commercial Rooms, the Free Trade Hall, &c. &c. A Botanic Garden was formed here in 1830, and the Peel and Victoria Parks afford fine open spaces for recreation. There are five railways diverging from Manchester, which furnish the city with the greatest facilities for extending its trade-viz. the Liverpool and Manchester, the Manchester and Leeds, the Bolton and Bury, the Manchester and Birmingham, and the Manchester and Sheffield lines. The immense mills workshops, and foundries well deserve a visit from the tourist. Manchester returns two M.P. Pop. 1851, 316,213. On Kersall-moor, the Manchester races are held three times a year.

Salford is separated from Manchester by the river Irwell. It is a large and populous town, returning one M.P. Here has been erected a monument to Sir Robert Peel. Pop. 1851, 85,108.

ON RIGHT FROM LOND.

LE-FRITH, AND MANCHESTER, 187 Miles.

From
Manch.

From

London.]

ON LEFT FROM LOND.

Allestree

Evans, Esq.

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monuments of the Curzons,

Lords Scarsdale.

Mark Eaton Hall, F. Mundy, Esq.

Kedleston, the magnificent seat of Lord Scarsdale. The grounds are about 5 miles in circumference.

Hall, W. 54 Weston Underwood 132 In the park is a spring

Inn.

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nearly allied in its qualities to the waters of Harrogate. The house may be

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Bateman Bridge.

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seen every day from 11 o'clock, A.M. till 3 P.M.

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Wallbrook Bridge.

139

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341

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47 WIRKSWORTH, p. 232, 140

Hopton Hall.

Matlock.

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To Ashbourne, 15 miles. Ashford Hall, Hon. G.) H. Cavendish. In passing from Ashford to Wardlow, a view is obtained of Monsal Dale, one of the most delightful scenes in Derbyshire.

At Whestone, one mile

Castleton.-This town derives its name from a castle, the remains of which are situated on a steep rock. It is supposed to have been erected by William Peveril, the natural son of the Conqueror. It has been held at different times by various distinguished individuals; among others, by Simon de Montfort, and John of Gaunt. Owing to its situation, it was almost impregnable. This castle has given its title to Sir Walter Scott's Peveril of the Peak, and forms the scene of a considerable portion of the events of that popular novel. The vicinity of Castleton abounds in wild and romantic scenery. For centuries the only accessible road to Buxton and Chapel-en-le-Frith was by a deep descent called the Winnets or > Windgates, from the stream of air that always sweeps through the chasm. Dark, rugged, and perpendicular precipices are seen on each side of the road. At one of the sudden turns of the road to the left, a most beautiful view of Castleton vale opens to the eye. Among the curiosities in the vicinity are the Peak Cavern or Devil's Cave, a magnificent and extraordinary work of nature, situated about 100 yards from the village. The mine called the Speedwell Level; the waterfall in the navigation mine which falls 30 yards; Mam-Tor, or the Shivering Mountain, 800 feet above the level of the valley, the summit exhibiting traces of a Roman encampment and } of two barrows; the ancient lead mines of Odin, at the southern foot of Mam-Tor; Eldon Hole, 3 miles distant, between 70 and 80 yards in depth; Bradwell cavern, remarkable for the beauty and richness of the stalactites it contains, and the Blue John mine, situated on the side of Tree Cliff, opposite Mam Tor, the only mine in which this beautiful material is found in masses of suffi cent size for working. Its recesses are supposed to be connected with a series of caverns ex tending over an area of many square miles, and including Eldon Hole, Peak cavern, Speed we!!, and Bagshaw's cavern at Bradwell. The charge for exploring the mine is, for one person, 2s. ; for three, 4s. 6d. ; for four, 58.; and 1s. per head for every additional person. The guides make an additional charge if a Bengal light be used. The churchyard of Hathersage, 6 miles from Castleton, is the reputed burial-place of Little John the companion of Robin Hood. The

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WIRKSWORTH is a place of great antiquity, and the capital of the lead-mine district. The church is a handsome Gothic structure of the fourteenth century, and contains some interesting monuments and tombs. The lead-mines afford the chief means of employment, but there are cotton, hosiery, hat, and some other manufactories, in the neighbourhood.

The Barmote Courts for determining disputes among the miners, and offences against their ancient laws, are held here twice a-year; and here is deposited the ancient brass dish used as a standard for measuring the ore. Sir John Gell, the

road passes through Hope-Dale, a beautiful vale, in which is a very ancient village where a church existed before the Conquest.

• 4 miles from Tideswell is the pleasant village of Eyam, remarkable as the spot where the devotedness of Monpesson and his wife was exhibited during the great plague of 1666 The dis ease, which was conveyed by a box of cloth, spread with an astonishing rapidity, and carried off 250 persons out of a population of 330. Mr. Monpesson, who then held the living of Eyam, resisted all solicitations to desert his flock. To prevent as much as possible the effects of contagion, he closed the church, and preached to the people in a narrow dell, called Cucklett-dale, at a little distance from the town. For seven months, during which the pestilence continued its ravages, this devoted pastor watched over Eyam. He retained his health, but his wife fell a victim to the fury of the disease, and was buried in the churchyard, where her tombstone yet remains. Miss Seward was born at Eyam, which her father was the rector. At a place on Eyam Moor, known as Wet-withins, is a druidical circle, consisting of sixteen stones, enclosing a space about ninety feet in diameter.

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