Bury Canal was begun in 1791, and completed soon after. About one and a half mile N.E. of Bolton, President John Bradshawe, one of the regicides, had a seat at Bradshawe Chapel. At a place called Hall-in-the-Wood, one mile from Bolton, Samuel Crompton invented the machine called the "Mule." A railway leads from Bolton to Leigh, and thence to the Liverpool and Manchester Railway, joining it at Kenyon. Leigh is seven miles from Bolton. It enjoys a considerable share of the cotton, and a portion of the silk trade. In the church there is a private chapel of the Tyldesley family, which contains the remains of Sir Thomas Tyldesley, the distinguished royalist, who fell at the battle of Wiganlane. Pop. 10,621. The first mile of the railway between Bolton and Preston, from its junction with the Manchester and Bolton Railway, is considered a fine specimen of engineering skill. It runs through the south-west side of the town in a curve, and crosses nine streets under as many bridges. The construction of the roofs of the bridges is much admired. They consist of cast-iron beams and present a flat surface to the eye of the spectator underneath. CHORLEY is situated on the banks of the Chor, whence it takes its name. A family of the same name held the manor of Chorley from a very early period. The staple manufactures are cotton fabrics, muslins, jaconets, and fancy articles. There are five coal-mines in the neighbourhood, and a lead-mine at Anglezarke. The old church is an ancient building. There is a grammar-school, and several churches, meeting-houses, and charitable institutions. Pop. 15,013. CV. LIVERPOOL TO PRESTON, THROUGH ORMSKIRK, BY RAILWAY, 26 Miles. |
