[Sidenote: A Roman station.]
[Sidenote: Many relics of antiquity found.]
[Sidenote: Traces of an abbey founded by King Stephen.]
[B] ALDBOROUGH. _Fair_, September 4.
[C] ALDBOURN. _Market_, Tuesday.
[D] ALDEBURGH is pleasantly situated in the valley of Slaughton, and bounded on the eastern side by the sea, which has made considerable encroachments, and nearly washed a street away. The river Ald runs on the south side, and forms a convenient quay. The town is mean in construction, and chiefly inhabited by fishermen and seafaring people.
Soles, lobsters, and other fish are abundant. It is remarkable as the birth-place of the late Rev. George Crabbe, emphatically styled the _Poet of the Poor_, who was born December 24, 1754. His father was an officer in the Customs, and at first gave him an education, merely suitable to follow the same pursuit; but when his prospects brightened, he removed his son to a cla.s.sical seminary, where he was instructed for a surgeon and apothecary, to which profession he was in due time apprenticed, but relinquished all views of establishing himself in practice. At a very early period he became a versifier; and among his precocious attempts was a prize poem, on _Hope_, which was inserted in the _Lady"s Magazine_, then published by Mr. Wheeble. Crabbe came to London, in 1778, with 3. in his pocket, and made versification his chief study. His first published work was _The Candidate_, a poem, in quarto, which came into the world anonymously, in 1780, and was favourably received. A short time afterwards, his poverty and poetry induced him to seek the patronage of Edmund Burke, to whom he submitted a large quant.i.ty of miscellaneous composition; he had no introduction to Mr. Burke, excepting his own letter, stating his circ.u.mstances; no recommendation but his distress, and yet his application was attended with success. His patron introduced him to some of the first men in the country, and soon after became the means of benefiting his fame and fortune; he selected from young Crabbe"s works, _The Library_ and _The Village_, suggesting at the same time certain corrections and improvements. Among the eminent persons to whom he was thus introduced, was the Right Hon. Charles James Fox, Sir Joshua Reynolds, at whose mansion he first beheld, and was made known to, Dr. Johnson, who gave the young poet his opinion of _The Village_. Mr. Burke having directed Mr. Crabbe"s views to the church, in 1781 he was ordained a deacon by the Bishop of Norwich, and priest by the same dignitary in the following year; he was next appointed domestic chaplain to the Duke of Rutland at Belvoir Castle. As Mr. Crabbe had not received a university education, he was offered a degree by Trinity College, Cambridge, but eventually received the grant from the Archbishop of Canterbury, at Lambeth, and thus became a Bachelor of Laws. Burke also introduced Mr. Crabbe to Lord Chancellor Thurlow, who presented him to rectories in Dorset and Lincoln consecutively. He had previously a curacy at Strathorn, a village near Belvoir Castle, where he married and became a father; he was universally respected for his talents and virtues, and died at Trowbridge, at seven o"clock in the morning of the 8th of February, 1832. The publications of Mr. Crabbe have placed him high on the roll of British Poets.
_Market_, Wednesday and Sat.u.r.day.--_Fairs_, March 1, and May 3, for toys.--_Inn_, White Lion.--_Mail_ arrives at 9-1/2 A.M. departs 5-1/2 P.M.
[Sidenote: Birth place of the Rev. George Crabbe, the poet. Biographical sketch of his life.]
[Sidenote: Crabbe"s arrival in London, 1778.]
[Sidenote: His first published work well received.]
[Sidenote: Crabbe"s introduction to eminent persons.]
[Sidenote: Promoted to the church.]
[Sidenote: Died at Trowbridge 1132.]
MapNames of Places.County.Number of Miles From+--+-----------------+----------+--------------+---------------+ 27Aldeby paNorfolkBeccles 3Yarmouth 1118Aldenham paHertsWatford 3St. Albans 641Alderbury toWiltsSalisbury 3Downton 427Alderford paNorfolkReepham 3Norwich 915Alderley paGloucesterWickwar 4Wooton 27Alderley paChesterMacclesfield 5Knutsford 54Aldermaston[A] paBerksReading 10Newbury 842Alderminster paWorcesterEvesham 10Stratford-Av. 541Alderton paWiltsMalmsbury 6Tetbury 715Alderton paGloucesterWinchcomb 3Cheltenham 728Alderton paNorthampTowcester 4Northampton 936Alderton paSuffolkWoodbridge 7Orford 97Aldersey toChesterChester 8Tarporley 816Aldershott paHantsFarnham 3Odiham 810Alderwasley toDerbyWirksworth 1Matlock 47Aldford to & paChesterChester 5Malpas 1045Aldfield toW.R. YorkRipon 3Ripley 414Aldham paEss.e.xCoggeshall 4Colchester 636Aldham paSuffolkHadley 2Stow-Market 938Aldingbourn paSuss.e.xChichester 4Arundel 722Aldingham paLancasterUlverstone 5Dalton 421Aldington[B] paKentHythe 6Ashford 7+--+-----------------+----------+--------------+---------------+Dist.MapNames of Places.Number of Miles FromLond.population.
+--+-----------------+-------------------------+------+--------+ 27Aldeby paLowestoft 711253018Aldenham paElstree 317149441Alderbury toFarley 380132327Alderford paAylesham 71084015Alderley paTetbury 81082007Alderley paCongleton 8 17213384Aldermaston[A] paKingsclere 54963642Alderminster paShipston-Sto. 68945441Alderton paChippenham 810321315Alderton paTewkesbury 710233028Alderton paSto. Stratford 95816236Alderton paIpswich 12795757Aldersey toMalpas 517513816Aldershott paFrimley 63566510Alderwasley toBakewell 91384247Aldford to & paTarporley 917771045Aldfield toBorobridge 72 0813314Aldham paNeyland 64840736Aldham paIpswich 86631838Aldingbourn paBognor 56283322Aldingham paLancaster 1527788421Aldington[B] paNew Romney 860732+--+-----------------+-------------------------+------+--------+
[A] ALDERMASTON. _Fairs_, May 6, July 7, for horses and cattle, and October 11, for pedlery.
[B] ALDINGTON. Elizabeth Barton, commonly called the Holy Maid of Kent, a religious impostor, lived in the reign of Henry VIII. She was a servant at Aldington, and having been for a long time afflicted with convulsions, which distorted her limbs and countenance, and threw her body into the most violent agitations, acquired a power of counterfeiting the same appearances whenever she pleased. Richard Master, who then held this living, with other ecclesiastics, thinking her a proper instrument for their purpose, induced her to pretend that all she said and did, was by a supernatural impulse, and taught her to act her part in the most perfect manner. Thus she pretended to be honoured with visions; to hear heavenly voices and most ravishing melody; she declaimed against the wickedness of the times, against heresy and innovations; exhorting all persons to frequent the church, to hear ma.s.ses, to make frequent confessions, and to pray to our lady, and all saints. This artful management, with her apparent piety, virtue, and austerity of life, completely deceived even Sir Thomas More, Bishop Fisher, and Archbishop Warham, the last of which appointed commissioners to examine her, to whom she was instructed to say, in her counterfeit trances, that she should never recover till she went to visit the image of the Virgin Mary, in a chapel dedicated to her in this parish, which was done. After that she pretended that she was called to be a nun, and the Archbishop being fully satisfied with the reports, had her placed in the nunnery of St. Sepulchre, Canterbury, where she alleged she had visions and revelations of a divine nature, so as to completely impose upon the public. The main object of the priests, her managers, was directed publicly to announce how G.o.d had revealed to her, "that in case the king should divorce Queen Catherine of Anjou, and take another wife during her life, his royalty would not be of a month"s duration, but that he should die the death of a villain," which created considerable excitement, and much controversy: encouraged by the lenity of the government, the ecclesiastics in this conspiracy, resolved to publish the revelations of the nun throughout the kingdom. They had communicated them to the Pope"s Amba.s.sadors, and exhorted Queen Catherine to persist in her resolutions. At length this confederacy became a serious affair, and Henry ordered the maid and her accomplices to be examined in the Star Chamber, where they confessed all the particulars of the imposture; and afterwards, upon a scaffold erected at Paul"s Cross, were compelled to hear their confession publicly read; they were confined in the Tower until the meeting of parliament, by whom the whole affair was p.r.o.nounced to be a conspiracy against the king"s life, and crown. The nun, and her confederates, were eventually attainted of high treason, and executed at Tyburn, April 20th, 1534, where she confessed the imposture, laying the blame on her accomplices, the priests; craving pardon of G.o.d, and the King.
[Sidenote: The History of the Holy Maid of Kent.]
[Sidenote: Holy Maid of Kent.]
[Sidenote: The imposture detected.]
[Sidenote: Herself and confederates executed at Tyburn.]
MapNames of Places.County.Number of Miles From+--+-----------------------+----------+--------------+----------------+ 42Aldington hamWorcesterEvesham 3Moreton 1035Aldridge paStaffordWalsall 3Sut. Coldfield 436Aldringham paSuffolkAldeburgh 2Saxmundha 538Aldrington paSuss.e.xBrighton 5Steyning 69Aldstone Moor[A] to & pac.u.mberlandCarlisle 25Kirk Oswald 1215Aldsworth paGloucesterNorthleach 4Fairford 616Aldwark toDerbyWirksworth 4Ashbourn 644Aldwark toN. R YorkBorobridge 5Easingwold 445Aldwarke toW. R YorkRotherham 2Sheffield 428Aldwinckle-all Saints pNorthampThrapston 3Kettering 1028Aldwinckle-St Peter paNorthamp... 3... 104Aldsworth[B] paBerksEast Ilsley 4Wallingford 7+--+------------------------+----------+--------------+----------------+Dist.MapNames of Places.Number of Miles FromLond.Population.
+--+-----------------------+-------------------------+------+---------+ 42Aldington hamAlcester 109610435Aldridge paLichfleld 6116180436Aldringham paDunwich 79436238Aldrington paWorthing 7556159Aldstone Moor[A] to & paHaltwhistle 10272685815Aldsworth paBurford 47835316Aldwark toWinster 61459744Aldwark toKnaresboro 920219045Aldwarke toBarnsley 8172...28Aldwinckle-all Saints pOundle 57624728Aldwinckle-St Peter pa... 5761714Aldsworth[B] paNewbury 1150268+--+------------------------+------------------------+------+--------+
[A] ALDSTONE MOOR, in Leath Ward, is situated on the borders of Northumberland, in the most picturesque and romantic part of the county.
The town itself stands upon a hill, at the bottom of which runs the river Tyne. The immediate vicinity abounds in lead-mines, on estates which once belonged to the Derwent.w.a.ter family. On the attainder of the last earl, they were granted in aid of the support of Greenwich Hospital, from the trustees of which national inst.i.tution, the mines are at present leased. Satin spar is found in this parish; there is also a pool on Gildersdale Fell, the slime of which is used for painting yellow. About three miles from the town, are the earthworks of Whitley castle, where relics of antiquity have frequently been discovered.
_Market_, Sat.u.r.day.--_Fairs_, last Thursday in May, 1st Thursday in September, for cattle, horses, linen and woollen cloth.
[Sidenote: Picturesque and Romantic scenery.]
[Sidenote: The slime of a pool use for painting yellow.]
[B] ALDWORTH is pleasantly situated on a hill: here was anciently a mansion belonging to the family of De La Beche, the site of which is now Beach Farm. In the churchyard is a remarkable yew-tree, the trunk measuring nine yards in circ.u.mference, at upwards of four feet from the ground. The church is celebrated for its very ancient monuments, nine in number, disposed in enriched arches on each side, and in the centre of the interior; these are supposed to belong to the De La Beche family, and from the costume of the figures upon the tombs, may be referred to the fourteenth century; six of them are knights in armour; two are females, and one in the common habit of the time; some of the knights are represented lying cross-legged; these had vowed, or accompanied a crusade; the workmanship is excellent, and the att.i.tude and expression of each of the figures that remain perfect, are exceedingly graceful, but several of the monuments are now considerably mutilated. The font is very ancient, and remarkably plain, but very capacious, and somewhat singular in its form.
[Sidenote: Remarkable yew-tree, nine yards round.]
[Sidenote: Church celebrated for ancient monuments.]
MapNames of Places.County.Number of Miles From+--+------------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+ 29Alemouth toNorthumbLesbury 2Alnwick 528Alesworth hamNorthampDeeping 7Wandsford 337Alfold paSurreyGuildford 10G.o.dalming 724Alford m.t. & paLincolnSaltfleet 12Lincoln 3434Alford paSomersetShepton 7Castle Cary 210Alfreton[A] paDerbyDerby 14Wirksworth 1042Alfrick chapWorcesterBromvard 6Worcester 838Alfriston paSuss.e.xNewhaven 5Seaford 324Algarkirk paLincolnFosd.y.k.e Br. 3Boston 631Alkerton paOxfordShipston 8Banbury 621Alkham paKentCanterbury 12Dover 415Alkington ti & toGloucesterOld Pa.s.sage 10Berkeley 110Alkmonton toDerbyDerby 10Ashbourn 522Alkrington toLancasterRochdale 7Manchester 641Alcannings pa & toWiltsCalne 7Devizes 429Allendale pa & toNorthumbAldsto. Moor 10Hexham 829Allen-Head paNorthumb... 9Hexham 128Allen, St. paCornwallSt. Michael 4Truro 417Allensmore paHerefordThruxton 2Hereford 429Allenton pa & toNorthumbWooler 16Rothbury 834Aller paSomersetTaunton 11Somerton 69Allerby toc.u.mberlandWigton 8c.o.c.kermout 743Allerston paN.R. YorkNew Malton 8Pickering 546Allerthorpe paE.R. YorkYork 11Pocklington 243Allerthorpe toN.R. YorkNorthallerton 6Bedale 522Allerton toLancasterWarrington 12Liverpool 634Allerton Chapel paSomersetWells 10Axbridge 345Allerton Chapel paW.R. YorkHalifax 7Leeds 245Allerton toW.R. YorkOttley 5Bradford 445Allerton Bywater toW.R. YorkWakefield 6Pontefract 545Allerton Mauleverer[B] pW.R. YorkWetherby 5Knaresboro 4+--+------------------------+----------+---------------+-------------+Dist.MapNames of Places.Number of Miles FromLond.Population.
+--+------------------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+ 29Alemouth toMorpeth 1931141528Alesworth hamPeterborough 58728937Alfold paHaslemere 94151424Alford m.t. & paLouth 11142178434Alford paGlas...o...b..ry 811513710Alfreton[A] paMansfield 9139569142Alfrick chapGt. Malvern 1011949338Alfriston paHailsham 65569424Algarkirk paDonnington 711165131Alkerton paKineton 67719221Alkham paFolkestone 46954215Alkington ti & toDursley 3113116710Alkmonton toUttoxeter 71347922Alkrington toOldham 118736741Alcannings pa & toMarlborough 98881129Allendale pa & toHaltwhistle 10273554029Allen-Head paAllendale 4268...8Allen, St. paFalmouth 1225263717Allensmore paRoss 1213159229Allenton pa & toBellingham 1531082234Aller paBridgewater 81284909Allerby toAbbey-Holm 6313...43Allerston paScarborough 1022038546Allerthorpe paM. Weighton 621218543Allerthorpe toThirsk 621816722Allerton toPrescott 620237434Allerton Chapel paBridgewater 1113231345Allerton Chapel paBradford 8194173045Allerton toKeighly 4200173345Allerton Bywater toLeeds 618237545Allerton Mauleverer[B] pBorobridge 5202...+--+------------------------+--------------------------+-----+-------+
[A] ALFRETON, is situated about two miles from the commencement of the moors, which extend so widely in this county. The town is supposed to have been built by King Alfred, and to derive its name from him. The spot is shown where the house stood in which he lived. The inhabitants are princ.i.p.ally employed in a stocking manufactory, and in the neighbouring collieries. Earthenware is also made in this place, and the Monday market, for corn, is considerable. In Greenhill Lane, near this town, seven hundred Roman coins, were discovered by a labourer employed in repairing a fence.
_Markets_, Monday and Friday.--_Mail_ arrives 2-1/4 P.M., departs 9-1/4 A.M.--_Fairs_, horses and cattle, October 8, and November 22, statute.--_Inns_, Angel, and George.
[Sidenote: Built by King Alfred.]
[Sidenote: 700 Roman coins found here.]
[B] ALLERTON MAULEVERER, is situated in a very beautiful part of Yorkshire. The park now in the possession of _Lord Stourton_, consists of about four hundred acres, in which is a superb mansion; the land is very rich, and charmingly diversified by a variety of hills, dales, and groves, which are considerably enlivened, and receive much additional beauty, from a very fine expanse of water. An octagonal tower has been built on a lofty hill, finely shaded with trees; it consists of two rooms, and is approached by a double flight of steps, each of which, as well as the terrace around the building, are protected by iron palisades. From this commanding situation, all the various beauties of the park are seen to the greatest advantage, and many extensive and diversified prospects are enjoyed. Here was a priory of Benedictine monks, founded by Richard Mauleverer, in the reign of Henry II., which was dissolved about three centuries afterwards by King Henry VI. The manor was the seat of the Mauleverer family for more than five hundred years, when Sir Richard, the last heir, who died unmarried, left the estate by will to his mother, who, afterwards by marriage, conveyed it to the Arundel family, and from them it became the property of the Honourable, William Monkton Arundel, Viscount Galway, whose son, the late Lord Galway, sold it in the year 1786, to the late Duke of York, who afterwards occasionally resided in the park, with George IV., then Prince of Wales. The estate, comprising four thousand five hundred and twenty-five acres, was sold by the Royal Duke to Colonel Thornton, for 110,000; and was, in 1805, resold by that gentleman to the late Lord Stourton, father of the present proprietor. The mansion stands on a gentle elevation; it was erected by his Royal Highness the Duke of York, and has since been considerably improved.
[Sidenote: Extensive park and mansion.]
[Sidenote: Picturesque tower.]
[Sidenote: Here was a Priory of Benedictine monks.]
[Sidenote: Sale of the estate by the late Duke of York, for 110,000.]
MapNames of Places.County.Number of Miles From+--+----------------+----------+------------+--------------+ 39Allesley paWarwickCoventry 2Nuneaton 810Allestrey paDerbyDerby 2Ashbourn 1423Allexton paLeicesterRockingham 6M. Harboro 99Allhallows pac.u.mberlandWigton 5Market Ireby 421Allhallows paKentRochester 7Sheerness 512Allington paDorsetBridport 1Lyme Regis 821Allington[A] paKentMaidstone 2Rochester 7+--+----------------+----------+------------+--------------+Dist.MapNames of Places.Number of Miles FromLond.Population.
+--+----------------+-----------------------+--------------+ 39Allesley paKenilworth 69387510Allestrey paAlfreton 1312850123Allexton paUppingham 589689Allhallows paAllonby 730820521Allhallows paQueenboro 63626312Allington paBeaminster 5136130021Allington[A] paWrotham 83237+--+----------------+-----------------------+-----+--------+
[A] ALLINGTON. Situated in the hundred of Larkefield, in the lathe of Aylesford, near the river Medway. ALLINGTON CASTLE was originally built in the Saxon times, by a n.o.ble family denominated _Columbary_, but was razed afterwards by the Danes. The manor was given after the conquest to Bishop Odo, (in whose time there was a _church_ at Allington,) and on his disgrace, to the great Earl Warrenne, who is stated to have had the castle rebuilt, which, however, seems to be doubtful, as the famous Sir Stephen Penchester, constable of Dover Castle, in the reign of Edward I., and then owner of this manor, had a license to fortify, and embattle, his mansion-house here. It pa.s.sed afterwards to the _Cobham_ family; and from them to the _Brents_, by whom it was alienated to Sir Henry Wyatt, a descendant from a worthy Yorkshire family; who, besides losing seventeen manors, was deprived of his liberty for engaging in the plot against Richard III. in favour of the Earl of Richmond; but when success had crowned the attempts of the latter, he was released by the new king, knighted, made banneret, a knight of the bath, and a privy counsellor. He made this castle his residence; and here was born his accomplished son and successor, Sir Thomas Wyatt. This gentleman who was equally renowned, as a scholar, a soldier, and a statesman, (in consequence of which he was considered to be "the delight of the muses and mankind") made this a "fair seat," and was visited here by Henry VIII., (as his father Sir Henry had also been,) with whom he was a great favourite; though he appears in some degree to have unintentionally excited his jealousy, through the admiration which his accomplishments had raised in the breast of the fascinating Anne Boleyn. He died in his thirty-eighth year, at Sherborne, in Dorsetshire, of a violent fever. His son Sir Thomas Wyatt, the younger, being deprived of his estates and life, for treason against Queen Mary, this castle and manor became vested in the crown, and were granted, on lease by Elizabeth, to John Astley Esq., master of her jewels, in her eleventh year. His son, Sir John Astley, afterwards had the whole granted to him by the queen"s letters patent, dated in her twenty-sixth year, and from his family it was transferred to that of Lord Romney, and is now the property of the present earl. The remains of the castle are particularly curious and interesting, but give the idea rather of a fortified dwelling, than of a place of strength. The moat still exists, as does the entrance gateway, which was erected by the Cobhams. Besides the castle and parsonage, (a mere cottage,) there is only one house in this parish; though Sir Stephen de Penchester is recorded to have procured a grant of a market weekly, and a three days annual fair for his manor of Allington.
[Sidenote: The castle.]
[Sidenote: Mansion given to Bishop Odo.]