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is a populous and very ancient town, situated on an eminence at the junction of the rivers Corve and Teme. Here are the ruins of a castle which was long the residence of royalty, and afterwards of the Lords Presidents of the Welch marches. Prince Arthur, the brother of Henry VIII., held his court, and died in this castle, and Milton's Mask of Comus was first performed here under the direction of the Earl of Bridgewater. In one of the towers, Butler wrote a part of Hudibras. The church contains a number of curious antique monuments and inscriptions. Two M. P. Pop. 5064.

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Shrewsbury is situated on two eminences, and surrounded on three sides by the Severn. The streets are narrow and steep. It was formerly surrounded by a wall, defended by several towers, of which scarcely any vestige now remains. Its castle has now become private property, and part of it has been formed into a mansion belonging to the Duke of Cleveland. Shrewsbury and its neighbourhood have been the scene of various interesting events. The town itself has sustained two severe sieges; and, four miles distant, at Battlefield Church, is the spot where the famous battle took place, in 1400, between Henry IV. and Hotspur. Shrewsbury has on various occasions, for short periods, been the residence of royalty, and Parliaments have also been held within its walls. The town contains many public buildings worthy of notice, among which may be mentioned the different churches, the town-hall, the market-house, the county-hall, the infirmary, the gaol, the free grammar-school, founded by Edward VI., and raised into great repute by Dr Butler; the theatre, said to have formed part of an ancient palace, &c. There are two handsome bridges over the Severn, and a delightful promenade on its banks, called St Chad's Walk, or the Quarry. Shrewsbury is the chief mart for Welch webs, which are made in Montgomery,

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and dressed here. This town is also famous for its brawn and cakes. It returns two members to Parliament. Pop. 21,529. Four miles from the town are the interesting ruins of Haughmond Abbey, founded in the year 1100, by William Fitzallan. Of the abbey church the nave only remains, having a roof of fine oak. The owner manifests a praiseworthy care in the preservation of these interesting ruins. From Shrewsbury to Newport is 18 miles; to Wellington, 11 miles; to Drayton, 18 miles; Oswestry, 18 miles; Bishop's Castle, 20 miles; Montgomery, 21 miles; Welch-Pool, 19 miles.

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Chester is an ancient and populous city situated on a rocky eminence. The houses are constructed in a very singular manner, being excavated from the rock to the depth of one story beneath the level of the ground on each side, and have porticoes running along the front, affording a covered walk to pedestrians, and beneath them are shops and warehouses on a level with the street. The castle is said to have been erected in the reign of William the Conqueror. A part of the original building has been repaired, and part of it was demolished, and a range of magnificent buildings has been erected on its site. They consist chiefly of an armoury containing nearly 30,000 stand of arms, barracks, court of justice, county gaol, the shire hall, the offices of the palatinate, and a curious ancient chapel. The cathedral was the church of the dissolved abbey of St Werburgh. It contains curious monuments, and a neat choir. The bishop's throne was formerly the shrine of St Werburgh. The chapter-house, a beautiful edifice on the east side of the cloisters, appears to have been erected in the time of Randal, the first Earl of Chester, whose remains, together with those of his uncle and several of his successors, were deposited here. St John's Church, on the east side of the city, without the walls, is supposed to have been founded by Ethelred in 689. In Trinity Church lie the remains of Matthew Henry the commentator, and of Parnell the poet. Chester contains various other churches, several meeting-houses, charitable institutions, public libraries, &c. Chester was formerly a Roman station, and abounds with antiquities. Its ancient walls, which are still standing, form a delightful promenade, and command fine views. Chester was the place where Edward of Caernarvon received the submission of the Welch in 1300. It was besieged and taken by the Parliamentary forces in 1645. It returns two member to Parliament. Pop. 23,115.

Eaton Hall, the seat of the Marquis of Westminster, delightfully situated on the banks of the Dee, about 3 miles from Chester, is a superb mansion, rebuilt in the Gothic style, from designs by Mr Porden in 1813, and is fitted up with great splendour. It contains West's two fine paintings of Cromwell dissolving the Parliament, and the landing of Charles II.

From Chester to Holywell is 18 miles; to Great Neston, 10; to Parkgate, 12; to Frodesham, 11; to Tarporley, 104.

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