Page images
PDF
EPUB
[graphic][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][merged small][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed][subsumed]

Females are also in attendance at the London, Watford, Rugby, Coventry, and Birming

ham Stations.

[blocks in formation]

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 principal 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 Railway commences here. Pop. of Rugby, 3008. One mile and a half from Rugby is Bilton House, remarkable as having been the residence of Addison. In the garden is a long иvenue called Addison's Walk, having been his favourite promenade. To Dunchurch, three miles.

[blocks in formation]

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 is the only building of great antiquity. Its exterior is mean, 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 ten churches and chapels belonging to the Established Church and forty-five Dissenting chapels, several of them elegant erections. 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 of 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 splendid 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, supported by subscriptions. There are several associations for moral and intellectual improvement, such as a mechanic's institution possessing a library of 1200 volumes, the Society of Arts, and a philosophical institution. The old library contains about 17,000 volumes, and the new library 4000 volumes. 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 and iron. 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, steam-engines, &c. Birmingham is connected with London and various places by means of canals. In all probability it will soon form the centre of railway communication with every part of the kingdom. That with the metropolis was opened in 1837. Birmingham returns 2 M. P. The population in 1831 was 110,914; including the suburbs, 138,252. In 1841 it was 182,922.

The journey is performed in about 54 hours. Omnibuses leave the following offices

in London and Birmingham for the railway stations. In London, three-quarters of an hour before the departure of the trains, and Birmingham 20 minutes. London offices: Spread Eagle, Grace-Church Street, Cross Keys, Wood 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.

LXIII. LONDON TO DENBIGH THROUGH BIRMINGHAM, NEWPORT, WHITCHURCH, WREXHAM, AND MOLD.

ON RIGHT FROM LOND.

From
Denbig.

From

London.

106 From Hicks's Hall to

Aston Park, J. Watt, 97 Birmingham, (p. 165.) 109 Edgbaston Hall. Esq.

95

cr. the Warwick

Canal.

Hockley Brook. 110
Enter Staffordshire.

ON LEFT FROM LOND.

[blocks in formation]
[blocks in formation]
« EelmineJätka »