Toyshop of Europe;" and is, assuredly, a just subject of national pride. The convulsed state of Europe, through recent periods, has unavoidably affected the trade of this active and persevering place; but the spirit of the inhabitants is too ardent to be permanently repressed: the manufactory of musquets for government is now carried on to so large an extent, that six thousand are sent weekly to London. Not less than 16,000 people, in the city of Coventry, and neighbouring towns and villages, are believed to be employed in the manufacture of ribbous. The manufacture of watches is likewise cultivated at Coventry with such eminent success, that, perhaps, this city now takes the lead in that trade, even when the metropolis is admitted to the scale of comparison. Many horn-combs of all descriptions are made at Kenilworth. At Warwick are manufactories of worsted for the hosiery trade; of calicoes, and other cotton goods, from yarn spun at Manchester and the neighbourhood; and a mill for the spinning of cotton yarn. At Alcester about six hundred persons. are employed in the making of needles; and in other parts of Warwickshire there are considerable flax manufactures, and much linen yarn spun.

The state of the county while occupied by the Britons, and during the invasion and subsequent settlement of the Romans and their Saxon successors, we have already noticed. It remains to mention the relics of those eras, the tangible memorials of past days which assist the fancy in peopling each altered track with the faded images of our ancestry. Although Mr. Shaw, in his history of Staffordshire, conjectures that the chief-seat of the ArchDruid of Britain was situated in the vicinity of Sutton-Coldfield, we find few vestiges that can be safely ascribed to the Britons. The Romans, warlike, successful, and vast in undertaking, worked for posterity; and their connexion with Warwickshire would be obvious in all its districts, if every other record had sunk amidst the wrecks of time. The Roads, which at once facilitated conquest and aided the progress of civilization, form the most interesting relics of this great people. The Watling

Street,

Street, the most stupendous of their works in Britain, divides this county from Leicestershire on the north-east. From Weedon to the lordship of Lilborn, and the neighbourhood of the sta tion Tripontium, it is only a private road, though distinctly marked and well known. It then forms the public way between Daventry and Lutterworth for a few miles; when it again becomes private, and so continues till it reaches High Cross. Here the turnpike-road from Lutterworth to Atherstone passes over it, for about two miles of its progress towards Hinkley; and returning to it again about two miles from Hinkley, continues along it to Atherstone. Beyond Atherstone it is in good repair; and, proceeding by Hints, Weeford, and Wall, (Etocetum,) shortly becomes the basis of the great Chester road, on its way for Ireland, the object of its destination. The Foss-way intersects the Watling Street at High Cross. Passing near Monk's Kirby and Stretton, it goes through Brinklow, Bretford on the river Avon, and Stretton-upon-Duusmoor. Then crossing the river Leam, to the west of Marton, it leaves Chesterton, Lighthorne, and Combrooke to the east, and Stretton-on-Foss to the west, near which parish it enters Gloucestershire. This road (which is supposed to have been constructed in the third consulship of Adrian, nearly seventeen hundred years back,) is still firm through many parts of its progress, and likely to mock the assaults of time for centuries. A third Roman way connected with Warwickshire is usually termed the Icknield Street; but, according to some modern writers, of whom the chief is Mr. Reynolds, the author of Remarks on the Itinerary of Antoninus, &c. this term is improperly bestowed. Mr. Reynolds contends that Ryknild is the proper appellation;* and observes that "the

As the road which passes chrough Warwickshire originated, says Mr. Reynold, among the Regni, it perhaps was anciently called Regnild from that people. The Icknield Street, properly so called, is supposed by some writers to commence in its main line at Yarmouth, and to pass through Suffolk and the counties of Cambridge, Hertford, Bedford, and Oxford, to Winchester, in Hampshire, and Southampton.

street is so termed in a deed of Hilton Abbey, Staffordshire, dated 1223; and, likewise, in an ancient deed of lands bounded by it near Birmingham." We cannot consider these deeds as any important authority. The positive track of the Roman roads is, however, yet so involved in obscurity, that an endless scene of critical discussion is open for the speculations of the antiquary. In the present page we wave an examination of the question, and proceed to notice the progress of the road through a part of this county. It enters on the south, and is clearly distinguishable in the neighbourhood of Bidford. Between Wixford and Alcester there are, as we believe, no traces remaining; but, to the north of the latter place, it again rises to notice, and is known by the name of the Haden-way. After passing Studley it enters a recess of Worcestershire, which may be figuratively said to be embayed by parts of this county; and returns in the vicinity of Birmingham. Touching the margin of Staffordshire, it proceeds to Sutton Park, where it is to be distinctly traced. At Wall, in Staffordshire, mentioned before as a Roman station, it meets the Watling Street. A minor road, termed the Ridgeway, likewise borders part of Warwickshire on the east; and several branches appear to have diverged from each of the great tracts.

The principal stations of the Romans in this county have already been noticed. The remains of various camps constructed by that people are found, in different stages of preservation. The chief of these are seen on the Foss-way, where places of entertainment were formed for the accommodation of troops in their marches; and on the banks of the river Avon, where Ostorius arranged a chain of minor fortifications to keep the natives in awe. Many tumuli are found in the neighbourhood of the roads and camps; and coins, and other vestiges of the Romans, have been discovered in nearly every district. These will meet with attention, when we more immediately treat concerning the places at which they occur.

There are few military remains of the Saxons and Danes; and the relics of Saxon architecture are far from numerous, and are

by

by no means conspicuous for the rude but commanding grandeur of effect sometimes produced by that people. The fragments, indeed, are so trivial and disjointed that they act only as faint memorials of Saxon eras, and cannot fairly be adduced as speci mens of the architectural talent of their designers. The most striking remains are those of Polesworth Nunnery, which principally consist of a fine arch, and a gateway carved in several divisions. Round-headed doorcases occur in the churches of Badgeley, Kenilworth, Stretton on Dunsmoor, Ryton, Shuttendon, Honingham, Wolston, and Burton-Dassett. The remaining portions of Merevale-Abbey contain some interesting, though ruinous specimens, of the Saxon style; and there are, likewise, some fragments in the churches of Salford-Priors and Beaudesert.

The great land-holders mentioned in Domesday, as tenants in capite or serjanty, at the time of the Norman survey are :1

King William.

Bishop of Chester.

Bishop of Worcester.

Bishop of Baieux.

Bishop of Constance.
Abbey of Coventry.
Abbey of Abingdon.
Abbey of Bertoné.
Abbey of Malmsbury.
Abbey of Winchcombe.
Abbey of Evesham.
Earl Roger.
Earl Hugh.

Earl Aubery.'

Countess Godiva.

Earl of Mellent.
Turchil de Warwick.
Hugh de Grentemaisnil.
Henry de Ferieres.

Roger de Ivery."
Robert de Oilgi.
Robert de Statford.
Robert Dispenser.
Robert de Vesci.
Ralph de Mortimer.
Ralph de Limesi.
William, Filius Ausculfi.
William, Filius Corbucion.
William Buenvasleth.
Geoffrey de Mandeville.
Geoffrey de Wirce.
Gilbert de Gaunt.

Gilbert, Filius Turoldi.
Gerinus.

Urso de Abetot.
Stephen.

Osbern, Filius Ricardi.

Harold, Filius Comitis.*

Son of Ralph, Earl of Hereford.

Hasculfus

Hasculfus Musard.

Nicholaus Balistarius.

Nigel de Albani.

Christina.

Leveva et Eddid.

Richard the Forester.* and

other Thains and Servants of the King. Adeliz, wife of Bugh.

The State of Property in this county, at the present period, is very unequal in regard to division. One estate (that of Stoneleigh,) comprises 25,000 acres; and there are many other proprietors possessing a large extent of land. The greater part of the county is freehold, but there are some copyholders on an extensive scale; and a considerable portion is held of the church, principally of the cathedrals of Worcester and Lichfield. Some great landholders have no residence in the county; but many will be found among the nobility and gentry occupying

The principal Seats in Warwickshire.

Richard held his lands of the gift of the King by the service of keeping

the Forest of Cannock, Staffordshire.