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.

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.

XLIII. BRISTOL TO GLOUCESTER, WORCESTER, AND KIDDERMINSTER,

804 Miles.

Woodside Ferry

157

| cross river Mersey.

LIVERPOOL.

158

some.

62

Worcester, the capital of the county of that name, is nearly in the centre of England. It is finely situated on a gradual ascent from the left bank of the Severn, over which there is an elegant stone bridge. The circumference of the city is four miles, and on the east side it is sheltered by a range of hills. The streets are in general well built, and the chief one, the Foregate, is very handThe cathedral is an elegant fabric of the eleventh and twelfth centuries. It is 394 feet in length, 78 feet in breadth, and 162 in height. The tower contains eight bells, the largest weighing 6600 lbs. The interior is a splendid specimen of architecture. The choir is magnificent, the pulpit is octagonal, and consists of stone. The monuments are numerous, that of King John is the most ancient royal monument extant in England. The statues of Bishops Wolstan, Oswald, and Hough, and the tomb of Prince Arthur, son of Henry VII., a curious piece of antique workmanship, in the Gothic style, claim attention. The cloisters where the monks formerly resided are now occupied by the dignitaries of the cathedral. Adjoining is the chapter-house, appropriated to the King's school, but used also at the triennial meetings of the choirs of Worcester, Hereford, and Gloucester. The other public buildings worthy of notice are the Episcopal palace, close to the Severn, the residence of George III. and his Queen during their stay at Worcester in 1788: Edgar's Tower, a curious specimen of antiquity; the guildhall, a handsome edifice (in the Foregate); the town-hall, county gaol, the market-house, and infirmary. There are eleven parish churches in Worcester, and several places of worship for Dissenters. There are also numerous hospitals and charitable institutions, a library, theatre, race-ground, &c. Formerly Worcester carried on a considerable trade in woollen cloths and carpets, but that has given place to the manufacture of gloves and porcelain, the latter more remarkable for the beauty of the work than for the extent to which it is carried on. The trade by the river is very considerable, consisting partly in colonial produce, supplied by Bristol and Liverpool, and partly in culinary salt brought from the brine springs of Droitwich, six miles distant, and carried to some of the western counties of England, and some parts of South Wales. The hop market of Worcester is one of the largest in the kingdom. The country around the city is highly fertile, and the markets held