Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From +--+-------------------------+---------+------------+------------+ 22|Ashton-under-Lyne[A] p|Lancaster|Manchester 7|Stockport 7| 22|Ashton-in-Mackerfield}[B]| | | | | o & chap } |Lancaster|Newton 3|Prescot 7| 7|Ashton-upon-Mersey } | | | | | to & pa } |Chester |Stockport 9|Manchester 7| +--+-------------------------+---------+------------+------------+ |Dist.| Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population. +--+-------------------------+----------------------+-----+-------+ 22|Ashton-under-Lyne[A] p|Mottram 5| 186| 33597| 22|Ashton-in-Mackerfield}[B]| | | | | o & chap } |Wigan 5| 196| 5912| 7|Ashton-upon-Mersey } | | | | | to & pa } |Altringham 4| 184| 2078| +--+-------------------------+----------------------+-----+-------+ [A] ASHTON-UNDER-LYNE is a large town situated at the south-eastern extremity of the county. It consists of several narrow streets, built on a high bank, which rises from the river Tame. It appears from an ancient manuscript, that Ashton was formerly a borough, yet for some centuries it sent no members to Parliament; but, by the Reform Bill of 1832, it now returns one member, and the mayor of the town is the returning officer. The borough comprises the whole district, over which the lighting and paving act of the 7th and 8th of Geo. IV. extends. A court is held here for the recovery of debts, not exceeding five pounds, by 48th Geo. III. c. 18; any person may sue, under the general regulations, and defendants sued elsewhere are to have their costs. Defendants removing out of the jurisdiction, may be followed in person and goods, by removing the record to the superior courts, but wagers, &c. are not recoverable. The principal part of the landed property of this parish belongs to the Earl of Stamford, in whose family it was conveyed, by the marriage of Sir William Booth to the daughter of Sir Thomas Asheton, whose family possessed some peculiar privileges in this manor: among which was, the power of life and death over their tenantry. In commemoration of this privilege, and its having been sometimes exercised, a field near the old hall is still called Gallows Meadow. There is also an ancient custom here, called "riding the black lad," celebrated every Easter Monday, to perpetuate some act of great tyranny exercised by Sir Ralph Asheton, in 1483, when vice-constable of England. The ceremony consists in exhibiting the effigies of a man on horseback through the streets, which is afterwards suspended on the cross in the market place, and there shot.