DUDLEY, a town in the centre of the mining district, lies 5½ miles W. of the line. Population, 23,050. The ancient castle is a ruin of great beauty and interest, situated on an eminence, and surrounded with fine wood and beautiful walks. Stupendous cavern-quarries, canals, and labyrinthine excavations, extend under the Castle Hill. The limestone is remarkably rich in fossil treasures; trilobites, or, as they are vulgarly called, “Dudley locusts,” have been found here in great variety, but from the eagerness of collectors, and the inadequate supply of these ancient creatures yielded by the rocks, they have become scarce and costly, instead of “not particularly valuable,” as stated by a contemporary before alluded to. * * * * * WEDNESBURY is a town of ancient origin, having been fortified against the Danes by Ethelfleda, daughter of Alfred the Great, in 916. Extensive collieries enrich the vicinity, and tend greatly to darken the complexion of both houses and inhabitants; the workers of the black diamond hereabout being a marvellously murky fraternity. Various manufactures of iron are here carried on, and the air is generally redolent of the fumes of coal-smoke in no small degree. The market is on Friday, and fairs May 6, and August 3. * * * * * WALSALL boasts an equally ancient history with the former place, and was fortified by the same princess. It stands conspicuously on the summit and acclivities of a limestone rock, which is crowned by the church, the lofty spire of which forms a fine object. Market on Tuesday; fairs September 24, Whit Monday, and Tuesday before Michaelmas day. Proceeding onwards we pass under Bescot Bridge Station. Distance to Birmingham, 9½—Liverpool and Manchester, 88 miles. DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:— _Places W. of Station_. _Places E. of Station_. WEDNESBURY 1 mile WALSALL 1½ mile Tipton 4 miles Rushall 2½ miles DUDLEY 5½ — Over Stonnal 6½ — Netherton 6¾ — Lower Stonnal 7½ — Brierley Hill 8¼ — Shenstone 9 — King Swinford 8½ — LICHFIELD 11 — Wordesley 9¼ — The Lye 9¼ — STOURBRIDGE 9¾ — Old Swinford 10½ — THE main road from Wednesbury to Walsall crosses this bridge; pass Bescot Hall, (Mr. Marshall’s,) on the E., and reach James’s Bridge Station. Distance to Birmingham, 10¼—Liverpool and Manchester, 87¼ miles. DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:— _Places W. of Station_. _Places E. of Station_. Darlaston ¾ mile Walsall 1¾ mile Coseley 3 miles