Drake's Road Book of the Grand Junction Railway: from Birmingham to Liverpool and ManchesterDrake, James, active 1825
History
Drake's Road Book of the Grand Junction Railway: from Birmingham to Liverpool and Manchester
Drake, James, active 1825
Grand Junction Railway Company (Great Britain) -- Guidebooks; Railroad travel -- Great Britain -- Guidebooks
THE village, which is rather eastward of the line, consists chiefly of
cottages and farm houses in the Elizabethan style. The Church is an
ancient and interesting structure, with a fine set of bells. An
eccentric, named Samuel Stretch, noted for his penurious habits,
bequeathed, in 1804, a great bell, to be tolled every night at eight
o’clock, as a guide to persons wandering about at such late and improper
hours; he having accidently fallen into a ditch, the consequences of
which disaster eventually caused his death. The small town of Woore lies
three miles W. Passing several slight cuttings, and again gaining the
open country, a fine prospect appears, including Checkley Wood,
Doddington Park, on the W., Heighley Castle on the E., and the Welsh
Hills in the distance. Doddington Hall, seat of Lieut. Gen. Sir John
Delves Broughton, Bart., is a splendid mansion of comparatively modern
erection. A fortified house was erected here in 1364, by Sir John
Delves, the venerable ruins of which still remain. The park is finely
wooded, and includes a very noble avenue of ancient oaks. Heighley
Castle partakes the traditionary honour so lavishly bestowed on such
places, of having been “battered down” by Cromwell. It has been said,
“no man can be in two places at once, unless he be a _bird_.” And our
renowned Oliver must needs have been wonderfully endowed with this
ornithological ubiquity, if we are to allow a shade of credence to the
countless and unaccountable stories of his sieges in _propria personá_.
A lofty embankment and two viaducts carry the line through the pretty
valley of Wrinehill; the Hall and Mill forming very pleasing objects in
the scene. The line here enters Cheshire. Betley and Betley Mere form
the next view, after emerging from a short excavation, called Bunker’s
Hill. Betley Court, the residence of J. Twemlow, Esq., with its
surrounding woods and fields, and the pretty mere or lakelet in front,
afford a very pleasing view.
* * * * *
In the rear distance, S.E., is a fine view of Boond Hill and Mow Copp, on
the round summit of the latter is a stone monument, distinctly seen.
These hills, which lie at a considerable distance, join in the landscape
for some space. Chorlton is the first village we pass in Cheshire, and
Wybunbury, a place of much more importance, is concealed by the woods
about the former, except the Church, which peers above them. This Church
was rebuilt in 1595; it is a spacious structure, with carved wooden
ceilings, and a lofty pinnacled tower, which leaned so much to the N.E.,
that a few years since it was found requisite to place it erect, when
some alterations were made in the body of the Church. To the W. is
Basford Hall, soon after passing which, we arrive at
Basford Station.
Distance to Birmingham, 52—Liverpool and Manchester, 45½ miles.
DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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