houses, free blue coat and national schools, and charitable institutions. There is a monumental pillar here in honour of Sir T. Tildesley, who was killed at the battle of Wigan Lane, in 1651, when the Royalists under the Earl of Derby were routed by Colonel 'Lilburne. In the vicinity is a sulphurous spring, with a neat building for the accommodation of visitors. Two M. P. Pop. 20,774,* PRESTON is a town of great antiquity, on the north bank of the Ribble. There were formerly two monastic institutions in Preston, one called the Hospital of St Mary Magdalen, the other a monastery of Greyfriars. The last was occupied as a prison until about fifty years ago, and traces of it yet remain. During the civil wars Preston was first occupied by the Royal party, but was quickly taken by the Parliamentary forces, and the mayor killed in the assault. It was afterwards retaken by the Earl of Derby, who demolished the defences. At Ribbleton Moor, near Preston, the Duke of Hamilton was defeated, in 1648, by Cromwell ; and, in 1715, the friends of the Pretender were routed by Generals Willes and Carpenter at the same spot. Preston contains four churches and one Episcopal chapel, two Roman Catholic, and thirteen other chapels belonging to different denominations of Dissenters. It has also a guild-hall, a town-hall, a corn exchange, a cloth and a market-hall, assembly rooms, a theatre, &c. What are called the "Guilds" of Preston are held every twenty years, when the trades meet with banners and music, form a procession, and hold a festival at considerable cost to the town. In Preston are 55 day, 17 Sunday, and 9 boardingschools. About 10,000 Sunday scholars are gratuitously educated. Preston is a port-vessels of 150 tons ascending nearly to the town, and about 30,000 tons of goods are entered both inwards and outwards annually. Richard Arkwright was born at Preston in 1732; and here, in 1768, he commenced, in connection with a mechanic named John Kay, some of his improvements in the cottonspinning mechanism. There are 52 steam-engines in the town, having an aggregate power of about 1500 horses. There is also a good deal of flax-spinning executed here. Two M. P. Pop. of par. 50,131; of borough, about 40,000. A railway, 22 miles in length, connects Preston with the mouth of the Wyre, where is situated the new watering-place of Fleetwood, with an excellent hotel, erected by Sir P. H. Fleetwood. As a bathing-place it possesses very superior attractions. From Preston a canal leads to Kendal, through Lancaster. LANCASTER is situated on the Lune, at some distance from its entrance into the sea. The principal object of attention is the castle, a strong fortress, erected in the reign of Edward III. by John of Gaunt. It stands upon the summit of a hill, and forms a very striking feature in the general view of the town. It is now converted into the county gaol. The county courts now attached to this venerable building are chiefly of a modern date, and are extremely commodious. On the north of the castle stands the church, a Gothic structure containing * Some interesting traditions regarding Wigan are recorded by Mr Roby in his "Traditions of Lancashire." A small volume on similar subjects by a young author of great promise has also been recently published at Wigan. carved stalls and monuments. A theatre, assembly rooms, several alms-houses and an excellent grammar-school are among the other public buildings of the town. Lancaster has a considerable trade, the river being navigable for vessels of between 200 and 300 tons. Hardware and woollen manufactures constitute the principal exports. A large trade in coal and limestone is carried on by means of the canal, which is carried over the Lune by an aqueduct erected in 1797, at an expense of L.48,000. Two M. P. Pop. 12,613. LXXVI. ROUTE CONTINUED FROM LANCASTER TO CARLISLE, 653 Miles. CARLISLE is an ancient city, pleasantly situated on an eminence nearly enclosed by three streams, the Eden, the Caldew, and the Petrel. It is supposed to be of British origin, and there is reason to conclude that it was a Roman station. It appears to have been first fortified about the time of Agricola; the erection of its castle is attributed to William Rufus. Carlisle was taken by David, King of Scots, and afterwards besieged unsuccessfully by William the Lion. It suffered severely during the civil wars, having declared for Charles I. In 1745, it surrendered to Prince Charles Stuart, and on being retaken by the Duke of Cumberland, was the scene of many cruel severities upon the conquered. After the junction of the kingdoms it sunk into decay, but has made great progress since the commencement of the present century. The principal business of the town consists in its manufactures of cotton goods and ginghams, and in a coasting trade. There is a canal from Carlisle to the Solway, and some traffic arises also from its lying on the Great Western road from London to Edinburgh and Glasgow. Before the Reformation, there were several ecclesiastical establishments in the city. It was erected into a see by Henry I. in 1133. Dr Paley was ArchDeacon of Carlisle, and is buried in the cathedral, where a monument has been recently erected to his memory. The cathedral is an ancient building of red freestone, some parts of which are assigned to the Saxon times. There are three other churches in Carlisle, several meeting-houses, a Roman Catholic chapel, a Mechanic's Institute, a Theatre, a Grammar-School founded by Henry VIII. and forty-seven other schools of various kinds. The Court Houses were built at an expense of L.100,000. A considerable portion of the castle still remains, comprising the keep, a lofty and massive tower, in which is a very deep well. Towards the north are the apartments in which Mary Queen of Scots was confined on her flight to England, after the battle of Langside. Carlisle gives the title of Earl to a branch of the Howard family. Two M. P. Pop. 19,069. |