morning, and to the bottom in the afternoon of one day, and the reverse the next day. Considerable injury was done to the pipes belonging to these works, by the digging of the Grand Junction Canal; and by the Act of Parliament, which authorised the digging of the canal, a compensation was allowed to the proprietors of the works.

The lease which Mr. Yarnold had obtained, was surrendered up in 1781, by Mr. Powell, the then possessor of it. The supply of water from the water-works ceased in 1799 or 1800; after which it was obtained for a time in watercarts, at a considerable expense, till the lords of the manor and borough dug three wells of considerable depth, each of which yields a large supply of excellent water: one is opposite the George inn; another at the western corner of the Church; and the third opposite the Rose and Crown public-house. About the

same time several wells were sunk at the expence of individuals, or by voluntary subscriptions. The wells which had been previously dug, not having been sunk to a sufficient depth, yielded but a precarious supply from the land-springs, and that generally of a bad quality.

SECTION 2.

MARKETS,-FAIRS,-TRADE AND MANUFACTURES,—

TRADESMEN'S TOKENS.

Markets.

The market for corn and every other article of provision is held on Thursday. The corn is not allowed to be sold by sample, but is all pitched in the market-place. The clerk of the market, with his assistants, takes toll of every sack, before the market commences. The toll is a quart from every two sacks. The market for corn commences at 12 o'clock, and before that time none can be sold. The largest toll ever collected in this market, of which we have been able to obtain certain information, amounted to forty-five bushels, being the produce from two hundred and eighty-eight loads of grain, pitched in the market-place on one day. This market is considered one of the largest pitched corn markets in the kingdom. Its origin as early as the middle of the twelfth century, we have already traced at page 38; and for further particulars we refer to chap. iv. sect. i. There is another market on Saturday for meat, poultry, eggs, butter, vegetables and fruit, which, as well as that on Thursday, is amply supplied from the neighbourhood.

Amongst other improvements for the convenience of the markets, several small tenements, the property of the lords of the manor and borough, with two buildings formerly used as Cages, which were situated between the markethouse and the church, by the sides abutting on the two entrances into Windsor-street, have lately been pulled down, and the sites having been paved with flag-stones and inclosed by iron railing, form convenient market-places for poultry and vegetables.

Fairs.

The first Fairs that were held in this town are dated by Newcourt, vol. i. p. 650. as early as the 22nd. Edward I. (1293); he says that

Henry Lacey, earl of Lincoln, procured a market to be held here on Mondays, and a fair yearly on the Eve and day of Saint Nicholas, (namely, the 5th. and 6th. of December,) but instead thereof there are now two fairs in the year held here, one on the 20th. of July, being the festival of Saint Margaret the Virgin, to whom the Chapel is dedicated; the other on the 29th. of September, being the festival of Saint Michael the Archangel."

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There are now held four fairs in the year, for all kinds of cattle, namely, the first on the

25th. of March; this was established in the year 1784, by order of the Lords of the town, and was notified by public advertisement: the second is held on the 31st. of July, being the one originally held on Saint Margaret's day; the third on the 29th. of September, being the festival of Saint Michael the Archangel, and the fourth on the 11th. of October: the two latter are used as statute fairs, though the eves and feast days of Saint Margaret and Saint Michael are the proper statute fairs.

The fairs on the 29th. of September, and the 10th. of October, are now commonly called the old and new statute-fairs, but they are really the same fair, kept both according to the old and the new Style, as appears by their being kept twelve days apart. The statute 24 George II. c. 23. s. 4. (1751), by which the new Style was introduced, expressly directs that

the holding and keeping of all Markets, Fairs, and Marts, whether for the Sale of Goods or Cattle, or for the hiring of Servants, or for any other Purposes, which are either fixed to certain nominal Days of the Month, or depending upon the Beginning, or any certain Day of any Month, and all Courts incident or belonging to, or usually holden or kept with any such Fairs or Marts, fixed to such certain Times as aforesaid,"-" shall be holden eleven

Days later than the same would have happened, according to the nominal Days" of the New Style. Since the commencement of the nineteenth century, another day is added to the eleven, so that the interval between our old and new Statute Fairs is now twelve days.

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The following is from an old copy of the proclamation by which the steward of Lady Derby, attended by the bailiffs of the town, clothed in her ladyship's livery, and accompanied by a band of music, used to open the fairs.

"The right Honoble Alice Countess Dowager of Derbye, Ladye of the Towne of Woxbridge, and of the Franchizes and libties of the same:"

"In the name of the Kings most Excellent Matie doe straitly charge and Comaund all maner of p.sons that resorte, come or abide at this p'sent Fayre heere, That they and ev.y of them, keepe the Kings Maties peace, not makeing any assaulte, affraye or any other unlawfull disturbance, upon payne of Five pounds and ymprisonmt for the same. And further that noe manner of p.sone wthdrawe, Conceale, Cloake or wthhold any maner of Tolle, Custome, or other duety aptaining, or beelonging unto the saide Lord or Ladye, by reason of this Fayre, heere kept, upon payne of ymprisonmt. And as they and ev.y of them will further aunsware at their pills (perils.) And if any assaulte, unlawful