Chapter V

WHITMORE TO CREWE, Ten and .75 Miles.

AN extensive heathy bog is traversed by the line, after leaving Whitmore station, and, as we have heard an ancient tradition anent it, will tell the tale for the edification of our readers, "extenuating nothing."

Once upon a time there was a large forest in this part, and when the
Romans were amusing themselves with hunting our worthy ancestors, a
large body of the ancient Britons took refuge therein. In order to
come at them these terrible Romans set fire to the forest, which
burnt in a very fearful and dreadful manner; but our information does
not extend to the exact measure of scorching endured by the miserable
prisoners within this fiery fence, or whether they escaped by flight,
or were consumed wholesale in the burning forest, which, with the
accumulation of vegetable matter during past ages, has formed the
bog, now "passed with the swiftness of tornado-blast," by "Wildfires"
and "Rockets."

Opposite the Bog-house is one of the highest points of the line, the road inclining towards Liverpool one way, and towards Birmingham the other. Snape Hall is prettily situated among rich woods on the E. of the line; and a short distance farther Barr Hill appears on the W. It is a considerable elevation, and on a clear day, Liverpool may be seen from it. Madeley Parks and Manor House lie W. of the line. The latter is the seat of Lady Cunliffe, daughter of Lord Crewe, to whose family, the adjoining land, formerly a fine deer park, anciently belonged. Hay House, a small, old, brick building, stands close to the line of railway on the E. One cannot help feeling an odd sort of commiseration for these ancient abodes of the last generation, which have stood, and grown old and grey, in the once quiet and out-of-the-world nooks where the convenience of the farmer, or the retired taste of the small country squire, had located them; and now, to see the iron ribs of the innovating railroad carried up to their very threshold, has something of sadness in it, even in the midst of our modern pride and gratulation. It is like pert youth, exhibiting and vaunting of its strength and valorous deeds, to decrepid and helpless age. But what have we to do with such dreams? "Locomotives" wait for no man's fancies, and we must e'en follow their course. Soon after passing which, we reach

Madeley Station.

Distance to Birmingham, 46--Liverpool and Manchester, 51.5 miles.

DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:--

_Places W. of Station_. _Places E. of Station_. Woore 2.5 miles. Betley 3 miles. Norton 5.5 -- NEWCASTLE 5 -- Mucklestone or Muxton 5.5 -- Audlem 7 -- Adderley 9.5 -- Burley Dam 11 -- WHITCHURCH 15 --

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 persona_. 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, 45.5 miles.

DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:--

_Places W. of Station_. _Place E. of Station_. Hough .5 mile. Betley 2 miles. Wybunbury 1.25 -- Barthomley 3 -- Walgherton 2 miles. Audley 4 -- Doddington 2.5 -- Alsager 5 -- NANTWICH 4 -- Talk 6 -- Audlem 5 -- Church Lawton 6 -- Burley Dam 7 -- Baddiley 7 -- Wrenbury 9 --

CREWE HALL, the mansion of Lord Crewe, which appears E. of the line, is a large and handsome quadrangular structure of red brick, surrounded by finely undulating grounds, and a lake of considerable extent.

CREWE STATION.

Distance to Birmingham, 54--Liverpool and Manchester, 43.5 miles.

DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:--

_Places W. of Station_. _Places E. of Station_. NANTWICH 4 miles. Haslington 2 miles. Acton 5.25 -- SANDBACH 5 -- Baddiley 7.5 -- Astbury 10 -- Wrenbury 9 -- CONGLETON 11 -- MALPAS 17 -- Gawsworth 13.5 -- MACCLESFIELD 19 --

NANTWICH, four miles W. of Crewe, contains 5,350 inhabitants, and has a market on Saturdays, and fairs, chiefly for cattle, on March 26, second Tuesday in June, September 4, and December 4.

Previously to the Conquest, the wealth of this place consisted in its
numerous brine springs. Its origin is attributed to the Britons; and
its name appears to be derived from the British word _Nant_, a brook
or marsh, and the Saxon _vic_, by corruption _wich_, a vill, or
settlement. The latter term seems generally attached to the names of
towns where salt is made. This town has had its full share of
plague, pestilence, and war, in times past, and twice suffered
greatly from fire, in the years 1438 and 1583. During the civil war
it staunchly supported the parliament.

The town is situated on the banks of the river Weaver, in a level and fertile tract of country. Most of the houses are of timber and brick, covered with plaster, with projecting stories, and large bay-windows. There is a small Theatre and Assembly-room. In the time of Henry VIII., there were three hundred salt works; this number has been gradually reduced, in consequence of superior mines and springs being discovered elsewhere, and now only one spring remains. Shoes, gloves, and cotton goods are the chief manufactures now, and cheese the principal agricultural produce. The Church is a spacious and venerable structure, in the decorated and later English styles, comprising a nave, with lateral aisles, a chancel, transepts, and an ornamented octagonal tower, rising from the intersection. There are Meetings and Chapels for Dissenters, and various Schools. John Gerarde, whose fine old work, called Gerarde's Herbal, is familiar to every botanist, was a native of Nantwich, born in 1545.