Curiosities of Great Britain: England and Wales Delineated Vol.1-11 Historical, Entertaining & Commercial; Alphabetically Arranged. 11 Volume set.

Part 11

Chapter 113,484 wordsPublic domain

[A] ASHE is situated in Musbury parish, which lies in the hundred of Axminster, two miles east by north from Colyton. It is the birth place of the celebrated John Churchill, Duke of Marlborough: this distinguished person was born here in the year 1650. He received only an indifferent education, for his father took him to court at the age of twelve years, when he became page, as his sister, Arabella, became mistress to the Duke of York. In 1660, he obtained a pair of colours in the Guards. His first service was at the siege of Tangier, and, on his return from thence, he became the favourite of the Duchess of Cleveland, who gave him £5,000 with which he purchased an annuity for life. He afterwards served under the great Turenne, who was so pleased with his person and bravery as to call him the handsome Englishman. At the siege of Maestricht he so distinguished himself, that the King of France publicly thanked him. On his return he was made lieutenant-colonel, gentleman of the bedchamber, and master of the robes to the Duke of York, whom he attended to Holland and Scotland; and about this time married Miss Jennings, maid of honour to the Princess, afterwards Queen Anne. In 1682, he was shipwrecked with the Duke of York, in their passage to Scotland, on which occasion his royal highness expressed the greatest anxiety to save his favourite. The same year he was made a peer, by the title of Baron Eymouth, in Scotland; and when James came to the crown, he was sent to France to notify the event. In 1685, he was created Lord Churchill, of Sandridge. The same year he suppressed Monmouth's rebellion, and took him prisoner. He continued to serve James with great fidelity, till the arrival of the Prince of Orange, and then left him, for which he has been stigmatized, and perhaps not unjustly, with base ingratitude. His own apology was a regard for the religion and constitution of his country. He was created Earl of Marlborough by King William in 1689, and appointed commander of the English army in the low countries. He next served in Ireland, and reduced Cork, with other strong places. In 1692, he was suddenly dismissed from his employments, and committed to the Tower: he was, however, very soon released, but the cause of this disgrace was never clearly explained. After the death of Queen Mary he was restored to favour; and at the close of that reign he had the command of the English forces in Holland, and the States chose him captain-general of their forces. On the commencement of the reign of Anne, he recommended a war with France, and his advice was adopted. In the first campaign of 1702, he took a number of strong towns, particularly Liege. In the following year he was created a Duke. In 1704, he joined Prince Eugene, in conjunction with whom he conquered the French at Hochstedt, took Marshal Tallard prisoner, and brought him to England, with 26 other officers of rank, 121 standards, and 179 colours. He then received the grant of the manor of Woodstock. In 1706, he fought the famous battle of Ramilies. This battle accelerated the fall of Louvain, Brussels, and other important places. He arrived in England, and received fresh honours from the Queen and Parliament. Blenheim house was ordered to be built, and a pension of £5,000. a year was awarded him. In 1709, he defeated Marshal Villars at Malplaquet. In the year 1711, he returned to England with additional laurels, but was soon after dismissed from his employments. To add to this unjust treatment, a prosecution was commenced against him for applying the public money to his private purposes. Indignant at such conduct, he went into voluntary banishment till 1714, when he landed at Dover, amidst the acclamations of the people. George I. restored him to his military employments, but he retired from his appointments to Windsor, and died in 1722. His remains were interred with great pomp in Westminster Abbey. His Duchess outlived him several years. She was a woman of a strong mind, but overbearing passions. Her letters have been printed, and display uncommon sagacity, blended with a great share of vanity. The mansion house in which the Duke was born, now in a state of ruin, was rebuilt shortly after the civil wars, by Sir John Drake, whose daughter had married Sir Winston Churchill.

_Fairs_, April 6, and Oct. 11, for pedlary.

[Sidenote: The birth-place of the celebrated Duke of Marlboro'.]

[Sidenote: He took Monmouth prisoner in the reign of James II.]

[Sidenote: Created a Duke by Queen Anne.]

[Sidenote: Blenheim house built for him.]

[Sidenote: Died in the 8th year of the reign of Geo. I.]

[A] ASHBOURN is very pleasantly situated in a rich valley on the eastern side of the Dove, over which is a stone bridge. It is divided into two parts by a rivulet, which is called Henmore, the southern part of which is termed Compton, the ancient Campdene. From the descent of the hill on the Derby road, the view of the place as it presents itself embosomed amongst the hills is beautifully picturesque. It is a neat town, but there is nothing remarkable in its buildings. At the time of the conquest it was a royal manor, and subsequently became a part of the Duchy of Lancaster, until it was sold by Charles I. It is supposed that the church, which is dedicated to St. Oswald, was finished in the thirteenth century; in it are many monuments to the Cockaines, Bradburns, and Boothby's, successively possessors of the manors. Sir Thomas Cockaine and other natives, founded a Free Grammar School, in the reign of Elizabeth, for children of the town and neighbourhood, and also a second for the poorer class of children of both sexes. Here are also a chapel and a neat row of alms-houses, founded in 1800 by a native named Cooper, who made a fortune in London, for six poor men and women, and several other hospitals for decayed house-keepers, including one for the maintenance of four clergymen's widows. A very considerable trade is carried on here in cheese and malt, many horses and cattle are sold at its fairs. Much lace is made here, and a great many persons are employed in the iron and cotton factories in the neighbourhood. The romantic and beautiful glen of Dovedale is within a short distance. This town is one of the polling places for the southern division of the county.

_Market_, Saturday.--Mail arrives 11 A.M., departs 2-3/4 P.M.--_Fairs_, first Tuesday in January, and Feb. 13, for horses and horned cattle, April 3, May 21, and July 5, for horses, horned cattle, and wool. August 16, October 20, and November 29, for horses, and horned cattle; the fairs for horses begin two or three days before the fair-day.--_Inns_, Blackmoor's Head and Green Man.--_Bankers_, Arkwright and Co.; drawn on Smith, Payne, and Co.

[Sidenote: A royal manor of the Saxon Kings made part of the Duchy of Lancaster.]

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From | +--+------------------+---------+-------------+------------+ 38|Ashburnham[A] pa|Sussex |Battle 6|Hailsham 6| 11|Ashburton[B] }|Devon |Exeter 20|Torquay 13| | bo. m.t. & pa}| | | | 4|Ashbury to & pa|Berks |Lambourn 16|Wantage 10| 11|Ashbury pa|Devon |Hatherleigh 5|Oakhampton 6| 24|Ashby pa|Lincoln |Gt. Grimsby 7|Caistor 9| 24|Ashby pa|Lincoln |Spilsby 2|Burgh 3| 24|Ashby pa|Lincoln |Sleaford 6|Lincoln 13| 24|Ashby to|Lincoln |Brigg 6|Epworth 7| 27|Ashby pa|Norfolk |Norwich 8|Acle 7| 27|Ashby pa|Norfolk |Acle 3|Norwich 12| 36|Ashby pa|Suffolk |Lowestoft 5|Yarmouth 8| 28|Ashby, Cold pa|Northamp |Northamp 12|Daventry 10| 23|Ashby-de-la-Zouch}|Leicester|Leicester 18|Kegworth 10| | [C] m.t. & pa}| | | | +--+------------------+---------+-------------+------------+ |Dist.| Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population. +--+------------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+ 38|Ashburnham[A] pa|East Bourne 11| 55| 721| 11|Ashburton[B] }|Totness 7| 192| 4165| | bo. m.t. & pa}| | | | 4|Ashbury to & pa|Highworth 7| 70| 698| 11|Ashbury pa|Launceston 14| 201| 74| 24|Ashby pa|Louth 12| 160| 179| 24|Ashby pa|Wainfleet 6| 134| 170| 24|Ashby pa|Navenby 6| 121| 178| 24|Ashby to|Gainsboro' 14| 157| 378| 27|Ashby pa|Bungay 9| 116| 72| 27|Ashby pa|Yarmouth 8| 125| 82| 36|Ashby pa|Beccles 7| 119| 42| 28|Ashby, Cold pa|Harborough 10| 78 | 385| 23|Ashby-de-la-Zouch}|M Bosworth 10| 115| 4727| | [C] m.t. & pa}| | | | +--+------------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ASHBURNHAM is in the hundred of Foxearle, and rape of Hastings. This village gives the name and title of Earl to the representatives of the ancient family of Ashburnham, who possessed this manor before the conquest. The shirt and white silk drawers in which Charles I. was executed, on the 30th of January, 1649, and also the watch which he gave to Mr. John Ashburnham, on the scaffold, are still preserved in the church, having been bequeathed by one of his descendants to the clerk of this parish for ever, and are exhibited as great curiosities.

[Sidenote: Bequests of Charles I. made on the scaffold.]

[B] ASHBURTON is situated in a valley encompassed by hills; it is about a mile from the river Dart, and consists principally of one long street, through which runs the high road from London to Plymouth. The houses are neat, and most of them covered with slate, of which there is abundance in the vicinity. The manor belonged to the crown in the reign of James I., but it has since passed through various private hands. The town, which is governed by a portreeve, chosen at the court leet and baron of the manor, is a borough by prescription, (that is to say, a custom continued until it has the force of law;) and was constituted one of the four stannary towns of Devon, by a charter of Edward I., in the twenty-sixth year of whose reign it sent two members to Parliament, but only returned members once subsequently until 1640, in which year its privilege was restored: by the late reform bill, it now returns but one member; the electors on the old constituency were 101, and £10 householders 342. The portreeve is the returning-officer. The borough comprises the parish of Ashburton.

_Market_, Saturday.--_Fairs_, first Thursday in March; first Thursday in June; August 10; November 11, for horned cattle.--_Inns_, London and Golden Lion.--_Mail_ arrives 5 P.M., departs 9-3/4 A.M.

[Sidenote: One of the four stannary towns of the county.]

[C] ASHBY-DE-LA-ZOUCH is situated in a fertile valley on the borders of Derbyshire, through which runs the small river Gilwiskaw. Its distinctive appellation is derived from the ancient family of the Zouches, who came into possession of the manor in the reign of Henry III. It afterwards devolved to the crown, by which it was granted to the noble family of Hastings, in right of whom the Marquis of that title still possesses it. The town is chiefly comprised in one street, from which branches several smaller ones. The church is a handsome ancient edifice, built of stone, consisting of a nave and two aisles, separated by four lofty arches, springing from fluted pillars. Here are also places of worship for the Calvinistic and Wesleyan Methodists, Presbyterians, and others. A free grammar school was founded in this town by Henry Earl of Huntingdon, in 1567; and another free school for 26 boys, by Isaac Dawson, in 1669. The manufactures established here are chiefly those of cotton and woollen stockings, and hats. There is also a good trade in malt, and the fairs are celebrated for the sale of fine horses and cattle. The mansion at Ashby was remarkable for its magnitude and strength, and continued for 200 years the residence of the family of Sir William Hastings, knt., a particular favourite of Edward IV., who was elevated by that monarch to several offices of high trust and dignity. It stood on a rising ground, at the south end of the town, and was composed of brick and stone from the ruins of Ashby Castle.

_Market_, Saturday.--_Fairs_, Shrove-Monday, Easter Tuesday, Whit-Tuesday, last Monday in September, November 10, for horses, cows, and sheep.--_Bankers_, Fishers and Co.; draw upon Hoare, Barnet, and Co.--_Mail_ arrives 10.30 morning; departs 4.0 afternoon.--_Inns_, Queen's Head, and White Hart.

[Sidenote: An ancient family gave their name to the town.]

[Sidenote: A noble mansion constructed out of the ruins of Ashby Castle.]

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From | +--+----------------------+---------+-------------+------------+ 23|Ashby Folville to & pa|Leicester|Melton Mow. 6|Leicester 10| 23|Ashby Magna pa|Leicester|Lutterworth 4|Hinckley 11| 23|Ashby Parva pa|Leicester| ... 3| ... 8| 24|Ashby Puerorum[A] pa|Lincoln |Spilsby 5|Alford 7| 28|Ashby St. Ledger[B] pa|Northamp |Daventry 4|Northamp 14| +--+----------------------+---------+-------------+------------+ |Dist.| Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population. +--+----------------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+ 23|Ashby Folville to & pa|Houghton 6| 104| 391| 23|Ashby Magna pa|Leicester 11| 93| 330| 23|Ashby Parva pa| ... 13| 92| 169| 24|Ashby Puerorum[A] pa|Louth 10| 137| 101| 28|Ashby St. Ledger[B] pa|Welford 9| 76| 257| +--+----------------------+-----------------------+-----+-------+

[A] ASHBY PUERORUM. In the year 1804, a Roman sepulchre was discovered near this place, by a labourer who was cutting a ditch. It consisted of a stone chest, which laid 3 feet below the surface of the earth; the lid fitted nearly to the sides, hanging a little over the edge, so that when it was removed; no dirt of any kind was found to have gained admittance during a period of nearly two thousand years. The chest was formed of free stone, of a kind found in abundance on Lincoln Heath. The urn was of strong glass well manufactured, and of a greenish colour. The glass was as perfect and the surface as smooth as if just taken out of the fire. This receptacle of the ashes was nearly filled with small pieces of bone, many of which, from the effect of ignition, were white throughout the whole substance. Among the fragments was discovered a small lacrymatory, which had been broken, from the curiosity of the person who discovered it, to ascertain whether it contained any thing of value.

[Sidenote: A very ancient urn of green glass found here.]

[B] ASHBY ST. LEDGER is situated near a rivulet that flows into the river Nen. The additional name of St. Ledger is borrowed from the patron saint to whom the church is dedicated. This structure consists of a nave and aisles, with a tower and spire. At the upper end of the north aisle are still remaining the steps which led to the rude loft between the chancel and the nave. Here are three piscinas for holy water. Several ancient monumental inscriptions may be seen in the chancel. On an altar tomb within the communion rails, are the recumbent figures of a man and woman, with an inscription in black letter, commemorative of William Catesby and Margaret his wife, bearing date 1493. Catesby was one of the three families who ruled the nation under Richard's usurpation, and constituted the triumvirate which is alluded to in the old distich:--

The rat, and the cat, and Lovel the dog, Do govern all England under the hog.

The rat was Richard Ratcliff, the cat William Catesby, the dog Lord Lovel, and the hog for Richard, it being then the regal crest. William Catesby became a distinguished character; he was made esquire of the King's body; Chancellor of the Marshes for life; and one of the Chamberlains of the Exchequer. Being taken prisoner at the battle of Bosworth field, while fighting by his patron's side, he was conducted to Leicester, and beheaded as a traitor. At the eastern end of both aisles, are two places, formerly appropriated as places of sepulture for the two great Lords of Ashby. One of these belonged to the Catesby family; but most of the inscriptions are effaced. The manorial house of Ashby is a good old family mansion, occupied by the widow of the late John Ashby, Esq. A small room in the detached offices belonging to the house is still shown as having been the council-chamber, where the gunpowder-plot conspirators held their deliberations. Robert Catesby, one of the descendants of the family, was at the head of this conspiracy, for which he was tried, condemned, and executed; and his head, together with that of his father-in-law, Thomas Percie, who was involved in his guilt, were fixed on the top of the Parliament-house.

[Sidenote: An ancient monument of the Catesby family.]

[Sidenote: Catesby taken prisoner at Bosworth field.]

[Sidenote: The gunpowder plot conspirators met here.]

Map| Names of Places. | County. | Number of Miles From +--+---------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+ 24|Ashby West pa|Lincoln |Horncastle 2|Louth 12| 15|Ashchurch pa|Gloucester|Tewkesbury 1|Winchcombe 9| 11|Ashcombe[A] pa|Devon |Chudleigh 3|Exeter 9| 34|Ashcott chap|Somerset |Glastonbury 6|Bridgewater 10| 14|Ashdon or Ashingdon }| | | | | to & pa}|Essex |Saff. Walden 4|Haverhill 6| 14|Asheldam pa|Essex |Bradwell 4|Burnham 4| 15|Ashelworth pa|Gloucester|Gloucester 5|Tewkesbury 8| 14|Ashen pa|Essex |Clare 2|Halstead 9| 5|Ashenden[B] pa|Bucks |Thame 6|Bicester 11| 36|Ashfield Great[C] pa|Suffolk |Stowmarket 7|Ixworth 5| 36|Ashfield-cum-Thorpe p|Suffolk |Framlingham 6|Debenham 2| 10|Ashford[D] chap|Derby |Bakewell 2|Tideswell 6| +--+---------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+ |Dist.| Map| Names of Places. | Number of Miles From |Lond.|Population. +--+---------------------+----------+--------------+--------------+ 24|Ashby West pa|Wragby 13| 138| 391| 15|Ashchurch pa|Cheltenham 8| 103| 649| 11|Ashcombe[A] pa|Teignmouth 6| 177| 320| 34|Ashcott chap|Somerton 7| 129| 834| 14|Ashdon or Ashingdon }| | | | | to & pa}|Linton 4| 45| 1103| 14|Asheldam pa|Maldon 9| 46| 144| 15|Ashelworth pa|Newent 7| 105| 540| 14|Ashen pa|Haverhill 5| 54| 373| 5|Ashenden[B] pa|Aylesbury 8| 46| 368| 36|Ashfield Great[C] pa|Botesdale 8| 76| 408| 36|Ashfield-cum-Thorpe p|Eye 9| 83| 375| 10|Ashford[D] chap|Buxton 10| 155| 782| +--+---------------------+-------------------------+-----+--------+

[A] ASHCOMBE is a parish in the hundred of Exminster. Here is a mansion of Lord Arundel's, situated in a large amphitheatre of hills, richly wooded at their base, and at their summit often studded with herds of sheep or deer. The only entrance to this romantic dale is from the north, by a road, which though perfectly safe, falls precipitately down a narrow ridge of one of the hills.

[B] ASHENDEN. This manor has been from time immemorial in the Grenville family. John Bucktot, a priest, gave the manor of Little Pollicott, to Lincoln College, in Oxford, about 1479; and what renders it particularly remarkable, is the circumstance of the manor house being used as a retiring place for the members of the college at the time of the plague. In Ashenden Church, is an ancient figure of a crusader, under an arch, rudely ornamented with foliage; which according to tradition, is the tomb of John Bucktot; this appears however to be erroneous, as it is evidently the tomb of a layman, and from the chevron on the shield, one of the Stafford family, anciently lords of Great Pollicott.

[Sidenote: A retiring place for collegians in the time of the plague.]

[C] ASHFIELD. This obscure village gave birth to the celebrated Lord Chancellor Thurlow, and his brother, the late Bishop of Durham; they were the sons of the vicar, under whose auspices they were educated. On leaving the university, the former entered himself of the Inner Temple, but did not distinguish himself at the bar, until his abilities were employed upon the Douglas case; after which he became successively Solicitor-General, Attorney-General, and Lord High Chancellor. He was elevated to the peerage by the title of Baron Thurlow, of Ashfield. In 1786, he was made Teller of the Exchequer, and created Baron Thurlow, of Thurlow: he retired in 1793, and died at Brighton in 1806. He was succeeded in the peerage by his nephew, the son of his brother, the Bishop of Durham. He was never married, but he left three illegitimate daughters, to two of whom he bequeathed large property; the other having offended him by an imprudent marriage, he left her only a small annuity.

[Sidenote: The birth-place of Lord Chancellor Thurlow.]