classical scholars of the eighteenth century, and more particularly celebrated for the critical sagacity which he displayed in a variety of valuable publications. He was the youngest of twelve children of the Rev. Ralph Markland, A. M.* vicar of Childwall, in this county, author of "The Art of Shooting Flying," and was born there in the year 1693. As the friend and cotemporary of the learned Bowyer, many interesting memorials of his life and writings are preserved in Nichols's anecdotes of that gentleman.

Upon quitting the university, Mr. Markland received a liberal proposal from Dr. Mead, to travel into France and Italy, in search of such literary treasures as appeared worthy of preservation. Some accidental occurrence, however, in the progress of this negociation, gave offence to the natural delicacy of his feelings. Instead of travels, or any public honors, he devoted himself to a life of retirement, and twice refused the tempting offer of being elected to the Greek professorship of Cambridge. He closed his long and valuable life in the year 1776, at the village of Dorking, in Surrey, at the advanced age of eighty-three, not more admired for the depth of his learning, than beloved for the benevolence of his heart, and the primitive simplicity of his manners. His remains were interred in Dorking church, and a Latin inscription, written. by his friend Dr. Heberden, (to whom he bequeathed his library and MSS.) was inscribed on his tomb †.

Four miles west of Wigan is the village of HOLLAND, or UPHOLLAND, whence the illustrious, but ill-fated family of Holland, derived their name. This family attained the highest offices of state, with the titles of earls of Surry and Kent, and dukes of Exeter; but were as remarkable for their sufferings and miserable

end.

* Nearly allied to Abraham Markland, D. D. Prebendary of Winchester, and master of St. Cross, author of two volumes of sermons, and a variety of poetical works.

A portrait of Mr. M. engraven at the expense of his grateful pupil, Wm. Strode, Esq. is inserted in the Rev. Owen Manning's History of the County of Surrey, Vol. I.

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end. In this village was formerly a priory of Benedictines, of which nothing now remains but the church and a few walls.

About a mile and a half from Wigan was a WELL, which, when a candle was put to it, burned like brandy, and the flame continued a whole day, with heat sufficient to boil eggs, or even meat, though the water in the well remained cold *. This well, or at least its peculiar property, is now lost.

About three miles north of Wigan is the village of BLACKrode, at which place Mr. Whitaker fixes the Roman station, named Coccium, but in support of this he acknowledges, there is only "the faint retrospect of traditionary history, and the vague generalities of a winter's tale; and in this state of uncertainty the attention of the antiquarian is naturally engaged at first by the name of Castle-Croft, at the south eastern extremity of the village, by the tradition of a castle upon it, and the evident remains of ditches round it." Mr. Percival and Mr. Watson both agree with Mr. Whitaker in placing Coccium at this place+; but these opinions are satisfactorily refuted by the historian of Whalley, who contends that this ancient station was at Ribchester.

LEIGH

Is a market town, situated near the eastern extremity of WestDerby Hundred, at the distance of six miles from Wigan, and five from Newton. It is a vicarage, having the chapelries of Astley and Chowbent under its ecclesiastical jurisdiction. In the 28th of Henry VI. this vicarage was appropriated by Wm. Lovell to the canons of Erdbury, who engaged that two monks of their convent should daily perform mass, for the peace of the soul of the said Lovell. The dairies round this town are famous for their cheese,

which

* Phil. Trans. No. 26 and 245.

+ See Archæologia, Vol. I. p. 65.

which is mild and rich. A branch of the Bridgewater Canal passes by this town, and has facilitated the commerce of the place. Both the town and neighbouring hamlets abound with manufactories; and coals are abundant on the spot.

According to the official report of the population, the township of West-Leigh, as called in that work, contained 277 houses, and 1429 inhabitants; and Astleigh township, a place contiguous, contained 275 houses, and 1545 persons. North of Leigh is

ATHERTON HALL, a seat formerly belonging to a family of that name, is now the property of the Honorable T. Powys. The house, which was built by Gibbs, is large, and has a spacious cubical entrance hall. A plan of this mansion is given in the Vetruvius Britannicus. In the year 1680 a shower of Seeds occurred at this place, and excited much curiosity and controversy. By some persons it was said to be wheat from heaven; but the more rational part of society acknowledged it to be a quantity of Ivy-berries, which were supposed to have been forced into the higher regions of the air by a whirlwind, and fell at this spot.

The chapelry of CHOW BENT has greatly increased in houses and population within the last twenty years. Though its chapel has been properly consecrated by the Bishop of Sodar and Man, yet it is exempted from the jurisdiction of the diocese of Chester, and its patronage is vested in the proprietor of Atherton Hall. In the rebellion of 1715, Mr. Wood, a dissenting minister here, led his flock to join the royal standard; and on this occasion the important pass over the Ribble at Walton was committed to his protection. For his bravery, &c. he then obtained the title of Captain Wood. East of Leigh is

TYLDESLEY, a hamlet that has grown up with the thriving manufactures of this county. A family named Tyldesley was seated here as early as the reign of Henry III.; but the estate was afterwards alienated. About the middle of the sixteenth century, it again returned to Thurston Tyldesley, of Wardley, who then married Anne, the sole heiress of the Lelands of MorleyesVOL. IX. Hall.

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Hall*. Of this family was Sir Thomas Tyldesley, who particularly signalized himself during the troubles of Charles the First's reign, and fell in the fight of Wigan-lane. On a pillar near Wigan is fixed a brass plate, with this inscription to perpetuate his

memory:

"An high act of gratitude erected this monument, which conveys the memory of Sir Thomas Tyldesley to posterity, who served King Charles the First as lieutenant-colonel at Edgehill battle, after raising regiments of horse, foot, and dragoons, and for the desperate storming of Burton-upon-Trent, over a bridge of thirtysix arches, and received the honour of knighthood. He afterwards served in all the wars in great command; was governor of Litchfield, and followed the fortune of the crown through the three kingdoms, and never compounded with the rebels, though strongly invested; and on the 25th of August, A. D. 1650, was here slain, commanding as major-general under the Earl of Derby, to whom the grateful Alexander Rigby, Esq. was cornet; and when he was high sheriff of this county, A. D. 1679, placed this high obligation on the whole family of Tyldesleys."

Sir Thomas Tyldesley was interred in the church at Leigh, where a tomb was erected to his memory, of which only a few relics are now to be seen.

The chief property in the hamlet of Tyldesley belongs to Thomas Johnson, Esq. by purchase of his grandfather. When the present proprietor took possession of this estate, there were only three farms on it; but by his active and spirited exertions in establishing manufactures, it now contains a population of 1,200 persons.

NEWTON,

A small town, about five miles north of Warrington, and nearly eight miles south from Wigan, belongs to the rich rectory of Winwick.

* Of this ancient seat, between Astley and Leigh, a few fragments only remain. These consist of a parlour with ornamented ceiling, the moat and bridge, with a dungeon, also some bits of stained glass.

Winwick*. King Edward the Confessor was lord of it, as appears from the Domesday book; and since the Conquest, it was long possessed by the family of Langton, who have been usually styled Barons of Newton +. This Borough has returned two members to parliament, from the first year of Queen Elizabeth. It had once a market, which is now disused. Leland describes it in these terms: "On a brok a litel poore market, whereof Mr. Langton hath the name of his barony. Sir Perse Lee of Bradley hath his place at Bradley, in a park, ii. miles from Newton." It now consists principally of one broad street, which is only remarkable for its numerous public houses. Here is an old hall built of wood, with much painted glass still remaining in its windows. It stands on a rocky foundation; and behind it the rock is hollowed out in a very unusual manner, appearing to have had subterraneous paspages, which, by removing the surface of the rock, are now laid open. Adjoining to this hall is a small rising ground, which was formerly nearly surrounded with a moat, of which a small remnant is still remaining. The tradition of the place is, that it was the residence of a king.

At a place called the Red-Bank, near Newton, a detachment of Cromwell's army, in August, 1648, defeated a party of Highlanders on their march from Preston, and the greater part of the prisoners were hanged in a field near the scene of action, which still bears the name of Gallows Croft. A large stone was fixed in the hedge, as a monument of the catastrophe. Newton contained in 1801, 172 houses,

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* It is frequently called Newton-in-the-Willows, perhaps from the large quantities of those trees growing near the place.

+ Though the property of the town appears to be now in the family of Legh of Haydock, in this parish, and of Lyme, in Cheshire.

The right of election is in the free burgesses, who are occupiers of certain houses only, about thirty-six in number. The steward of the lord of the manor, with the bailiff, are the returning officers.