CHE8HIKK. 



IIIHK. 



was fint ducuwred near Northwich, in 1C70, in Marching for ooal ; 

 it hu unc been found very abundantly in the towiuhip* of Wilton, 

 Wiucham, WiuuiuKtun, and Mantou, near Northwich. Then an 

 lt work* also at Nantwich, Middlewich, and Winsford. The aalt U 

 of two kind*, the on* white and transparent, the other reddish-brown. 

 The former ba* bean found by analysis to be an almost pure muriate of 

 soda ; the latter contain* a imaU portion of oxide of iron, from which 

 it* colour U derived. 



The principal salt-works arc in the neighbourhood of Northwicli, 

 where there are mine*, in addition to brine-springs. The rock-suit i* 

 found from 28 to 48 yard* beneath the urfaoe of the earth. The fint 

 Htratum i* from 15 to 25 yard* in thickness, extremely (olid and hard, 

 and resembling brown sugar-candy. Many ton* at a time are loosened 

 by blasting with gunpowder. The second (tratum ia of hard stone, 

 from 25 to 85 yard* in thickness. The aalt lie* beneath the itratum, 

 in a bed above 40 yard* thick, generally quite white and clear a* 

 cryiUL The external surface above theee strata i* of whitish clay 

 and gypsum. The quantity of salt annually taken from the pita 

 around Northwich, amount* to many thousand tons; beside* this 

 quantity of fossil aalt many thousand ton* are annually manufactured 

 at the same place from brine-springs, which ore from 20 to 40 yards 

 in depth. 



Coal of a good quality U found in great abundance in the north-east 

 part of the county, especially in the townships of Worth and Poynton, 

 where there are very extensive collieries, which supply the manufac- 

 tories of Stockport At Denwull, in the hundred of Wirnill, there is 

 also coal. Copper and lead are found at Alderley Edge and the Peck- 

 forton Hills; the former place supplies a considerable quantity of 

 cobalt. There are several quarries of excellent freestone in this 

 county, of which those at Runcorn, Manley, and Great Bebbington, are 

 the most important. Limestone is found only at Newbold Astbury. 

 Howcop Hill, or Molecop, which is partly in Staffordshire, has long 

 been famous for its mill-stones. Marl is found in almost every part 

 of the county, and U generally used for manure. Dr. Woodward 

 (' Cat Brit Fossils ') speaks of a fibrous stalky substance, a kind of 

 asbestos, as found in great abundance in beds of marl about High 

 l.i ._!. 



Climate, Soil, Agriculture. The soil and climate of Cheshire are 

 peculiarly well adapted for the growth of grass. The soil U mostly 

 composed of loams of various degrees of tenacity ; the climate is 

 moister than the more eastern parts of England. Situated in an 

 extensive plain between the Derbyshire and Welsh mountains, Cheshire 

 ia seldom exposed to long drought*. The low meadows along the 

 banks of the rivers are very subject to be flooded, which is one reason 

 for keeping them in grass. Two-thirds at least of the county possess 

 a soil above mediocrity, of which the greater part is in permanent 

 pasture, and produces the excellent cheese known as Cheshire cheese. 

 The arable land is generally that which is thought too sandy for 

 pasture, or of which the grass has deteriorated by neglect Hence 

 the arable part of a farm in Cheshire is seldom cultivated with that 

 attention which is paid to similar land in those counties where good 

 grass land is scarce. Very few farms consist chiefly of arable land. 

 Everywhere there is a predilection for the dairy. 



Dairy farms require considerable buildings, and some have been 

 erected by wealthy proprietors in the best and most substantial 

 manner. The habitations for the family are quite sufficient for their 

 comfort Many of the cow-houses are constructed on the Dutch plan. 

 Large farm* are not common in Cheshire. The average size may be 

 considered as from 50 to 150 acres, that quantity being sufficient for 

 the full employment of a family, and for a dairy of 12 to 20 cows. 

 Tin- r. nt of land ia higher than that of the same quality in other parts 

 of Kngland, which is owing to the smaller outlay with which a dairy 

 farm is managed. The effect of the dairy husbandry may be observed 

 all through the county. Land is ploughed in order to have winter 

 fnldirr for cattle, and to improve pastures overrun with weeds. Where 

 the laud is fit for turnips, which is not often the case, they are raised 

 f..r the cows. Cabbages have been cultivated with some success on 

 several farms. The cultivation of potatoes ha* been much encouraged 

 in Cheshire, to supply the demands of Liverpool and the manufac- 

 turing dUtriot*. The *andy and turfy .oils, which are unfit for per- 

 manent pasture, are peculiarly fitted for the growth of potatoes. 

 The best potatoes grow on laud broken up from grass, which had been 

 laid down in a rich state ; in this case no manure is required. Early 

 orU are raised for the Liverpool market by a slight forcing. Many 

 farms have littlo or no arable land attached to them. A very rich 



is not considered so good for pasture* where cheese is made, as 

 IMS fertile, as it is apt to make the cheese heave. The natural 

 a found in the good pastures are chiefly of the kinds which have 

 most approved of for *owing when arable land ia hud down to 

 grass, namely, Poa prattntu, foa tririalu, futuca prateiuit, or, on 

 sandy loams, Aniltosanllum odoralum. 



Draining has been introduced extensively, and with the best effect, 

 The abundance of marl found in Cheshire is one of the chief means of 

 improving the poor soil*. Marling i* a permanent improvement 

 Lime, and al*o sand, are put upon strong heavy lands to ameliorate 

 the texture. In the neighbourhood of the salt-mines refuse salt ha* 

 been successfully used for manure. 



Beside* the making of Cheshire cheese, the dairy occupations 



include the making of butter, which is made from the cream or from 

 the whole milk allowed to coagulate and become euur. Oood butter 

 may be obtained in either way ; but that made from fresh cream i* 

 always the best An inferior butter is made from the cream which 

 riles on the whey. 



DiintuHU, Tom, frc. When the Domesday Survey was made, this 

 county, exclusive of the lands between the Kibble and the Mersey, 

 now a part of Lancashire, though then considered a part of Cheshire, 

 was divided into twelve hundreds. The modern hundreds are: 

 Wirrall on the north-west of the county ; Bucklow and Maocleineld, 

 on the north and north-east; Northwich and Eddisbury, in the 

 centre ; Nantwich and Broxton, on the south. 



There are 14 market-towns beside* Chester : namely, ALTKINUOAV, 

 BimtENHKAD, COSUUETO.N, KrotUiiam. KnuTsroRD, MACCLBJKIKLU, 

 Malpas, MiDDLKWioa, NAKTWICII, NOBTBWICU, KC.NOOBJJ, SANIIUAI-H, 

 STOCKPOBT, and Tarporley. Frodsham, Malpas, and Tarporley, with 

 the more recently founded town of Hyde, may be noticed here : the 

 other towns will be found under their several nma 



Prwltham, formerly a market-town, 10 miles N.E. from Chester, 

 population of the town 2090, is still a place of some local importance, 

 although the market has been long given up. Salt constitutes the 

 chief article of trade, but there are flour-mills, and timber, coals, and 

 slates are dealt in. A sandstone quarry is worked. The church is 

 partly of Norman date. There is a chapel for Wesleyan Methodist*. 

 The Free Grammar school has an income of 452. a year, and had 120 

 scholars iu 1852 ; there is also a National school. 



llydt, population 10,051, a manufacturing town, recently a village, 

 forming part of the parish of Stockport The extension of the cotton 

 manufacture has considerably augmented the importance of this place. 

 Coal abounds in the township, and means of conveyance are furnished 

 by the Peak Forest Canal and by railway. There are here a new 

 church, a chapel of ease, dedicated to St Thomas, and chapels for 

 Independents and Wesleyan Methodists ; National schools for boys 

 and girls ; a public library, and a mechanics institute. Extensive 

 cotton-mills, iron-works, and water-works are in operation. A county 

 court is held in Hyde. 



Mtdpcu, situated on an elevation near the river Dee, is 15 miles 

 S. by E. from Chester : the population of the parish, which is partly 

 in Flintshire, was 5710 in 1851. The parish contains two rectories, 

 one held with the curacy of St Chad, and the other with the curacy 

 of WhitwelL The church was formerly the chapel of a religious 

 house for monks of the Cluuiac order ; it is built of unhewn stone, 

 and consists of a nave and chancel, without either aisle or steeple ; 

 it is partly of Norman date. There are also two chapel* of ease, 

 and places of worship for Independents and Wesleyan Methodists; 

 an Endowed Grammar school which has an income from endowment 

 of 257. a year, and had 6 scholars in 1851 ; National and Infant 

 schools, and many charitable institutions. The town is irregularly 

 built The market is held on Wednesday ; there are fairs on April 

 5th, July 20th, and December 8th for cattle and pedlery. Malpas is 

 the birthplace of Matthew Henry, the commentator ou the Bible. 



Tarporley, 10 miles E.S.E. from Chester, is a small market-town 

 near Beexton Castle, on the great road from London to Chester. The 

 population of the parish of Tarporley in 1851 was 2632. It was 

 anciently governed by a mayor, but is now governed by a constable. 

 In 1642 a battle was fought at this place between Sir William 

 Brereton'a forces and the Hoyalists from Chester, who on this occa- 

 sion were victorious. Tarporley is pleasantly situated, clean, and 

 neatly built U is now chiefly known as the scene of an annual fox- 

 hunt in November. The church is an ancient structure of rod-sand- 

 stone: its interior contains several interesting monuments. The 

 Wesleyan Methodist* and Baptists have places of worship. The town 

 possess on a National school, some almshouses, and parochial charities. 

 The inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of stockings and 

 leather breeches. The market-hall is a commodious building. The 

 market is on Thursday. There are fairs in May, August, and 

 December. 



The following are some of the more important villages, with the 

 population iu 1851, and a few other particulars. Except where 

 specially mentioned the population given is that of the parish : 



Actua, population 3165, about 1 mile \V. by N. from Nantwich, has 

 an ancient church. The Free Grammar school, founded in 1662, ha* 

 an income from endowment of 122. a year ; the number of scholar* 

 in 1852 was 8 ; there is also a National school. Athton-upon-Mertey, 

 31 miles N.E. from Chester, population 2894, is a large scattered 

 village, of which Cross-street forms a part The church is a substan- 

 tial edifice; there is a Wesleyan chapel. AtuUem, population 2870, 

 about 7 miles S. from Nantwich, has a small market on Thursday and 

 a fair in the month of July, both recently revived. Besides the 

 pariah church, there are chapels for Baptists and Weslevau and 

 Primitive Methodists. The Free Grammar school, founded in 1655, 

 ha* an income from endowment of 401., and had 12 scholars in 1851. 

 There is also a National school for girls. Bebbingtm, 12 miles N.N.W. 

 from Chester and 4 miles 8. from Birkrnhead, consist* of two villages, 

 Higher and Lower Bebbingtou : the population of the pariah in 1841 

 was 5008, in 1851 it was 10,016, having doubled itself in the ten years. 

 Both villages are on the line of the Chester and Birkeuhead railway. 

 The pariah church i* partly of Norman and partly of early English 



