i o 2 Knutsford Tab ley. 



the wood. On the margin of the brook grow the red 

 currant, seemingly wild, the great white cardamine, and 

 many other interesting plants, mostly in great abund- 

 ance, while the interior of the wood is at this part a 

 natural botanic garden. The mere in the centre con- 

 tains the Ranun'cuhts Lingua and that singular aquatic, 

 the Stratio'tes. The limit of the walk in this direction is 

 the farm by the entrance to Spring-wood, commonly 

 known as "Anson House." 



Toft Hall, with its stately avenue of elms, in triple 

 rows, one mile south of Knutsford ; Over-Peover Hall, 

 about three miles south ; and TABLEY, about a mile to 

 the west, all with noble grounds and parks, are very 

 interesting places ; especially the last named, not so 

 much, however, in its modern, as in its ancient hall, 

 built on an island in the upper portion of the mere, 

 about A.D. 1380. Here resided the celebrated Sir Peter 

 Leycester, noted for his devotion to the cause of Charles 

 I., and author of the great work on the antiquities of 

 Cheshire, from which all subsequent writers have derived 

 their information. Only a remnant of the hall now 

 exists. Being covered with ivy, it presents, however, a 

 most picturesque appearance. Inside are preserved 

 numerous ancient implements of war, with much old 

 furniture. There is also a large bay-window, bearing 

 the Leycester pedigree in coloured glass. 



At and near NORTHWICH, (the present terminus of 



