128 A Iderley Edge. 



lated, a farmer was on his way over the Edge, riding 

 upon a milk-white steed, which he purposed selling at 

 Macclesfield. Suddenly he was arrested by the voice of 

 a terrible wizard, who commanded him to return at 

 evening, and bring the horse, on pain of death if he for- 

 got. No purchaser was found at Macclesfield, (as fore- 

 told, indeed, by the wizard,) and on the farmer's return, 

 he was ushered by the wizard through some huge iron 

 gates that have never since been discoverable, into a 

 vast hall, where stood innumerable milk-white horses 

 like his own, with warriors beside them, all fast asleep. 

 The farmer's horse was added to the ranks ; money was 

 paid him in recompense ; the gates were re-opened for 

 his liberation, and there the story ends. The Beacon 

 was erected in 1799, upon the site of a former one, with 

 a view to giving signals, by means of fire, in case of in- 

 vasion by the French. 



Another way to the " Wizard," and one which gives 

 the opportunity also of visiting an entirely different and 

 most delightful portion of the Alderley woods, whether 

 we care to ascend to the "Wizard" or not, and from 

 which the return may be direct, is to go along the lane 

 at the foot of the " hough," till a point is reached 

 at which we turn in upon the right, mount a steep 

 field, and then find ourselves among the trees at the 

 commencement of a little bay or semicircle in the 

 cliff, the area of which is occupied by a meadow. 

 Thence we proceed through green arcades and leafy 



