148 Vale Royal. 



west by south from Northwich, occupying the crown of 

 a gentle elevation near the banks of the Weaver, of the 

 vale of which river it commands a delightful view. The 

 approach is through a spacious park, that in many parts 

 is singularly picturesque ; while in the interior are the 

 most striking decorations with which such a residence 

 can be enriched, including ancient implements of war 

 and of the chase, antlers, &c., in profusion. Adding still 

 further to the interior beauty, the stained-glass windows 

 are entirely covered with heraldic devices. The foun- 

 dation, as said above, was laid by Edward I., who having 

 (when Earl of Chester) been in danger of shipwreck on 

 his return from the Holy Land, made a vow that on his 

 safe settlement at home he would establish a new con- 

 vent of Cistercian monks. During his subsequent im- 

 prisonment at Hereford, he was visited and consoled by 

 monks of this order, and, weighted with the double ob- 

 ligation, on August 6, 1277, he cancelled it by laying 

 the first stone, in the presence of a great gathering of 

 the nobles, and of Queen Eleanor, who then laid the 

 second stone. The monks entered on their occupancy 

 A.D. 1330. In the time of Henry VIII., like all other 

 abbeys, it suffered dismemberment, and all that is now 

 extant of the original building is that part of it which 

 forms the basement of the present mansion. 



From Manchester, Vale Royal is approached by way 

 either of Northwich or of Hartford, the latter a station 

 on the line between Warrington and Crewe, formerly 



