248 Country Rambles. 



name. The original, or "Old" hall, a most interesting, 

 quaintly-timbered structure, still exists, and is at present 

 occupied by the Hon. Algernon Egerton. The second 

 was pulled down about twenty years ago. The present 

 magnificent structure, so conspicuous from the railway, 

 was commenced in or about 1839 by the first Earl 

 of Ellesmere, then Lord Francis Egerton, under the 

 superintendence of Mr. Blore, the architect of the new 

 facade of Buckingham Palace. Upon the right-hand 

 side of the road, after emerging from the village, there is 

 a very pretty sylvan adjunct to the park called the Hen 

 Pen, the paths meandering through which often recall 

 the scenery of Mere Clough. The village itself is excep- 

 tionally picturesque, the late Earl having encouraged the 

 erection of private houses and other buildings in the 

 style of the old hall, the ancient black and white or 

 " magpie" fashion, these gaining in turn from the 

 happily chosen position of the church, which last is 

 considered to be one of the most successful productions 

 of Mr. Gilbert Scott, and is in any case a most beautiful 

 example of Geometrical Decorated. Worsley may be 

 reached by three different routes. First, there is the 

 station of its own name, upon the Tyldesley line, going 

 thence across the fields. Secondly, there is the old way 

 vid Patricroft, proceeding thence on foot by the side of 

 the canal, a walk of about two miles. Thirdly, when 

 permission can be obtained, there is the delightful path 

 through Botany Bay Wood, one of the most sequestered 

 to be found anywhere near Manchester. Being strictly 



