250 Country Rambles. 



than in June, 1868, a very considerable portion was on 

 fire. The conflagration commenced in a plantation near 

 Astley. Within an hour most of the trees were levelled 

 with the ground. A strong wind was blowing at the time, 

 the fire spread rapidly, and the flames and clouds of 

 smoke were seen for miles. Continuing for between four 

 and five days, at last it approached Barton, and only then 

 did it die away. The moss is traversed hereabouts by 

 many ditches cut for draining purposes. They are from 

 five to eight feet wide, and twelve to fifteen feet in depth, 

 and are generally full of water. So powerful, however, 

 was the action of the fire, that when it expired in many 

 of them there was scarcely an inch, and others were 

 entirely dry. A conflagration of similar character 

 occurred in 1790 upon Lindow Common, resulting in 

 the destruction of an enormous quantity of the game 

 then so plentiful there. 



Newton-le-Willows, a place of more names than any 

 other in the county, being also called Newton Bridge, 

 and Newton-in-Makerfield, and by sporting men simply 

 Newton, all these superseding the ancient "Rokeden," 

 gives access to interesting places both right and left. 

 The town itself has its attractions, consisting of little 

 more than the one old original broad street, with plenty 

 of archseological curiosities, which preserves the primitive 

 idea of a rural English village. Some very pleasant 

 walks, partly sylvan, invite us to the northern side, where 

 also will be found a large and picturesque sheet of water. 

 Like Taxal and Rudyard it is artificial, having been 





