-24-2 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



river, it is broken by hammers, and divided by girls into three sorts. 

 It is then w ashed under the superintendance of an experienced 

 miner, and exposed to sale in the open air. 



On the opposite side of the hill there is a rich lead mine, the 

 veins of which extend nearly to the copper ore, and a very consi- 

 derable population is employed and maintained in these works. 



The parish of Wetton contains 102 houses, 102 families ; 282 

 males, 311 females : total of inhabitants 593. 



The village of Wetton is considerable, and contains about forty 

 houses. A few of the inhabitants are employed in weaving cotton. 

 The Church is a small ancient fabric, in a ruinous state : the tower 

 is of stone, and contains three bells. Money which had been col- 

 lected for building a new church at Wetton, was deposited for se- 

 curity in the hands of Mr. Thomas Gould, of Ashbourne, who un- 

 fortunately became bankrupt. 



Over the entrance to the church there is a very curious old arch, 

 with emblems engraved on stone, representing the Lamb and Cross, 

 with a Dove underneath, opposed to the figure of a Dragon, over 

 which Christ appears triumphant. The church is dedicated to St. 

 Margaret : it is a curacy, and the Rev. William Matthew Ward is 

 the present curate. 



ALSTONEFIELD is a parish on the banks of the Dove, situated 

 about two miles to the east of Wetton. This parish partakes of 

 the general appearance of the Moorlands, abounding with hills and 

 dales, and interspersed with several fertile spots in a high state 

 of cultivation. It extends to the length of fifteen miles, including 

 the townships of Fairfield-Head, Heathy-Lee, Hollinsclough, 

 Longnor, Quarnford, and Warnslow with Elkstones, and containing 

 855 houses, 872 families ; 2,073 males, 2,143 females : total of 

 inhabitants 4,216. 



The village of Alstonefield consists of several good substantial 

 farm-houses of stone. The Church is a neat structure, in the Go- 

 thic style of architecture, with a large east window partly blocked 

 up, and a strong tower adorned with four pinnacles, battlements, 

 and a vane. It contains three bells and a clock. 



Near the east window, on the outside of the church, the date 

 1590 is engraved on a stone, but the edifice seems of greater anti- 

 quity. The architectural ornaments of the east window are 

 beautiful. 



The interior is worthy of observation. It consists of a nave, 

 chancel, and two small aisles. The roof is supported by six large 



