246 Whalton and its Vicinity, by the Rev. J. E. Elliot. 



now obsolete, subsisted in the neighbourhood within the 

 memory of persons yet alive. On the occasion of the celebra- 

 tion of a marriage, the bride's furniture was brought in a wain 

 or waggon to her husband's house with much pomp and 

 ceremony; on the top of the load, and forming the most 

 prominent object in it, was her spinning wheel, gaily decorated 

 with ribbons. This was called the bride's wain, and the 

 custom was probably derived from the period of the Roman 

 occupancy ; as among that people on similar occasions, a 

 maid-servant bearing the distaff, spindle, and wool of the 

 bride, intimating that she was to be active in household work, 

 always accompanied the procession. 



With regard to the natural history of the parish, there is 

 little to be said. The village stands upon the Coal Measures, 

 and all around it is the millstone grit. Where they join there 

 are several springs or wells, from which Hodgson derives its 

 name of Whaltown or well town ; there being four perennial 

 and strong wells which supply the inhabitants abundantly 

 with this necessary of life. When I first came to the parish, 

 twenty-eight years ago, the badger was occasionally to be met 

 with in the-woods of Molesden. The otter still frequents our 

 streams. Black game also was, though not at all numerous, 

 pretty frequently to be found. But the increased population 

 and work have almost driven away this shy bird ; and at 

 present I only know one old cock who occasionally visits the 

 haunts of his youth, and I hope may be spared to a natural 

 termination of his career. Previous to the draining of Prest- 

 wick Car, numerous strings of wild geese visited the autumnal 

 stubbles. They do so now no longer. Various species of 

 water-fowl, also, the mallard, teal, golden eye, &c, were 

 pretty frequently to be found along the burns at the head of 

 the Blyth. These, also, have become very rare ; and the same 

 may be said of the snipe. The zeal of game-keepers has 

 almost rooted out the raptorial birds, with the exception of 

 owls. Even the sparrow-hawk and kestrel are now but seldom 

 seen. The jay also sometimes breeds in the woods ; and the 

 beautiful little king-fisher occasionally may be seen by the 

 burn sides. 



