Bury-Lane Station
closely adjoins the Chat Moss tavern, near which the line crosses the little stream Glazebrook. S. is a farmhouse, called Light Oats Hall. Here commences an embankment planted with trees; passing which we enter on the famed Chat Moss, formerly a barren and cultureless waste; but at length yielding to agricultural skill and industry, several portions having already been drained and successfully cultivated.
The road traverses this immense bog for a distance of four miles and three quarters. S. of the line is a fine view of the Cheshire and Derbyshire hills, with the village of Astley and Tildsley Church spire. Rivington Pike, and the Billinge Beacon lie on the N., and the Chat Moss all around. Immense labour and perseverance were required to achieve the great work of forming a firm and durable road over this swampy tract, which varies in depth from ten to above thirty feet.
Several neat habitations are now erected on the farmlands redeemed from the swamp: of these, Barton Moss Farm is the chief. N. of the Moss lies Worsley Hall, seen from the line, on an eminence. Botany Bay, a place of singularly ill-omened name, is also on the left, or N. side. The hills before mentioned still form the back ground of the views on either side. Leaving the Chat Moss by the Barton embankment, the line passes