Madeley Station.

Distance to Birmingham, 46—Liverpool and Manchester, 51½ miles.

DISTANCES BY ROADS FROM THIS STATION TO THE FOLLOWING PLACES:—

Places W. ofStation.

Places E. ofStation.

Woore

2½ miles.

Betley

3 miles.

Norton

5½ —

Newcastle

5 —

Mucklestone or Muxton

5½ —

Audlem

7 —

Adderley

9½ —

Burley Dam

11 —

Whitchurch

15 —

The village, which is rather eastward of the line, consists chiefly of cottages and farm houses in the Elizabethan style. The Church is an ancient and interesting structure, with a fine set of bells. An eccentric, named Samuel Stretch, noted for his penurious habits, bequeathed, in 1804, a great bell, to be tolled every night at eight o’clock, as a guide to persons wandering about at such late and improper hours; he having accidently fallen into a ditch, the consequences of which disaster eventually caused his death. The small town of Woore lies three miles W. Passing several slight cuttings, and again gaining the open country, a fine prospect appears, including Checkley Wood, Doddington Park, on the W., Heighley Castle on the E., and the Welsh Hills in the distance. Doddington Hall, seat of Lieut. Gen. Sir John Delves Broughton, Bart., is a splendid mansion of comparatively modern erection. A fortified house was erected here in 1364, by Sir John Delves, the venerable ruins of which still remain. The park is finely wooded, and includes a very noble avenue of ancient oaks. Heighley Castle partakes the traditionary honour so lavishly bestowed on such places, of having been “battered down” by Cromwell. It has been said, “no man can be in two places at once, unless he be a bird.” And our renowned Oliver must needs have been wonderfully endowed with this ornithological ubiquity, if we are to allow a shade of credence to the countless and unaccountable stories of his sieges in propria personá. A lofty embankment and two viaducts carry the line through the pretty valley of Wrinehill; the Hall and Mill forming very pleasing objects in the scene. The line here enters Cheshire. Betley and Betley Mere form the next view, after emerging from a short excavation, called Bunker’s Hill. Betley Court, the residence of J. Twemlow, Esq., with its surrounding woods and fields, and the pretty mere or lakelet in front, afford a very pleasing view.

In the rear distance, S.E., is a fine view of Boond Hill and Mow Copp, on the round summit of the latter is a stone monument, distinctly seen. These hills, which lie at a considerable distance, join in the landscape for some space. Chorlton is the first village we pass in Cheshire, and Wybunbury, a place of much more importance, is concealed by the woods about the former, except the Church, which peers above them. This Church was rebuilt in 1595; it is a spacious structure, with carved wooden ceilings, and a lofty pinnacled tower, which leaned so much to the N.E., that a few years since it was found requisite to place it erect, when some alterations were made in the body of the Church. To the W. is Basford Hall, soon after passing which, we arrive at