< Previous | Contents | Next >
We now return towards the Market-place, but on our way, on the east side of Mansfield-road, is
ST MARY'S WORKHOUSE,
This extensive building, to which considerable additions have been made in the present year, is appropriated as a receptacle for the poor of the very populous parish of St Mary, which comprises three-fourths of the town. There are sometimes no less than between five and six hundred persons within thewalls of this workhouse. Mr. Benjamin Barnes is the master or governor.
Continuing our course towards the Marketplace, we pass through Milton-street, and down Clumber-street, at the bottom of which, to the left hand, is Pelham-street, where is one of the most ancient buildings in the town, now known by the name of
THURLAND HALL,
but formerly termed Clare hall, being the residence of the Earls of Clare, whose family vault is in St. Mary's church. By marriage this estate came into the possession of the Duke of Newcastle, whose property it now is. It is a very spacious building, inhabited by Dr. Storer, Mr. Bolton, and Mr. Gell, and on the opposite side of the street is the Black Moor's Head, the principal inn in the town, where your Guide will respectfully take his leave; assuring you of his readiness to accompany you on the morrow, through any of the Walks in the neighborhood, that you may please to select.
WALKS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD OF NOTTINGHAM.
It maybe said, with perfect truth and justice, that no inland manufactory town, has so many beautifully picturesque walks in its immediate neighborhood, as the town of Nottingham; and it is thought, that a slight sketch of some of them, will be acceptable to the stranger, who is about to pass a few days in this place.
WILFORD, AND CLIFTON GROVE.
This is worthy to stand first, not merely on account of the beauty of the walk, but also because the Grove of Clifton has been immortalised by the pen of the much lamented Henry Kirke White.
" Now, now my solitary walk I bend, " Where solemn groves, in awful state impend; " And cliffs, that boldly rise above the plain, " Bespeak, blest Clifton, thy sublime domain."
Clifton Grove lies about three miles from Nottingham. The road from the marketplace, is directly south, past Peters church, down Lister gate and Greyfriar's-gate, past the water-works, engine-house, and over the canal bridge, into the meadows, and following the path, in the third field you will come to the river Trent, over which is a ferry boat, which will carry you across for one half. penny. A white house in view, with some trees before the door, is the public house of Wilford, where there are tea gardens, and comfortable accommodations. In front of this house, a small gate to the right, leads into a field, from which you have easy access by a stile, into Wilford church yard, which is indeed beautifully romantic. The poet before mentioned, says of this place—
" Here would I wish to sleep.–This is the spot
" Which I have long mark'd out to lay my bones in;
" Tired out, and wearied with the riotous world,
" Beneath this yew I would be sepulchred.
" It is a lovely spot—The sultry sun
" From his meridian height, endeavors vainly
" To pierce the shadowy foilage, while the zephyr
" Comes wafting gently o'er the rippling Trent,
" And plays about my wan cheek. 'Tis a nook
" Most pleasant."
Henry's wish was not complied with; he was buried at Cambridge, where he died.
Wilford church, of which a pretty view has been published by Mr. Robinson, the schoolmaster of the village, has a low tower, o'er hung with ivy. An excellent parsonage house stands in the church-yard, but there is nothing further particularly worthy of the stranger's notice. Going out at a gate on the opposite side, you pass between an avenue of trees, and over a stile into Wilford town, where on your left hand, stands one of the largest sycamore trees we ever beheld. Proceeding forward up the village, a white house before you, is the residence of Robert Leeson, Esq. and here you turn to the right, and continue your course by the Trent side, having the river to your right hand, and a noble row of elms on your left. If the water be not too high, you keep the river side, or if it be, you pass through the fields to the left, until you arrive at Clifton lodge, a sort of octagonal building, where parties are sometimes accommodated with tea. You then cross a bridge, by the side of a pair of iron gates, and after passing through two or three more fields, you begin to ascend a hill which is the commencement of the Grove, an avenue about a mile in length, planted with trees on each side. When you are at the top of the hill, if you look down the avenue, as far as the eye can reach, the trees on either hand, appear to approach each other, until they seem to meet. At the right hand side, at intervals, the trees have been thinned to allow a prospect of the surrounding country; and such a prospect is indeed, seldom seen:—
" How lovely, from the hill's superior height " Spreads the wide view before my straining sight! " 0 'er many a varied mile of length'ning ground, " E'en to the blue ridg'd hills remotest bound. " No more above the embracing branches meet, " No more the river gurgles at my feet. " But seen deep, down the cliff's impending tide, " Thro' hanging woods, now gleams its silver tide."
From the eminence on which you stand, you behold the Trent, meandering below your feet; and beyond this, are rich and well cultivated fields, producing abundance, both for man and beast Before you is the delightful village of Beeston, and a little to the right, is that noble building, Wollaton hall. As you advance in the grove, you perceive it terminated by Clifton hall, the seat of Sir Robert Clifton, Bart. The hall is built of brick, without any thing particularly ornamental about it; but the gardens are very romantic and beautiful. A few years ago, the gardens were open to the public two days every week, and there was a public house at Clifton, to which large parties were in the habit of resorting, from Nottingham, almost every fine day in the summer season. But Sir Robert, for some reason with which we are not acquainted, has closed his gardens from public view, shut up the public house, and even prohibited tea parties being given in the village. The church, which is close to the hall, may be inspected, and it contains a few monuments and curiosities; and in returning from this excursion, it will be a change to go down the lane, by the end of the hall, to the Trent side, and if the river be not too high, there will be a beautiful walk under the trees, by the side of the river, the whole length of the grove, and then it is usual, to return to Nottingham, by Wilford, the way that you came.
WOLLATON HALL, LENTON, AND TRENT HOUSES.
There is a very pleasant walk, going west-ward from the market-place, up Derby-road, where, at the top of the hill, are three turnpike-roads. Taking the one at the left hand, we go along the Park-terrace, where is a beautiful view of the Trent, Clifton grove, &c. and going further on, till we begin to descend the hill, another extensive view presents itself before us. Following this road, we pass through the village of Lenton, at the bottom of the hill, and at the distance of about a mile and a half from the market-place, just beyond two bridges over the Leen and canal, we arrive at Wollaton lodge, an elegant building of stone, erected in the year 1824, at a great expense, and having ever the gate way, the arms of the Middleton family. The park, which was also greatly enlarged the same year, is well stocked with deer and all kinds of game; and the hall, in the centre of the park, is one of the most ancient and magnificent structures in the kingdom; being erected in the years 1580 to 1588. The stone of which it is built, is said to have been brought from Ancaster, and to have been exchanged for pit coal, with which the lordship of Wollaton abounds, weight for weight. Lord Middleton resides in this noble building some months in the year, and her Ladyship is highly respected. The hall is not exhibited to strangers, and therefore we must content ourselves with the view of this goodly pile from a distance. We now return to Lenton, which has been greatly improved of late years; the village has a very neat appearance, most of the houses being stuccoed, and looking respectable. On going down the street, a little on this side the church, is the White Hart inn, where are excellent tea gardens, and here also is kept the prison of the Peveril court, where a number of debtors are confined, the limits of this ancient court extending over Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire, and a part of Yorkshire. The Right Hon. Lord Middleton is the steward of the court; his deputy is John Balguy, Esq. barister at law, who presides two days every year, when courts of trial are held. The prothonotary is Samuel Sanders, Esq. of Basford; and Mr, Hopkin, the landlord of the public house is the keeper of the prison. On the opposite side of the street, a little farther on, is Lenton church, which is a small place, dedicated to the Holy Trinity. Formerly there was a monastry at Lenton of very great extent, and endowed with large possessions; but these were all seised by Henry VIII. and the chief part of the village now belongs to Gregory Gregory, Esq. of Rempstone, Nottinghamshire. By pursuing the lane towards the south, the stranger will find a charming walk down to the river Trent, on the banks of which several houses are built, to which parties come from Nottingham in the summer to take tea. Following the course of the river, you arrive at Wilford ferry boat, and thence home, as described in the former walk.
SNENTON AND COLWICK.
On the east of the town, lies the village of Snenton. From the market-place, the stranger should go up Pelham-street, and continue a straight course to the bottom of Hockley, then through Snenton-street, and bending to the right into Water-street, at the bottom of which in the corner is a narrow passage, called Pennyfoot-stile. Here, going directly eastward, we pass a row of houses, and then is presented to view, a narrow road cut through the rock. Instead of pursuing this, we prefer the other road to the right, leading us by many large gardens to Snenton Hermitage. On the left hand side, the rock has been cut in a remarkable manner, and though it is so soft, as readily to yield to the pick-axe, yet the figures 1798, inscribed upon it, and exposed to the blasts of thirty winters, shows that it does not readily moulder or decay. Walking further, there are numbers of houses cut out of the rock, and inhabited by persons in a somewhat respectable sphere of life. A beautiful walk leads us through Colwick grove to Colwick hall, the seat of John Musters, Esq. on the banks of the river Trent, and situate about two miles from Nottingham. Immediately adjoining, is the Church, one of the most remarkable in the county, inasmuch as it contains the memorials of remote ancestors of the celebrated Byron family. Here are many figures in marble as large as life, who died in the fifteenth, and beginning of the sixteenth centuries.—It is said, that the whole village of Colwick, in days long since gone by, was won at cards, by the Musters's, from the Byron family, but what reliance may be placed on this dictum, we know not. The family of De Monasteries, afterwards Mastiers, and now Musters, is certainly very ancient. Within the rails of the communion table, on the south side, is a mural monument, which tells us that Sir John Musters, Knight, repaired the church, and rebuilt the chancel and steeple, in 1684, and died in 1689. The most modern monument, is an elegant production, by Westmacott. It is a female figure to the right of the communion table, representing Resignation. The hands are spread upon the bosom, and the delicate form of the fingers, rivets the attention. One foot, projecting beyond the pedestal, is exquisitely sculptured; the other foot, resting upon a rock, presents to the mind, the emblem of pious resignation, fixed upon the rock of ages. Beneath, in has relief, are three separate figures, depicting the talents of the deceased, in painting, dancing, and music. On a tablet underneath, is inscribed
To the Memory of Sophia Catherine Musters, Who died in the year 1819. If truth; if goodness, charity, and grace, Can in Heaven's holy record find a place, Thy name, Sophia, with an angel's pen, Is traced on leaves of bliss, by sainted men.
This lady, who was the mother of the persent John Musters, Esq. has herself left a bright memorial of her talents, for the window at the east end of the church, was painted by her hand, and displays great proficiency in the art. On the right side is Hope, to the centre Charity, and on the left Faith. Above Hope stands Justice, and over Faith is Fortitude, while the centre is occupied by the representation of Joseph's flight into Egypt with the holy child and its mother. The whole is surmounted by an emblem of the Spirit in the form of a dove, surrounded with glory, and the upper part describing clouds. Of these, the head of Joseph merits minute attention, and would do no discredit to a first rate artist; while the groupe in Charity cannot fail to interest the beholder. Fortitude rather exceeds the bounds ascribed to this virtue; but it would be wrong to select blemishes where the design has emanated from innocence and piety. The surrounding ornaments are prettily and tastefully arranged. A small space bears the inscription, "Sophia Catherine Musters, fecit, Anno Domini, 1817."