Page:The Grand junction railway companion to Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham; (IA grandjunctionrai00free).pdf/42

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
There was a problem when proofreading this page.
30
Grand Junction Line.
From Birmingham.
From L ‘pool & Manchester.

right, the Sankey Canal flows parallel with the road; on a fine day, the flats (a class of vessel adapted to this navigation, of from 40 to 80 tons burden) may be seen bearing their burden of merchandise to and from the commercial metropolis of the kingdom, and, with their large red sails, adding much to the picturesque appearance of the

80¾

16½

scene. On the left, about a mile from the railroad, is

Winwick, which, though now in appearance but an insignificant township, was formerly a British city, known by the appellation of Cair Guintguic. Winwick is remarkable as being one of the, if not the, richest living in England. It is a rectory, in the Archdeaconry of Chester, valued in the K.B, at £102 9s. 9½d; patron, the Earl of Derby. The Church is dedicated to St. Oswald, and is said to be coeval with the establishment of Christianity in Britain. This was the favourite place of residence of Oswald, King of Northumberland, and here it is supposed he was slain by Penda, King of Mercia. A little to the north of Winwick, is Red Bank, the scene of an obstinately contested battle between a detachment of Cromwell's army and a party of Highlanders who had escaped from Preston, under the Duke of Ha-