DROGHKiiA. 804 DliOITWICH.
abridge," (' '"i tho erection of a bridge over the- i ; -.naste-iy . ..I the ordiT of St. Auiju-tme. In 1231 Hcmy III. -".mlcd charie-rs contemn-,' ou tin te.wn tin' sain" pivilegesas Dublin; and thirty later tho bur;;--v>es of Drogheda were empowered to elect a mayor, to exercise exclusive jurisdiction. This town was always considered, in municipal privileges and i ililiral importance, as on an equality with Dublin, eVaterford, Cork. anil Lime-lick; and some of the most remarkable parliaments assembled by tin; lords-deputies were held here. The two boroughs, situated on tho opposite hanks of the river, wciv :< ,.arah'ly governed under their respective' charters, until tin- linn- "f II' my IV., who, in 1412, united both boroughs under one cor- jwration, and erected the town anil suburbs into a county of itself. This was done to prevent the dissensions which were continually occurring between the two cor- porations; and since then the united borough has been governed by a mayor, 2 sheriffs, 23 alelcnnen, common icilmen, and other officers. In 16 11 it was besieged by Sir Phelim O'Nial, but ineffectually; and in 164U Cromwell, on landing at Dublin, inarched against the town, which, after a vigorous resistance, was forced to succumb, when tho whole garrison was put to tho sword. In the revolutionary war the town was garrisoned by the forces of James II., and in its immediate vicinity tho battle of the Boyne was fought on tho 30th June, 1609. The town then it !! int'i tho hands of William III. Droghoda is advantageously situated on the great N. road from Dublin to Belfast. Tho river Boyne divides tho town in two unequal portions. Tho streets are regular, and tho houses well built; especially th- ine chief street and on the quay. The town returns one member to parliament. The assizes, quarter sessions, and petty sessions are held hero. Tho principal public buildings are three Protestant churches, two Roman Catholic chapels, one of which is the cathedral of the diocese of Armagh ; three friaries, four nunneries, the mansion-house, an endowed school, town prison, linen- hall, custom-house, inland revenue office, corn-market, savings-bank, nnd infantry barracks. The town has been divided into three wards Westgato, Fairgate, and Lawrencegiito ; tho rural portion into baronies, and -t erred to the adjoining counties: the portion N. of the Boyne to Louth, and S. to Jlcath. The chief manufactures are coarse linen, leather, soap, and r.en- dles. There are also several iron foundries, salt-works, breweries, and corn-mills. Tho port carries on a very
- iivo trade with Liveipool, Canada, and Nova
i. Its exports are corn, linen, cattle, butter, doth, &c. Tho harbour is very advantageous for com- merce, enabling vessels of 400 tons to moor ; and at i ranee are three lighthouses. The inland trade is greatly facilitated by the I'.oync ; : i Navan. The town comprises the parishes of St. P'-ie-r. M. .Man,-, and part of that of Ballymakenny. The living of each is a vie. The Roman Catholic parish of St. IVti r is co- extensive with that of tho Established Church; St. Mary's comprises the parishes of Colpo nnd Kilsh There are places of worship for Presbyterians and AVcs- Icyan Methodists. Here are three fri.iii'-. de respectively to St. Francis, St. Augustin- . H'minick; and also two nunneries, both dovoi religious instruction. There are here also one of the classical schools under the trustees of Erasmus Smith, an institution for the widows of Protestant clerg an almshouso called tho Poorhouse of Si .Mm. :md an infirmary. The religions founelations of this place v.i re anciently very in i- I t!eieai> some remains. On the N. side of the river arc those of the Augustinian priory supposed to have been founded by St. Patrick. Near tho town is a stone called Clough Patrick, or S;. Patrick's Sione. Some -1 the old church of St. Mary and of tho Dominican abbey are still existing. Various remains of earthworks and i 1 of military operations arc still to bo seen at MD lalnflhe station < o"ciipicd by Cromwell. I If the ancient walls, beyond whi< h t!, . .:ri"us and perfect portion is the gate of St. Lewie nee. Fain arc held every other month, and markets on Thurwb i iy. DROINTOH, a tn.shp. in tin- pars, of Slowo anc ., in the CO. of Stafford. , v. o f Abbot* DROrrWICH, a marl .1 and parlia- -. borough, and capital i ishire,iii the- bund, eif Hali'sliire. in the e o. ol .-. It has stations on ; land, and Bristol and Birmingham section of the Mi ellaiu railways. The limits of the- parliaim -n'.arv boruuo^H more extensive' than the munie-ipal; ; com- 1 prising, accordii . use*. I inhabited ! t 7, list), wh:l>- th',- latter con-l tains only ' . with a popular l |. J|| 13 ono member i nt. This town iionfl of great antiquity. It is a th(l Saliiiti of the Romans, on the liykniclel, or Suit-way; and Konian urns, tessclated pavements, coins, Itonuul -, and other relics have been found here. Uroit-l wie-li was frequently in Am;!o-Saxon ; "i- II' ifh only, and the- pn-lix " Droit " was addtni in later times in allu i -n t- the light possessed 1-y the Saxon kings of lev M^^l I'ring's mouth, upon tho waggon- and upon the load boin them. 'II, which are mentioned iii the chari- ot' Morcia, printed in ; respectively called the ti-antcUliny, or wai the uampi-nniiiy, or load-penny. Sir. K "Saxons in England," observes thai i of salt, which make it a necessary of life to miui, hav always given a special ch arae t- r t" the springs and nili which contain it. The German pagans com salt springs holy, and waged war- their possession; and it is not impi generally have been the exclusive property of the hood. Droitwich was a flourishing town in the e the Conqueror, and many succeeding mon:i : property here, the royal forest oi up to it. King John grante el i: confirmed by Henry III. In the time of Charles was distinguished for its loyalty. The town oe three or four principal streets, of rather stragg formation, and oompii St. Mary, and St. Nicholas, which ai St. Peter.and a part of Doddcrhill, < The livings of tho three firs; unite d I -. in the patron, eel' tin lord cha: the living of St. IVter is a vie., val. tlilll. in tho of Earl Somcrs. The chief public buildings Ainlrcw's church, built partly of brick, with a tow. r e ont i
- ucturc in tho forn
and three be'lls ; the townliall, wh are held; the union v,.r!,I 'lid tho Nation Here- I g of e ightee u almshouscs, a residence f* well placed out. The income' is t'1,1 haritie-.: of Mi Talbot, Giles Trimim-1, i loseph Dates, Mrs. llicl.nian, and .": town is governed by a corporation 12 councillors, who elect a mayor. The staple liero is salt, of which 00,000 tons are i there! arc many salt springs in 1 .|ual strength with those of Dr< eintain, in solution, about 40 per lent v.e-ight in salt. The inhabitants are ihi'lly engaged fall tho salt trade. In 1837 salt-wad r baths wi r ]ea tie-nts. The comn trie-ally iacilitate d by the canal from l>r Severn, navigsiblo for vessels of GO tons burthe -lubrioiis. and the- eountiv for S"M<- eluUnc-- round is well cultivate -d and fertile-, on arks ai At Dodelei] -i r and brethren, anda hous. =
