Chedder, which is the next Parifh, is famed for the finest Cheese in the World, except the Parmefan, and is 23 M. in Compass, abounding with Pafture. 'Tis common here for three or four Dairies to join their Milk, to make one great Cheese of 100 or 150 lb. Weight, which they fell on the Spot for Sixpence a Pound. There are also fuch great Plantations of Apples in this Parish, that 3000 Hogfheads of Cyder have been made here in one Season; and 30 or 40 Horfeloads fent weekly to Shepton Mallet. It has a large handfome Church, with a neat Tower, painted Windows, and a good Ring of Bells.

Above this Town there is a Chafm of a M. long, between a Cliff and a tremendous Rock, 2 or 300 Feet high, with Hollows equally awful and furprizing, which is in the Road to Bristol. Out of these Hills a Stream fprings fo rapid, that it foon forms a little River, which drives 12 Mills within a Mile of its Head, and after many Meanders falls into the River Axe.

Wrinton, a pretty Town among the Mendip Hills, which had the Honour to give Birth to that great Philofopher Mr. John Locke. It is 6 M. from Axbridge.

The Lapis Calaminaris is dug and prepared near this Town. Here is a handsome Church with a high Tower, adorned with four Pinacles.

Ilminster, 9 M. from Taunton, 138 from Lond. is a Parifh 5 M. in Length, very confiderable for the woollen Manufacture.

Chard, 4 M. from Ilminster, is a Poft Town, fituated on a Descent, with feveral Streams running through it, which keep it clean; it confifts of four Streets, which terminate near the Market-Place. The woollen Manufacture is the principal Support of the Inhabitants.

Keynsham, 112 M. from Lond. is a Thoroughfare in the lower Road between Bath and Bristol. It has a fine large Church, a Stone Bridge of 15 Arches over the Avon into Gloucestershire, and another Bridge over the River Chew. In the Neighbourhood is a Quarry, where Stones are frequently found of a Serpentine Form, but

gene

generally without the Reprefentation of the Head. Here is a Charity-School for 20 Boys.

Briftleton, betwixt Keynsham and Bristol, has Mines of Coal like those of Newcastle, covered with a hard Crust, called Wark, resembling in Shape a Fern Leaf; it will split like black Slate, but is much more brittle.

Bruton, 93 M. from Lond. in the Road to Bridgewater, ftands on the River Brew, over which it has a Stone Bridge; it has a fine Church, a good Free School, a ftately Alms Houfe, and drives a great Trade in Serge and Stockings: In the Church are many remarkable Tombs. Over the Market Houfe is a fpacious Hall for holding Seffions, &c.

Caftle-Carey, 3 M. from Bruton, is a fmall Town of no other Note, than for its mineral Waters, which, according to Guidot, are much like those of Epfom.

Shepton-Mallet, 2 M. from Wells, is a large Town, has about 1200 Houfes, the Refidence of many confiderable Clothiers. The Streets are narrow, fteep, very irregular and uneven; but well watered with Rivulets, convenient for the Clothworkers.

North Pitherton, between Bridgewater and Taunton, is a large Parish, 7 M. long, carries on a Manufactory of Serge, has a handfome Church with an Organ, a fine lofty Tower, and a good Ring of Bells.

Mendip Hills ftretch out a great Way in Length and Breadth, and are the most famous in Britain both for Lead and Coals.

Bishop's Chew, called alfo Chew magna, is one of the largest Parishes in the County, and the Houfes, even of the poorer Sort of People, remarkably neat, and generally accommodated with little Gardens. In this Parish is Bow Ditch, fo called from its circular Form: It was a large Camp on a Hill trebly fortified, from whence there is a Profpect of the Iflands called Flatholm, and Steepholm, in the Bristol Channel.

Frome Selwood, 10 M. from Bath, has a long handfome Church, with a noble Organ, and a fine Ring of Bells. Though the Town is longer than fome Cities, yet it has one Church only. A new Alms Houfe was

lately

lately built at the Expence of the Town, in the room of the old one near the Bridge, which confifts of 2 Wings with a Chapel. The Woolen Manufacture is reckoned more confiderable here than in any Part of Engl. and more Wire Cards are made here than in any other T. in Britain.

Antiquities of Somersetshire.

Montacute-Priory, of which confiderable Ruins ftill remain, was founded by William E. of Moreton.

Stoke-Courci Caftle, was the Head of the Barony of Robert and William de Courci, Sewers to the Empress Maud, and Hen. II. In Procefs of Time, it defcended to Eleanor Wife of Hen. Piercy, E. of Northumberland. In the 35th Year of the Reign of Hen. VI. it was furprised and burnt by Lord Bonville, and has ever fince lain in Ruins, but continued in the Poffeffion of the Piercy Family.

Seats of the Nobility and Gentry.

Prior Park near Bath, the Seat of Ralph Allen, Efq. Clevendon Court, Kenton St. George, and Ken Court, are 3 elegant Structures. The former belonging to the E. of Bristol, and the 2 latter to Earl Powlet.

The Bishop's Palace at Bristol.

The Palaces of Wells and Barnwell, belonging to the Bishop of Bath and Wells.

Lord Hawley, at Buckland, 5 M. from Taunton. Burton-Court, 11 M. from Somerton, Sir William Pynfent, Bart.

Canington, 2 M. from Bridgewater, Lord Clifford of Chudleigh.

Brymton, Sir Philip Sydenham's.

Orchard Portman, Hen. Portman's Efq.

Marfton Bigot, near Froome, Earl of Corke.

Witham Friery, near the fame Place, E. of Egremont. Farley-Cafle, near Philip's Norton, was many Years in the Poffeffion of the Family of Montford, then called Farley Montford; but, in the Reign of R. II. was fold to Sir Rob. Hungerford; and at present belongs to Mr. Houlflon.

Nunge-Castle was for many Ages the Seat of Delamare; but, in the Time of Rich. II. paffed, by Means of

an

SOMERSET SHIRE.

41

an Heirefs, into the Family of Paulet, Ancestor to the present Duke of Bolton, and, in Procefs of Time, came into the Poffeffion of William Whitchurch, Efq.

WILTSHIRE

S bounded by Somerfetshire and Part of Gloucefter fhire on the W. by Berkshire and Hampshire on the E. by Gloucefterfire on the N. and by Dorfetfhire and Part of Hampfhire on the S. It is about 44 M. in Length, 40 in Breadth, and 140 in Circumference; containing 29 Hundreds, 23 Market Towns, and 304 Parifhes.

The Northern Part, called North Wiltshire, is watered with clear Streams, and interspersed with small Hills which afford a delightful Profpect. The Soil of the Valleys is very fruitful, but that of the Hills chalky, and in fome Places barren. Prodigious Flocks of Sheep are however fed on the Downs, and prefent the Spectator with one of the moft charming Profpects imaginable. Its chief Rivers are the Ifis, Kennet, Upper and Lower Avon, Willey, Bourne, and Nadder.

Salisbury, or New Sarum, 17 M. from Andover, and 84 from Lond. is an Epifcopal See, and a large well-built pleasant City, near which 4 of the abovementioned Rivers join their Streams, and flow through the Streets. The Cathedral is confidered as the most elegant and regular in the Kingdom. 'Tis built in Form of a Lantern, with its Spire in the Center, and only Buttreffes and Glafs Windows on the Outfide, without any Wall. The crofs Ifle is very beautiful and lightfome; the Doors and Chapels equal the Number of Months in a Year, the Windows the Days, and the Pillars and Pillafters the Hours. The latter are of fufible Marble, an ancient Art now little known, if not entirely forgotten. The Outfide is truly magnificent, but the Infide does not equal it, the Painting being but indifferent; the Carving, what little there is of it, is elegantly performed.

There are three other Churches befides the Cathedral. The Market Place, in which is a fine Town House, is a Square fo fpacious that three or four Battalions of

Foot

Foot may be muftered without being crowded.

There are fome remarkable Monuments in the Cathedral and other Places, that cannot fail of entertaining the curi

ous.

Old Sarum, from the Ruins whereof arofe the New, is about 1 M. from it to the N. and is as antient as the old Britons. The Ruins have fomething of an auguft Afpect, and the Place, though confifting of only 1 or 2 Houses, is reprefented in Parliament by as many Members as the City of York.

Wilton, 3 M. from Salisbury, is fituate near the Conflux of the Nadder with the Willey; from whence it had its Name. It was once the Shire Town, with 12 Churches; now a small Place.

Downton, pleasantly fituated on the River Avon; an ancient Borough 84 M. from Lond.

Hindon, 90 M. from Lond. another fmall Borough on the Borders of Dorsetshire.

Heytefbury, is fituated near the W. Borders of the County, on the River Willey. Here is a Collegiate Church and a Free School.

Westbury, 4 M. from Trowbridge, a fmall Borough Town in an open County adjoining to Salisbury Plain, has a good Church, a Peculiar to that of Salisbury.

Calne, 12 M. from Marlborough, ftands on a little River; is a small but populous well-built Town: remarkable for a Synod held here, Anno 977, about the Celibacy of the Clergy.

Devizes, 89 M. from Lond. faid to have been inhabited by the Romans, because on Round Way Hill, which overlooks the Town, there is a Square Camp with a fingle Trench, where Roman Coins are frequently found. It is a Town of large Trade, and has feveral flourishing Manufactures of Woolen Cloth. The Town is not fo well supplied with Water as it might, if the Water from the fine Spring at the Foot of Round Way Hill was properly conveyed to it. The Buildings are old but good, and make an elegant Appearance.

Chippenham, commonly called Chipnam, on the River Avon, is a large populous well-built Town, 6 M. from

Calne,