Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/92

NORTHWICH. 80 NORTHWOOD. Grand Junction line of the London and North- Western railway. It is the terminus of a short branch line from the Cheshire Midland railway. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers Dune and Weaver, the latter of which is navigable for vessels of 100 tons as far as the town bridge, and for vessels of 80 tons as far as Winsford, 6 miles up the river. It is also within a short distance of the Trent aiid Mersey canal, which circumstance adds greatly to the commercial prosperity of the town. The salt springs, which give name to the town, wieh in Saxon signifying a " salt work," are said to have been known to the Romans and the ancient Britons, who called it the "Black-Salt-Town," but the rich substratum of rock salt, on which the town stands, was not discovered till 1670. There are two beds of rock salt, an upper and a lower, both of which lie horizontally, and are covered by thick beds of gypsum. The lower bed is about 300 feet from the surface, and is that now principally worked. The chief mines are in the tnshps. of Wilton, Wincham, and Marston, at which last place is the celebrated mine, comprising an area of 30 acres at the depth of 350 feet. The roof of the mine is supported by immense pillars of salt 30 feet in diameter and 16 feet high. It was in this mine that the late emperor of Russia was entertained, and, subsequently, eighty members of the British Asso- ciation. On this last occasion the mine was lighted up by upwardsof 1,000 coloured lamps, causingthecrystalline masses of salt to sparkle as if the place were built with diamonds. The rock salt is generally coloured according to the surrounding strata, grey, yellow, brown, or red, and requires to bo purified by being dissolved in water, and then evaporated, before it is fit for market. The salt springs, which were the first to be utilised, are usually mot with at an average depth of 130 feet, and the brine is evaporated in immense iron pans, varying from 50 to 100 feet long, and heated by furnaces which play under each of the pans, whilst the flues of these furnaces ter- minate in lofty chimneys, which gives the town a dingy appearance. There are in all above 300 iron evaporating pans, each 600 to 1,000 square feet, 12 to 16 inches deep, and making above 30 tons per week. The average quantity of white and rock salt exported annually from this locality is 300,000 tons, and as much more from Winsford, which is 6 miles up the river. The white Bait is chiefly exported to America and the East Indies, and the rock salt to Belgium, Prussia, and Russia. Ship- building, rope and sail making, brickmaking, iron and brass founding, and brewing, are the principal sources of employment. Some of the inhabitants are also en- gaged in building flat boats of a peculiar construction for conveying salt to Liverpool, and other places along the coast, and some business in done hi the corn and malt trades. The town, which comprises only 4 statute acres, has a population under 2,000, but, with the subur- ban tnshps. of Castle Northwich, Leftwich, and Wilton, about 8,000. It consists of several narrow and irregu- larly-built streets, and is intersected by the high road from London to Liverpool. Many of the houses are old, and bolted together to prevent them from falling, the ground in many places having subsided from-10 to 12 feet, owing to the enormous excavation! continually going on, which, in time, will reduce the T/hole surface elow the level of the river Weaver. It contains the new townhall, in which the county courts, public meetings, concerts, &c., are held ; a market house, erected in 1843, and situated between Market-street and the Apple-mar- ket ; and gas-works, situated on Crumb-hill. The corn is chiefly sold from sample in a large room at the " Crown and Anchor." There are in the town two branch banks, a savings-bank, customs, and excise offices, the station- house in Cross-street, a small brick building with three cells, and the union pporhouse, which last is situated in tho suburban township of Leftwich. The Poor-law Union of Northwich comprises sixty townships. It is also the seat of the new County Court, superintendent ! ry, and excise districts. The living is a perpet. cur. in tho dioc. of Chester, val. 150, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Helen, is a largo structure, chiefly remarkable for its semi-circular chancel and figured roof. Holy Trinity church, in Castle North- wich, was built by the trustees of the river Weaver. There is also another church, dedicated to St. Paul, which was erected in 1849. There are places of worship for the Roman Catholics, Independents, Baptists, Wesleyan, and Primitive Methodists ; also National and other schools, one of which has a small endowment. Friday is market day. Fairs are held on the 10th April, 2nd August, and 6th December. NORTHWICK, a hmlt. in the par. of Blockley, upper div. of the hund. of Kiftsgate, co. Gloucester, formerly in Worcester, 1J mile S. of Chipping-Campden. At a short distance from tho village is Northwick Park, the seat of Earl Northwick, built by Lord Burlington. It contains several paintings by Vandyck, a portrait of Addison, and other art treasures. NORTHWICK: WITH REDWICK, a chphy, and tythg. in the par. of Henbury, lower div. of Hehbury hund., co. Gloucester, 6 miles S.W. of Thornbury, its post town, and 11 N.W. of the Yate railway station. It is situated on the river Severn and on the Welsh road from Bristol to the Old Passage. There is a large sea- wall to prevent the encroachment of the river on the low lands. The New Passage, which crosses the Severn, adjoins the hamlet. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The living is a cur. annexed to the vie.* of Henbury, in the dioc. of Gloucester and Bristol. The church is a stone structure, with a low square tower containing one bell. It was erected on the site of the old one in 1840. There is an endowed mixed National school, and a place of worship for the Wesleyans at Redwick. NORTHWOLD, a par. in the hund. of Grimshoo, co. Norfolk, 7 miles N. of Brandon, its post town, and 4 S.E. of Stoke-Ferry. The village is situated on the river Stoke, or Wissey, and on the turnpike-road from Thetford to Lynn. There are extensive malt- houses, also a brewery. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. In the neighbourhood is an extensive chalk-pit. The soil is of various and common qualities, about two-thirds being arable, and the re- mainder pasture. Tho par. includes the hmlt. of Whit- tington. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 883, and the glebe comprises 57 acres. Tho living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 740, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, was built in the reign of Edward IV., and has a quadrangular tower of flint, embattled and quoined with freestone, and contains a clock and six bells. Sur- mounting tho tower are eight carved pinnacles, and the nave has an oak roof, ornamented. There are remains of a shrine, with niches, and on the N. side of the chan- cel is a mural monument. The register dates from 1650. The living was formerly held by Dr. Burhill, the author of several learned works, and the friend of Sir W, Ra- leigh, whom he assisted in his " History of the World." The parochial charities produce about 150 per annum, arising from 226 acres of land, bequeathed for repairing the church and relief of the poor. There is a free school, also places of worship for the Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists. H. S. Partridge, Esq., is lord of the manor. A fair is held annually on the 3Uth Novem- ber. NORTHWOOD, a par. in the lib. of West Medina, Isle of Wight, co. Hants, 2 miles N.W. of Newport, its post town. The par., which is extensive, contains the chplry. and town of West Cowes [which see]. It is bounded on the E. by the navigable river Medina, on the W. by the Newtown river, on the N. by the sea, and on the S. by the Forest of Parkhurst. It is traversed from N. to S. by the road from West Cowes to Newport. The surface slopes gently towards the banks of tho Medina. Tho living is a cur., annexed to the vie.* of Carisbrooke, in the dioc. of Winchester. The church is dedicated to St. John tho Baptist. The parochial chari- ties produce about 50 per annum, including a rent- charge of 15, bequeathed in 1687 by J. Mann for the maintenance of orphans. NORTHWOOD, a hmlt. in the par. of St. Peter,