LANCASTER is the county town of Lancashire, and is pleasantly situated on an eminence on the Southern bank of the river Lune, at a distance of 240 miles N.N.W. from London. mond, and a lofty and well-proportioned tower, erected in 1759, at the west end. The body of the church has two stories, both with battlements; and the walls, excepting those of the tower and registry court, which are modern buildings, are of rude grout. The interior is lofty; and the arches and pillars, which separate the nave from the sideaisles, extend nearly to the altar. The roof is of plain ribbed oak, with principals slightly orna It seems probable this was a station (Ad Alaunam) of the Romans; and a variety of Roman remains have from time to time been discovered here. It has been subjected to great vicissitudes. At the time of the conquest it had greatly de-mented. Galleries extend on the north-west and clined: in 1322 and 1389 it was burnt by the Scots: in the wars of York and Lancaster it was depopulated, the inhabitants obstinately adhering to the Lancastrian party; and in later years it has suffered by fire. It is now, however, a prosperous and thriving town. The streets in the older portions are narrow, but the more modern parts are open and well built. The church and the castle are the most prominent objects in the place, and present an imposing aspect to the traveller. 4 church is supposed to have existed here, on the site occupied by the present parish church, in Danish times, and possibly even earlier. Soon after the conquest, this church, dedicated to St. Mary, was attached by Roger de Poictou to a Benedictine priory, which he founded here as a cell to the abbey of St. Martin de Seez, in Normandy. Various charters afterwards confirmed and enlarged the possessions of this house. But, when the alien monasteries were suppressed in the reign of Henry V., this priory of Lancaster was given in trust to certain bishops and others for the abbey of Sion, in Middlesex, and continued as a cell dependent upon it till the dissolution. south sides. The arch of the chancel is high and pointed. The screen, anciently placed before the Hall. The stalls stretch along the breadth of the large and light east window, is now at Caponwray chancel, and contain a profusion of tracery, terminating in pointed heads. Along the east wall, on the north and south sides of the altar, are curious folding seats, twelve of which have distesque carvings, and the beautiful workmanship torted human figures, and foliage. These groin front of the chancel and vestry, have for many ages attracted the notice of the curious, and will long continue to be admired as excellent speci mens of ancient art. .... The windows in the aisles and clerestory are plain, and have the flatcavity in the south wall of the church is supposed tened arch of the fifteenth century. An arched to have been anciently a baptistry. numerous. "The sepulchral monuments in this church are ... A few years ago a small stone cross, adorned with entangled scrolls, the usual characteristics of Danish crosses, was discovered beneath the soil of the churchyard of St. Mary's. lines of Runic characters, which are tolerably disAn inscription appears upon this cross in three The castle is not far from the church. It was The present edifice is in the later style of Eng-tinct, but do not exactly coincide with any of the lish architecture, and was probably erected soon numerous varieties of alphabets published by Dr. after the transfer of the priory to Sion. It stands Hickes, the lexicographer. The height of the on the north-east side of the castle-hill, and is a cross is 3 feet; its breadth 1 foot 33 inches" *. commanding object, situated high above the town. The church, about 143 feet long, 58 broad, and enlarged by Roger de Poictou, and adapted for Whigh, consists of a centre or nave, two side-aisles his residence; and in its present state it is used for chancel, a vestry and registry court of the the county courts. Lancashire portion of the archdeaconry of RichNo. 922. B *Baines' History of Lancashire, vol. iv. Buildings, Views, &c. Prov. viii. 17, Dccccxli, 281. Salmon Catching, Dccccxxiv. 33. Stamford, St. Mary's Church, Dccccxxxii. 145. Welsh Shepherd, Dccccxxxi. 65. Wilton Church, Dccccxlvii. 361. Wotton, Sir H., Dccccxlviii. 377. Natural HistoryCrepis virens, Dccccxxix. 105. Plane, Oriental, Dccccxlvi. 353. Scandix pecten Veneris, Dccccxxxi. 137. LANCASTER CHURCH. JANUARY 3, 1852. LANCASTER is the county town of Lancashire, and is pleasantly situated on an eminence on the southern bank of the river Lune, at a distance of 240 miles N.N.W. from London. mond, and a lofty and well-proportioned tower, the church has two stories, both with battlements; erected in 1759, at the west end. The body of and the walls, excepting those of the tower and registry court, which are modern buildings, are of It seems probable this was a station (Ad Alau- and pillars, which separate the nave from the siderude grout. The interior is lofty; and the arches Bam) of the Romans; and a variety of Roman remains have from time to time been discovered aisles, extend nearly to the altar. The roof is of here. It has been subjected to great vicissitudes. plain ribbed oak, with principals slightly ornaAt the time of the conquest it had greatly de-mented. Galleries extend on the north-west and clined: in 1322 and 1889 it was burnt by the Scots: in the wars of York and Lancaster it was depopulated, the inhabitants obstinately adhering to the Lancastrian party; and in later years it has suffered by fire. It is now, however, a prosperous and thriving town. The streets in the older portions are narrow, but the more modern parts are open and well built. The church and the castle are the most prominent oct in the place, and present an imposing aspect to the traveller. A church is supposed to have existed here, on Danish times, and possibly even earlier. Soon the site occupied by the present parish church, in after the conquest, this church, dedicated to St. Mary, was attached by Roger de Poictou to a Benedictine priory, which he founded here as a cell to the abbey of St. Martin de Seez, in Nor andy. Various charters afterwards confirmed and enlarged the possessions of this house. But, when the alien monasterics were suppressed in the reign of Henry V., this priory of Lancaster was given in trust to certain bishops and others for the abbey of Sion, in Middlesex, and continued as a cell dependent upon it till the dissolution. The present edifice is in the later style of English architecture, and was probably erected on the north-east side of the castle-hill, and is a on at the transfer of the priory to Sectes soos south sides. The arch of the chancel is high and pointed. The screen, anciently placed before the Hall. The stalls stretch along the breadth of the large and light east window, is now at Caponwray minating in pointed heads. Along the east wall, chancel, and contain a profusion of tracery, teron the north and south sides of the altar, are curious folding seats, twelve of which have' distorted human figures, and foliage. These groin front of the chancel and vestry, have for many tesque carvings, and the beautiful workmanship ages attracted the notice of the curious, and will long continue to be admired as excellent speci mens of ancient art. .... The windows in the tened arch of the fifteenth century. An arched aisles and clerestory are plain, and have the flatcavity in the south wall of the church is supposed to have been anciently a baptistry. "The sepulchral monuments in this church are numerous. ... A few years ago a small stone cross, adorned with entangled scrolls, the usual beneath the soil of the churchyard of St. Mary's. characteristics of Danish crosses, was discovered An inscription appears upon this cross in three lines of Runic characters, which are tolerably disnumerous varieties of alphabets published by Dr. tinct, but do not exactly coincide with any of the Hickes, the lexicographer. The height of the cross is 3 feet; its breadth 1 foot 3 inches" *. The castle is not far from the church. It was Commanding object, situated high above the town enlarged by Roger de Poictou, and adapted for "The church, about 143 feet long, 58 broad, and his residence; and in its present state it is used for high, consists of a centre or nave, two side-aisles d chancel, a vestry and registry court of the Laabire portion of the archdeaconry of Rich No. 922. B the county courts. * Baines' History of Lancashire, vol. iv. |