|
|
|
Page 24:-
courteous, hospitable, and polite. The church is a handsome
Gothic structure; but the inside view of the beautiful east
window is obstructed by a toll screen behind the altar, and the
rest of the church is further hurt by a multiplicity of pews. The
only remains it has of ancient furniture are a few turn-up seats,
carved in the style of the times when it belonged to the priory
of St. Martin of Sayes, in France. Some of the carvings are fine,
but the figures are either gross or grotesque. This building
stands on the crown of an eminence, below the castle from which
it is only separated by the moat. The views from the church-yard
are extensive and pleasant, particularly the grand and much
admired prospects of the northern mountains. The chapel is a neat
and convenient place of worship. There are also in this town,
presbiterian, quaker, and methodist meeting houses, and a Romish
chapel. When the present incommodious bridge was lately repaired,
some brass pieces of money were met with under a foundation
stone, from which it was conjectured to be of Danish origin. A
more ancient bridge stood higher up the river, at Skerton town
end: an eligible situation for a new one, which would make a fine
and convenient entrance into Lancaster, from the north, and which
at present on many accounts it much wants [1].
|
|
|
|
[1]
A new bridge has since been erected on the site above pointed
out. It was built after a design of Mr. Harrison, consists of
five equal eliptical (sic) arches, and is 549 feet long. The
expense of the erection, which was paid by the county, amounted
to 14,000l. It is one of the handsomest bridges of its size in
Europe, and does honour to the taste of the architect, and to the
public spirit of those who promoted the work on so liberal a
plan.
In the year 1792 an act was obtained, chiefly promoted by the
inhabitants of Lancaster for making a navigable canal, from
Kendal, by way of Lancaster and Preston, to go through the great
coal countries in the neighbourhood of Chorley and Wigan, and to
join the canals in the south of Lancashire, its principal design
being for the carriage of limestone and slate from the north, and
to return with coals. It is carried over the river Lune by the
largest aqueduct in the kingdom, which is an amazing grand
object, and is seen to advantage from Lancaster bridge, about two
miles off.
|
