The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1840-06-16 00:00:00

WESTON POINT.

Here commences the Weaver Navigation Canal, which
rises for a considerable distance nearly parallel with and
close to a stone sea-wall, recently constructed, on the top of
which is a pier or cop affording an elevated grassy walk. I
here landed, having a wish to visit some of the extensive
quarries for which the place is celebrated. The canal, which
here runs in a south-easterly direction towards the mouth of
the Weaver, commences with a long basin or dock, having
locks, for the reception of the numerous flats in their transit
by this line of navigation. The sea-wall, which slopes in a
curve, or inverted arc, towards the river, is upwards of a mile
in length, and is substituted for an old ill-constructed wear
wall, which it was found impossible to maintain, and of which
some shattered remains may yet be seen. Other new erec-
tions for commercial convenience are also in progress, includ-
ing a dock for flats from Northwich and Winsford. There

are several neat houses, waehouseg, Scci, at Weston Point.
Crossing the canal by one of the dock-gate bridges, the visi-
tor will reach by a little lane a neat inn, surrounded by trees
and shrubberies, called " The Weaver Arms," kept by Mrs.
Barns. He may hence proceed southward, towards Wes-
ton, passing several of the stone quarries. A green
lane between trees and hedges will lead him to some houses
on Weston hill, near a small chapel. From almost any part
of this hill the views are highly beautiful and extensive. The
whole of the estuary of the Mersey northward is spread before
the spectator•, like a huge lake or inland sea, bounded by the
wooded shores already named. Westward arc the now abrupt
and strongly defined Helsby and Overton hills, with dark
forests of pines near their tops. Under them on the east side,
and on a site, about two miles distant, surrounded by rich
enclosed fields, stands the town of Frodsham, the houses and
ancient church distinctly visible. Below these, on the
right, lie Frodsham marshes, presenting a sea of verdure.
Here, I was informed, a thousand head of cattle find ample
pasturage. The Weaver and the canal are between the spec-
tator and Fiodsham, in a fine rich bottom of meadows and
corn fields. The river is tortuous, and the canal; which
again runs into it higher up, cuts off some of the curves in
the navigation. The general aspect of the whole country is,
indeed, truly delightful ; and the view is rendered more and
more extensive by every additional step in the assent of the
hill. The Overton hills bound the celebrated Forest of De-
lamere.

I had a note of introduction to a gentleman (Mr. Sampson)
connected with one of the large quarries, and found him at
the works. He afforded me all the information in his power ;
but the rain which continued to fall heavily, marred the pros-
pect. The greater part of the land in Weston is owned by
three parties, namely, Miss Orred, of Elms Cottage, Wm.
Banks, Esq. and Philip Whitehead, Esq. There are several
large farmers, three of whom, Mr. Banks, Mr. Fletcher, and
Mr. Ford, make each about two cheeses daily of 40 to 501bs.
weight. .The pasture land in this quarter is very rich and
well suited for the purposes of the dairy. In other respects
Weston is chiefly noted for its tine stone, vast quantities of
which, in huge blocks, have for many years been sent to Li-
verpool and other places, for the erection of docks, and pub-
lic and private buildings. It is of a lightish red.colour, and
of excellent durable quality. The quarry at which I found
my friend is known as one of the Weston Point quarries. It
is worked by Jno. Tonikinson, Esq., and is situated on the ris-
ing ground facing the mouth of the 'Weaver. From 100 to 150
men are here employed in the various branches of the work,
and there is a railway to Weston Point, for the convey-
ance of the article when squared.. The top stratum of the
rock is from 40 to 45 feet in depth : there is then a bed of
rubble of four to five yards deep : under it there is another
stratum of rock from 30 to 40 t'cet in thickness, and of fine
durable quality. The depth of this quarry is amazing. The
men working at the bottom appear much reduced in size, and the
huge ledges and masses of rock, some of them spanned at a fear-
ful height by temporary bridges of planks, together with the
sound of hammers, picks. and voices ascending from the, ca-
vities below, render the whole a scene at once novel and inte-
resting. There is another large quarry below, and some
others to the eastward. A short distance to the westward
lies the hamlet of

WESTON,

A straggling place, with a large open space or common
in the centre, in which arc the remains of an old cross.
There are several very antique houses, barns, &c., of
stone, and also of frame and brick-work. The village ap-
pears to be founded on rock. Near one end there is a fine
antique farm-house, in the old English style, with a garden
in front, and a large holly tree clipped in a fantastic manner.
From this village I passed on by a lane, and afterwards a
field footroad, to