The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-06-18 00:00:00

FESTIVITIES IN CELEBRATION OF THE
COMING OF AGE OF GEO. EGERTON, ESQ.,
SON OF LORD F. EGERTON, M.P.

Saturday last being the day on which George Egerton,
Esq., eldest son of Lord Francis Egerton, attained his
majority, the noble Lord, the proprietor of the Bridge-
water canal and extensive estates,'and the Boird of Trus-
tees of the late Duke of Bridgewater, celebrated the occa-
sion by giving to their agents, clerks, tenants, work-
people, and other dependents, and their families of every
gradv,atWorsley,and alsoatßuncorn ,a grandentertainment
in the good old English mode of hospitality, accompanied
by rural and aquatic sports and pastimes, that were kept
up with the greatest enthusiasm throughout " the live-
long day" at both places. The following is a narrative
by our own reporters (which we would fain have extended
had our space permitted) of the " doments" at these
respective and interesting localities—than which we do
not remember a more gratifying demonstration of the
kindly feeling and consideration which we delight to wit-
ness between employers and employed :--

CELEBRATION AT WORSLEY.
We had a pleasant ride by rail to the Patricroft Station,
on the Manchester line. ,As we approached the eastern
end of Chat Moss, (on which, on the left, we observed.a
long train of smoke rising from the.bnrning of the.turf,
and extending along the skirts of a plantation—elsewhere
noticed as having produced some alarm), Worsley "New
Hall"—for there are three Worsley Halls—a large build-
ing of a castellated and baronial appearance, on. the ele-
vated ridge near Worsley village, rose to view on the
northward, decorated with numerous flags displayed from
the windows and pinnacled roof. The other mansions
and buildings along the face of the hill, as well as the lofty
trees and clumps that enrich the uplands and the meadows
below, were enlivened by flags fluttering from every con-
spicuous point—giving,, with the sound of distant cannon,
delightful
lively indication of the coming festivities. A
walk of about a mile-and-a-half, along the bank of the
canal, brought us, about nine o'clock, to the pretty vil-
lagestr ornamented
and
thoroughfares,
with nume-
rous
andwhtilcieh waslitt also e
le
already enlivened by crowds of " honest'meu and bonnie
of
colours,Worsley,
lasses," and laughing youngsters, all in their holiday attire,
comprising nearly the whole population of the district,
togeth?r with many well-dressed strangers from Man-
chester, Bolton, Wigan, and towns and places even more
remote. The high and the humble mingled together in
the most amicable reciprocity of friendly feeling, and
every face was so much a picture of mirth and anticipated
enjoyment, that care was evidently banished, and the very
wrinkles of age were all but obliterated. Amongst the
country visiters the sly and jocular remark was met by
the smart repartee, and the drollery of Lancashire country
life was in many instances highly amusing to the more
polished portion of the company, who were struck by the
naivete and good humour universally displayed. The
scene indeed resembled a fair or a village wakes of the
olden time, yet, so far as we observed, all was blameless
frolic, apart from vulgarity or coarseness. The weather
was bright with a brisk breeze, inclining to cold for the
season of the year, and was thus peculiarly favourable for
the ceremonies and athletic diversions marked out for the
day. A principal point of attraction was a large marquee,
or tent, erected in the yard belonging to the Bridgewater
trust, on the east side of the canal, and which was deco-
rated with flags, and from its size and construction, pre-
sented an imposing appearance. There, a great number
of workmen, directed by Mr. Faraday Smith and other
members of the committee for the occasion, were still
busily employed in laying the tables and completing the
decorations. Meantime the village became more and
more crowded—parties pouring in from all quarters in
vehicles or on foot, the number of gigs, shandrays, cars,
coaches, &c. becoming at length so numerous that the
usual places for their reception being quite inadequate to
contain them, great part of them were taken into a field
adjoining the inn. Mrs. Sutcliffe, the landlady, had, with
praiseworthy foresight, (notwithstanding• all the good
things in preparation for the general feast in the tent,)
provided upwards of 150 excellent pies for the use of
strangers who might visit her during the day . These-, in
the early part of the day, made a fine and tempting show,
but were soon demolished by guests whose appetites be-
came sharpened by the pure air of the locality.- The rural
sports commenced in a field behind the hotel, shortly after
nine o'clock, and were continued throughout the day.
We noticed, we think, four bands of music, parading and
playing lively airs, one of them 26 to 28 strong. At the
first part thegannes vvent off rather slowly, though amusingly,
there being other attractions, and one in particular of a
higher character :

LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW

CHURCH.
Lord F. Egerton having determined that a new church
should be built at Worsley, for the use of the inhabitants
of the locality, the occasion was made available to enable
t, the young lord " to include, amidst the first acts of his
public life, the laying of the foundation stone:- The site
chosen was in a field on the hill on the right' side of the
road to Bolton and Wigan, and but a short distance from
j the village. About twelve o'clock numbers of persons-
began to assemble round the spot, 'to which there was
access for pedestrians through the grass from agate in the
village, at the termination of a lane 'leading to the'School.
house, a fine building on the aclivity, in the " -.Elizabethan
style, surrounded by trees and shrubs!, The'achool.
dren of the village, in large it:nu-160s, male and female,
had previously walked in procession to the Old :Hall, of
which the field forms the lawn ; and at twelve returned to
the school ,leaded by!Severalelergytnen, and their-teachers
and others', including a band. - The. younger portion en.
' tered the-school-room, but though the room was large, by
far the greater part were ranged round the extensive play.
ground behind, and presented a most pleasing appearance.
Those Within sung .the 100th Psalm, led by the principal
teacher; after which the whole moved off in procession
I to the site, on the westward, *here a. large crowd. had
already assembled. The site is in what is called :Cross-
' field,- and is in every respect most eligible, being on the.
face of the hill, near some fine old hawthorn trees, and,
commanding a beautiful view across the lower meadows,.
Chat-moss, the Mersey, &c., even to the distant "Welsh
mountains. Here a. sheers was erected for the lowering
of the-stone, topped by a flag, and a circle for the more
select of the company was enclosed by ropes. Anexca-
vation of about four feet deep had been prepared, with a
lower stone, having a circular perforation to receive coins,
&c., and to be covered with a copper plate. A. stage was
also erected close by for the accommodation of the clergy,
gentry, and others. The large band, in handsome light-
coloured uniform, was stationed at a short distance ; and
: the crowd around soon became immense, including many
ertorLi of tl.c tirzt r,:spcclability. We observed present