The Liverpool Standard and General Commercial Advertiser.
Liverpool, Merseyside, England, 1844-10-08 00:00:00

CILAIETERY.

The view from the top of the hill, which is prolific of
fine flowering heath, is truly splendid,—forming, indeed,
a panorama including the entire extent of both Liverpool
and Birkenhead, the river towards Runcorn, the sea to
the west, with the shipping passing and repassing, and the
whole extent of fine country on both shores for many
miles. The " bowels" of this bill have over many years
been to a great extent extracted in fine stone, but the ex-
cavation made is being filled up with the rubbish thrown
out, and the stone for the new docks and sea walls is to be
taken, by Mr. Tornkinson, the contractor, from the ex-
terior, where it is also good ; and in such a manner as to
leave the hill of a pyramidal form with a spiral road to the
top ; the high side of which will be appropriated for cata-
combs and tombs ornamented with shrubs and flowers.
The plan appears so far to be the reverse of our St. James's
Cemetery, which was formed in an excavated quarry sunk
below the surface, and will doubtless have a more pleasing,
airy, and " consolatory " aspect. It will, no doubt, from
the prospects which it affords, and the fine roads leading
to it both by the Park and by those between it and
Wallasey Pool, be a place of much resort, although it is a
portion of the Birkenhead estate of which our worthy
neighbours will naturally be in no violent hurry to take
"personal possession." Passing thence southward, by a
variety of pleasant lanes or roads, partly shaded by fir-
trees, and known, we believe, as the " Firs," we reach
Claughton Park, sprinkled with beautiful villas, at the
western angle of which, already backed by what may be
called stately trees, is

MOUNT CLAUGHTON,
the residence of William Jackson, Esq.. one of the
fathers of the enterprising " Corporation" of Birken-
head, now in course of erection, and on which a great
number of masons and other workmen are daily fmyloyed.
The house is an elegant and commanding building, of fine
white veined freestone from Stourton, and in a handsome
style of Grecian, or rather, we think, Italian architecture.
It has, it may be said, four fronts, one to each cardinal
point. The principal entrance is on the west, and the
stone work is very fine throughout, with relieving projec-
tions, and stone balconies or ballustrades to several of the
lower windows to correspond, supported (as well as their
tops) by richly-carved trusses. The doors are topped by
rich cornices of a deeply-cut segmental form at the top
in lien of pediments. and these have a fine effect. The
plan on the ground floor forms an oblong square, but the
eastern front has a semicircular projection, with enriched
windows in the centre or main part of the building. This
portion will be of four stories, with an elevation of about
45 feet. The portions on each side of it will form wings
of a story lower. The house stands on an elevated site,
sloping gradually towards the eastward, and commands
(as well as the lawn and pleasure grounds in front already
laid out in winding walks and shrubberies, &c.,) a most
extensive and uninterrupted view of the Park below, the
Pool, the Wirral peninsula northward, the river and
shipping, the whole of Birkenhead and Liverpool (which,
saving where the water intervenes, appear to be blended
into one huge metropolis), Everton and Edge-hill, the
shores of Bootle and Seaforth northward in the distance,
and Toxteth-park to the south. We could distinctly re-
cognise in succession every tall chimney, tower, spire, or
conspicuous object along the whole range of the vista.
The trees behind, and the higher ridge of Bidston-bill,
secure this mansion from the west and northwest winds,
and give it a warmth of appearance, as well as in reality,
rarely attainable at such an altitude. It is proverbial that
the well-fed monks of old, knew pretty well how to seat
themselves in pleasant and prolific spots, and our neigh-
bour has in his selection of a site for his domicile followed
their laudable example. The distance, in a direct' line
from Birkenhead Church, is about two miles.
Passing thence, by a pleasant road eastwardly, thro-Th
Claughton, our attention was arrested by numerous taste-
ful villas, particularly on the right, studding the ground
towards the old village and further southern heights of
Oxton. The whole space is intersected by new well-laid
macadamized roads with footpaths on each side. The
villas are of diversified styles of architecture—Grecian,
Italian, Elizabethan, &c., with surrounding parterres,
lawns, and gardens. We passed a large pile of new while
freestone houses, adjoining which a similar Os is in
course of erection ; also a beautiful collage ornee, in the
Elizabethan style, within an angular enclosure at the
meeting of two roads. Further along, on the right, is the
Waterworks, conspicuous from the ornamental chimney.
From this the whole township, so abundant is the spring,
can be supplied with any quantity of excellent water for
household purposes, baths, fountains, &c., even though
the population were increased even tenfold. There is,
in fact, water sufficient to supply a population of 150,000.
A little lower is the Grange Hotel, and opposite to it, at
the corner of the road leading to Holt-hill, and at which
the road to Claughton Park:; that to Oxton, Woodchurch,
Arrow, and Thurstaston ; and tbat to Birkenhead, form a
junction, is a large new hotel, nearly completed for te-
nantry. We thence dropped down to Birkenhead, obser-
ving new buildings erected or springing up on every aide.
But we have nut room at present to particularise, and
must proceed to the public works as indicated on the
plan.