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

CELEBRATION AT WORSLEY.

We bad a pleasant ride by rail to thePatricroft 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 horning 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 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,
lively indication of the coming festivities. A delightful
walk of about a mile-and-a-half, along- the bank of the
canal, brought us,, about nine o'clock, to the pretty 'vil-
lage of Worsley, which was also ornamented with nume-
rous colours, and the little Streets and thoroughfares,'
laal
sr
se
easd,y,eannldivieanuegdbibnyg
ycrornds of
gsteis hlloinnetshtemi r ehnolai
dnadybaottnintete,
comprising
wingitnheamrlyanythewewlib.dolreespsed population of
fromtltedistrict,
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 put 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
n.embers 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
firstpart tbegames went off ratherslowly, though amusingly,
there being other attractions, and one in particular of a
higher character :

having determined
LAYING OF THE FOUNDATION STONE OF THE NEW
Lord F. Egerton that a new church
should be built at Wor 1 for the of • •
s ey, use the inhabitants
of the locality, the occasion was made va
•
a ilable to enable
" 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
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 activity, in the Elizabethan
style, surrounded by trees and •shrubs. The school chil
dren of the village, in large numbers,'male and•Jfemale,
had previously walked in procession' to the Old Hall, of
which the field forms the lawn ; and at twelVe returned to
the school, headed by several clergymen, and their teachers
and others,including a hand. The •younger portion` en_
tered the•schoolgvom, 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 Psabia, led by the' min, ipal
teacher; after which the whole' moved off in procession
to the site, on the westward, where a large crowd had
already assembled. The site is in what is called Cross- I
field, and is in every respect most eligible, being on the'
face of the bill, 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; 'An •exca..
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
I er-ors of the Eat rzspcctaLilizy. 'V.O ulibegved preetut