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

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 burning 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 H alls—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,
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 thoroughfare,
already enlivened by crowds of " honest men and bonnie
lasses," and laugh ;rig youngsters, all in their holiday attire,
comprising nearly the whole population of the district,
together with many well-dressed strangers from Man-
chester, B ,lion, 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
poli.slie) portion of the company, who were struck by the
licuvele and good humour universally displayed. The
sceneindeed 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 attracton 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, (notvvithstanding, 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
tirstpartthegames went 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

Lord F. Egerton haviiciglivdeßtcelirniined that a new church
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should be built at Worslev, for the use of the inhabitants
of the locality, the occasion wa
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chosen was 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 a gate 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 female,
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 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 prim 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-
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. 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 ethers. The large band, in handsome light-
coloured uniform, was stationed at a short distance; and
the crowd around soon became. immense, including many
persons of the fir;it- rcTectaM;ty. We Oserved prumt