The Vermont transcript. [volume] (St. Albans, Vt.) 1864-1870, 1865-07-28

] tbht u btbu lVbh Nv '''' g'hiiBs YOU
will never see this old tower again,
nor me The old man seemed very
sad, until told him that ] expected
TO call on him again in the course of a
few years, and spend day with INN
and placed the silver piece in his palm
which had a grooming effect upon his
face Decidedly the most interesting
portion or point of the wall is the wa
ter Tower, under which the Dee for
merly flowed, and maritime foes were
here repealed. At the South angle of
the wall is an old square tower an
GENTLY 'Bonwal dcs thornes Tower.
built in 1922. Il was twcnty-four
yards in height and ten and one half
in diameter, and had openings for
cannon and rings in the walls towhich
ships were moored. The action Of the
elements on the sandstone, the irreg-
ular breakiugs of the massive mason
ry, the proiusion and beauty of the ivy,
overgrowing towers, passagcways and
walls, and the variety and extent of
the landscape compelled me to linger
long and lovingly on this spot, and
nearly spoiled me for the remaining
portion Of the circuit Close by is the
Railway yiaduct Of four arches.
Across the river is Brewers Hall,
where Cromwells army erected bat
terry, and vainly endeavored to destroy
the Towers, just referred to, and
which have afforded me SO much en-
joyment. I am now getting indig-
nant with Cromwell's troopers, as they
were devoid, totally, of all artistic
taste, and but for them, should have
seen III place of the piles of debris
their ruthless hands created, fine arch
itecture, statues, etc. pulled down by
them \
Not far from the Water Tower is
the water-gate, the custody of which
formerly belonged to the Earl of Der
by From its summit a very extern
siye view is had. On the opposite
bank of the Dee is Curzon Park, full
of delightful villa residences. On the
left Is Grosvenor Bridge with its fa-
nous, noble arch. the largest arch of
masonry IN the world; a short distance
beyond may be seen the grand lodge
entrance to Eaton Park-one of the
residences of the Marquis of Westmin-
ister-built at a cost of $4,000. I'm
mediately below is the charming and
extensive meadow called Rocdeye,
containing eighty-four acres 1t was
once the arena for ancient sports and
the city games We're were celebrated
here, of which there are many curious
records eXtant. 1t is now used as a
race course and for drill ground.
The antiquity Of the Chester races
appear from the following extract from
a Ms. entitled "Certayne collections
Of anciente times, concerning the
anciente cittie of Chester, col =
lected by that Reverend Man of God,
Mr.. Robert Rogers, bachelor of diyin-
ity, arch-deacon of Chester, parsone
of Groyeworth, and prebane in the
Cathedral of Chester. being put in
scattered notes, and by his son re-
duced into these chapters following
OF St Georges Race, of late time in
vented and when altered In A. d.
1909, Mr.. William Lester, mercer, be-
ing mayor of Chester, one Mr. Robert
Ameryc, ironmonger, sometime Sher-
life of Chester ( A. d. zoos. he with
the assent of the mayor and cittie, at
his own coste chiefly, as | conceive
chiefly, caused three silver cuppes,
of goode value, to be made, the which
sadie silver cuppes were, upon St
Georges daye, forever thus to be thus
disposed: all gentlemen that would
bringe their horse to the Rood dee
that day, and there run, that horse
which with speede did over-rune the
reste, should have the beste cuppe
there presently delivered, and that
horse which came seconde, next the
first, before the reste, had the second
cuppe there also delivered, and for the
third cuppe it was to be run
for at the ringe by any gentlemen that
would rune for the same, upon the
said Rood dee and upon st. Georges
day; being thus decreed, that every
horse (?) putt in soc much monte as
made the value of the cuppes or bellies,
and had the monte, which horses did
WHINE the same, and the use of the
use of the cuppes, Till that day twelve
month, beinge in bank to deliver in
the cuppes that daye; SO also for the
cuppe for the inge, which was yearly
continued accordingly, until the year
of our Lord 1923; John Brereton, inn
holder, being mayor of Chester, he al
tered the same after this manner, and
J caused the three cuppes to be sould,
} and caused more money to be gathered
and added, soc that the intereste
} thereof would make one faire silver
cuppe, of the value of rs, as | sup
) pose, it maye be more worth, and the
race 10 be altered, viz, from beyond
the New Tower a great distance, and
soc TO run five times from that place
{ round about the Rood-dee, and he
that overcame all the reste the last
course, to have the cuppe freely for
ever, then and there delivered, which
is continued to this day. But here /
must not omit the charge and the So
IDENTITIES made the first of St. George 5
; daye; he had n poet, one Mr.. Davis,
who made speeches and poeticale
verses, which were delivered at the
high crosss, before the Mayor and Al
! Il 4 l..