Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/140

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found ourselves in the ancient city of Lancaster, the Caer-Werid, or the green-town of the western Brigantes; and the Longo-vicwn of the Romans;

where Agricola mustered his forces, and formed a station in the year 79, the second summer of his successful campaign against the Caledonians. Its present appearance is neat and respectable, being chiefly built of freestone. The population, amount- ing to nearly twelve thousand, is gradually decli- ning, from the decay of its trade, which is now floated into the more convenient port of Liverpool. Repeated bankruptcies have followed this deser- tion, and left the town in a languid and decaying state. Sail-cloth and cotton in a small quantity are the chief manufactures of the place; and the shipping of the neighbouring coast is principally ' constructed by the builders here. But the boasts of Lancaster are its Gothic church and ancient castle, planted (as ! have before mentioned) in a situation at once calculated for strength and majesty. These edifices were probably nearly coeval, being built of the same materials, (a beautiful silicious grit) and bearing marks of the military and ecclesiastical architecture of the same il necessary to fortify the place, in order to its defence against the Scots; a successful attack ol
 * ige. This was the time of Edward III. who found

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