Page:A tour through the northern counties of England, and the borders of Scotland - Volume II.djvu/298

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Brindley, perhaps, were there another Duke of Bridgwater to bring him forward) erected the whole of the edifice about four years ago, and is retained to work and keep it in repair. We had no doubt that it might be applied with great success to the grinding of corn, and other equally useful purposes. The long descent by which we quitted Stow for Burford, gave us a fine view over the eastern part of Glocestershire, and the western side of the county of Oxford, whereon we now entered, and, after a drive of ten miles through a naked level country, found ourselves at Burford, one of the oldest towns of the Mercian kingdom. Equally remarkable in the page of history and the annals of sporting, this place affords contemplation for the antiquary, and speculation for the black- legs. The former, indeed, must be contented with the unsubstantial enjoyment which arises from re- flection upon past events, since no traces of anti- quity (save the western door of the church) remain to feast his eye; but present joys occupy the atten- tion of the latter, who here experiences the pal- pable delight of relieving the young students of the neighbouring university of their superfluous cash at the races, which are held in the environs of the town every year. Here also was the scene of that de- cisive battle which liberated the West-Saxons from

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