Page:Notes and Queries - Series 12 - Volume 3.djvu/112

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NOTES AND QUERIES. [12 B. ni. FEB. 10, 1917.

FROM LIVERPOOL TO WORCESTER A CENTURY AND A HALF AGO.

(See ante, pp. 21, 63, 89.)

Monday 21st. As soon as we had breakfast

took a walk about the Town,* went to the Cathe- dral Church which is a large Structure [but not

very richly decorated with Ornaments without and in general plain within. It is 394 feet by 78, and .... in Hight, the. . . . t looks well and is a light Piece of Architecture. The Choir is neat, no Gothic work over the Seats as in most Cathe- drals, but straight flat Tops with small Pillars of -reddish Wood. The Pulpit is a curious Work- manship in Gothic Stile cut out of Stone, but the Sounding Board which is lightly fixed is of Wood painted to resemble Stone. The Communion Table is plain Wainscot with only four Corin. Pilasters, and the Windows not being of painted -Glass it has not that antique, solemn Appearance. In the Choir is the Monument of King John who was buried in this Church. There is likewise 'the Chapel of King Arthur.

The Gothic Ornaments are of Stone but the Altar Piece was destroyed in the Civil Wars by 'Cromwell's Army, and so were also the painted Glass Windows so that now there is but very little in the whole Church. In the Morning 'Chapel was found the Monument of King John buried between two Bishops. They believe there is a stone Sepulchre underneath but it was never known to be opened. There are many other very -antique Monuments, the Earl and Coun. of Salis- bury, Esq. Wilde and his Wife, the Family of the Moore's, etc., etc. There are two very good modern Monuments one on each side the Choir Door That on the Bight Hand going up is Dr. Maddox's, Bishop of Worcester well executed the other is the Monument of Dr. Bough, likewise Bishop of this Diocese, very finely executed the Gown and Lawn Sleeves are inimitably done : and so I think is the whole Piece. Within the 'Chapel Part there are many Pillars of Marble so old that they are as soft as the stone. In one of i-the Ailes is Monument of .... t who was Bishop of. ... t at the same time.

Under the Cloisters which are like Westminster ris the Way to the Library, a circular Boom 65 feet Dia. and 46 high this is likewise the Chapter House. The Boof is Gothic Arches and supported by one Pillar in the Middle. These Books are .-mostly old, some very antique one curious Im- pression of the Bible printed at Venice in 1700} another without Date with very strong fine Cuts,

considering they were} Wood before Copper Plates were introduced. There is a large Collec-

"tion of Manuscripts very fair and neat. The Bishop's Palace is a .... t

We went to the China Manufactury, saw the whole Process except the making of the Composi- tion which is kept a Secret. The Stuff is brought and pressed} in particular Sizes according to the

'Quantity it will require to make the Articles it is then worked and formed by a Wheel (just as they make Sugar Pots) into whatever Shape is wanted. They allow one fifth for burning they are then just dried stampt all of an exact Size

.then burnt once or twice, they are then painted,

^i.e., Worcester.

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the Colour is a dark Brown but when finished becomes a bright Blue. After being painted they are dipt into white Stuff which is the Enamel and then burnt once or twice more the things arc burnt in earthern Pans one over the other and ground Flint is put at the Bottom to prevent the Ware sticking. The Handles to the Tea Pots and Coffee Cups are made by a Screw which forcing the Top of the Vessel wherein is the Stuff downward, the Stuff comes out of a small Hole in a long String which is cut into small Pieces and turned by Hand into the Handles but the Handles for the Tea Pots are made by the Liquid which being poured into the Mould is most of it turned out again but enough adheres to the Mould to form the Spout this is the Way we saw them cast Figures at Derby the Handle is fixed on by some of the Liquid and is in the Spout first making 5 or 6 Holes for the Water to go out. The Tops of the Tea Pots are turned just like Wood, etc., but if Flowers or Leaves are to be put, that is all stamped and put on by Hand. The Fruit or open Work Dishes, etc., are cut out by Hand too. They make very fine Figures or Ornamental China, it being done so much better and cheaper at Derby, here they are obliged to mould it but "there it is cast, which is ten times as expeditious. The Derby Com- position is however not so good for useful Ware.

They have found out here a Method of printing the Ornaments on the China which is kept very secret, they will not admit even the Proprietor to see it.

Walked over the Bridge, saw many Vessels going thro' with a fair Wind but against the Current which here runs very strong. The Bridge is very old, 6 irregular Arches, the largest is the first on the .... * Shore thro' which the Vessels are pushed against the Stream there was one did not get Time (?) enough on....* Shore and was drove by the Wind against the Middle of the Bridge.

After Dinner marched round the .... * Part of the Town and thro' a noble, antient Gate into the old City Walls, which are very small in Extent but enclose the Cathedral walked to the

Mount and round the * into College

Green, saw some Officers playing at Billiards, returned Home, supped and went....*

Tuesday, 22nd. After Breakfast, called at Mr. Tiddeman's Lodgings asked him to dine with us : which he did not resolve then but honoured us not with his Company met with old Parson Clements, made myself known to him, he led us a very pleasant Walk by an old House called the White Ladies into Sampson's Fields shewed us at a Distance .... * Wood and pointed out the high Tree under wh. it is said the Devil and Oliver Cromwell had their Conference walked out to .... * Hill from whence there is a fine View of the City took Leave of Mr. Clements and went to look again at the Bridge, near which is the Bace Ground returned to our Inn after dressed and after Dinner the Parson came and drank a Bottle of Wine with us. It was sent for and we marched to the Play there being no Boom in the Pit and Lady Cavendish t who had ordered the Play not having bespoke the whole Box we introduced ourselves tho' not the most politely received left there at the End of the Play of Henry 4th, and went behind the

Omitted.

t ? Illegible.