Page:The Grand junction railway companion to Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham; (IA grandjunctionrai00free).pdf/48

 77¾ 19½

We take our departure from the, and and enter upon the , which is nearly two miles long, and, in some places, from 16 to 18 feet above the fields. The road passes over five bridges, besides the viaduct, in crossing this Embankment. The ascent of the road for the next mile is one inch in 500; then for 2½ miles, nearly to the mile post (23rd mile), the ascent is scarcely perceptible, being but one in

77½ 19¾

3474. Looking to the westward, the high chimneys at Runcorn, and Halton Castle, may be plainly seen. The view from the ruins of this ancient fortress, which was demolished in the civil wars, is very extensive; we have not space to describe it, but if our readers are about to sojourn for any time at Liverpool, we would recommend them to take the steam boat to Runcorn, and promise them much gratification in a visit to the castle and neighbourhood. To the left is Latchford; the spire of its church may be plainly seen; and looking back, the traveller will now have a view of Bank Hall, the seat of Wilson Patten. Esq., the member for North Lancashire. Looking forward, the Hill Cliff quarry, from whence the stone was obtained for the formation of the bridges and viaducts, is to the south-east. Tradition