Page:The Grand junction railway companion to Liverpool, Manchester, and Birmingham; (IA grandjunctionrai00free).pdf/55

 which is half a mile in length, is succeeded by a continuation of the acclivity, but reduced to 1 in 180, which brings us to the level, just before we arrive at the 25¾ mile-post.

73¾ 23½

The country here is worthy of attention: to the left may be seen Daresbury Wood, or Daresbury Firs, the tower of Daresbury Church; and Daresbury Hall, the seat of Mr. Chadwick; to the right is Norton Priory, surrounded by thick woods, the property of Sir Richard Brooke. This modern mansion occupies the scite of the former religious edifice; four of the ancient vanlts of the priory, and the ornamental door-way, are preserved in the present erection. In 1643. Norton Priory was besieged by a party of royalists, who were beaten off by the family with considerable loss. This extensive vale is bounded to the west by gently swelling hills, luxuriant in wood and verdure.

72¾ 24½

72 Here is a neat lodge on the right, in which the person who takes care of the gates resides. The gate to the right opens on the road leading to Norton; that on the left, to the Daresbury road. At about 60 yards further, we enter the great cutting at Preston Brook; it is about a mile and three quarters in length, and in some places 45 feet deep; and in it is one bridge, an aqueduct, and