Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/804

Rh MATSON. 796 MATTISHALL. rock scenery. It consists at present of the village and baths about a mile distant from each other. The three principal hotels, which are all stone buildings, and the lodging houses afford accommodation for above 500 visitors. The houses are built in terraces on the steep acclivity of a mountain overlooking the Derwent. The chief trade of the town consists in the cotton, corn, and paper mills, bleach grounds, and other works. The lead mines are not worked so extensively as formerly. Matlock Bath is situated in a deep valley, the sides of which are richly wooded with pine, fir, cedar, &c. The bottom of the valley is narrow, the hills rising abruptly to the altitude of 800 feet at Masson- Low, or Heights of Abraham, as they are sometimes named from a fancied resemblance to those of Quebec. The baths are about 1 J mile S.E. of the town of Matlock, and near the station on the Manchester, Buxton, Mat- lock, and Midland Junction railway, which runs frequent excursion trains during the summer season, thus afford- ing easy access to the pleasure parties from the neigh- bouring towns. The spa, which is famous for the clear- ness of its water, and considered efficacious in glandular and other complaints, was first applied to medicinal uses in 1698. The warm springs are situate about a hundred feet above the level of the river, and possess 68" of Fahrenheit, but a much higher temperature prevails some depth below the surface. There are also three petrifying wells, The original bath was rebuilt by the Hev. Mr. Fern, of Matlock, and Mr. Hayward of Cromford afterwards disposed of it by leave to the Messrs. Smith and Pennell, who erected two buildings with every convenience for using the waters, constructed a carriage road alongside of the river from Cromford, and improved the road from Matlock Bridge. Two other springs have been subsequently discovered and buildings erected in connection with them all, the springs being within a short distance of each other. Among the various places of attraction are Cliff House, Old Bath, Dungeon Tor, and High Tor, this last is 396 feet in height, and commands a fine prospect ; also Cumberland, Rutland, Devonshire, Speedwell, and other caverns. The Lover's Walk is situated on the opposite side of the river, and consists of various pathways cut through the dense woods, all of which lead to certain points where the beauties of the dale are seen to the best advantage. There is a museum of fossils replete with natural curiosities of the district, including urns and vases formed of spar, marble, and alabaster obtained in the county. The parish is within the honour of Tutbury, and forms part of the Duchy of Lancaster. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 320, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Giles, is a small, awkward structure, with a square embattled and pinnacled tower containing six bells. It is situated on a lofty rock with traces of the Hirst Druidical stones, and a camp above it. There is also a district church at Matlock Bath, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, the living of which is a perpet. cur. * It is a cruciform structure with a square spired tower, and was erected in 1842 at an outlay of 2,250. There are National schools for both sexes at Matlock Bath, and a parochial school for girls at Matlock, also places of worship for the Independents with infant schools ad- joining. The parochial charities produce about 59 per annum. The free school, founded and endowed by Mr. George Spateman in 1647, is in ruins, but in lieu of it a convenient building was erected in 1829. Willersley Castle is the principal residence, opposite to which is a perpendicular limestone rock 200 to 300 yards in length. William Pole Thornhill, Esq., is lord of the manor. Fairs are held on 25th February, 2nd April, 9th May, and 25th October, chiefly for cattle and sheep. MATSON, a par. in the middle div. of the hund. of Dudstone, co. Gloucester, 2J miles S.E. of Gloucester, its nearest railway station and post town, and S S. of Cheltenham. The parish, which is inconsiderable, is situated in a Tale, out of which rises Eobins-Woodhill, or, as it is sometimes called, "Robin Hood's Hill," an interesting conical mountain, which has for cen- turies supplied the city of Gloucester with water by means of aqueducts. The manor formerly belonged to the Bohuns and William Nottingham, who gave it to Gloucester Abbey. During the siege of Gloucester the ancient Manor House became the headquarters of King Charles, and was subsequently occupied by James II, The tithes were commuted for allotments of land and corn-rents under an Enclosure Act in 1796. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Gloucester and Bristol, val. 184, in the patron, of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. The church, rebuilt in 1730, is a neat brick structure, with a low tower containing two bells. The interior of the church contains a tablet to the Selwyn family. The chancel was rebuilt in 1852. Matson House, the princi- pal residence, once belonged to the celebrated G. Selwyn, and was visited by George III. Viscount Sydney is owner of the soil and lord of the manor. MATTERDALE, a chplry. in the par. of Greystoke, ward of Leath, co. Cumberland, 10 miles W. of Penrith, its post town and railway station. It is situated in a wild valley on the E. side of an extensive moor, near TJlleswater, leading to Keswiek. The chplry. comprises the hmlts. of Dockwray, Dewthwaite-Head, Thorney- thwaite, and Matterdale End. The inhabitants are wholly engaged in agriculture. The soil is principally clay, affording only coarse pasture. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Carlisle, val. 115, in the gift of the Rector of-Greystoke. The church is a small struc- ture, erected in 1685, with a tower containing one bell. There is a school for both sexes, with an endowment of 20 per annum for boys, and 8 per annum for girls. Henry Howard, Esq., is lord of the manor. MATTERSEY, or MATTERSEA, a par. in the Hat- field div. of the wap. of Bassetlaw, co. Nottingham, 4 miles S.E. of Bawtry, its post town, and 3 N.E. of the Button railway station. It is situated in a fertili district at the bridge over the river Idle. The manor belonged to Earl Tosti. The village, which is situated on the bank of the river, was formerly a market town under the Maresays, who founded a Gilbertine priory here in the 12th century, which came through the Nevilles, Hickmaus, and others, to the Ackloms. The Chesterfield canal passes within a mile of the village. There are some sand pits and marshes on the river. The waste lands were enclosed under an Act of Parliament in 1770. The tithes have been commuted for 130 acres of land, valued at .1,300. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 260, in the patron, of the Bishop of Chester. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a neat structure with a square embattled tower, containing three bells. In the chancel is a curious carving, representing St. Martin sharing his cloak with the beggar. This relic of antiquity formerly belonged to the Abbey, the ruins of which are about a mile distant from the village. The charities consist of 9, the endowment cf Nettlcship's school. There is a place of worship for the Wcsleyan Methodists. MATTINGLEY, a hmlt. and chplry. in the par. of Heckfield, hund. of Holdshott, co. Hants, 2J miles W. of Winchfield, its nearest railway station and post town, and 4 N. of Odiham. The living is a perpet. cur. an- nexed to the vie.* of Heckfield, in the dioc. of Win- chester. The chapel-of-ease is a small ancient structure. MATTISHALL, a par. in the hund. of Mitford, co. Norfolk, 5 miles E. of East Dereham, its post town, and 10 J from Norwich. The village is large and chiefly agricultural. The worsted manufacture was formerly carried on, but has recently been discontinued. Tho land is chiefly arable, with some meadow and pasture. The impropriatiou belongs to the Master and Fellows of Caius College, Cambridge. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 448, and the vicarial for 293. The living is a vie.* with the rect.* of Patusley annexed, in the dioc. of Norwich, joint val. 437, i" the patron, of Caius College, Cambridge. The church, dedi- cated to All Saints, has a lofty square embattled tower, surmounted by a spire. It contains two brasses of a priest, bearing date 1520, a piscina of elegant design, and several monuments. The Independents and Primi- !