Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/820

Rh MELSA. 812 MELTONBY WITH YAPHAM. cross is about 20 feet high, and ia surmounted by an unicorn sustaining the arms of Scotland. From each of the corners of the central triangle streets lead off towards Galashiels, Gattonside, and Jedburgh. The first, situated at the western corner, is a street of modern houses, but the others are narrow and brief thorough- fares, chiefly occupied by artisans. The town has recently undergone much improvement in consequence of many wealthy families being attracted by its situa- tion to take up their abode in the vicinity, which has caused the construction of many airy edifices, con- trasting with the antique appearance of the original town. The principal public buildings are the churches described below, the gaol, a small modern structure, occupying the site of a curious ancient one, the railway station, a spacious building, the suspension bridge across the Tweed to the opposite village of Gattonside, and a short distance up the river the railway viaduct, and bridge of the Edinburgh and Jedburgh high road. The manufactures are now inconsiderable, though so early as the year 1688 the weavers were incorporated by a " seal of cause" from the earls of Haddington, and for above a century and a half the town was famed for the manufacture of a fabric called Helrose land-linens, which were largely exported to London and foreign countries. But towards the end of the last century the manufacture rapidly declined, and cotton weaving and the woollen trade, which were successively intro- duced, have shared the same fate, being now almost extinct. Previous to the abolition of hereditary jurisdictions, Melrose was a burgh of regality under the Hamiltons of Haddington, but is now a free burgh of barony, with a magistracy elected by the burgessess. The environs of the town are adorned by above 21 mansions and villas on the banks of the Tweed, including the classic demesne of Abbotsford [which see], and the modern mansion of Old Melrose, near the site of the Culdees' house, which came to the Ormestouns, and now belongs to the Locharts. The land in the vicinity of the town is very fertile, and is chiefly occupied by orchards and gardens ; also on the S. bank of the river all the land is under cultivation, excepting on the Eildon hills and the patch of moorland at their western base. On the northern bank of the river the land is of a much wilder character, being chiefly upland and pastoral, with some fertile patches of arable along the banks of the numerous streams and on the lower slopes of the hills. The chief rivers are the Tweed, which appears to have changed its course from the S. side of the valley within the last two centuries, as shown by the village of New- stead, which stands on the confines of a meadow still called " the wheel," where was formerly a deep pool and perilous eddy, across which Claverhouse is said to have been ferried ; the Bowden Burn, Cauldshields brook and loch, Galawater, Leader and Allen water, all which fall into the Tweed, and have been rendered famous by Sir Walter Scott, in his tale of the " Monastery," where the leading characteristics of the Glendearg are derived from the vale of Allen water. The par. is in the presb. of Selkirk and synod of Merse and Teviotdale. The minister's stipend is 300. The parish church, built in 1810, is a plain edifice with a spire; it is situated on rising ground, called the Wier Hill, to the W. of the town. At Galashiels is another church belonging to the recently constituted quoad sacra par. of Ladhope ; also Free churches at Melrose and Galashiels, United Pres- byterian churches at Melrose and Newton, a Congrega- tional chapel and an Episcopalian chapel at Melrose. There are parish schools, a Free Church school, an Episcopalian school, the "Weirhill academy, three boarding schools for young ladies, and six village schools. Besides the ruins of the magnificent abbey above described are remains of a wall supposed to have formed part of the original Culdees' house at Old Melrose ; also Roman camps at Gattonside and Chester- knowe, where corns of Vespasian, &c., have been found, and on the Eildon hills are traces of the ancient "Watting Street, which went by Trimontium. MELSA. See MEAUX, co. York. MELSONBY, a par. in the wap. of West Grilling, North Riding co. York, 8 miles from Darlington, its post town, and 5 N. of Richmond. The village, which is small, is situated near the great road from Catterick Bridge to Pierse Bridge, and is chiefly agricultural. There are traces of a Benedictine nunnery founded in the reign of King Stephen, and said to have been destroyed prior to the Reformation. The soil is various, but in general fertile. The land is chiefly arable, with some meadow and pas- ture. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 590. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Ripon, val. .809, in the patron, of University College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. James the Great, is an ancient stone structure with a tower containing two bells. There was a porch added in 1850. The parochial charities produce about 26 per annum, of which 25 goes to Cockin's school for ten poor boys. There is a girls' school, supported by the rector. The Wesleyans have a place of worship, also a day school. Messrs. Swan, Clough, & Co., of York, are the lords of the manor. MELTHAM, a tushp. in the par. of Almondbury, upper div. of the wap. of Agbrigg, West Riding co. York, 5 miles S.W. of Huddersfield, its post town, and Z N.W. of Holmfirth. The village is situated in a valley adjoining a mountainous moorland ridge called West Nab, and abounds with mineral wealth. A por- tion of the inhabitants is employed in the woollen and cotton trade. There is an extensive iron foundry. In this township are quarries of good flagstone, also coal. A great portion of the land is moory. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Ripon, val. 260, in the patron, of the Vicar of Almondbury. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a stone structure with a square tower containing six bells. The tower was added in 1835, when the church was enlarged. There is a National school for both sexes, and day and Sunday schools for the Wesleyan Methodists, for whom there is a place of worship, and one for the Baptists. A fair is held on the first Saturday in April, and the first Satur- day after the llth October. MELTHWAITE WITH SANTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Irton, ward of Allerdale-above-Derweut, co. Cumberland, 5 miles N.E. of Ravenglass. It is situated near Wast Water. MELTON, a par. in the bund, of Wilford, co. Suffolk, 1 mile N.E. of Woodbridge, its post town. It is a station on the Great Eastern railway. The village, which is large, is situated on the river Dehen, and was formerly a quarter sessions town. There are extensive iron works and machine factories, also a brisk trade is done in corn and coals on the river Dehen, which is navigable, and is crossed by Wilford Bridge. The gaol for the lib. of St. Ethelred was formerly in this parish, as also the workhouse for the hunds. of Loes and Wil- ford. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Norwich, val. i'347, in the patron, of the Dean and Chapter of Ely. The church is situated some distance from the village. It is dedicated to St. Andrew, and has a tripled canopied brass of a man and his two wives, bearing date 1430. The parochial charities produce about 48 per annum. The county lunatic asylum was formerly the house of industry for the Loes and AVilford hundreds. There is a National school for both sexes. The Dean and Chapter of Ely are the principal lords of the manor. An annual fair is held on the second Tuesday in September, prin- cipally for lambs, and on the Wednesday week after Michaelmas Day for cattle. MELTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Welton, in the wap. of Howdenshire, East Riding co. York, 1 j mile from Ferriby railway station, and 4 miles S.E. of South Cave. Brough is its post town. It is situated near the river Humber and Selby railway. The soil consists of mould, chalk, and clay. There are brick and tile kilns. The living is a vie. annexed to that of Welton, in the dioc. of York. There is an infant school. Mrs. R. Whit- aker is lady of the manor. MELTONBY WITH YAPHAM, a tnshp. and chplry. in the par. of Pocklington, Wilton-Beacon div.