ments, founded on the examples of the Rasp and Spin Houses, in Holland. It is curious to remark, that the lessons of humanity were derived from a country not renowned for the finer feelings; but we imagine that the same economy which inspired the Dutch with the idea of drawing revenue from houses of the worst description, taught them to employ their prisoners in productive industry. The motive was profit, the effect moral reformation. Mr. Howard performed six journeys over Europe, in order to deduce facts, and build up his benevolent system for the benefit of his fellow creatures. For ten years the unwearied Howard traversed Great Britain and Ireland many times, examining every prison, and investigating every abuse. He died at Cherzon, in Russia, the 21st of January, 1790. Posterity have cause to respect his memory, and bless his godlike exertions. STREETS, &c. "And stretching street by street, their commerce PRESTON, including its various modern additions and embellishments, is of a quadrangular form; the streets intersecting each other at right angles. The houses present, in some parts, a very motley appearance; pride and meanness jostle each other, and sometimes range side by side. The new streets and edifices are sufficiently elegant and commodious; and the old, as may be expected, are almost out of countenance by gay dressed upstarts, which are annually springing from the earth. The streets and lanes northwards of the town, such as Tythe-barn-street, and the buildings attiguous, together with the bottom end of Friargate, are in a bad condition. The old buildings in Fishergate have been removed latterly, and ere our guild commences, it is hoped they will be entirely filled up with new and elegant buildings. Fishergate may be truly termed the most gentecl part of Preston, and forms an agreeable entrance from Liverpool. The first street,* originally called Finkle-street, extendeth to the toll-barrs, which were formerly situated at Water-street end, exactly were Mr. Yates's shop now stands; from these bars, as far as the Moot-hall, was invariably called, in former times, Finklestreet, now Church-street. The bars are now fixed opposite the * The streets were originally lighted by the corporation of the town; but, somehow or other, the police act throws the whole expense of lighting, paving, &c. upon the inhabitants. Watchmen are kept, at the option of the individuals themselves, who pay casually towards their support, out of their own pockets. Unitarian chapel (which chapel was formerly supported by the Hoghtons, of Hoghton-tower.) From the Moot or Town-hall, westward, in a direct line, is now called Fishergate, (originally named Broadgate,) and through the Market-place you proceed into Friargate, which extends to the toll-barrs, opposite Walker-street. Opposite the chancel end of the Parish church, you proceed in a northerly direction to what was anciently termed Bishopgate, and Salter-lane. An indictment was found by the grand jury at Preston sessions, in January, 1817, against the inhabitants of this town, for their neglect in not repairing that ancient road denominated Salter-lane, by W. Shawe, Esq. and others. You leave Feeblestreet, Whittaker-row,* and Bishopgate, the ancient residence of the Meddowses. The vicarage is a good building, and now occupied by private individuals. Coming out of Tythe-barn-street, you proceed to St. John-street,† (formerly called St. Wilfrid-street.) Tythe-barn-street, with its adjacent buildings, connected with the living of the vicarage, are in a state of hopeless dilapidation, and want pulling down, in order to make room for various improvements which might be adopted, and many handsome buildings might be erected to grace that part of the town; indeed, we hope this day is not far distant; the tythe-barn itself, the malt-kilns, and other parts, are fast falling to decay. From the end of Tythe-barn-street, beginning at the Waggon and Horses public house, an open street presents itself, called Lord * There was a female Blue school, endowed by Mr. R. Sudell, in 1701, connected with the one in Midsprit-wiend, held in Whittaker-row, but is now joined with the National school. These Sudells were a very ancient family, and had granted for their arms, by Dugdale, in 1686, as follows:-Az. a cross quarterly, pierced or, between four bezants. Crest-on a wreath, a long cross, or, the top encompassed with a circle of laurel proper. † On opening the ground at the bottom of St. John-street, in Church-street, in January, 1821, for the purpose of laying a common shore, a number of human bones were found, without any appearance of a coffin. This may be easily solved, for, during the rebellion in 1745, many, of the rebels were actually shot, from the loop holes of the tower of the Parish church; and others were hanged upon the gallows, in our present Market-place, and afterwards had their heads severed from their bodies, which were Exposed, upon polls, to the derision of the people. The rest of their bodies were interred, unceremoniously, at the corners of the different streets which then formed the own; and many brutal acts were done with these heads, which would reflect no credit pon humanity by a repetition here. Much property was destroyed by fire, near the Bowling-green, in Friargate, during this civil war; and many of the inhabitants fled hrough fear, leaving their property a prey to the rapine and fury not only of the rebels, but of others. N street, and from the Derby's Arms public-house, branching forwards in a northerly direction, till it comes out at the Sun inn, in Friargate, is termed the Back-street. Another narrow street leading from the aforesaid Derby's Arms, stretches forward to the lower end of the Market-place, nearly opposite the White Horse inn. This street was originally called Friar's-wiend, (in unison with the one now situate at the top of Friargate-brow, now called Bridge-street,) but it is now styled Anchor-wiend, from a public house formerly opposite, called the Anchor inn. A growing spirit was manifested in the town, during the year 1786, when part of the terrace, or parade, in Fishergate, and Leeming-street were begun; soon afterwards Spring-gardens were erected. Improvements proceeded but tardily until the year 1791, when building rapidly increased; witness, Everton-gardens, New Preston, with its various streets and weaving-shops; Canalstreet, Crown-street, Spittals-moss, Walker-street, Snow-hill, Highstreet, Queen-street, Charlotte-street, Paradise-street, Vauxhallroad, Library-street, Lunc-street, Fox-street, Wilfrid-street, Birket-street, Spring-street, and many others have all been erected of late years. New buildings are going on rapidly in the two great north roads leading out of Church-street, viz. the road between Evertongardens and Spring-gardens, by Mr. Dandy's shop; and through the Park, near the House of Correction gates. Chapel-street, leading out of Fishergate, with its numerous improvements, in filling up the vacancy at the bottom end, now denominated Ribblesdale-place, which is intended to form a junction with Avenham-walk. The houses erected in this delightful spot are pleasantly situated, and are inhabited by Mr. Fell, Mr. Howard, and Mr. Birchall. The large square leading out of Winckley-street will, in process of time, be elegant; the houses are mostly spacious and uniform, and form an agreeable proximity with the town; they are inhabited by some of the first families, such as N. Grimshaw, Esq. J. Gorst, Esq. E. Gorst, Esq. J. Dalton, Esq. Mrs. Fielding, J. S. Aspden, Esq. J. Addison, Esq. &c. ROADS. There is a good road through Water-street and Leeming-street, and also by the church steeple, leading to Walton-le-dale,* passing the Swill-brook. Another ancient road presents itself, through Turks-head-court, (originally called Cockshuts-backside,) to Avenham; and from thence to Walton, on either side of the river Ribble, over the wooden bridge; as well as on the rail-road to Penwortham factory, so called, (although standing in the township of Walton,) and to Bamber bridge. Another passage, or road, occurs opposite the Old Shambles, through Midsprit-wiend, (formerly called Pettycoat-lane,) and by Avenham to the river Ribble, either over the rail-road bridge, or by the margin of the river to Penwortham bridge. There is a lane going to Avenham from where the ancient Alms-houses stood, (called Alms-house-lane, and Brewerylane,) now Mount-street, to the boat at Penwortham, (formerly named the Fish-house,) called to this day the Boat-house. At the bottom of Friargate a road leadeth westward to Kirkham, Lytham, and Poulton, and to all parts of the Fylde country. The other road northerly, now improved by cutting through the Gallows-hill, leads to Garstang, Lancaster, and all parts of the north. Churchstreet presents similar improvements; nearly opposite the Holy Lamb a new road passes through the Park, coming out near the top of High-street, and branching into the North-road, (formerly Salter-lane,) now filled up. The other road, opposite where Miss Mary Starkie resided, branches out between Everton and Springgardens, coming out on the west side of the Three Tuns public house, now altered to the sign of the Coach and Horses. BOUNDARIES. The boundaries of the town which confine the liberties and franchise of this truly ancient borough, begin on the south side at the river Ribble, upon the spot called the Washing-stead; proceeding upwards in an easterly direction, by a little rivulet called the Swillbrook, crossing the London-road, and passing up to the top of this aforesaid road, till you come directly opposite the township of Fishwick, by which the town of Preston is separated from other town • The following words occur in an old boundary record, concerning a forest "beginning at Ribble bridge, going to Steep Clough, betwixt Ribchester and Hoddersall, betwixt Chipping and Goosnargh, to the water of Laund, by the domain of Hornby, to the river of Lune, and the current of the Kent, down to the sea, to the foot of Wyre, and to the Ribble, up this river to Ribble bridge." A verdict of the 9th of Hen. 3rd.-See Whitaker's Manchester, vol. 1, p. 189. |