the instructions of the commissioners, Telford went over the various existing roads, and reported in favour of a new one to Warrington, either from Cranage or from Lawton, through Middlewich and Northwich. If the railway era had not been close at hand, one of these schemes would doubtless have been carried out. As it was, attention was diverted to other projects, and Telford's plans were superseded by those of Stephenson. Not all at once, however, did the impetus given to road improvement succumb before the competition of the rail. New roads were authorised so late as 1838 in connection with the Lower King's Ferry over the Dee, an important part of the route from Liverpool to Holyhead. Other highways in the Wirral peninsula (which had certainly been neglected down to that time) were turnpiked in 1826 and 1841, and various short roads in different parts of the two counties have since been included. But the death-knell of the turnpike system had been sounded when the railway whistle was first heard. Not only have few roads of any importance since been turnpiked, but those already included in the system find a great part of their occupation gone. Reduced from the position of great national communications to that of mere local connections, the ground on which toll was justly collected exists no longer. As they are now mostly used by the residents in the locality, it has become just that the ancient principle should be reverted to, and their care and maintenance thrown back upon the inhabitants of the district. And so the different trusts have, one by one, been allowed to expire, until at the present time only a very few of these once numerous bodies remain. These few will in the ordinary course come to an end within the next three or four years, and then the turnpike system, having completed its work, will become a thing of the past, fit and ripe for removal from the ranks of existing institutions, and for occupying its final resting-place in the storehouse of history.

In conclusion, attention may be directed for a moment to the indications which the accompanying map gives of the growth of the commerce of the two counties. In the density or sparseness of the lines of turnpike road in any particular district we may trace in some degree the extent of the commerce of the district in pre-railway days. That they are sparse to the north of Clitheroe and east of Lancaster, and again in the Fylde district, is not surprising when we recollect that these districts contain barren fells or are devoted largely to agriculture. And that they are so dense in the neighbourhood of Manchester and throughout East Lancashire generally, we know corresponds with the fact of this latter district being a huge hive of manufacturing industry. It is but a truism to say that without adequate communications commerce cannot thrive. A glance at the map will show that the districts where commerce has thriven most are those which have been best supplied with turnpike roads, and this fact alone bears sufficient testimony, if any were needed, to the advantages which the latter have in their time conferred upon the community.

PERIODS AND DEDICATIONS OF THE ANCIENT CHURCHES IN LANCASHIRE AND CHESHIRE.

THE

BY S. E. HAWORTH.

HE proposed area of Lancashire and Cheshire embraces three dioceses, viz., Chester, Manchester, and Liverpool. Formerly nearly the whole area was included in the diocese of Lichfield, afterwards in the diocese of Chester. In 1847 the diocese of Manchester was constituted, and in 1880 the diocese of Liverpool was constituted. As to date I have drawn the line at the close of the seventeenth century, so that all the churches referred to were built prior to A.D. 1700. While primarily dealing with the dedications, it will be appropriate to give the numbers of such ancient churches and analyse the periods of church building in these palatine counties. There are a few churches, such as Whalley, Winwick, Preston, Bunbury, Budworth, and St. John's, Chester, where we have distinct historical evidence that the church was founded in the seventh, eighth, ninth, or tenth centuries; but of course the principal remains of those periods is at best to be found only in portions of the foundations. From the eleventh century downwards we are on clear, well-determined lines. The figures I am now about

to present include the parish churches, chapels of ease, which in many cases, as, e.g., Nantwich, grew into parish churches; the domestic chapel, as, e.g., Tabley; and the donatives, as, e.g., Ellenbrook. Chester is placed first as

Before dealing with the dedications of these churches, it will be well to remind you (1) there are many churches where the original dedication is lost, quite unknown. This may arise from loss of documents, loss of interest, or the destroying influences of the Cromwellian period. (2) In many cases the ancient chapels of ease did not receive any dedication lest they drew away prestige from the parish church. Many of them have grown into parish churches as the popu

lation has increased. (3) The dedication of some ancient churches is in dispute, as Prestwich St. Mary v. St. Bartholomew, Alderley St. Mary v. St. Luke. (4) Some of the churches have more than one dedication, as, e.g., St. Mary and St. Werberg-Warburton, and the Manchester Cathedral, dedicated to the B. V. Mary, St. George and St. Denys. (5) Some ancient dedications are ambiguous, e.g., St. John, where in several cases we have nothing to guide us as to whether St. John Evangelist or St. John Baptist is referred to. The precise dedications to the Virgin Mary are in many instances lost. (6) Some ancient dedications run in zones or groups in neighbourhoods. As an example, St. Leonard is honoured in Lancashire at Walton-le-dale, Balderstone, Padiham, Langho, Samlesbury, Downham, and Middleton. St. Oswald once in Lancashire, five times in Cheshire. St. Lawrence is not found in Cheshire, but four times in Lancashire. (7) Some of the ancient dedications follow the coast line, as St. Nicholas and St. Cuthbert. (8) Outside Scripture saints there was in old days a strong desire to dedicate the church to the founder. St. Chad, St. Wilfrid, and others in this way have been much honoured.

I will now deal with the dedications of the ancient churches of Lancashire and Cheshire in classified order.

I. Dedications referring to God:

SACRED TRINITY.-Lancashire: Salford

HOLY TRINITY.-Lancashire: Warton, Littleborough, Shaw.

Chester

ST. SAVIOUR.-Lancashire: Ringley, Stidd

CHRIST CHURCH.-Lancashire: Ainsworth, Douglas, Walmsley

II. Dedications referring to the Apostles:

ST. JOHN.-Lancashire: Preston, Silverdale, Ellel. Cheshire: Chelford

ST. BARTHOLOMEW.-Lancashire: Chipping, Colne, Radcliffe, Harwood, Coppull, Westhoughton, Whitworth. Cheshire: Wilmslow, Thurs

taston, Church Minshull

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