ley-forest stones, and in many places stand out bare, and are of such hardness, after being exposed to the air, as to resist all tools. Such pieces as can be got from under the ground, are broken with a sledge, and used in buildings, in the shape in which they are broken. Many houses are built with them, and make a very singular appearance. They are often imperfect cones; and being too hard to be cut or broken, the smoothest face is laid outermost in beds of the excellent lime of Barrow. These stones, from their uncommon hardness, are coveted for painter's mullets*.”

At the end of Barn-Lane, which separates the parishes of Rothley and Barrow, formerly stood a curious CROSS. It consisted of a slender shaft of eight sides, fluted, and ornamented within the flutes, with carved heads, quatrefoils, &c. The upper part of the shaft was terminated with a crocketed pediment and niches, supported by carved figures of angels, and at the base were "rude figures with wings." This little relic of monastic antiquity was and removed into the grounds belonging to Sir John Danvers, Bart. who caused a small market house, in imitation of a pavilion, to be erected in its place.

taken down in 1793,

In this town, says Burton, were formerly two chapels; but it has now only one, which belongs to, and is subordinate to the church of Barrow. Here are also three meeting-houses belonging to Presbyterians, Baptists, and Methodists. In 1800 the town contained 231 houses, and 1233 inhabitants.

Connected with this town, and about two miles to the north of it, but in the hundred of East Goscote, is

BARROW-UPON-SOAR, called in ancient writings, Baro, Baroo, Barhoo, Barwe, &c. This is a large and pleasant Village, containing 231 houses, and 1090 inhabitants. The parish is within the deanery of Akeley, and includes the townships of Barrow, Quorndon, Woodhouse, and part of the town of Mountsorell. The place appears to have taken its name from an ancient Tumulus,

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* Bray's "Sketch of a Tour into Derbyshire," &c.

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or Barrow, and the addition is to distinguish it from another village of that name, on the Trent, not many miles distant. In the time of Edward the Confessor, this extensive manor belonged to Earl Harold; afterwards to Hugh Lupus, who held it immediately under the king. In the reign of king Stephen, Ralph de Gernoniis gave the church here, with the chapel of Quorndon, and one carucate of his demesne lands, to the abbot and convent of St. Mary de Pratis, at Leicester, ad proprios usus. In an act passed 1766, for dividing the several open fields, within this lordship or liberty, Francis Earl of Huntingdon is described as lord of the manor, and the master, fellows, &c. of St. John's College, Cambridge, as patrons of the vicarage. These, with the vicar, and other proprietors, are allotted certain parts, tythes, &c. of the lands which are specified in the said act, wherein the Earl of Huntingdon is styled lord of the manor, in right of Erdington Manor, which now belongs to the Earl of Moira. “The greater part of the lordship, however, belongs to gentlemen farmers, who occupy it themselves, not only for the profits of husbandry, but there are several who get up and burn large quantities of lime, which brings them no small profit*" In this village is an hospital, founded by the Rev. Dr. Humphrey Babington, vice-master of Trinity College, Cambridge, for six poor men.

Dr. WILLIAM BEVERIDGE was a native of this place, and baptized here, February 11th, 1636-7. After passing through different church preferments, he was consecrated bishop of St. Asaph, in 1704, but did not enjoy his episcopal dignity above four years, as he died in March, 1707-8, in the cloisters of Westminster Abbey, and was interred in St. Paul's Cathedral, "where he has no memorial. He was author of many learned pieces, and had a peculiar felicity in composing sermons;" one of which," on the use and excellency of the Common Prayer," is in much repute with the clergy. His books he directed to be placed in St. Paul's Cathedral,

*Nichols's History of Leicestershire, Vol. III. p. 69.

Cathedral, as a foundation of a library for the use of the clergy. His writings, mostly on the subject of religion, are numerous, and have been spoken of in varied terms of praise by different critics. In the Biographia Britannica, Vol. II. many of these criticisms are collected, with a copious memoir of him*.

Barrow has for many centuries been famed for a hard blue Stone, which, being calcined, makes a very fine LIME, and that a hard, firm, and much esteemed cement. This is in particular request for water works, for making dams, flood gates, &c. and is exported to Holland, and other places, in large quantities. The stone lies in thin strata; the first under the surface is of a yellowish colour, and below this are several others of a blue colour. The latter strata are about six inches thick, and two feet asunder. Both sorts are dug out, piled up in the form of a cone, and burnt. Mr. Marshall observes, "it is an interesting fact, that the stone from which the Barrow lime is burnt, is in colour, texture, and quality of component parts, the same as the clay-stone of Gloucestershire, from which the strong lime of that district is burnt; and what is still more remarkable, it is found in similar situations, and deposited in thin strata, divided by thicker seams of calcareous clay, in the very same manner in which the clay-stone of Gloucestershire is found. One hundred grains of the stone contain eighty six grains of calcareous matter; affording fourteen grains of an impalpable tenacious silt, which seems to be possessed of some singular properties, forming a subject well entitled to future enquiry. One hundred grains of the clay, contain forty-six grains of calcareous matter, leaving fifty four grains of residuum, a fine clay. Hence this earth, which at present lies an encumbrance in the quarries, is richer in calcarosity, than the clay marl of the fleghundreds of Norfolk, with which very valuable improvements are made. In the Vale of Belvoir, is a similar stone, situated in a similar manner, and producing a similar kind of lime+." Stone

* See also Nichols's History of Leicestershire, Vol. III, p. 80, &c.
† Rural Economy of the Midland Counties.

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of corresponding quality is found at Long Bennington, in Lincolnshire. Mr. Arthur Young, in his "Annals of Agriculture," remarks, that the Barrow-lime, with all its reputation, can never come into general use, from the central situation of the place, &c. but, as the river Soar is made navigable through this parish, and communicates directly with the Trent, and thence to Liverpool, Hull, and other sea-ports, the lime-stone may now be readily and cheaply conveyed to all parts of the kingdom. At the time of making Ramsgate-pier, the Barrow-lime stone was conveyed to that place, and there burnt and made into mortar, by a Barrow mason. The cement was employed and found to succeed, after the Dutch terras mortar had failed. Among the natural curiosities of the place, may be specified the Icthyolithi, or fossil fish; and Cornu Ammonis. Besides which, various sorts of sea shells, fossil plants, &c. are often found. The fish are mostly in the lime-stone, and the shells are bedded in a gritty kind of calcareous stone. Petrified fishes, either entire, or in pieces, are common in various parts of the globe, and are usually found in argillaceous, or schistose bodies. One of the petrifactions found at Barrow, has excited much curiosity and controversy among naturalists. It was preserved in the Museum at Cambridge, with Dr. Woodward's fossils, and is a plain and bold representation of a flat fish, about twelve inches long. Mr. Jones, in his "Philosophical Disquisitions," 4to. 1781, concludes one of his sections, after describing several good specimens of fossil bodies, by saying, that "our own country hath lately afforded what I apprehend to be the greatest curiosity of the sort that ever appeared. It is the entire figure of a bream, more than a foot in length, and of a proportionable depth, with the scales, fins, and gills, fairly projecting from the surface, like a sculpture in relievo, and with all the lineaments, even to the most minute fibres of the tail, so complete, that the like was never seen before."

Mr. Crabbe, in his communications to Mr. Nichols, says, that "the species of this fish cannot be accurately told ;" and Dr. Pulteney also declares, that "this figure cannot well be referred

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to the sea-bream; its outline has more resemblance to a flat-fish.” Representations of this, still doubtful, petrifaction, with other opinions and accounts of it, also views of several other fossils found at Barrow, are given in Mr. Nichols's volume, already referred to.

QUORNDON, in old writings spelt Querne, Quernedon, Querondon, &c. is a large Village, belonging to the parish of Barrow, seated on the great road, at the distance of two miles and a half south of Loughborough. The ground about here is hilly and rocky, and abounds with a great variety of different species of snakes. A chantry was founded here in 1328, by Sir John Hamelyn, who endowed it with lands at Wymondham, in this county; and it is said that a small priory was established here, for in 1352 William de Ros died seised of the moiety of one knight's fee, in Houly, which the prior of Quorndon held. Another chantry was founded here in 1379. In this place is the ancient seat of the Farnhams, who derive themselves from Sir Robert de Farnham, a companion of the conqueror. Many of this family were interred in Quorndon church, where are some long inscriptions to their respective memories. In 1762 an act of parliament was obtained for inclosing the common fields of Quorndon, computed to contain 1620 acres or thereabouts, and Francis, Earl of Huntingdon, is described as lord of the manor. Here are some good houses, among which is one called QUORNDON HALL, lately the seat of Hugo Meynell, Esq. the celebrated sportsman, who made many improvements to the house and grounds. Mr. Nichols says, "there are some good pictures at Quorndon-hall."

LOUGHBOROUGH,

ACCORDING to its size and population, may be called the second town in the county. Leland says, "The towne of Lughborow is yn largeness and good building next to Leyrcester, of all the markette tounes yn the shire, and hath in it a 4 faire strates,

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