NEWCASTLE-Under-Line

NEWCASTLE-Under-Line, a town in England, in the county of Stafford, on a branch of the Trent, is 15 miles north of Stafford, 33 south south-east of Warrington, and 149 from London; had a castle, now in ruins; and is so called from an older castle, which formerly stood two miles off, at Chesterton under Line. It was incorporated by King Henry I. and again by Queen Elizabeth and King Charles II. and is governed by a mayor, two justices, two bailiffs, and 24 common-council. The clothing-trade flourishes here; but its chief manufactory is hats, here being an incorporated company of felt-makers. The streets are broad and well paved, but most of the buildings low and thatched. The market is on Mondays; fairs on Easter-Monday, Whit-Monday, July 6th, first Monday in September, and November 6th, for cattle. It has also a great beast-market every other Monday. The corporation has a court, which holds

pleas for actions under L. 40. Its castle, of which Newcastle, there is little to be now seen, was built in the reign of Henry III. It had four churches formerly, which are now reduced to one, the town having suffered much in the barons' wars. There are frequent horse-races in the neighbourhood, though it is in a manner surrounded with coal-pits; particularly one at Hamley-Green. It is softer than the cannel-coal, and is cut out in slices; but consumes so fast, that it is only fit for forges. There is the greatest quantity of stone-ware made near this place of any part of England; so that, one year with another, they are said to export 20,000 l. worth of it.