ALL the pools belonging to the feveral works are well stocked with trout brought from the river Wheeler, which flows beneath Caerwis. They grow to a vast fize: I have heard of one which had been taken in the brafs mill-pool, which weighed between eleven pounds and twelve pounds, but thofe over-grown fish do not equal in flavor thofe of an inferior fize. The three-spined ftickle-back, (Br. Zool. iii. N° 229.) a little fifh, feldom of the length of two inches, abound in this ftream, but especially in the ftiller parts, where the water has been confined for the use of the works. Eels are the only fish, befides these, found in these waters. THOSE beautiful birds, the kingfishers, are very frequent about these waters, and almost dazzle the eye in their frequent tranfi-tions from place to place.. THIS work was erected in the fpring of 1793, is twenty-fix CRESCENT-MILL yards by ten wide, and is fix ftories high. It is worked. by a water-wheel, fifteen feet high, and ten feet wide, with a fall of water of thirteen feet and a half. This work makes a noble figure on the stream, is ornamented with a handfome cupola, with a fine gilden crefcent on the top, from which it receives its name. A.CORN-MILL ftood on part of the fite of this mill: On the stream had been, within thefe few years, a tilting-mill, under the direction of Mr. William Smalley, which has fince been removed to Avon Wen, below Caerwis; and a wire-mill on an extensive scale has been erected on the Wheeler, at a small distance from the tilting mill, in the beautiful vale of Maes Mynnan. CORN-MIL. A LITTLE OLD COTTON- GREATEST COT- A LITTLE beyond the crefcent-mill, is the Old Cotton Mill, or that which was firft known on the stream. It was erected in the spring of the year 1777, by Mr. John Smalley, of Preston, in Lancafhire. He died January 28th, 1782, aged 53, and was interred in Whiteford church-yard. On his tomb mention is made of his having at Holywell established the cotton-works. This mill is fmail and low, is 33 yards long, 8 yards wide, and only three ftories high, and is worked by a water-wheel 15 feet high, and 5 feet wide, with a fall of water of 11 feet 6 inches. MR. John Smalley, fenior, had long been engaged in a cottonwork at Cromford, near Matlock, in Derbyshire, unhappily within the baleful influence of a tyrant rival, which forced him to feek the protection of St. Wenefrede, under which he prospered, and his children ftill profper, bleffing the benefit of the change made by their injured parent. A LITTLE way above this mill is the largest and most magnificent of any on the water. It was erected in the autumn of the year 1783, in the fpace of fix weeks from laying the foundationftone. It is 40 yards long, 10 yards wide, and 6 stories high, and is lighted by a hundred and ninety-eight fash windows, which nightly exhibit a moft glorious illumination. It is worked by a water-wheel 20 feet high, and 7 feet wide, with a fall of water of 20 feet. ALL the cotton-mills on the river go under the name of the Cotton Twist Company. It is to Mr. Chriftopher Smalley, one of the partners, and eldeft fon to the founder of these great manufactories, I am obliged for the account of what relates to them. |