entire; from which lower Broad Street conducts us to Ludford Bridge, near which to the left is a field called St. John's Close, indicating the place where St. John's College formerly stood. In the catalogue of suppressed religious houses, neither the time of the foundation of this College, nor the founder's name are to be found; but it is stated in the Monasticon, that "St. John Baptist's Hospital founded by Peter Undergot, near the river of Temede water, for a master and religious brothers, was endowed by him with several lands, and the brothers after his death authorised to chuse their own masters for ever, without any obstruction; and the said masters and brothers to admit such as they should think fit into their brotherhood, and to receive the poor and infirm, and to do all such other things as should become religious men."

Perfectly consistent with this account is that of Leland, if we consider Jordan de Ludford to have been the descendant or heir of Undergot, he says "there was formerly on the north side of the bridge a Church of St. John, standing without Broad Gate, which had a College, with a Dean and Fellows, of the foundation of Jordan de Ludford." The historical accounts of Walter Lacy and Gilbert his son as benefactors, and of Peter Undergot as patron or founder of this college, mark out distinct periods of antiquity, approaching to, and almost coeval with the con

quest; and as long as the name shall remain which this religious foundation has given to the inclosure on which it stood, the traditionary record of its former existence will not be forgotten.

The well built stone Bridge is supposed to have been erected by the Corporation, but at what time is not known: the river here parts the two counties of Salop and Hereford.

Near the top of lower Broad Street is a Chapel, or Meeting House, belonging to the Wesleyan Methodists, built in the year 1800, and Service first performed there the 18th. day of August in the same year.

point of view; the Gateway itself is an interesting object, and upper Broad Street is spacious and well built.

From Broad Gate, Barnaby Lane passes into the bottom of Mill Street; it receives this name from an ancient religious foundation called Barnaby House, famous in the age of pilgrimages as the temporary resting place of the numerous devotees passing through Ludlow on their way to the holy well of St. Winefred, in North Wales.*

The age of pilgrimages was that in which the Romish superstition had attained its greatest power over the understandings and consciences of men; at which time nothing was held in higher estimation than Saints and Miracles. The virgin daughter of the noble Thewith lived in a remote period of antiquity; her great beauty excited desires in the breast of Prince Cradocus, which he attempted to gratify by the vio. lation of her person; and be cut off her head with his sword, because he was not allowed to accomplish his wicked purpose But the most famous St. Beuno, finding the unfortunate virgin in this predicament, snatched up the head and joined it to the body, with which to the admiration of all present it perfectly united, leaving a white ring on the neck at the place of junction. Winefred survived this occurrence many years; and at Gwytherin, in Wales, four stones yet mark the place of her grave Where her head fell a spring of pure water suddenly arose, and a well was formed which has been famed, even in our times, for the cure of diseases. On the bottom of this well the red lichen gives the appearance of spots of blood; and its sides are covered with sweet scented moss. Ages after the death of this Saint, the pious people of Shrewsbury conspired to steal away her bones, and there is an ancient manuscript still preserved in that town witnessing their miraculous efficacy, from which the following is extracted "In the towne of Shrowsbury setan thre men togedur; and as they set on talkynge an Atturcoppe (a spider) cum owte of the wouz (walls) and bote hem by the nekkus alle thre, and thowz hit grevyd hem at that tyme but lyttulle, sone aftur hit roncoled and so swalle her (their) throtus and forcet her breythe, that two of hem wexen deed. And the thrydde was so uyz deed, that he made his testament and made hym redy in alle wyse, for he hoped nowzte but only deathe. Theu as he lay in his turment, he thowzt on Sent Wenefrede aud of her myraculus. And so as he myzte, he bad his moder zo thyder, and offer a caudulle to the shryne, and brynge hym of the water that her boues were wasshon yn, and so sche dyd. And when he bad this water he made wassche his sore ther with; and when he had done so, he felde that he ameuded: and then he made a woue to Sente Wenefrede, that giff he myzte have lyffe and hele. he wolde make an ymage of sylvor and offur to her." The remainder says he did so, "aud be cum her servant ever while he lyffyd after."

Near Barnaby House there formerly stood a Chapel dedicated to St. Mary of the Vale, on the site of which a Silk Factory was some time ago erected, which is now converted into a Wool Warehouse. This vicinity has received the name of Merry Vale, derived from the familiar epithet of Mary Vale, applied to the Chapel.

Mill Gate was at the end of Barnaby Lane, and Mill Street, like Broad Street, rises in a northern direction up a considerably elevated ascent, many of the buildings on each side of which are suited to the liberal dimensions and elegant appearance of this street. A little above Mill Gate to the right is the Free Grammar School, the original foundation of which is not known.

The school premises comprise two houses in which the two masters reside, and the school room and bed rooms over it. Some years ago the enlargement and repairs of the premises cost nearly £700, and the head master's house is now sufficiently large to accommodate thirty boarders. The masters live free of rent and parochial rates, but pay the King's taxes. They are allowed to take boarders without restriction.

All children who apply, and are able to read decently, residing in the town, are immediately admitted. The scholars are taught Latin and Greek and read English, gratis. The terms for writing and arithmetic are three guineas per annum.

Four boys of this school receive a benefaction

of £5 each, by the year, under the will of Dr. Langford; these four boys to be nominated by the Bailiffs, "out of such poor and towardlie for learning as are born in the town of Ludlow;" to be nine years of age and to continue until sixteen, and no longer. These boys wear black gowns on Sundays, when they go to church, and are called Langfordian boys.

This school is also entitled to two exhibitions to Baliol College, Oxford, worth £35 a year, upon the endowment of the Rev. Richard Greaves in the year 1704, the trusts of which are vested in the College.

The annual expenditure of this school is as follows;

Opposite the school is an old building, formerly a distillery, now converted into a

THEATRE,

which is occasionally occupied by the Cheltenham Company of Actors, especially during the Races. Toward the top of this street is the

GUILDHALL,

an elegant modern building erected at the expense of the Corporation, in the year 1768, on the site of the old building of that name, originally belonging to the Palmer's Guild.