at Halsall was valued at 15 marcs, and the Church at Ormeskirk was valued at 20 marcs. In this same record it is stated that the ninth part of all the "mobilium bonorum" of the residents in burgo de Liverpool was only 61. 16s. 7d.

The next antient record to which I shall refer is the Valor Ecclesiasticus of Hen. VIII. where the Rectory of this parish is called "Northmelis Rectoria," and Robert Faryngton was Rector at the date of the Reformation. The value of the living is here stated at 81. 198.; but from this amount 6s. 8d. was annually paid to the Prior of Penwortham, and 88. 8d. was annually paid to the Archdeacon of Chester, "pro sinodal' et procuracionibus;" so that, after these deductions, the net amount of the revenue of the Church at that time did not exceed 81. 38. 8d., while the value of the Rectory of Ormeskirk at the time of the Reformation is estimated at 317. 13s. 4d., and that of Halsall Rectory at 247. 118. 4d. There were also two Chantry Chapels at Halsall, one of which paid to the Earl of Derby 18d. annually, and 28. a year to the Abbey of Cockersand; but neither of them paid any acknowledgment to Burscough Priory. Under the head of payments to the Rectory of Penwortham, there is "Northemel" 68. 8d.

It appears that Northmels, or Northmoles, was the name given to this district in Edward the First's time, and, I believe, earlier. In the "Placita de quo warranto (Com. Lanc.)" Henry de Lacy was summoned to shew, " quo warranto " he claimed a right to all wrecks on the sea line of his manor of Penwortham, and in "Northmoles."

In a list of the nobility and gentry in the county palatine of Lancaster, from the time of Henry VIIth to the accession of William III. from original records, and the MSS. of Sir John Byrom, Sir George Booth, Mr. John Hopkinson, and others, with the orthography preserved both of persons and places, I find, inter alios, the following connected with this part of the county:

of Meales

of Rufford Hall

Kitchen of North Meales
Meales of Meales

Morecroft of Ormskirk
Scaresbreck of Scaresbreck

In the "Calendarium Inquis. post mortem of the Duchy of Lancaster, I find that, in Henry VIIIth's time, Hugh Aghton held messuages and land in Northmeles, and at Barton juxta Halsall. In the 4th of Edward VI. John Aghton held North Melleye maner', and Northmeles and Barton juxta Halsall. In the 32d of Elizabeth, Elizabeth, the wife of John Bold, held the maner' of North Meales. In the 43rd of Elizabeth, John Bold held North Meales maner'. In the 2nd of James 1. Barnabas Kytichine held North Meales maner', cum aliis. In the 11th of James I. Thomas Boald held (inter alia) North Meales maner'. In the 12th of Charles I. Richard Bold held North Meales maner'. In the 17th of Charles I. Edward Gorsuch held lands in the following places :Scaresbrecke, Ormeskirke, Burscough, Penwortham, and North Meales. I find also in another place, in the 10th of Henry VIII. Gilbert Sutton held Scaresbreck maner', Ormskyrke, Borescough, Penwortham, Northmeles and others. In the 2nd and 3rd Phil. and Mar. William Bannister held lands in Northmelles. In the 2nd Charles I. Hugo Hesketh held Northmelles maner'; and with respect to the advowson of the parish church of North Meales, I find it stated that in 33rd Eliz. John Fleetwood held Penwortham maner', grangia et piscaria, and among others the advowson of the church of Northmeils; and in another part, in the 2nd Charles I. Richard Fleetwood is said to hold the advowson of Northmells. In the 17th Edw. I. I find in another document that Henr' de Lee held the manor of Meles.

One of the oldest families in this

part of the county of Lancaster is that of Scaresbrek. They are recorded in the Inquisitiones post mortem, in 24th Hen. VII. to have held the manor of Scaresbreke, Burscogh, Ormskyrk, &c. &c.

In the Calendar to the Pleadings of this Duchy I find that Richard Aghton has a suit against Bartholomew Hesketh, touching a disputed title of land. and tenements in North Meyles manor. In Edward VI. I find Lawrence Waterward, clerk, Parson of Norhmells church, plaintiff, against John Bolde, the matter in dispute being "interruption of way to lands and grounds called Parson's meadows, at North. mells." In 1 and 2 Phil. and Mar. Peter Prescott, clerk, Parson of North Meyles church, is plaintiff, and John Fletewood and John Bolde and others are defendants, and the matter in dispute is a title to the mansion house, glebe lands, and tithes of North Meyles Parsonage. In 3 and 4 Phil. and Mary, John Bolde and Elizabeth his wife are the plaintiffs, and William Stopforthe defendant, and the matter in dispute was "disturbance of possession of meadow lands at Northemels, in breach of decree." In 2 Edward VI. William Charnock is plaintiff, and John Awghton and others defendants, the matter in dispute, trespass on the court leet, and illegal levy of amerciaments in Penwortham manor and Northmyles." There is also a suit in the 2d and 3d Phil. and Mary, in which the matter in dispute is title to twelve acres of meadow, with the appurtenances, called Baldemanyoks, otherwise Baldymaryehokes, and otherwise called the Wykes, in Northmeales parish. In this cause William Stoppeforth claims, by purchase of Thomas Gorsuche and Margaret his wife, as seised in fee in right of the said Margaret Gorsuche. The defendants were John Bolde and Elizabeth his wife, Robert Wright, Percivall Brekill, Thomas Ball, and others, the said Elizabeth claiming, with her sister Anne, wife of Barnaby Kecheyn, as coheir of John Agheton, deceased. In the 19th Hen. VII. the King's Escheator of the county is plaintiff, and Sir Henry Halsall, Knt. defendant, and the matter in dispute was title to lands in Northmelys and other places.

"

There are few of your readers in this part of the kindgdom who do not feel a lively interest in the rising importance of Southport; and since no attempt has yet been made to elicit materials relating to the early history of the district in which it is situate, it will not be unacceptable or incompatible with the object of your Magazine to have made a beginning in this respect, especially as it may be the means of drawing other labourers into the field, and induce some competent person who, with the talent, has also the time necessary to accomplish the more important object 1 have above alluded to, viz. a comprehensive History of the Hundred of West Derby.

The West Derby Hundred is the largest and most valuable of the county, though other divisions may boast a larger population. The number of parishes in this hundred amount to fifteen, and there are ninety-six townships. Of this vast tract of country, which has been the scene of so many interesting events, we have to lament the want of any history at all worthy of the importance of the subject; and yet I feel satisfied, from my knowledge of the usual sources of information, that ample gleanings could be collected from public and private documents and records to form the materials for such a history. But unless persons of local influence in each township would interest themselves in the work, and freely lend their aid, and open their treasures to the inspection of the topographer, and endeavour to induce others to do the same, all attempt to do justice to such a work were hopeless. But the truth is, there is no want of enlightened country gentlemen in every part of the hundred who would readily communicate their stores of intelligence to a properly qualified person, and no other ought to attempt so arduous a task.

I have already observed that the merits of Southport as a resort for invalids have necessarily been brought before me, more prominently, perhaps, than to some other professional men, from the frequent practice of recommending patients there, and the subject is one which I hope to have a future opportunity of explaining more fully, through some other appropriate medium, as soon as my inquiries

are more complete. The recent provision of warm and cold baths at Southport, which supply the invalid or the timid with the advantage of sea-bathing without the necessity of plunging into the open sea, forms an important æra in the medical history of this place, and will add materially to its reputation.

At present I have not had access to any meteorological record kept by any competent person residing at Southport, without which any attempt to make a COMPARISON between its temperature and that of other localities would be imperfect; though I have reason to know that, as observations have already been made, no doubt can be entertained that, in point of mildness in the winter months, Southport will be found superior to most other towns on the coast. The clearness and dryness of the air have been generally acknowledged. The snow seldom lies twenty-four hours; though near Ormskirk-which is but a short stage from Southport-it has been several feet deep.

It should be mentioned, to the honour of the spirited and benevolent population of this district, that it supports several useful charitable institutions. The Strangers' Charity, for the relief of poor sick persons to whose recovery sea air or bathing may be conducive; the Marine Fund; the North Meols Local Dispensary; and the Southport National School, are most useful to the neighbourhood, and on the whole conducted with great ability and suc

cess.

There are many other subjects

connected with the future welfare of this place that deserve a more weighty consideration than the limits of a paper like the present can give them; but, as my object on the present occasion was more of a retrospective character, and I have already trespassed too much on your pages, your readers, I am sure, will excuse me if I postpone all further remarks to a more convenient season.

J. K. WALKER, M.D. Huddersfield, Nov. 28, 1839.

MOULDED BRICKS.

WE find in the eighth number of the Cambridge Portfolio, a description of the Ancient Brick of which an engraving was given in the previous number, and there called Roman: and now we again find it stated that "the material and style of execution seems undoubtedly Roman," and that “if the antiquity of the bricks were quite certain, we might view in them an illustration of the very early existence of Christians in Britain; " the subject being one of a series of six representing scenes in the story of Susannah and the Elders (though in the Antiquarian Itinerary the figures have been converted into Roman soldiers and British captives). The writer is evidently not aware that other bricks of this kind have led to similar errors; and that they have been decided by competent judges to be of about the reign of Henry VIII. See a memoir by A. J. Kempe, esq. F.S.A. on six found in forming the St. Katharine's Docks, in the Archæologia, vol. XXIV. and Gent. Mag. c. i. 255. ii. 142.

2. Translation from