value of the ratable property, and the advancement of the inhabitants in material prosperity and comfort.

It is probable that the Cotton manufacture, which began to assume importance in this country about the middle of the 17th century, did not find its way into Rossendale till near the end of the century following. It is not easy to determine with certainty the exact date when Cotton first began to be worked in the district; there is, however, good reason for conjecturing that no cotton goods were produced here prior to the year 1770.

The information contained in the following table of particulars of the extent of the Cotton trade in Rossendale at the present time, is founded chiefly on actual returns furnished by the different manufacturers, and, where these were not obtained, upon the most careful estimates:

Particulars of the Cotton Manufacture in the Forest of Rossendale,

A surprising result, truly, when it is remembered that, at one time within the memory of persons still living, the whole of the cotton consumed in Rossendale was brought into the district on the backs of pack-horses!

Rossendale has borne a conspicuous and honourable part in furthering the Co-operative movement, and in future years this will count for something in its history. In the district and its immediate neighbourhood there are twenty-one cooperative mills, having an invested capital amounting to nearly half a million of money; the shareholders ranging in number from eight to ten thousand, and by far the largest proportion of these belonging to the operative classes. In addition to the mills, there are nine Co-operative stores in Rossendale, carrying on a very large trade in the sale of groceries, drapery goods and other commodities.

Of those engaged in trades directly dependent upon the Cotton manufacture, we have in Rossendale Cotton Warp Sizers, Reed and Heald manufacturers &c. A large business is carried on in Calico Printing and Dyeing. Other important trades in the district are the Iron and Brass Founders', Boiler Makers', Machinists' and Millwrights'. According to returns obtained, there are in these several trades

Hands employed.........
Wages paid weekly

Capital employed

1,640

1,310 £277,000

Rossendale is supplied with water by two distinct companies, and with gas by one company. A branch of the Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway threads the valley, having its terminus at Bacup.

Stone abounds in the district, in considerable variety and of excellent quality, being very durable and of a good colour. Prior to 1848 the trade in this article was of very limited extent, being confined chiefly to the immediate district. Since that year, however, the trade has been gradually increasing,

and at the present time it gives employment to a large number of workmen, skilled and otherwise, and absorbs a considerable amount of capital. The stone, which is suitable for all ordinary building and engineering purposes, is obtained from the various quarries in the district, from blocks of many tons weight each, and of almost unlimited length, width and depth for any practical purpose, down to grey slates of half an inch in thickness. Some of the varieties for appearance and durability are not to be surpassed in any district. The export trade is very large, extending to Manchester, Preston, Liverpool, some parts of Yorkshire, Birmingham, London and ther places. Some idea of its magnitude may be gathered from the fact, that £2000 and upwards is paid per month for carriage by railway to the various places above enumerated. The rent paid as delphage for some of the quarries amounts to many times what would otherwise be considered the value of the fee-simple of the land, and the latter still remains available, to some extent, for farming and building purposes. As regards the extent of the Stone Trade of Rossendale, the following statement may be taken as being a close approximation to the facts:

Number of persons employed
Amount paid in wages, weekly

780

£800

... £50,000

Weight of stone of all kinds obtained from the
several quarries, weekly, 2000 tons.

Capital invested

Coal abounds in Rossendale almost throughout its entire extent, and has probably been got in quantities, more or less, for about three hundred years. Old workings, regarding which no records are known to exist, are often met with in the mines at present being worked. Some of these are of considerable extent. Rude implements of labour, chiefly wooden shovels, are occasionally met with in these deserted excavations. The supply of coal for the different manufactories in the district is chiefly obtained from the local mines,

which are numerous, employing many hands and a large capital.

Bringing together the more important particulars relating to the Trade of the district, we have the result which is set forth in the subjoined table :

Table shewing the Number of Hands employed; the Amount paid in Wages, weekly; and the Sum of the Capital, sunk and floating, in the Cotton Factories, Woollen Factories, Printing and Dyeing Works, Sizing Works, Reed and Heald Manufactories, Iron Foundries, Millwrights' and Machine Shops, the Stone Trade, and the Water and Gas Works in the Forest of Rossendale, in the year 1867.

Such is the Forest of Rossendale at the present day, and in view of these facts we must be ready to admit the correctness of the opinions of those who, three hundred and sixty years ago, expressed the belief, that "if the Deer were taken out and from the said Forest, that then the same was likely to come and be brought and applied to some good purpose, "so as that the commonwealth might be increased thereby."

66

THE ARCHEOLOGY OF THE PEAK OF

DERBYSHIRE.

By H. H. Vale Esq.

(READ 3RD JANUARY, 1867.)

THE Peak of Derbyshire presents a wide field for the explorations of the archeologist. The caverns and mines, the Saxon and Celtic grave hills, will yield him numerous objects of interest. The manners and customs of the inhabitants, from the times of the Coritani to our own days, offer many attractive features. This district abounds also in beautiful remains of middle-age architecture as well as in the vestiges of more primitive times.

The first archæological feature which came under our notice during a recent excursion was the ancient Roman chariot race course, near Chapel-en-le-Frith, called

"THE ROOSDYCHE,"

a name it has always borne. It is well preserved, and might now be used for a similar purpose. It is an artificially formed. valley, averaging in width forty paces and thirteen hundred paces in length. It is mainly cut out of the side of the hill, to a depth of from ten to thirty feet, but where it is not so, it is enclosed by banks of earth. On the excavated portion is a noble avenue of trees, oaks principally; at the west end is the meta, and at the east end the goal and other tumuli.

The spectators were doubtless ranged along the banks throughout their whole length, or as we now see at Epsom Downs on a Derby day. Respecting those ancient Roman chariot roads, Kennett says "The most remarkable thing "belonging to them was the factions or companies of chario