LITTLE MORETON HALL L ITTLE MORETON HALL, or Moreton Old Hall, as it is generally named-for it is near to a new hall which is stately and grand, but seldom looked at-lies close to the great south road from Manchester, four miles beyond Congleton. Between Alderley and Congleton the country is very beautiful by Capesthorne's famous thorns and Reedsmere's placid pool, where, on the day that this is written, I saw some hundreds of wild duck and water-fowl. There are also the primitive black-and-white churches of Marton and Siddington by the wayside. By another route the crowds at Alderley and Congleton may be missed, and we missed Wilmslow also. The Ryley's Lane at Alderley takes one to Chelford, then straight on between the parks of Astle and Withington Halls is a most beautiful road, which may be continued through Lower Withington and past the picturesque hall of Welltrough, then down the dangerous descent to the fertile valley of the Dane between the parks of Somerford and Somerford Booths, joining the turnpike road where Astbury's stately church comes into view and the rugged outlines of Mow Cop. A little farther on, across the fields, there comes a lovely vision of magpie buildings, half hidden in the trees, with lichened roofs of varied heights and many gables, encircled round with shining waters gleaming here and there amid the rich green grass and backed by the everlasting hills. Turning to the left, through a plain gateway, and crossing open fields or park under the stately remnants of an avenue, we approach the venerable and beautiful pile of Moreton Old Hall. It is probably the most picturesque of any of the timber-framed houses in the country, the most picturesque houses in the world. It is not kept up as the home of the wealthy, as are the lovely halls of Speke or Pitchford, for it is used as a farmhouse; but still it is well kept, and I should think it would take nearly all the rent of the farm to maintain the fabric in good repair. The moat is square and broad, about eighty yards, or ten Cheshire rods, to the side, and the water is fairly clear. It is crossed by a stone bridge, immediately |