Picturesque Views

ON THE

WARWICKSHIRE AVON.

SECTION I.

THE river Avon derives its fource from a spring called Avon Well, in the village of Nafeby, or, as it is written in Domesday book, Navesberie, in the county of Northampton. Avon, Even, or Sevon, is a name common to rivers whofe courfe is eafy and gentle. The Avon Well is in the north-west quarter of the village, at a small distance from the market cross which stands before the church, in the midst of an area

of about an acre, as described in the annexed view. Naseby is remarkable for the excellence and number of its springs; not less than fix having their rife in this village. The waters, falling from the neighbouring hills, are carefully received in many places, and form fo many refervoirs for the conftant supply of cattle in the township. The lower spring, in Nafeby, called Warrin's Well, is faid to have a flavour fo peculiarly grateful, and even an effluvia fo inviting, that cattle are with difficulty made to pass it without stopping to drink; and, when they have tasted it, they are more eager after it than any other water in the neighbourhood.

MORTON, in his Natural History of this county, fays, "It is a blue water, in

dicating a coal mine not far diftant, be"cause the like waters are obferved where "the coal delves are.",

NASEBY

NASEBY Field gives rife to the river Nine, or Nen, at a fpring called Chapel Well; which, paffing Northampton, becomes navigable from thence to Wellingborough, Peterborough, &c. and falls into the fea at Lynn. The river Ife, or Ifebrook, likewise rises from many springs in the northeast quarter of this field, from whence it winds its course to Kelmarfh, &c. and joins the river Nine, near Wellingborough.

THIS field produces another spring, called St. Dennis's Well, about a mile west of Nafeby. It is remarkable for the coldness of its water in the fummer months; and was formerly used as a bath by invalids in various chronic complaints, with confiderable efficacy. It is now overgrown with weeds and fedges, and is no longer reforted to.

THE village of Nafeby ftands nearly in the centre of this memorable field, which is fup.

A 2

supposed to be the highest ground in England; for the rivers Nine, and Avon, which take their rise in this field, discharge themfelves into the fea, the former at Lynn, on the eastern, the latter, by the Severn, below Bristol, on the western fide of the island. It is likewife faid to lie in, or very near the centre of the kingdom; which conjecture is corroborated by its name, which is derived from the Saxon word Nare, or Nave, fignify. ing a centre.

THE village is pleasantly fituated, and, from various points, commands feveral very extensive and picturesque views, in which are included near forty parish churches, which circumfcribe this immense space of Nafeby field. The profpects within the limits of the village wear a different afpect: indigent cottagers, and clay, or earth-built huts, are the whole it presents, and these, in number and wretchedness, are hardly to be equalled.