WAKEFIELD, (Yorkshire, W.R.) 11 mm. from Ferrybridge and Halifax, 24 from York, 133 cm. 172 mm. from London, has a bridge
over the Calder, on which K. Edw. IV. built a chapel in memory of his father Richard D. of York, and others of his
friends, killed not far off in the battle of 1549. 'Tis a large well built T. famous in Camden's time for its extent, neat
buildings, great Mts. and mf. of cloth. It continues in a thriving condition, and from hence, perhaps, comes the proverb
merry Wakefield, as well as from its situation in a fruitful soil and cheap country, where is no want of merry cheer and
company. It consists chiefly of three great streets centering near the Ch. In the Mt.-place there is a beautiful cross,
being an open colonnade of the Doric order, supporting a dome, and a lanthern at the top, under which is a room wherein
they transact their publick business. The Ch. which was repaired in 1724 is a large lofty Gothic structure, with a spire,
one of the highest in the Co. Though the T. is no corp. yet 'tis said there are more people in it than in York city. In
1618, the Calder was made navigable hither from Castleforth, and by act of Pt. 1740, its navigation is continued from
hence to Eland and Halifax. Mean time, great quantities of coals are carried by water from hence, as well as Leeds, into
the Ouse, and then either go up that r. to York, or down to the Humber, supplying abundance of large Ts. with that
commodity, and saving them the duty of 4 s. per chaldron, which is paid for the coals of Newcastle. The lady Campden has
endowed a weekly lecture in this T. with 80 l. a year; and here is a ch. sc. for 63 children, supported by the inh. The
Mts. are Th. and F. the last of which is for woollen cloth, of which there is a very great mf. in and near this T. The
Fairs are T. before Palm-Sunday, June 24, the first and third T. in August, and October 31. The adjacent country is called
the Lp. of Wakefield, bel. anciently to the Earls of Warren and Surry; and several persons of quality have been its
stewards, especially the Savils and the Brudenels. Here are annual horse-races. In this T. was born John Green, the famous
pindar, who fought Robin Hood. In the field of battle where the above-mentioned Richard Duke of York was killed, there was
found a gold ring, supposed to be his, and preserved in Mr. Thoresby's musaeum, which has for its motto pour bon amour;
and on the outside, which is very broad, are the effigies of three saints.