ASHTON-under-LINE, a parish in the hundred of
SALFORD, county palatine of LANCASTER, comprising
the market-town of Ashton under Line, and the townships
of Audenshaw, Hartshead, and Knott-Lanes, and
containing 25,967 inhabitants, of which number, 9222
are in the town of Ashton under Line, 60 miles (S.E.)
from Lancaster, 7 (E.) from Manchester, and 187
(N.W.) from London, on the road to Sheffield. This
place, in ancient records styled Ashtown sub Lima, derives
its name from the tree so called, and the adjunct, by
which it is distinguished from other' places of the same
name in the county, from its situation below the Lyme
of Cheshire. Its original proprietors, the Asshetons,
a family distinguished in the early periods of English
history, exercised the power of life and death; and a
field near the old hall, called Gallows' Meadow, was
the place of execution. In the reign of Henry VI., a
descendant of that family, still inheriting extraordinary
privileges, clad in black armour and mounted on a
charger, with a numerous retinue, levied a penalty on his
tenants, for neglecting to clear their lands from a pernicious
weed, then called Carr gulds, on the discovery
of which among his corn, every farmer was liable to
forfeit a wether sheep. In commemoration of this, the
ceremony of "riding the black lad" still takes place on
Easter-Monday, when the effigy of a man in black
armour is placed on horseback, and led in procession
through the town; it is then dismounted and hung up
at the cross in the old market-place, and, after having
been shot at, is immersed in a stagnant pool by the
populace, who return through the principal streets
throwing it at those they meet. The town is situated
on an eminence rising from the northern bank of the
river Tame; the old streets are narrow and irregular,
but those recently formed are spacious, and contain
substantial and handsome houses. It is well paved,
and is lighted with gas and supplied with water
by a company incorporated by act of parliament in
1825, and is rapidly improving under the management
of local commissioners, appointed under an act obtained
in 1827. The principal branches of manufacture
are those of calico, gingham, and muslin, and
there are numerous mills for spinning the finer kinds
of yarn: the various factories, which are principally
worked by steam, contain four hundred and thirteen
thousand one hundred and sixteen spindles, and three
hundred and ninety power-looms. The manufacture of
hats is also carried on extensively in this district. The
neighbourhood abounds with excellent coal, which is
conveyed to all parts of the kingdom by the Ashton,
Huddersfield, and Peak Forest canals, which unite here.
The market, which, previously to the establishment of
the cotton trade, had fallen into disuse, was restored by
act of parliament in 1828, under which act a convenient
market-place is now being erected, but the market day
has not yet been fixed. Fairs are held on March 23rd,
April 29th, and on the eve, day, and morrow of St.
Swithin and St. Martin, chiefly for horses and cattle.
The town was formerly incorporated, but is now within
the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who sit
every Monday and Wednesday, and hold a petty session,
every alternate week, for the Middleton division of the
hundred. The powers of the local commissioners were
extended by the act obtained in 1828, whereby the internal
regulation of the town is entrusted to their superintendence.
The lord of the manor holds a court
leet half-yearly, in April and October, for the recovery
of debts under 40*.; and a court of requests for the recovery
of debts under £5 is held on the Thursday in
every third week, under an act passed in the 48th of
Geo. III., having jurisdiction over the parish of Ashton
under Line, and the townships of Stalybridge, Hattersley,
Matley, Newton, and Duckinfield. The courthouse,
for the transaction of the public business, is a
handsome and commodious range of building, over
which are the theatre and concert-room.
The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and
diocese of Chester, rated iu the king's books at £26.13.4.,
and in the patronage of the Earl of Stamford. The parochial
church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a spacious
structure in the later style of English architecture, with
a tower built in the reign of Henry V., but much altered
by subsequent repairs: it sustained considerable
injury from an accidental fire in 1821. St. Peter's, a
handsome edifice in the same style, with a square
embattled tower crowned with pinnacles, was erected
in 1821, at the expense of £12,688. 13. 6., defrayed by
the parliamentary commissioners. There are place.s of
worship for Independents, and Primitive and Wesh'yan
Methodists. The National school, built partly at the
expense of the Earl of Stamford and Warrington, and
partly by the contributions of the inhabitants, is supported
by subscription. The Roman road from Manchester
to Saddleworth may still be traced in the vici-
nity: near the old hall are the remains of an ancient
prison, and in the old market-place those of a cross.