The Church of St. Mary, founded in Saxon times, is the most important of the many churches of Salop, by which name Shrewsbury is still known.  The present building contains examples of almost every period of English architecture.  Dr. Burney, the father of Fanny Burney, was baptized in this church.  Of Shrewsbury Abbey, which once occupied 10 acres, very little remains, with the exception of the Abbey Church, of which only the nave is left.  The west end has a great tower with a beautiful Gothic window.  Along the banks of the river is a public park known as the Quarry, which has a wonderful avenue of lime trees, planted in 1719 by one Wright of Bicton, who, with the help of two men, planted them all in one night.

[Illustration:  Photochrom Co., Ltd.

SHREWSBURY.

A group of fine old half-timbered houses.]

BUXTON AND THE PEAK DISTRICT

=How to get there.=—­Train from St. Pancras.  Midland Railway. =Nearest Station.=—­Buxton; then by train to Castleton, by Dore
  and Chinley Railway.
=Distance from London.=—­164-3/4 miles. =Average Time.=—­Varies between 3-3/4 to 4-3/4 hours.

                     1st 2nd 3rd
=Fares.=—­Single 21s. 8d. ... 13s. 7d. } To
          Return 43s. 4d. ... 27s. 2d. } Buxton.

=Accommodation Obtainable.=—­“Empire Hotel,” “Crescent Hotel,”
  Buxton.  “Castle Hotel,” “Bull’s Head,” Castleton.
=Alternative Route.=—­Train from Euston.  L. and N.W.  Railway.

The town of Buxton, which is one of the best points from which to visit the beautiful Peak Country, ranks among the best of English inland watering-places, and is the highest town of any importance in the kingdom.

The town is divided into two portions, the higher and lower, or old and new, the latter 80 feet lower than the former, being the fashionable modern resort.  Here are the celebrated baths, reputed to be a sovereign cure for all rheumatic complaints, and celebrated since the time of the Roman occupation of Britain.  The spring which supplies the baths may be considered one of the wonders of the Peak district, for, by means of a cleverly-arranged pump, hot and cold water are obtained within a few inches of each other.

The neighbourhood of Buxton abounds in the most wild and romantic scenery—­steep rocks, dark chasms, and wooded hills, mixed in delightful confusion.  Among the favourite places of resort are Ashwood Dale, with its famous Lover’s Leap rock; Shirbrook Dale, with its fissure and cascade; Diamond Hill, so called from the quartz crystals or “Buxton diamonds” found there; Chee Tor, a huge limestone rock 350 feet high, which rises sheer from the bed of the Wye, washing its base; and Axe Edge, 2-1/2 miles from Buxton, rising to a height of 1800 feet above the level of the sea.  From this point, in clear weather, a marvellous view is obtained, embracing the mountains of North Wales to the westward and Lincoln Cathedral to the eastward.  From the sides of this rock issue four rivers in opposite directions—­the Dove and the Wye, ultimately falling into the Humber, and the Dane and the Goyle, tributaries of the Mersey.  The view north from Axe Edge extends over countless heights and ridges to The Peak itself, the highest point of all.