common; but it seems to have been well liked by the people, for upon it they used to hold trade meetings, political demonstrations, &c.; and for 65 years—­from 1726 to 1791—­ horse races were annually run upon it.  The Corporation and the freemen of the borough once had a great dispute as to their respective claims to the Moor, and the latter by way of asserting their rights, put upon it an old white horse; but the Corporation were not to be cajoled out of their ownership by an argument so very “horsey” as this; they ordered the animal off; and Mr. J. Dearden, who still obeys their injunctions with courteous precision, put it into a pinfold hard by.

The Church of the English Martyrs was erected not long ago upon that part of the Moor we have described.  Originally the promoters of the church treated for a plot of land about 20 yards above the present site; but the negotiations were broken off, and afterwards they bought Wren Cottage and a stable adjoining, situated about a quarter of a mile northwards.  The house was made available for the priest; the stable was converted into a church; and mass was said in it for the first time on Christmas morning, 1864.  On the 21st of January, 1865, it was formally “opened;” the Revs.  Canon Walker, T. Walton, and F. Soden taking part in the services of the day.  During 1865 preparations were made for erecting a new church upon the same site; but some of the gentlemen living in the immediate neighbourhood took offence at the movement, and insisted upon certain stipulations contained in the covenants, which barred out the construction of such a building as a church or a chapel, being carried out.  There was a considerable amount of Corporation discussion in respect to the question, and eventually the idea of erecting a church upon the land was abandoned.  Directly afterwards, “Gallows Hill,” in which both the Corporation and Mr. Samuel Pole Shaw had rights, was purchased as a site for it.  Operations, involving the removal of an immense quantity of earth—­for the place was nothing more than a high, rough, sandy hillock,—­were commenced on the 26th of March, 1866.  On the 26th of May, in the same year, the foundation-stone was laid, with great ceremony, by Dr. Goss, and on the 12th of December, 1867, the church was opened.  Mr. E. W. Pugin designed the building, which externally does not look very wonderful at present; but, when completed, it will be a handsome place.  The original design includes a beautiful steeple, surmounted with pinnacles; but want of funds precludes its erection.

The church is a high double-roofed edifice—­looks like two buildings, one placed above the other; and, owing to the absence of a steeple, it seems very tall and bald.  It has a pretty western gable, which can only be fully appreciated by close inspection.  The centre of this gable is occupied by a fine eight-light window, and the general work is surmounted by pinnacles and ornamental masonry.  Two angels, cut in stone, originally formed part of the ornamentation; but during a strong gale, early in 1868, they were blown down.  These “fallen angels” have never regained their first estate; and as they might only tumble down if re-fixed, and perhaps kill somebody, which would not be a very angelic proceeding, we suppose they will not be interfered with.