DIRECTORY.] . ROYSTON. 807

A Nonconformist cemetery of one acre, situated in the monarch and of Charles I. who last visited it on the 24th Melbourn road, was formed in 1865 at a cost of about £800, June, 1647, when he was brou~ht hither from Newmarket and has one mortuary ehapel; it is the property of the in the custody of General Fairfax: a portion of this building Royston Cemetery Co. Limited. is still standing and in good condition. King James' stables, The Institute is a substantial building of white brick at nt>w used as cottages, are on the outskirts of Royston the corner of Melbourn street, erected by subscription in Heath. 1855, at a cost of about £1,600, and opened in 1856 by the On the range of hills to the east and west are a great Earl of Hardwicke: on the ground floor there is a fine many barrows, and antiquities are found in the neighbour­ museum with class and lecture rooms and above these is a hood. lecture hall with a gallery, holding altogether 500 persons. Under part of Melbourn street,which separates the counties The library contains about 2,000 volumes; it is managed of Herts and Carobs is a curious subterranean cavern, known by a committee appointed annually by the members. as the "Cave :" itis hewn outof pure chalk and wasdiscovered The Market House, situated on Market hill, is a brick by accident, in August, 1742, by some workmen, while en­ building, erected about 1836; the market for corn and cattle gaged in fixing a post in the Market place: the height of is held on Wednesday. the cave, from the floor to the top of the dome, is 25~ feet; Fairs are held on Ash Wednesday, Easter Wednesday, the length of tho aperture leading to the surface is 2i feet, Whit Wednesday, first Wednesday in July and first Wed­ altogether 28 feet; the bottom is not quite circularand is 17 nesday after the 10th of October for cattle. feet in diameter; the broad step, or poiium, snrrounding Here are two banks; one belongs to Messrs. Fordham, the floor is hexagonal, 6 inches high and 3 feet wide; 7 feet Gibson and Co. and the other is a branch of Fosters', at above the floor a cornice, ~ feet broad, runs round the walls ; Cambridge (open on Wednesday); there are gas, water and almost the whole circle between the podium and the cornice manure works and steam flour mills; some malting, brew­ has been sculptured in low relief with crucifixes, saints, ing and lime burning is also carried on. martyrs and historical p;eces; many, if not all of them, have Two weekly newspapers are published here: the" Herts been coloured: a pamphlet on "the Origin and Use of the and Cambs Reporter and Royston Crow," edited and printed Royston Cave," by the late Joseph Beldam esq. F.S.A. has in the town; and the " Royston Weekly News." beeu published by Mr. Warren. Mr. Beldam recapitulates The Royston cricket club have frequent matches on the in these words :-"The result of our whole inquiry is the heath during the season. following :-lst. That the cave was first formed by means A Cottage Hospital was erected in 1869, at a cost of about of shafts, either of British or Romano-British construction, [,1,000, raised by subscription: the building is of two at a period anterior to Christianity. 2nd. That at a some­ stories, containing four wards, and has eight beds: the in­ what later period it was used as a Roman sepulchre. 3rd. stitution is supported by donations and annual subscriptions That about the time of the Crusades it received the greater from the public, aided by small weekly payments from those part of its present decorations and was then, if not before, patients who can afford them: there are no paid officers converted into a Christian oratory, to which a hermitage except the matron and nurse. The average yearly number was probably attached. 4th. That it remained open until of patients is 46; during the year 1889 there were 49 the Reformation, when it was finally filled up, closed and patients. subsequently forgotten." There are almshouses belonging to this parish, situated in Royston gives name to the hooded crow, the Carvus Gornix the parish of Bassingbonrn, Cambridgeshire, and endowed of Linnreus, which visits the town about the beginning of by deed in 1833 by Mrs. Barfield, widow of a dissenting winter and leaves in the spring. ' minister, at one time resident in Royston, for eight widows The Rookery is the residence of Henry Fordham esq. l.P. of good moral character and not under 60 years of age: the and Yew Tree House that of Francis John Fordham esq. l.P. allowance to each widow is five shillings weekly and a ton of Viscount Hampden p.c., G.C.B. is lord of the manor and coals yearly. The income is now [,120 yearly, derived chief landowner. The other landowners are Frands John from money in Indian stocks. In 1885 four other almshouses Fordham esq. I.P. John Phillips esq. J.P. and Hale Wortham were erected in Queen's road and form a private charity (as esq. D.L. distinguished from trusts which are subject to the control of the Charity Commissioners),intendedfor spinsters, chiefly Parish Clerk, Thomas Higgins. of, but not limited to, Royston; each inmate receives 30S. a month, the income being derived from the rental of a house Rateable Popnlation built at a cost of £1,000. Other charities, producing £25 Area. Value. in 1881. yearly, for distribution in kind, are derived chiefly from lands and tenements left by Chester, Brand, Joseph Wort­ -_._-- ham, - Warden, Sir T. Foot and others,from 1609 to 1851. Lee's Charity (the Cave estate), consisting of two houses, Royston, Herts ...... } 5 produces about £28 yearly for public uses. Royston, Cambs ... 31 Here was a priory of Black or Austin Canons, founded in the reign of Henry n. about II80, by Eustace de Mere, in honour of SS. Mary and John the Baptist, and St. Thomas The population of the town is 3,136, including 145 officers of Canterbury. At the Dissolution there were ten Canons and inmates of the workhouse; this embraces portions of the and the revenues were estimated at £89. parishes of , Bassingbourn, Melbourn and Knees­ A hunting-seat was built at Royston by James I. and for worth, which for ecclesiastical purposes were included in the upwards of 40 years was the occasional residence of that parish of Royston by Order in Council, 1890. Official Establishments, Local Institutions &c. POST, M. O. & T. 0., S. B. & Annuity & [nsurance Office.' County Magistrates for the Petty Sessional Postmaster-Charles Henderson, Melbourn street. Division of Odsey. Letters from London arrive at II p.m. 3 & 9. IS a.m. & 4.20 Hale Rev. John Godwin M.A. Therfield, chairman p.m.; the first delivery commences at 7 a.m. during the Douglas Admiral the Hon. George Henry, Newsells park, summer & at 7.30 a.m. during the winter; the second , Royston delivery at 10 a.m. & the third delivery at 5 p.m. The Fordham Edwd. Snowesq. Elbrook house, Ashwell, BaIdock LETTER Box closes for the first dispatch at 9-:io a.m.; Fordham Henry esq. The Rookery, Royston second dispatch, II.55 a.m.; third dispatch, 1.45 p.m.; Leader John Williamson esq. M.A. fourth dispatch, 4.15 p.m.; fifth dispatch, 6 p.m. (Cam- Nunn John Phillips esq. street, Royston bridge only); sixth dispatch, 7.30 p.m.; & seventh Philhps John esq. The Grange, Baldock dispatch, 10 p.m. The office is open from 7 a.m. till 9 Clerk to the Magistrates, Hale Wortham, High street p.m. for the sale of stamps & for telegrams on week days The following places are included in the petty sessional from 8 a.m. till 8 p.m. On sunday the office is closed at division :-Ashwell, Barkway, Barley, Bygrave, Calde- 10 a.m cote, , , , Reed, Royston, The mail cart from Arrington arrives at 9. IS p.m. & returns Sandon, , Therfield, Wallingtoil & Newn- to Arrington at 5 a.m. The mail cart from Cambridge ham arrives at 3 a.m. & returns at II p.m.; mail cart from Special & Petty Sessions are held at the police-stltion & Baldock arrives at II p.m.; mail car~ from alternate wednesdays in every month at Il a.m Buntingtord arrives at 10.15 p.m.; dispatched at 4 a.m Public Establishments. There are WALL LETTER BoXES near Railway stationcleared at 9.10 & II·40 a.m. & 1.30,3.55 & 7.15 p.m. (week days Bedfordshire Regiment, 1St (Hertfordshire) Volunteer Bat­ only); Melbourn road, cleared at 9.20 & II.30 a.m. & talion (E company), Rev. Joseph Harrison M.A. acting 3.45 & 6,45 p.m.; sunday, 1.40 p.m.; & Backway street, chaplain; D. B. Balding, surgeon-major (officer in com­ cleared at 9.15 & II.50 a.m. & 1.40, 4·5 & 6.55 p.m.; mand) ; Arthur Smith, lieutenant; Q.. Flurker, sergeant­ sunday, 12.25 p.m instructor; armoury, Back street