are the remains of a Saxon camp, and history relates, that a battle was fought there between Ceadwalla, King of the Britons, and Penda, the Pagan King of Mercia, against Edwin, the first Christian King of Northumberland, in which Edwin, and Offride his eldest son, were slain.

One of the most remarkable features of Askern, is the Pool, a large piece of water covering about six or seven acres, which contributes to render the aspect of the place more pleasing, whilst the several boats on its surface, offer to the visitor a healthy and popular amusement. It is supplied by several springs, some of which empty themselves immediately into the Pool, and the water is retained within its present bounds by artificial means. An accumulation has evidently existed here from time immemorial, as one of the first incidents mentioned with regard to Askern, in the public history of the country, relates to the keeping of this water from overflowing the highways. In the midst of the Pool, two islands have been made, which form picturesque objects from the adjacent walks. The depth of this lake is very variable, in some parts not exceeding one or two feet, whilst in others it is not less than twenty feet. The latter depth is attained in one of those "profound pits" spoken of by Dr. Short, in his work on the Mineral Waters of Yorkshire, published in 1734, "the depth whereof," he states at that time, "was not known. " On a bright

day the bottom of these pits may be clearly seen; their sides are very precipitous, and are covered with various kinds of aquatic plants. To the south of the Pool is another piece of water, into which several springs empty themselves; it has also a depth of eighteen or twenty feet. About a mile to

the south-east of Askern, is another Pool, covering seven or eight acres; it is said to be very deep. The cause of these deep holes, is a subject of frequent speculation amongst those who visit Askern, and many ingenious conjectures have been made as to their origin; they are, however, nothing more than well known phenomena, which geological science is capable of explaining.

Askern cannot boast of being the birth-place of those that are known to fame; it was however notorious, during some part of the last century, as being the residence of Joshua Iveson, who had the reputation of a wily wizard, and was consulted by his credulous countrymen from far and near. Such was the disturbance produced by his predictions, that the magistrates were obliged to interfere; they stopped his proceedings, and ordered his astrological books and apparatus to be burned. It was fortunate for the poor man that he escaped thus easily, for the public have often turned round upon these unhappy creatures of their own credulity, and made the witch and the wizard pay the cost of popular folly.

Askern, being more a place of resort for the invalid, than for those who seek, in change of scene, a relief from the toils of business, or the listlessness of inactivity, has few attractions in the form of what are called public amusements. To the fashionable and the gay, it would certainly come under the designation of a stupid place; to those, however, who can derive pleasure from fields, and woods, and water, from the never-failing variety of rural scenes and objects, Askern will afford abundant subjects to employ and interest the mind. Nature does not. here, it must be allowed, present her bolder and more majestic forms, but there is ample field to gratify that hallowed feeling which

"Is born with all, the love of Nature's works."

There are many pleasant walks in the neighbourhood of Askern, and it is only to be regretted, that the parishioners do not pay more attention to keeping them in good order; if this improvement were effected, it would add much to the comfort and pleasure of the invalid and visitor, as well as advance their own interest.

SECTION II:

VILLAGES IN THE VICINITY OF ASKERN.

THE following short notices of villages and places near Askern, have been drawn up with a view to assist the visitor in exploring the neighbourhood; they may not be uninteresting to those also who reside in the district.

CAMPSALL. This village is situated about a mile to the west of Askern, and may be reached either by the high road, or by a footpath across the fields; the latter is an agreeable and picturesque walk,the church and the hall, the park of Campsall, with its woods and lake, diversifying the scene. The houses in this village bear marks of great age, and whilst the older are falling to decay, no new ones supply their places. The last three census present the population as nearly stationary. The following table, copied from the report of the

Doncaster Board of Education, gives the increase and decrease of the several villages in the parish of Campsall, during the last thirty years.

The church stands upon a hill at the top of the village, and its handsome tower forms a prominent object for some distance round about. Hunter, in his History of the Deanery of Doncaster, has the following notice of this structure. "This is one of the few churches of this deanery, in which the ground plan was laid down upon the sacred symbol of the Christian faith. The design is a little obscured by the side aisles, a later addition, which correspond with the shaft of the cross extending nearly as far as the transepts; and there is this peculiarity, that the tower does not rise at the intersection of the limb, but is at the west end, though it is evidently of older date than even the other parts of the fabric. The four arches at the intersection, are, however, too visible to allow of any doubt that such was the design, and those arches are well deserving attention, as very early instances of the pointed arch; the pointed arch, with that