for the John Byrom Community Group, which has been established to maintain friendships formed by air-raid wardens of the lower Kersal district. [574 Agecroft Hall, a fine example of black-and-white Elizabethan architecture, was originally the seat of the Langley's, a branch of the royal Plantagenets. The building was taken down in 1926, and re-erected at Richmond, Virginia, U.S.A. The illustrations on Plate 26, following, show the original building near Salford and also the reconstructed building in America. Photographs of the reconstructed building were kindly supplied by Councillor C. P. 1-Iampson-a member of the Salford Oty Council and a keen local historian. [575 Worsley is particularly rich in black-and-white half-timbered buildings (see Plate 27, following). The author is indebted to Mr. H. Lomax, the Clerk of the Council, for information about several of the older buildings : Wardley Hall, the foundations of which are believed to have been laid in 1290, was rebuilt in the reign of Edward the Sixth, about 1550-51. It is quadrangular in form, half-timbered, and was originally surrounded by a moat with a drawbridge across. The interior contains a fine staircase, an oak roof and oak panelling. It is now the residence [576 of the Bishop of Salford. Worsley Old Hall, situated off Walkden Road and Leigh Road, is a fine example of the Elizabethan period. It has been the residence successively of the Worsleys, the Masseys, the Stanleys, the Breretons and the Egertons. It is surrounded by beautiful park-lands. [s11 The Court House, at the junction of Worsley Road and Barton Road, was formerly a petty sessional court for the trial of cases from the neighbourhood around Worsley. The interior of this picturesque building has some fine oak panelling and beautiful old oak chairs and chest. [578 Robert Fulton in 1779 made his first experimental steamboat on the Bridgewater Canal at Worsley. It was not a great success, being slower than the horse-drawn boats. Eventually a service of what were called "Bridgewater Canal Swift Packets" tra veiled from Worsley to Patrkroft, Barton and Manchester. Passengers em barked at the boat steps near the Packet House, off Barton Road, Worsley. The packets have long since ceased to run but the Packet House remains as an interesting reminder. [579 114
Middleton too, in the north-eastern part of the region, bas several old buildings, among which may be noted: Tonge Hall, a good example of a black-andwhite timbered building which dates back to the reign of Henry the Eighth. The Tonge family retained possession of this building until 1726. It possesses a fine oak-panelled room of the Charles the First period. [5so Hopwood Hall is a fine example of Tudor architecture. There was originally a building on the site in 1277. Wben Lord Byron lived at Royton Hall he often visited Hopwood, and is said to have written part of "Childe Harold" there; one room [581 is still known as the " Byron" room. Alkrington Hall, standing on an eminence, is of plain brick, dated 1736. Before this there was a ball on the site belonging to the Lever family. The grounds are now a public park. [582 Middleton Parish Church bas been rebuilt at various times, and contains a fine Norman arch (A.D. 1120). The south side was buHt by Sir Ralph Assheton, who was the Lord of the Manor in 1524. Until 1940 curfew was rung every night at 10 p .m. [583 Ye Olde Boar's Head takes its name from the wild boars that used to roam the Middleton woods. It is a black-and-white timbered building, part being dated A.D. 1752. The old sessions room is next door. [584 The old Grammar School was endowed by Queen Elizabeth and is now used onJy as a Sunday school, having been replaced by the new Queen Elizabeth's Grammar School in Rectory Street. [585 At Fairfield, Droylsden, the religious society of Moravians built a village around the Moravian Church and College, an interesting rewnder of early planning efforts. [586 Hyde Hall, Denton, is a good example of blackand-white half-timbered architecture. The oldest part of the building probably dates back to the fifteenth century. Over the entrance gateway is a shield bearing the arms of the Hydes and dated 1625. The building bas many fine oak-panelled rooms and is in sound condition. [587 Denton Old Church, according to the Rev. John Booker in his work "A History of the Ancient Chapel of Denton", was erected in the year 1531 by the local landed families. Since then it has undergone considerable extension and alteration. [588