There be four lanes which pass from the principall
street; one is called the Black Vennel, which is steep, declining to
the south-west, and leads to a lower street, which is far larger than
the high chiefe street, and it runs from the Kirkland to the Well
Trees, in which there have been many pretty buildings, belonging to
the severall gentry of the countrey, who were wont to resort thither
in winter, and divert themselves in converse together at their owne
houses. It was once the principall street of the town; but many of
these houses of the gentry having been decayed and ruined, it has
lost much of its ancient beautie. Just opposite to this vennel,
there is another that leads north-west, from the chiefe street to the
green, which is a pleasant plott of ground, enclosed round with an
earthen wall, wherein they were wont to play football, but now at the
Gowff and byasse-bowls. The houses of this towne, on both sides of
the street, have their several gardens belonging to them; and in the
lower street there be some pretty orchards, that yield store of good
fruit.' As Patterson says, this description is near enough even to-
day, and is mighty nicely written to boot.
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