" COLLY WESTON."
[To THE EDITOR OP Tat SPECTATOO."] SIR,—The writer of a letter on this subject in the Spectator of October 26th asks if the saying, " It's na along o' Colly Wes(t)on," has currency in any other counties than those he mentions—viz., Northamptonahire, Cheshire, and Lincolnshire—and if any reader of the Spectator can throw any light upon the matter. Dr. Joseph C. Bridge, in his recently published Cheshire Proverbs, deals at some length with the saying. On p. 83 he says: "The word is a good deal used by the peasantry in the West of Ireland as a synonym for nonsense "; also "that it was in common use among mechanics, Ac., in Hertfordshire." Dr. Bridge does
"not think that the roofing elates produced at Celly Weston account for the use of the proverb in Cheshire and Shropshire and other counties where such slates are not known. It seems impossible that so insignificant a place should obtain such notoriety, except in connection with some historical fact or incident. Now there was a Royal residence at Colly Weston, and Mary Queen of Scots stayed there one night on her way to Fotheringhay."
Camden says: "From Hemmingworth the Welland goes to Celli- wmton, where the Lady Margaret, King Henry VIL's mother, built a splendid and beautiful house." Dr. Bridge concludes: " I think the solution may be found in connection with this Royal residence, but at present I have not the slightest suggestion to
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