hi there this is my first post here so please be gentle

i have just bought a 94 escort with a 1.8d engine in it i was told when i bought it that the owners thought it was slow. well i have driven it home and i have immediately noticed that the clutch bites about 1 inch from the floor but as far as i can work out the clutch doesn't seam to be slipping i have tried driving at about 30mph and putting the car in to 5th gear and putting my foot flat to the floor but the revs dont go up as i would expect it to do on a worn clutch.

i have been out a couple of times in the car and up hills it barely makes it but on the flat it nearly comes up to about 70mph

any ideas what the problem could be

thanks michael