berton in the person of Edw. IV. who levied a fine of it, to the use of Elizabeth his queen, in 1476. The manor continued in the crown till 1608, and was granted by Jas I. to Edward and Robert Ramsay. At the beginning of last century it had passed to Mr. Payne and Mr. Twytty, both of Worcester, as joint proprietors. About 1740 it was purchased by Peter Haynes, of Gloucester. His son died before him, and the manor with the estates descended to his daughter, of whom it was purchased, about 1766, by Edward Elton, Esq. then of Gloucester, but now of Burley-hill, co. Glamorgan. He is descended from an ancient family seated near Ledbury, co. Heref. The principal estates, containing about 303 acres, were lately sold by him to Henry Sharpe Pocklington, Esq. who resides in the mansion house. All manerial rights are reserved and excepted out of the purchase. The other principal proprietors are, Mr. C. Bullock, of 145 acres; Mr. W. Bullock, of 103 acres; Mr. Dobbs, of 100 acres; Mr. Loveridge, of 114 acres; Mr. W. Young, of 98 acres; and Mr. Lewes, of 84 acres. A part of Tibberton, Tainton, and Bully compose a manor, of which the dean and chapter of Gloucester are lords. One freeholder voted in 1776. Population, 150-230-254. Houses inhabited, 37. The benefice is rectorial, in the Forest deanery. On the death of the late incumbent, another claim was set up to the advowson, but a decision was at length made in the Court of Exchequer, which confirmed it to Edward Elton, Esq. Gilbert Elton, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to Holy Trinity, is a small building, consisting of a nave only and chancel, with a tower at the west end, pointed, and covered with tiles. In P. N. tax. the church of Tybreton, 87. In the King's books (discharged) 7. 16s. Ožd. CCV. BLAISDON, BLECHESDEN, anciently Bletesden. Is a small parish, nine miles w. from Gloucester. The soil is chiefly clay, and nearly divided equally into pasture, arable, and woodland. Natswood brook intersects it, in its way to the Severn. It was anciently a part of the Forest, and probably derived its name from that circumstance, prefixing the name of the original proprietor. About the beginning of the last century, 50 acres of waste land were planted with firs, which have been cut down within the last ten years. Some of them, and particularly those to which the greatest interval had been allowed, measured 100 feet each of timber. The average measure of each was about 50 feet. Five yards square were in general allowed to each plant, which, allowing 4840 square yards to an acre, gives on the whole plantation 48,400 plants. If each tree, while standing, were valued at five shillings, the product would be 12,100l. and estimating the rent of the land, during the whole period, at 3750%. the remainder is left for the expence of planting and preserving. The property belonged to John Wade, Esq. and the land is now converted into tillage11. Blechesden was anciently appendant on Longhope, and in 1281 was returned by the escheator as a hamlet to it. The first account of its having a church and parochial rites is found in P. N. tax. 1299; and 1359 Jeffry de Marescal held the advowson. Humphry de Bohun was proprietor 1373. The manor was afterwards granted by hin to the abbey of Flaxley, and at the suppression, it was granted to Sir Anthony Kingston, 1545. In 1608 William Kingston held it, and from him it passed to the family of Wade. The manor is now the property of Anna, relict of William Gordon, Esq. late of Bristol, and heiress to the late John Wade, Esq. (174) Mrs. Sarah Boughton is in possession of an ancient freehold, long vested in the family of that name. Upper Standleys belonged to the family of Bullock so early as the reign of Elizabeth, and is now vested in William Bullock, gent. Brickhouse is an estate belonging to the family of Hayle in Gloucester. The Velt House, with the greater part of the other property in the parish, is attached to the manor. The number of buildings in this parish were much reduced in 1699 by fire, and the loss on oath amounted to 4210l. The event is recorded on a tablet, placed in the church. Nine freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 180-137-152. Houses, 34. The benefice is rectorial, in the Forest deanery, and the patronage annexed to the manor. John Black, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, consists of a nave only, with a low battlemented tower at the west end. In P. N. tax. the church of Blechedene, 47. CCVI. CHURCHAM, anciently HAMME, Is a parish of considerable size, distant nearly five miles N. w. from Gloucester. The soil is in general a fine red loamy clay, producing good crops either in grass or corn. The arable bears a greater proportion than pasture, and fruit trees are generally planted in the fields. Birdwood common is now inclosed. The east side of this parish lies sloping so advantageously to the morning sun, that the harvest is generally a fortnight earlier than in most of the adjacent places. Ham, Saxon, signifies a farm or village; hence are derived names of places with this termination; this place was anciently called Hamme simply, but being the part of the parish where the church was built, the addition was given to distinguish it from the other hamlets. This distinction took place in 1281. The two manors of Churcham and Highnam were given by mandate of the Pope to the abbey of Gloucester, for the support of seven monks there, as an atonement for the murder of seven monks in their way to this place, by Wolphin de Rue, the proprietor of it, and consul of Gloucester, about 1048. The abbey continued the possession till the dissolution, when Churcham, with Byrdewood, was granted to the dean and chapter of Gloucester, 1542. Sir John Chamberlain held the manor in 1608, as lessee. It afterwards passed to the family of Brown, an alderman of Gloucester, who died 1639, and left it to his widow. By her it was devised to John Harris, of London, in which family it was at the beginning of last century. Sir Charles Barrow, Bart. and Colonel Money were lessees till near the latter end of last century. The former permitting his lease to expire without renewing, the manor, with the appendant estates, reverted to the dean and chapter, by whom they have since been granted to other lessees. Part of the estates belonging to Colonel Money were sold to Mr. Rowles, and by him devised to his two sisters, Mrs. Crump and Mrs. Phelps. An estate called Cold Comfort, was devised by Colonel Money to Mrs. Roberts, and on her death descended to the Rev. Mr. Roberts, of Much Marcle, co. Hereford. In the last leases granted, the chapter reserved all manerial rights. HIGHNAM, LINTON, and OVER are hamlets forming one tything, and lying in the hundred of Dudstan and Kings-barton, but anciently of Tolangebriges. 1. HIGHNAM is two miles distant from Gloucester, and contained according to Domesday seven hides. Part of the grange or mansion-house was reserved in the lease dated 7 Hen. VIII. for the abbot and his men, if the plague should be in Gloucester or Over. The manors of Highnam and Over were granted, 1542, to John Arnold, of Monmouthshire, who was succeeded by his son Nicholas Arnold, and he by Rowland Arnold, who left an only daughter and heiress, wife of Thomas Lucy, son of Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlcot, co. Warwick. He left an only daughter, married to Sir William Cook, descended from the family of Cook, of Giddy-hall, co. Essex. Sir Robert Cook, his son, was succeeded by William, and his eldest son, Dennis Cook, dying in his father's life-time, the estate came to his brother Edward. William Cook, his son and heir, dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother Dennis, who having no male issue, the estate de |