Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/280

Rh HITCHAM. 272 HOATHLY. parochial charities produce 80 per annum, of which 38 is the endowment to March's free school. HITCHAM, a par. in the hund. of Cosford, co. Suffolk, 2 miles N.W. of Bildeston, and 6 N.W. of Hadleigh. The village, which is considerable, is situated near the river Bret. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 1,150. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 865, in the patron, of the crown. The church is dedicated to All Saints. The charities produce 55 per annum. There are a National school and almshouses. HITCHAM, a par. in the hund. of Burnbam, co. Bucks, 2 miles N.E. of Maidenhead, its post town. The village, which is small and wholly agricultural, is situated near the Thames. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 364, in the patron, of the Provost and Fellows of Eton College. The church is an ancient structure, dedicated to St. Mary. It contains two brasses, dating from 1560, and some stained-glass windows in the chancel. Hitcham House, the old seat of the Clarkes, was visited by Queen Elizabeth in 1602. HITCHAM. See HEACHAM, co. Norfolk. HITCHENDEN, or HUGHENDON, a par. in the bund, of Desborough, co. Bucks, lj mile N. of High "Wycombe. The par. which is of largo extent, con- tains the chplry. of Prcstwood and the lib. of Brands- Fee. It is supposed to have been a Konian settle- ment from the number of coins of Hadrian and Trajan which were found in 1795. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 280. The church, dedi- cated to St. Michael, is an ancient Norman structure, with a square tower. The exterior has recently been beautified, and several windows of ancient stained glass inserted. It contains a curious antique font, and monu- ments to the family of Simon do Montfort, Earl of Leicester, who retired here after the death of the Earl at the battle of Evesham ; also a white marble monument, by Garrard, to Ellen Countess of C'onyngham. The charities produce 165 per annum, including an endow- ment, left by Ellen Countess of Conyngham, for poor clergy and their widows. The mansion of Rockhall, once occupied by the Montforts, has recently been re- built. The liight Hon. B. Disraeli is lord of the manor. HITCHIN, a hund. in the co. Herts, contains the pars, of Hitchin, Ickleford, Ippollitts, Kimpton, King's Walden. Lilley, Offley, and Pirton, comprising an area of 27,280 acres. It gives name to a deanery in the archdeac. of St. Alban's and dioc. of Rochester. HITCHIN, a par., post and market town, in the above hund., co. Herts, 13| miles from Royston, 15 N.W. of Hertford, and 32 from London by the Great Northern railway, on which it is a station. It is also connected with the Great Eastern and Midland lines. It is a thriving place, situated near the river Hiz, and is a polling and petty sessions town. The par. contains the hmlts. of Langley, Walsworth, and Preston, and is the head of a Poor-law Union comprising 28 pars. This place anciently formed part of the royal demesne of the Mercian kings, and was given by Edward the Confessor to Harold, after whose death, at the battle of Hastings, it was retained by William the Conqueror, and is entered in Domesday Book as Jfiz. It was given by William Rufus to the Baliols, who founded a preeeptory of Knights Templars at Temple-Dinsley, and subsequently reverted to the crown. The town of Hitchin is situ- ated in a valley about 1 mile distant from the rail- war station. It comprises twelve streets, which are well lighted with gas, and partially paved. The houses are in general built of brick. It has an extensive market-place, corn exchange, two banks, and a savings- bank. At the townhall petty sessions are held every Tuesday, also the board of guardians meet every Tues- day. A county court is held every alternate month. The mechanics' institute, containing an excellent library, is held at the townhall. The town is divided into Bancroft, Tilehouse, and Bridge wards, for each of which two constables and two head-boroughs are ap- pointed at tho court-leet of the lord of the manor, held at Michaelm-is. There are several benefit societies, and a burial board under the Burial Act. The new cemetery is situated on Kershaw's Hill. The woollen manufac- ture has become extinct, but a brisk trade is now done in corn, flour, malt, and brewing. The straw-plait trade is also carried on. In the vicinity are several barrows, and at Wilbury Hill, on Icknield Street, is a Roman camp. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 650, in the patron, of Trinity College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is situated near the centre of the town. It is a no'ble structure, built in tho reign of Henry VI., and recently restored at great expense. It has a tower crowned with a small octagonal spire, and containing eight bells. The whole fabric is embattled and beautified with pinnacles. The interior of the church contains an old font, altar- piece by Rubens, six brasses bearing date 1440, and monuments of the Buliols, Kcndales, Abbots, Skynners, and Radcliffes, of Hitchin Priory. The register dates from 1562. A district church is now building near the railway station. The charities produce about 825 per annum, which arc devoted towards apprenticing poor children, maintaining several almshouscs, &c. There are National and other schools. The union poorhouse and the North Herts and South Beds infirmary are situated in this parish. The principal residences are, Hitchin Priory, with traces of the Carmelite Priory, founded in the reign of Edward II., Mount Pleasant, and New England. The newspapers published in the town are, the Hertfordshire Express, and the Herts and Beds Gazelle, both of which are weekly papers, also the Monthly Advertiser. Market day is Tuesday. Cattle and plea- sure fairs are held on Tuesdays and Wednesdays in Easter and Whitsun weeks. Large cattle sales also take place every market day. HITTISLEIGH, a par. in the hund. of AVonford, co. Devon, 7 miles S.W. of Crediton, its post town, 11 E. of Okehampton, and 5 S.W. of Coplestone railway station. The village, which is small, is situated near the river Yew, and is wholly agricultural. The soil is rather heavy, lying on a tenacious clay, but produces good crops of wheat, barley, and potatoes. Tho tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 85. The living ig a rect. in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 68. The church is an ancient stono edifice, with a tower containing three bells, and is dedicated to St. Andrew. Here is a place of worship for the Wesleyans, and a Church school sup- ported by voluntary contributions. C. B. Calmady, Esq., is lord of the manor. HIVE, a hmlt. in the tnshp. of Gilbcrdiko, par. of Eastrington, East Riding co. York, 5 miles N.E. of | Howden. HIXON, a tnshp. in the pars, of Colwich and Stoxvc, co. Stafford, 6 miles N.E. of Stafford. The village, whi( is considerable, is situated near the river Trent. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Licb field, val. 60, 1 in the patron, of the bishop. The church is modern. HOARCROSS, a hmlt. in the pars, of Yoxhall andt Hanbury, co. Stafford, 4 miles S.E. of Abbots Bromley HOARSTONE, a hmlt, in the par. and borough Kidderminster, hund. of Halfshire, co. Worcester, 2 1 ""* from Kidderminster. HOATII, a par. in tho hund. of Blcangate, lathe ( St. Augustine, co. Kent, 6 miles N.E. of Canterbury, i post town, and 3 N.E. of the Sturry railway stati- The village is small, and the land partly in hops. ' tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 10 The living is a cur. annexed to the vie. of Reculver, i the dioc. of Canterbury. The church, dedicated St. Mary, has a tower containing three bells. The / bishop of Canterbury is lord of the manor. HOATHLY, EAST, a par. in tho hund. of Ship! rape of Pevcnsey, co. Sussex, 5 miles S.E. of UckflM] and 8 N.E. of Lewes. Hurst Green is its post-oflfclj The village is situated on tho road from London to Eastbourne, and contains several good houses. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Chichester, val. 261. Tho church is a modem structure, except the towei, which is ancient, and contains a clock and five bells, The Earl of Chichester is lord of the manor and principal owner of the soil.