Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/343

Rh ILDERTON. 335 ILFRACOMBE. but no longer a parliamentary borough, having been disfranchised at the passing of the Reform Act. The assizes for the county, formerly held here, have been transferred to Taunton, Wells, and Bridgwater. 'Die tithes have been commuted fora rent-charge of 51 10s. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Bath and Wells, val. 150, in the patron, of the Bishop of London. The church is an ancient structure with a small octagonal tower. There are places of worshrp for Independents and Wesleyans, and a National school. The almshouses, founded in the reign of Henry VI., and rebuilt in 1810, have an income from endowment of 150 per annum. Here was a convent of preaching friars, in which the celebrated Roger Bacon was educated, also a nunnery, called Whitehall, founded in 1220 by William Dacus as an hospital for poor travellers, and dedicated to the Blessed Trinity, which, prior to the Reformation, had dwindled into a free chapel. Ilchester gives the title of earl to tlio Fox family. A specimen of carved ivory, representing the Annunciation of the Virgin, and sup- posed to have been brought to England by Richard Coour-de-Liou, was found hidden behind the wainscoting in the house anciently occupied by the family of Masters, and in a field nearly opposite a massive gold ring, in which was set a coin of the Emperor Severus, in ex- cellent preservation. It gives name to a deanery in the archdeac. and dioc. of Bath and Wells. Fairs, chiefly for pigs, are held on the Monday before Palm Sunday, 2nd July, and 2nd August. ILDERTON, a par. in the ward of Coquetdale, co. Northumberland, 4 j miles S.E. of Wooler, its post town, 12 S.W. of Belford. The parish is situated under the Cheviot hills, near the river Breamish, which has a fall at Linhopespout. Several other minor streams, as the C'aldgate, Lilbourn, and Roddam, intersect the parish. The high road from Alnwick to Wooler passes to the S.W. It contains the tnshps. of Ilderton, North and South Middleton, Middleton Hall, Roddam, and Bosedcn. The soil is light and gravelly,. This parish formerly belonged to the Ildertons, who had a, seat here. The principal mountain in the neighbourhood is Iledgc- hopc, rising to the height of 2,347 feet above sea level, and at the base of which is a Druidical circle of ten tones. There are traces of Roman camps at Roscdon. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 36. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a modern struc- ture, with tower containing one bell. There are parochial schools lor both sexes, also a Sunday-school. ILFORD, a hmlt. in the par. of Ilton, co. Somerset, 2 miles N. of Ilminster. ILFORD, GREAT, a par. and post town in the liiiml. of Beeontree, co. Essex, 2 miles N. of Barking, 5 W. of Romford, and 7 N.E. of London. It is situated on the river Roding and on the road to Chelmsford. It ia a station on the Great Eastern railway, and the London and Tilbury line has a station at Barking for Great Qford. In 1836 this place, with Barking Side, Chadwell Street, Aldborough Hatch, and part of Hainault Forest, I were severed from Barking, and created a separate I parish for ecclesiastical purposes. During the reign of y II. a hospital for lepers was founded hero by t.&, Abbess of Barking. At the dissolution of -steries this hospital censed to exist, but was after- '.* refounded by Queen Elizabeth for six aged men - chaplain. The town, which stands on the eastern of the river Roden, is well lighted with gas, and ins a police station, where petty sessions are held I every Saturday. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of London, val. 430, in the patron, of All Souls' College, id. In addition to the parish church there arc three [district c.hurclie.s at Aldboronjrh Hatch, Barking Side, Hand St. Mary's, the livings of all which are perpet. curs., in val. from 20 to 110. The parish church, t<> St. Mary, is a modern brick structure, with H<1 spire. The parochial charities produce Tin 1 l!:i]itists and Wesleyans have each a I'.ship. There is a National srhool for both Ilexes, also an infant school, the whole erected at the expense of tho Misses Thompson. A reading-room has been established in the town, the expenses of which are defrayed by Miss E. Thompson. Various fossil remains have been met with in a brickfield in a high state of preservation, also a stone coflin containing a human skeleton. A pleasure fair is held in July on tho site of the Fairlop oak in Hainault Forest. ILFORD, LITTLE, a par. in the hund. of Beeontree, co. Essex, 5J miles W. of Romford, and 6J N.E. of London. Grtat Ilford is its post town and railway station. Tho parish, which is small but very fertile, is situated on the river Roding. The London and Tilbury line passes through the parish and has a station at East Ham. Ilford gaol, a large brick building, is situated in this parish, aud petty sessions are held here weekly. The village, which is small, is situated at a little distance to the W. of Great Hford. The tithes have been com- muted for a rent-charge of 310. The living is a rect.* in tho dioc. of London, val. 408. The church, dedica- ted to St. Mary, is a small but ancient structure, and contains tombs of Lethicullier, the antiquary, and other families. The parochial charities produce 31 per annum. J. W. Wright, Esq., is lord of the manor. The principal residences are Ilford Lodge, and Ilford Cottage. Fairs are held in February and May for tho sale of cattle, chiefly from tho N. of England and from Wales and Scotland. ILFRACOMBE, a par., seaport, market town, and fashionable bathing place, in the hund. of Braunton, co. Devon, 11 miles N.W. of Barnstaple, and 50 N.W. of Exeter. This town derives its chief importance from its situation on tho shore of the Bristol Channel. In ancient times it was a continental port of so much im- portance as to furnish six ships and 96 men towards tho armament of Edward III. against Calais, while Liver- pool contributed only one vessel and 5 men. Its trade is now inconsiderable, consisting chiefly in tho convey- ance of goods from Bristol, live stock from Ireland, and coal from South Wales, but its prosperity depends on its situation, and the excellence of its beach affording great facilities for sea-bathing. It is a polling town, coastguard station, and subport to Barnstaple. The harbour, which is considered the best on that side of the channel, is surrounded by rocks forming a natural basin, but dries at low water. It is sheltered by a pier 850 feet in length, which has been considerably extended and improved. The harbour has recently been purchased by a company with a view to its extension. It is pro- posed to enlarge the present area by a couplo of acres, and to convert the present space into a floating-dock, and to erect quays on the E. side. At tho W. side of tho har- bour is Lantern Hill, with an old chapel for a lighthouse, which is only used in tho winter. Near Wilder's Mouth is Capstone Hill, 181 feet high, and on the E. is tho rock of Hillsborough, on tho summit of which, 441 feet high, is a Danish fortification. A portion of the inhabitants are engaged in the coasting and fishing trades. Tho town is built on tho side of a hill near the northern extremity of the county, overlooking the Bristol Channel, and opposite the coast of Wales. It consists principally of one long street extending from tho church to the harbour, and which, though formerly inconveniently narrow, has been recently widened. There arc besides several new streets and terraces, as Montpellier, Hills- borough, and Coronation terraces. From tho E. end of tho town views of tho Bristol Channel, with the oppo- site coast of Wales, may be obtained. The town is well paved and lighted with gas. It contains a bank, cus- tom-house, gas works, subscription library, public assem- bly, ball, reading, and billiard rooms. In lieu of the old market, which was quite insufficient, a new one has been built, the lower part being divided into shops, and the upper part being a largo townhall, used ordinarily as a public reading-room. The great attraction of tho town is its facilities for sea-bathing, for which it has be- come a fashionable resort. The living is a vie.* annexed to the cur. of Leo, in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 150, in the patron, of the prebend thereof. There is also a district i-hiirch, (It dialled to SS. Philip and James, tho living of
 * annum, which goes to the support of the