Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/552

Rh LASSWAPE. 514 LATHERON. Gloucester and Bristol, val. 120, in the patron, of Sir J. W. Guise and the bishop alternately. The church, dedicated to St. Oswald, is an ancient structure, with a small turret at the W. end. The charities produce about 5 per annum. Sir J. W. Guise is lord of the manor and principal landowner. The fossils called Astroites, or starstones, are found on a hill in this neighbourhood. LASSWADE, a par. in the co. of Edinburgh, Scot- land. It comprises the vils. of Lasswade, Loanhead, Roslin, and Rosewell. The size of the par. is about 8 miles by 3. Its surface consists of a fertile plain situ- ated under the Pentland hills, which occupy the N.W. extremity of the parish. Here are abundant supplies of sandstone, limestone, and coal, the last being principally worked in the neighbourhood of Kosewell and Loan- head. The river North Esk runs through the whole length of the parish, and on its banks is a continuous succession of seats ; the principal are Dryden, Hose- bank, Goston, Auchindinny, Mavisbank, Springfield, Polton, Elden, and Glenesk. The ruins of Roslin Castle and its chapel stand on a rock overhanging the glen of thn Esk. Hawthornden, the classical habitation of the poet Drummond, the friend of Shakspeare and Jonson, and now the property of Sir James Walker Drummond, is situated on the S. bank of the Esk, on the edge of a cliff, beneath which are three artificial caves, said to have afforded shelter to the Scots in turbulent times. Melville Castle, built at the latter end of last century, is the scat of Viscount Melville. The par. is in the presb. of Dalkeith, and synod of Lothian and Twceddale. The minister's stipend is 180. The parish church, which stands on an eminence, is a commodious structure, erected in 1793. There is a diapel-of-ease at lloslin (under the patronage of the male communicants), and also a Free church. At Loanhead is a Free Church preaching station, and a Reformed Presbyterian church. There are two United Presbyterian churches, one at Bridgond, and the other at Lasswado. There are twelve non-parochial schools throughout the parish. The present par. of Lasswado includes the ancient par. of Lasswade, and the greater portion of the ancient pars, of Pentland and Melville. The ancient church, the burial-place of the Melville family, is now in ruins, and contains the ashes of the first viscount of that title, dis- tinguished during the ministry of Mr. Pitt. On Roslin Moor a battle was fought in 1302, in which the Scots, under Comyn, then guardian of the kingdom, and Simon Eraser, attacked and defeated three divisions of English on the same day. The parish contains carpet, damask, paper, gunpowder, and other manufactories. The village of Lasswade is miles from Edinburgh, and 2 from Dalkeith. The neighbourhood is much frequented by visitors from Edinburgh and other places during the summer months. The par. is intersected by the Peebles railway, which has stations at Roslin and Hawthornden. Coaches run between this place and Edinburgh. Some of Sir Walter Scott's happiest years were here spent. Near Mavisbank House is a supposed Roman station. Urns and antique weapons have been found in the neighbourhood. LASTINGHAM, a par. in the wap. of Ryedale, North Riding co. York, 7 miles N.W. of Pickering, its post town and railway station, and 4 N.E. of Kirby- Moorside. The par., which is wholly agricultural, is situated on the river Severn, and contains the tnshps. of Appleton-le-Moors, Farndale East Side, Hutton-le- Holc, Rosedale West Side, and Spaunton. It was given by King Ethelbald to Bishop Cedd, who founded a monastery here, which, after the Conquest, was removed to York. A great portion of the land is in moor, and about 800 acres of heath. The soil is sandy and loamy. The village is considerable, but wholly agricultural. The living is a vic. in the dioc. of York, val. 280, in the patron, of the lord chancellor. The church, dedi- cated to St. Mary, is an ancient stone structure with a tower. Underneath the choir is a vaulted crypt, with ""massive cylindrical columns and sculptured arches ; it is entered through a trap-door. The church contains a font of great antiquity and an altarpiece representing Christ in the garden of Gethsemane, by John Jackson, R.A., a native of this parish. Besides the parish church there are chapels-of-caso at Farndale East Side, and Farndale High Quarter. The charities produce about 15 10s. per annum, of which 10 is a bequest for education. There is a National school for both sexes. The Wesleyans have a chapel, in which a Sunday-school is also held. H. B. Darley, Esq., is lord of the manor. LATCHFORD, a chplry. in the par. of Grappenhall, hund. of Bucklow, co. Chester, 1 mile S.E. of Warring- ton, its post town. It is a station on the London and North- Western railway. The chapelry is situated on the S. side of the river Mersey, here crossed by a stone bridge connecting this township with the borough of Warrington. The Irwell and Mersey canals and the North- Western railway pass near to this township. The village, which is inconsiderable, was formerly a market town. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in cotton spinning, curled hair manufacturing, tanning, tool making, and various other trades. The soil consists of clay and sand. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc.' of Chester, val. 111. The church, dedicated to St. James, is a stone structure, with a square tower con- taining one bell. The charities produce about 1 10. per annum. There are two infant schools for both sexes, also a Sunday-school. The Primitive Methodists have a place of worship. LATCHFORD, a hmlt. in the par. of Great Haseley, hund. of Ewelme, co. Oxford, 4 miles S.W. of Thame, and 2i W. of Tetsworth. LATCHINGDON, a par. in the hund. of Dengie, co. Essex, 5 miles S.E. of Maldon, its post town, and 6 N.W. of Burnham. It is situated between the rivers Blackwater and Crouch, and is bounded on the N. by Latchingdon Creek. The inhabitants are chiefly cm- ployed in agriculture. The soil is a strong clay. Latchingdon and Snoreham jointly form a village. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 900. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 710, in the patron, of the Archbishop of Canterbury. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, was consecrated in 1857. The old church still remains, though not in use. The register dates from 1725. The parochial charities produce about 13 per annum. There is a National school for both sexes. Charles II. Pulley, Esq., is lord of the manor. LATHAM, a hmlt. in the tnshp. of Gomersall, par. of Birstall, West Riding co. York, 7 miles N.E. of Huddersfield, and 4 N.W. of Dewsbury. The inhabi- tants are engaged in the woollen manufacture, and in the collieries. LATHBURY, a par. in the hund. of Newport, co. Bucks, 1 mile N. of Newport Pagnell, its post town, and 5 miles from Wolverhampton. It is a small agricultural village, situated on the river Ouse, near the Linford canal. The surface is undulating, and the soil of a gravelly nature. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 68, in the patron, of Christ Church, Oxford. The church, dedicated to All Saints, has some Norman arches ; and in the chancel is a tesselated pavement of black and white marble, the gift of Mar- garet, daughter of Sir H. Andrewes, Bart. The paro- chial charities produce about 2 per annum. Viscount Hood is lord of the manor. Dr. Chelsum, who wrote against Gibbon, once held the living. The Manor House stands on the site of an ancient monastery. LATHEREDGE, a hmlt. in the par. of Horslcy, co. Gloucester, 3 miles S.W. of Minchinhampton. LATHERON, a par. at the southern extremity of the co. Caithness, Scotland. It contains the po&l-oilke stations and vils. of Berriedale, Lybster, Latheron, Dalbeath, and Swiney. It extends 27 miles N. from the Burn of the Ord, along the sea-coast, and measures from 15 to 16 miles in breadth. The surface is a suc- cession of hill and valley, and the boundary line with the county of Sutherland is very mountainous. The principal mountains areMorven, Scarabinc, and JI: iili-u- pass, the former being 1,221 feet above sea-level. The