Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/553

Rh LATHOM. 545 LAUDER. ,ter portion of the parish is pastoral, or waste, and it 9,000 imperial acre8 under tillage. The principal s are Dunbeath, Langwell, and Berriedale. The it is bold and rocky, but indented with several inlets, rhich serve as harbours for fishing-vessels. There are several caves (some from 300 to 400 feet long) by the sea-side, in which a great number of seals are killed. Many of the inhabitants are employed in fishing on the const, where herrings, cod, salmon, turbot, and lobsters, arc token. The par. is in the presb. of Caithness, and synod of Sutherland and Caithness. The minister's stipend is 253. The parish church, erected in 1734, and enlarged in 1822, is a commodious structure. At Berriedale is a government church, together with a Free church. There are Free churches respectively at Bruan, Latheron, and Lybster, and at the last-named place there is also a chapel-of-ease. There are about eighteen non-parochial schools. In the neighbourhood is a Druid circle and fort. Along the cliffs from Ord to Clyth are several castles (chiefly in ruins), viz. Dunbeath, Berrie- dale, Latheron, Forsa, Swiney, &c., the first-mentioned being still inhabited. LATIIOM, a tnshp. in the par. of Ormskirk, hund. of West Derby, co. Lancaster, 3 miles N.E. of Ormskirk, its post town. It is situated on the river Douglas and on the Leeds canal, and contains the hmlt. of New- brough, or Newburgh. The village, which is consider- able, was once a market town. There are some exten- sive collieries and stone quarries. The manor formerly belonged to the Lathoms and Stanleys, ancestors of the earls of Derby. Thomas, the first earl, here entertained Henry VII. in his baronial mansion of Lathom House, then in its full splendour. This noble castle, which had eighteen towers, and was surrounded by a fosse 8 yards in breadth, subsequently became famous in history for the successful defence made by Charlotte Countess of Derby, for three months, against the parliamentary forces under General Fairfax. In the following year, 1647, it was again besieged by General Egerton, at the head of 4,000 Parliamentarians, and was finally surrendered for want of ammunition, when, after being plundered, it was dismantled by order of Parliament, and the for- tifications demolished. On the Restoration, Lathom House again became the residence of the earls of Derby till 1730, when it was conveyed, by marriage with Henrietta, daughter and heiress of William Earl of Derby, to John the third Earl of Ashburnham, by whom it was sold ; and was subsequently purchased by Sir Thomas Bootle, Knt., whose niece marrying Richard Wilbrahain, Esq., ancestor of the present Lord Skel- mersdale, conveyed it to that family. The present mansion was rebuilt by Leoni on the old site, and though not equal to its predecessor in magnificence or strength, is a stately building, with a frontage of 156 feet, and contains numerous apartments, and a domestic chapel, which has recently been improved, at a cost of 1,200. The park, which is nearly 5 miles in circum- ference, is tastefully embellished. The living is a perpet. cur. * in the dioc. of Chester, val. 60, in the patron, of r of Ormskirk. The church is dedicated to St. John. In the western part of this extensive township a new church was erected by the late Earl of Derby, and 1 1: National schools at Lathom and at Nowburgh in this tnshp. ; the former is supported by Lord Skcl- le, and the latter by an endowment, bequeathed liijv. Thomas Crane, in 1714, and now producing about 50 per annum. There are also schools at West- head, a small village not far from the church. At Lathom I'ark is an ancient almshouse, consisting of several tene- with a chapel. LATIMER, or F.ASTMANSTED - LATIMER, a chplry. in the par. of Chesham, hund. of Burnham, co. ''' miles S.E. of Chesham, and 4 from Amersham, its post town. It is situated on the river Chess, and was the seat of the Latimers, Nevilles, Grevilles, "lys. There are two waterfalls. The living is a don. rect.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 125. The church, which has recently been restored, is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. Latimer House is the prin- cipal residence, and has lately been restored in the Tudor style. The Hon. Charles Compton Cavendish is lord of the manor. LATTERAGH, a par. in the bar. of Upper Orinond, co. Tipperary, prov. of Munster, Ireland, 2 miles 8. of Toomyvard. Nenagh is its post town. It is 3 miles long by 2J broad at tho widest. The surface is elevated, and rises near the centre of the par. to the height of 1,257 feet above sea-level. The soil is of various quali- ties. Tho living is a rect. in the dioc. of Killaloe, val 122, in the patron, of the bishop. Hero are two pri- vate day schools. Latteragh House is the principal seat. It is the alleged site of a monastery, a great seat of learning, presided over by St. Odran, who died in the middle of tho 6th century. LATTIN, a par. in the bar. of Clanwilliam, co. Tipperary, prov. of Munster, Ireland, 5 miles W. of Tipperary, its post town. The par. is a little over 2 miles long by 2 broad. The soil is mostly good. Tho road from Emly to Tipperary crosses the interior. Tho living is a rect. in the dioc. of Emly, joined with C'or- dangan, in the patron, of tho bishop. The church is in ruins. The Roman Catholic Chapel is united to those of Cullen and Thronell. There are two hedge-schools. Moorcsfoot is the chief scat. LATTON, or LACTON, a par. in tho hund. of Harlow, co. Essex, ij mile S.W. of Harlow, its post town, 7^ miles of Bishop Stortford, and 1 mile from tho Burnct- mill railway station. Tho village, which is of ancient date, is situated near the river Stort. Hero was formerly a priory of Black Canons, founded in the 13th century, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist. Some remains of the conventual buildings havo been converted into a barn. At the Dissolution the sito was given to tho Parker family. Tho tithes havo been commuted for a rent-charge of 355. The living is a vie.* in tho dioc. of Rochester, val. 477. The church, dedicated to St. John tho Baptist, is a small structure, with a square tower containing three bolls. In tho interior of the church are three brasses, one of Chief Baron Arderne, bearing date 1465. Tho parochial charities produce about 2 per annum. There is a small National school, supported by the vicar. LATTON, a par. in the hund, of Highworth, co. Wilts, H mile N.W. of Cricklade, its post town. The village, which is small, is situated on the Thames and Severn canal, near tho Roman way Ermine Street. A Roman pavement was discovered in 1670. On tho Cirencester road is a stone cross of great antiquity. The tithes were commuted for land and corn-rents under an Enclosure Act in 1801. Tho living is a vie.* with that of Elsey annexed, in tho dioc. of Gloucester and Bristol, joint val. 380. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist, and has a square tower, containing five bells. It has been recently restored. There is a National school for both sexes, supported by the Earl of St. Germans, who is lord of tho manor. LADDER, a par. in the Merse district of co. Berwick, Scotland. It contains the post town and royal burgh of its own name. Tho size of the par. is 9 miles by 5. The surface is for the most part hilly, affording excellent sheepwalks. About 25,000 imperial acres of tho parish are pastoral or waste, 12,100 in tillage, and 650 in wood- land. Copper, granite, and slate are found. The parish is intersected by the Kelso and Edinburgh road, and by the streams Leader- water, Blythe, Whaplaw, and Earns- leuch. The par. is the seat of a presb. in the synod of Merse and Teviotdale. Tho minister's stipend is 272. Tho church, built in 1673, is a cruciform structure. There are also an United Presbyterian church, a Free church, and two or three schools. The ancient church stood near Thirlestane Castle, and it was at this church, in July, 1482, that tho Scottish nobles met before they hung Cochrane James III.'s favourite on Laudcr Bridge, and afterwards seized the king. Thirlestano Castle, tho seat of the Earl of Lauder, is a massive struc- ture partly modern and partly ancient. The original castle was a strong tower built by Edward I., and called
 * ted in 1851. It is dedicated to St. James.