Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/816

Rh MELBOURNE. 808 MELDRUM. dates from 1558. The parochial charities produce about 165, of which 109 goes to Trigg's school, and 7 to Ayloffe's school. There is a school for both sexes, on the Lancasterian system, also an infant school. The Independents and Baptists have places of worship. Near the churchyard is an elm-tree of remarkable antiquity. John Hitch, Esq., and the Dean and Chapter of Ely, are lords of the manor. MELBOURNE, a tnshp. in the par. of Thornton, Holme Beacon div. of the wap. of Harthill, East Riding co. York, 4 miles S."VV. of Pocklington. It is a large tract of land, part common, lying between a branch of the river Derwent and the canal. MELBURY-ABBAS, a par. in the hund. of Sixpenny Handley, West Shaston div. of the co. Dorset, 2| miles S.E. of Shaftesbury, its post town, and 10 N. of Bland- ford. The parish, which is small, is wholly agricul- tural. Limestone is quarried and burnt. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 380. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Sarum, val. 263. The church, dedicated to St. Thomas, is a stone structure with a square turreted tower containing five bells. It was rebuilt by Sir R. P. Glyn in 1851, who also built the National school for both sexes near the church. The register dates from 1716. Sir R. P. Glyn is lord of the manor. Dr. Walter Blandford, successively Bishop of Oxford and Worcester, was born here. MELBURY-BUBB, a par. in the hund. of Yetmin- ster, co. Dorset, 2 miles N.E. ofEvershot, 6 miles N.W. of Cerne, its nearest money-order office, and 13 N.W. of Dorchester. It is situated under Bubb-Down, and con- tains the chplry. of Woolcombe and the hmlts. of Mel- bury-Osmond and Melbury-Sampford. The inhabitants are employed in agriculture. On an eminence called Bubb-Down was formerly a beacon. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 181. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Sarum, val. 222. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, has a tower on the S. side, which remains in its original form, though the church itself was rebuilt in 1854. There was formerly a chapel-of- ease at Woolcombe. MELBURY-OSMOND, a par. in the hund. of Yet- minster, Sherbourne div. of co. Dorset, 13 miles N.W. of Dorchester, its post town, and 6 S. of Yeovil. The vil- lage, which is small, is wholly agricultural. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 177. In the grounds of the rectory, the greater part of which was built in 1641, is a remarkable yew-tree. The fossil called the tortoise stone is found in considerable abundance. The living is a rect. annexed to that of Melbury-Samp- ford, in the dioc. of Sarum, joint val. 268. The church, dedicated to St. Osmond, is an ancient structure, rebuilt in 1745 of freestone, with a square tower. The paro- chial charities produce about 15 per annum. There is a National school. The Earl of Ilchester is lord of the manor. MELBURY-SAMPFORD, a par. in the hund. of Tol- lerford, Dorchester div. of co. Dorset, 12 J miles N. of Dorchester, its post town, and 7 S. of Yeovil. The village is inconsiderable, and wholly agricultural. It derives the affix to its name from a former lord of the manor. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 57. The living is a rect. annexed to that of Melbury- Osmond, in the dioc. of Sarum. The church is a cruci- form structure, with a square embattled tower rising from the centre. It has some stained windows of ancient date, enriched with delicate tracery and effigies of the Brownings and Strangeways of Melbury House, now the seat of the Earl of Ilchester, who is lord of the manor. It is situated in an extensive park, in which is an oak 33 feet in circumference. It commands a view of the Mendip and Quantock hills, and was rebuilt in the 17th century. MELBY, a post station in the par. of Lerwick, Shet- land Islands, coast of Scotland, 20 miles N.W. of Lerwick. MELCHBOURN, a par. in the hund. of Stodden, co. Bedford, 6 miles S.E. of Higham-Ferrers, its post town, and the same distance S.W. from Kimbolton. It is a small village, entirely agricultural. It was formerly a market town under a charter granted in 1264 to th Knights Hospitallers, who had a preceptory here, whic Queen Elizabeth gave to the Russells. The soil is chiefly a stiff clay. The impropriation belongs to Lord St. John The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 120. Th church, dedicated to St. Mary, has a tower containin: four bells. The interior of the church contains twc monuments to the Beauchamp family, also a brass t II. Paveley and wife, bearing date 1377. There is a school at Risley for the education of the children of this parish, which is supported by Lord St. John. Melch bourn Park, the residence of Lord St. John, is situatec in a wooded park, in which are game preserves and fish ponds. Lelaud, the historian and antiquary, was a native of this place. Lord St. John is lord of the manor. MELCHET-PARK, an ext. par. place in the hund. of Alderbury, co. Wilts, 9 miles S.E. of Salisbury. It has a Hindoo temple to the memory of Warren Hastings, erected by Daniell in 1800. MELCOMBE-HORSEY WITH MELCOMBE- BINGHAM, a par. in the hund. of Whiteway, Cerne subdivision of co. Dorset, 9 miles N.E. of Dorchester, its post town, and the same distance S.W. of Blandford Forum. The par. contains the hmlts. of Hartsfoot Lane and Nettlecombe Camp, the latter occupying a square space of 20 acres. Melcombe Bingham, the family seat of the Binghams, came to that family through the Turbervilles. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 278 6s. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Sarum, val. 342. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a small edifice with a low tower. There is a free school supported by Lord Rivers, who is lord of the manor. There are several old mansions, now converted into farmhouses. MELCOMBE-REGIS, a par. in the borough of Wcy- mouth, co. Dorset. See WEYMOUTH. MELDON, a par. in the W. div. of Castle ward, co. Northumberland, 6 miles W. of Morpeth, its post town. It is a station on the Wansbeck railway. The parish, which is small, is situated on the river Wansbeck. It has an alluvial soil upon a subsoil of clay. The village, which is small, is wholly agricultural. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 322, in the patron, of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, is a stone structure. There is a school for both sexes, also a Sunday-school is held at the church. Meldon Park is the seat of John Cookson, Esq., who is lord of the manor and sole landowner. MELDON, a hmlt. in the par. of Okehampton, co. Devon, near Okehampton. MELDRETH, a par. in the hund. of Armingford, co. Cambridge, 4 miles N.E. of Royston, its post town, and 9^ S. of Cambridge. It is a station on the Cambridge and Hitchin railway. The village, which is inconsidera- ble, is situated on the river Cam, and is entirely agricul- tural. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Act of Enclosure in 1813. The living is a vie.* in the dice, of Ely, val. 224, in the patron, of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, has an embattled tower. The parochial charities produce about 9 per annum. Andrew Marvull, father of the poet and statesman, was born in this parish. There are places of worship for the Indepen- dents and Wesleyans. MELDRUM, or METHELINE, a par. in the district of Garioch, co. Aberdeen, Scotland. It comprises the post town of Old Meldrum, and is bounded by the pars, of Fyvie, Tarves, Bourtie, and Daviot. It extends about 6 miles in length, with an average breadth of from 2 to 4 miles. The surface is hilly, the chief part being arable, and the remainder in pasture. On the lofty hill of Bethelny, a variety of rock crystal is found ; and at Bethelny Farm are traces of a Roman encampment. In 1856, a branch railway was opened from Old Meldrum to Inverury. This par. is in the presb. of Garioch, and synod of Aberdeen. The minister has a stipend of '. The parish church was erected in 1684, enlarged in 1707, and restored and re-seated in 1810. Besides the parish church, are a Free church, Presbyterian church, and an