Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/856

Rh MILTON-OF-BALGON1E. 848 MILWICH. time of Charles I., a royal manor, held in dowry by the queens, and was a place of considerable trade in the reign of Elizabeth. The native oysters, which formely belonged to the Abbey of Faversham, are leased from the Herberts by the free dredgers, and employ a whole fleet of smacks and hoys. A considerable export trade is carried on from Crown Quay in corn, wool, bricks, and stones for the repair of the London streets. Near the quay are several oil and cement mills, and at Chalk- well, in this parish, is an extensive tanyard. The town, which is a busy but straggling place, contained in 1861 a population of 2,683, having increased 307 since 1851. It is united for political purposes with the more im- portant town of Sitting-bourne on the opposite side of the creek, but is governed by its own portreeve and two high constables, annually chosen at the court leet, said to have been instituted by King Alfred. The office of portreeve was formerly very lucrative, but by an Act of Parliament two-thirds of the revenue arising from the dues on coals, and from tolls at fairs within the hundred, have been transferred to the commissioners for paving. The town contains several public buildings, as the court- house, an ancient timbered edifice nearly in the centre of the town, a small town gaol, a market-house and shambles, union workhouse for the Poor-law Union of Milton, which is conterminous with the hundred, and shipping quays. The land, which is generally well cul- tivated, rests on a substratum of chalk. It is shaded chiefly by chestnut wood, and has a decoy for wild fowl. The rectorial tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 800 11s. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Canterbury, val. 400, in the patron, of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is a large structure, with an embattled tower at the W. end. It contains a piscina, two stone seats, three brasses, the earliest bearing date 1470, and tombs of the Nortons and others. There are two Dissenting chapels and a free school. It is the seat of a superintendent registry for the hundred of Milton, but is comprised partly within the Sittingbourne and partly within the Rochester new County Court districts. Saturday is market day. An annual fair is held on the 24th July, chiefly for cattle. MILTON-OF-BALGONIE, a vil. in the par. of Markinch, co. Fife, 5 miles N. of Dysart. It is situated near Balgonie. MILTON-OF-MATHERS, a vil. in the par. of St. Cyrus, co. Kincardine, Scotland, 5 miles S.E. of Lau- rencekirk. It was formerly a place of some importance, but during the last half century has suffered from the encroachments of the sea. Its inhabitants are chiefly engaged in fishing. There is a mineral spring, formerly in great repute. MILTON-OF-WHINS, a vil. in the par. of St. Ninian's, co. Stirling, Scotland. It is situated on the Scottish Central railway near Bannockburn and Beaton's Mill. It was here that James III. was murdered after his defeat at the battle of Sauchieburn in 1448. MILTON-PODIMORE, or PUDD1MORE, a par. in the hund. of Whitley, co. Somerset, 2 miles N.E. of Ilchester, its post town, and 7 from Yeovil. The parish, which is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. The soil is of a clayey nature alternating with gravel upon a subsoil of clay. The surface is level and subject to be flooded in winter. The road from Taunton to Wincanton traverses the parish from E. to W. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 190. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Bath and Wells, val. 200. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient stone struc- ture, with an octagonal tower containing three bc'lls. G-. D. W. Digby, Esq., is lord of the manor and principal landowner. MILTON, SOUTH, a par. in the hund. of Stan- borough, co. Devon, 3 miles S.W. of Kingsbridge, its ost town. The village, which is small, is situated in a eep valley, and is wholly agricultural. The par. con- tains the limits, of Button and Upton. The surface is hilly, but tho soil fertile, and the lands principally arable. The living is a cur. annexed to the vie. of Alvington West, in the dioc. of Exeter. The church is a stone edifice, with a tower containing six bells. The parochial charities produce about 15 per annum. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. Horsewell House is the principal residence. Mrs. Prideaux is lady of the manor. MILTON-UPON-STOUR, a hmlt. in the par. and lib. of Gillingham, co. Dorset, 5J miles N.W. of Shat'tes- bury. It is situated on the river Stour. There was formerly a chapel. MILTON, WEST, a tythg. in the par. and lib. of Poorstock, co. Dorset, 3 j miles N.E. of Bridport, its post town. The village, which is small, is wholly agricul- tural. Stone for paving and an inferior kind of freestone are quarried. The living is a cur. annexed to the vie. of Poorstock, in the dioc. of Sarum. The church is ancient and serves as a chapel-of-easo to Poorstock. MILVERTON, a hund. in co. Somerset, contains the pars, of Ashbrittle, Bathealton, Kittisford, Langford- Budville, Milverton, Runnington, Sampi'ord-Arundell, Stawley, and Thorn St. Margaret, comprising an area of 12,250 acres. MILVERTON, a par. in the above hund., co. Somer- set, 3j miles N. of Wellington, its railway and post town, and 7 W. of Taunton. The par., which is extensive, is situated on the Tauuton road to Wiveliscombe, and contains the hmlts. of Preston-Bowyer and Screedhay. The village, which is of great antiquity, is a petty sessions town, and was formerly a market town. In ancient times it ranked as a royal borough, and is still nominally governed by a portreeve, &c. The town consists chiefly of three irregularly built streets. The magistrates' meetings are held at Wiveliscombe, and the county court at Wellington. A portion of the inhabi- tants are employed in the flannel and silk factories, and some of the cottagers in weaving baize by handlooms. The soil is loamy wilh a subsoil of various kinds. There are some quarries of conglomerate limestone, and also of sandstone. The appropriate tithes belong to the Archdeacon of Taunton. The living is a vie.* with the cur. of Llangford-Budville annexed, in the dioc. of Bath and Wells, val. 449, in the patron, of the Archdeacon of Taunton. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a spacious structure, with a tower containing six bells. The church was one of those built in the reign of Henry VII., and has recently been restored. The register dates from 1538. The parochial charities produce about 113, of which 54 go to Lamb's school. There are National schools, partly endowed, for both sexes, also infant schools. The independents, Wesleyans, and Society of Friends have places of worship, to which are attached Sunday-schools. John de Milverton, a Carmelite friar, who wrote against Wicklifle, was born in this parish. A fair is held on the 10th October for broadcloth and pedlery. MILVERTON, a par. in the Kenilworth div. of the bund, of Knightlow, co. Warwick, 2 miles N.E. of Warwick, and 1 mile N. of Leamington, of which it may be considered a suburb. It is a station on the Lea- mington and Coventry section of the London and North- Western railway. The village, which contains some villa residences is situated in a sheltered spot on the eastern bank of the river Avon, which at this point makes an ex- tensive sweep. The land is fertile and highly cultivated. The par. includes the hmlt. of Emscote, or Edmonscott, and the goods station belonging to the London and North- Western railway for the towns of Leamington and Warwick. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Worcester, val. 58. The church, dedicated to St. James, is a small ancient stone edifice, with wooden belfry containing three bells. There is also a district church at New Milverton, the living of which is a ,-.ur. ; also Milverton Chapel, at Milverton Hill, which is proprietary ; this latter is a spacious Doric structure, with a tetrastyle portico and circular bell- tower; it was erected in 1836, and can accommodate 1,800 persons. The charities produce 5 per annum, chieflv the endowment of Eyre's school. MILWICH, a par. in the S. div. of the hund. of Pirehill, co. Stafford, 5 miles S.E. of Stone, its post