Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/889

Rh MORAY FRITH. 881 MORDINGTON. that mildness of climate and dryness of atmosphere so much celebrated by historians and poets, and not to be met with in other parts of Scotland. This same cause, however, is occasionally productive of wide-spread deso- lation, the mountains attracting the heavily charged clouds which discharge their waters among the gulSes and upland glens, where they become pent up, rendering the rivers of the country peculiarly liable to sudden freshets and disastrous floods, as that which swept over the lowlands in August, 1829; when the waters of the Spey and Findhorn rose 50 feet higher than usual. The other rivers of this district are the Nairn, Ness, and Lossie, and their tributaries, which all descend from the highlands to the sea. Nearly parallel to the coast- line is a great terraced bank about 76 ieet high, rising from a base 14 feet above the ordinary highwater level, and bearing the appearance of having been once washed by the waves, but containing, so far as yet discovered, no marine deposits, nor any animal remains except along its skirts, where the vertebra) of whales and saltwater shells of existing species are occasionally met with. It extends in one line from the mouth of the Spey to Inver- ness, and thence up the great glen of Loch Ness, with occasional projecting headlands- and indented bays. Other terraces or terraced banks occur along the skirts of the hills, but are uncontinuous and of comparatively small extent. Moray gives the title of earl to the ancient and illustrious family of Stuart of Darnaway, and name to the Murrays of Ochtertyre. Moray was formerly a bishopric, the cathedral being at Elgin and the episcopal residence at Spynie. It is now a synod both of the National and Free churches, comprehending the presbs. of Abernethy, Aberlour, Elgin, Forres, In- verness, Nairn, and Strathbogie; also a diocese, with Ross, of the Scotch Episcopal Church. The present Bishop of Moray and Ross, Dr. Robert Eden, holds the rank of Primus of the Episcopal Church of Scotland, having been elected to that dignity in 1862. He was consecrated Bishop of Moray and Ross in 1851, and held the rectory of Leigh, in Essex, from 1837 to 1853. MORAY FRITH, an estuary or inland sea in the ex- treme N.E. of Scotland, consisting of an exterior and interior frith, besides the minor friths of Donorch and Cromarty. It was known to the ancient geographers as the Yarn, or Tua jEstuarium, and blends with the German Ocean on the N.E. The interior frith, where it opens from the exterior, is 14 miles wide from Tarbetness light to Burgh-head near Findhorn harbour. It thence projects south-westward past Fort St. George and In- verness to Loch Beauley's head. It has from 6 to 20 fathoms water, with a good herring fishery, though the fish are of inferior quality to those taken on tie W. coasts of Scotland. It is bordered on the W. by the counties of Caithness, Ross, and Cromarty, extending on that side about 70 miles, and on the S. it has Moray- shire, Banflshire, and Aberdeenshire, measuring along that coast about 57 miles. MORAYSHIRE, now called Elginshire, from the name of its capital, is the central division of the province of Moray. It is bounded on the N. by the Moray Frith, and on the other sides by the cos. of Inverness and Banff. See ELGINSHIIIE. MORBORN, a par. in the hund. of Norman Cross, co. Huntingdon, 2 miles N.W. of Stilton, its post town, and 6 S.W. of Peterborough. The parish, which is of small extent, is situated near Morborn-Thorns, on the borders of Northamptonshire, and is wholly agricultural. About half the land is arable, and the remainder, with the ex- ception of a small portion of woodland, pasture and meadow. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 164 11s. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Ely, vol. 271. The church is an ancient edifice with a tower. R. E. D. Shafto, Esq., is lord of the manor. MORCHARD-BISHOP. See BISHOP MOKCHAKD, co. Devon. MORCOTT, a par. in the hund. of Wrangdike, co. Rutland, 4 miles N.E. of Uppingham, its post town, and 2 S.W. of the Lufl'enham railway station. The village if situated between the rivers Welland and Chater, and is chiefly agricultural. The tunnel of the Rugby and Stamford railway passes under part of this village. The land is partly in common. The substratum abounds with limestone and freestone, which are quarried. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 388. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Peterborough, val. 400. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure, with a square spired tower covered with lead and containing four bells. The interior of the church has a tomb to William de Overton. In James I.'s time Mr. George Gilson, a Roman Catholic, founded a hospi- tal for six poor persons of either sex, being unmarried, with an annuity of 36. Two schools were built in 1849 for children of both sexes, and are entirely sup- ported by S. H. Fydell, Esq., the lord of the manor and sole landowner. There is a place of worship for the Baptists, which was endowed with 600 by the Rev. W. Curtis in 1807. Morcett Hall is the principal residence. MORDEN, a par. in the East Shaston div. of the hund. of Loosebarrow, co. Dorset, 5 miles N. of Wareham, and 7 N.E. of Poole Junction. Blandford is its post town. The village is of small extent and chiefly agricultural. The par. includes the limits, of Charborough, Sandford, and Sherford. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Sarum, val. 287. The church is an ancient edifice, with a square embattled tower crowned with pinnacles and con- taining four bells. The chancel contains a monument to the Erie family. The parochial charities produce about 255 per annum. There is a free school and a place of worship for the Wesleyans. Charborough Park, situated in a small dale and surrounded with wooded hiDs, is the seat of John Samuel Wanley Sawbridge Erie Drax, Esq., M.P., who is lord of the manor and sole landowner. MORDEN. See MOHDON, cos. Durham and Surrey ; also GulLDEN-MoilDEN, STEEPLE-MoRDEN, &C. MORDIFORD, a par. in the hund. of Greytree, co. Hereford, 4 miles S.E. of Hereford, its post town, and 13 N.W. of Ross. The village, which is of small extent, is situated at the confluence of the rivers Frome, Lug, and Wye, near Ethelbert's camp. The Lug is crossed by a stone bridge. The par. contains the hmlts. of Checkley, Checkley-Green, Sufton, and the Rock. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The land is partly in hop-grounds and gardens, the remainder being nearly evenly divided between arable and pasture. The substratum is chiefly limestone, in which is found a great variety of fossils. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of .310. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Hereford, val. 318. The church, dedicated to the Holy Rood, is a small ancient stone structure, with a square tower containing five bells. The interior of the church contains an ancient monument, an effigy with an inscription of great antiquity, and in the chancel is a tablet bearing the signature of the Rev. Charles J. Bird, giving a description of a terrific storm of rain and thunder in 1811. The transept was rebuilt in 1852, and has a memorial window to the eldest daughter of Richard Hereford, Esq., of Sufton Court. The parochial charities produce about 7 per annum. There is a National school for children of both sexes, also an infant school. Sufton Court is the principal residence ; it is a stone mansion situated on rising ground and adjoining the village. Lady Emily Foley, of Stoke Edith Park, is lady of the manor. MORDINGTON, a par. in the co. of Berwick, Scot- land. It includes the ancient par. of the same name and Lamerton. It extends in length about 4| miles S., with an extreme breadth of 2 miles, and is bounded by the German Ocean, the libs, of Berwick, and the pars, of Slutton, Foulden, and Ayton. The surface in the southern part is moderately even, while in the northern and broader half it rises to a great altitude, and on the W. side are numerous gentle eminences. The land in the valleys is generally fertile, being a light loam, and in some places a stiff clay, while that on the higher grounds is thin and poor. This district abounds in coal, which is worked ; ulso freestone, limestone, and iron-