Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/131

Rh ORONSA. 119 ORRELL. branch turns off. It is situated on the old road between Liverpool and Preston, near the Douglas navi- gation, and near the Leeds and Liverpool canal. The par., which is of largo extent, comprises the tnshps. of Bickerstafl'e, Burscough, Lathom, Ormskirk, Scaris- brick, and Skelmersdale, with a population of 17,049, of which 6,426 are within the town limits. Ormskirk is a polling and petty sessions town, and has been much improved of late years. It is governed by a local board of health, and by a constable and other minor officers chosen at the court leet, which is held in October. It contains four streets, diverging at right angles from a central area used as the market-place. It is lit with gas, and is amply supplied with water. There are a savings-bank, townhall, and corn market, sessions house, dispensary, union poorhouse, and gas-works. The petty sessions for the division are held .monthly, also a county court at the sessions house. An extensive retail trade is done for supply of the surrounding country, and some of the inhabitants are engaged in the manufac- ture of rope, hats, and silk weaving. There are also a large iron foundry, two breweries, and establishments for balance-making. The soil is of a mossy and loamy nature, with a subsoil of sand and clay. Great quantities of carrots and of early potatoes are grown for supply of the Liverpool market. The town has long been cele- brated for its gingerbread, which is exported. There arc considerable coal mines within the parish. Orms- kirk Poor-law Union comprises 21 parishes or townships within- the county of Lancaster, it is also the seat of a superintendent registry district. The living is a vie. with the cur. of Scarisbrick annexed, in the dioc. of Chester, val. 290. The church, dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul, is a commodious stone structure with a square embattled tower and a steeple, detached from each other. The bell tower is said to have been erected at the suppression of Burscough priory, from which place the peal of eight bells were removed to Ormskirk. The church contains N., W., and 8. galleries, and on the S.E. side of the chancel is a mortuary chapel of the Stanley family, in which are marble effigies of the first Earl and Countess of Derby ; likewise, in the Eccleston chapel is the brass effigy of a knight in armour. In addition to the parish church are the following district churches viz. at Bickerstaffe, Burscough Bridge, La- thom, Newburgh, Lathom St. James's, and Skelmers- dale, the livings of which are all porpet. curs., varying in val. from 150 to 60. The church at Burscough Bridge is a modern edifice with a campanile turret, erected in 1831. The parochial charities produce about 521 per annum. The free grammar school was founded about 1614, and is endowed with various benefactions producing about 150 per annum. There is also another endowed school in Derby-street, founded in 1724, by James Earl of Derby, for a Blue-coat school, but now called the United Charity School, with accommodation for upwards of 800 scholars, and conducted on the National plan. The Independents, Wosleyans, Uni- tarians, and Roman Catholics have each a place of wor- ship. The union workhouse, situated in the Wigan road, was erected at an outlay of about 4,000. There is a weekly newspaper published in the town, called the Ornukirk Advertiser. The Earl of Derby is lord of the munur and principal landowner. Market day is Thurs- day. Fairs are held on Whit Monday and Tuesday and llii! loth September. OKON.SA, ORANSA, ORNSAY, or ORONSAY, several small islands of this name on the N. coast of Scotland, one in Loch Bracadale, on the W. side of the Islo of Skye, co. Inverness; another in Slate Sound, opposite Loch Hourn, co. Inverness ; a third at the S. uf South Uist, Western Islands, near Boisdalo ; a fourth on the S. side of Barra Island, Western Islands ; ami ;i fifth on the S. side of Colonsay Island, co. Argyle. The inhabitants of these islands are chiefly employed in 1. ling, and herring fisheries. OKI'HIU, a par. and post-offico vil. in tho S. district of Mainland, or Pomona, Orkney Islands, coast of Scot- land, 7 miles S.W. of Kirkwall. It comprises that portion of Pomona bounded on tho S. and W. by Scalpa Flow, together with tho island of Cava, and a curiously formed rock or skerry, called the Barrel of Butter. It was called by the Northmen Jorfior, corrupted into Orphir, fromjord, "land," and far, "fire," because tho largo peat mosses in the eastern part of the parish sup- plied peat for fuel to the surrounding district. Tho parish, which is about 7 miles long by 3J broad, is traversed 'by the road from Kirkwall to Stromness, and is bounded on the N. and N.W. by a range of hilla, tho highest summit of which, Wart Hill, is about 700 feet above sea level. The parish is advantageously situated for commerce, having a coast line, including sinuosities, of near 12 miles, in general bold and rocky, but in- dented with bays or coves, one of which, called the Bay of Houton, forms a safe harbour for small vessels. Near the centre of the parish is the Loch of Kirbister, be- tween 2 and 3 miles in circumference, and abounding with excellent sea-trout, and in various parts of tho parish are mineral springs, tho most celebrated of which is Scoridale, noted for its tonic, diuretic, and antiscor- butic properties. A largo part of the surface is hilly, pasture, or moss, but in parts near tho coast it is fertile, tho soil being a rich loam mixed with stones. In fa- voured localities the crops are good, and the fisheries on the coast are very prolific. There are quarries of flag- stone, sandstone, and trap, and bog-iron ore is abun- dant. The principal landed proprietors have houses on their estates, the chief seats being the Hall of Clairstran, tho property of tho late Lord Armadale, and Graem- say, of Sir G. E. Honyman, Bart. From the summit of a hill near the church a view is commanded of all the Orkneys, embracing 25 islands, and parts of Caith- ness and Sutherland. The par. is in the presb. of C'ari- stou and synod of Orkney. The minister's stipend is 158, with glebe. The poor's estate produces about 12 per annum. Tho parish church was erected in 1829. There is a Free church, also two schools main- tained by mortifications. In the churchyard is a stono pile, 18 feet in diameter and 20 feet high, rudely re- sembling tho Pantheon at Rome, called Girth House, and supposed to have been an ancient Romish chapel, of which several existed in this part of tho country. In tho district of Swambister is an ancient circular tower 180 feet in circumference, supposed to have been tho stronghold of Sueno Boerstrop, who was murdered by Paul, tho Norwegian Count of Orkney. There are also barrows and tumuli in various parts of tho parish. ORPINGTON, a. par. in the hund. of Ruxley, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, co. Kent, 4 miles S.E. of Bromley, its post town, 3 S. by W. of Foot's Cray, and 1 mile from tho St. Mary Cray railway station. The village is situated at the source of the river Cray, and is chiefly agricultural. In consequence of the numerous springs attending tho rise of tho river Cray, tho parish is sub- ject to frequent inundations. Hops and fruit are grown extensively. Tho par. includes the hmlts. of Orpington, Crofton, and St. Mary Cray. Brickmaking is carried on. Queen Elizabeth was entertained at tho Manor House in 1673 by Sir P. Hart. Tho living is a vie.* with the cur. of St. Mary Cray annexed, in the dioc. of Canterbury, val. 372, in the patron, of the archbishop. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient struc- ture, with an embattled tower containing one boll ; tho doorway is of ancient workmanship, and tho interior of the church contains a brass to T. Wilkynson, bearing date 1511. There is a British school for both sexes, supported by J. C. Stapleton, Esq. Sir P. H. Dyke, Bart., is lord of the manor of Great Orpington, and J. G. Stapleton, Esq., of Little Orpington. A fair is held on Holy Thursday. ORR, or ORE, a river in the co. of Fife, Scotland, rises near Dunfermline, and, flowing through Loch Fitty, joins the river Leven near Dysart. There was formerly a loch of this name, which has been drained. ORRELL, a tnshp. in the par. of Wigan, hund. of West Derby, co. Lancaster, 3 miles W. of Wigan, its post town. It is a station on the W. section of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway. Tho village, whic'i