Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/426

Rh SEAFORD. 4H SEAL. but during the summer season it is much resorted to by visitors for sea bathing and the bracing qualities of its atmosphere. It is governed under the charter of Henry VIII., which separated it from the cinque port of Hastings, by a municipal corporation, consisting of a bailiff, who is also coroner for the liberty ex officio, and 12 jurats, who are the local magistrates, and are elected annually on the 29th September by the freemen ; these latter enjoy peculiar privileges under their charters, and were formerly styled barons. Courts of general quarter sessions for the borough are held regularly, and petty sessions occasionally. The custom of Borough English prevails in the manor. The parish is bounded on the E. by the Cuck-mere river, and on the beach is a fort, now dismantled, and martello tower, being No. 74, or the last from Folkestone. Seaford gives title of baron to the family of Ellis, whose seat is Seaford House. The Earl of Chichester has also large landed property here, and J. Purcell Fitzgerald, Esq., has extensive possessions in the town. The tithes have been com- muted for a rent-charge of 240. The living is a vie. annexed to that of Sutton, in the dioc. of Ohi- chcster, and in the patron, of the crown. The church, dedicated to St. Leonard, is part of an ancient Norman structure, but was greatly altered and enlarged in 1862, at a cost of 2,300. It has a large square embattled tower, containing a peal of eight bells. The register dates from 1558. There are National schools, a Sun- day-school, and an infant school. Fairs are held on 15th March and 25th July. SEAFOKD, a post-office vil. in the par. of Loughin Island, bar. of Kinelarty, co. Down, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, 1 mile N. of Clough, and 7 miles S.S.E. of Ballynahinch. It is situated on the road from Dundrum to Ballynahinch, and consists of a well-built street, con- taining the parish church, Presbyterian meeting-house, and almshouses. The seat of the Fordes is entered from the village by a gateway. The village was for- merly called Neaghen. Petty sessions are held once a fortnight, and fairs on 7th March, 9th June, 4th and 6th September, and 5th December. SEAFORTH, a vil. and chplry. in the tnshp. of Litherland, par. ofSephton, co. Lancaster, 4 miles N.W. of Liverpool. It is a station on the V. section of the Lancashire and Yorkshire railway. It is situated near the Leeds canal, and is resorted to for sea bathing. The living is a perpet cur.* in the dioc. of Chester, val. 87. The church, dedicated to St. Thomas, was erected in 1815. SEAFOETH, a sea loch on the S.E. side of Lewis, Western Islands, coast of Scotland. It is 12 miles long by 2 broad, and contains the islet of the same name, from which the Mackenzies took the title of earl. SEAGOE, a par. in the bar. of East O'Neilland, oo. Armagh, prqv. of Ulster, Ireland. It contains part of Portadown, its post town. The surface extends along the banks of the river liann, not far from Lough Neagh. The soil is chiefly arable. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Dromore, val. 900, in the patron, of the bishop. The church was built by means of a loan from the late Board of First Fruits. The parish is united to Moyn- tagh in the Roman Catholic arrangement. Seagoe House is the seat of Archdeacon Sauriu, and Carrick that of Colonel Blacker. The trade of the district is principally in butter and linen. There are traces of an earthwork near the demesne of Carrick, and tradi- tion points out this spot as the scene of the defeat of the O'Nials by Blacar the Dane. Numerous warlike implements have been found here. Stone suitable for lithographic purposes is obtained. SEAGRAVE, a par. in the hund. of East Goscote, co. Leicester, 6 miles S.E. of Loughborough, its post town, and 2 N.E. of the Sileby station on the Midland railway. The village, which is of small extent, is situ- ated on a branch of the river Soar, near the Fosse Way. The soil consists of a strong, fertile clay, upon a sub- stratum of limestone. The inhabitants are chiefly en- gaged in agriculture, and a few in framework knitting. The living was once held by Burton, author of the Anatomy of Melancholy," who died here in 1639. The tithes were commuted in 1760 for 380 acres of land. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Peterborough, val. 404, in the patron, of Queen's College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is an ancient struc- ture, with a square tower containing three bells. The parochial charities produce about 21 per annum, of which 5 goes towards the support of the National schobl. E. Marriot, Esq., is lord of the manor. SEAGRY, a par. in the hund. of Malmesbury, co. Wilts, 6 miles N.E. of Chippenham, its post town, and 6 S.E. of Malmesbury. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the Avon. The par. contains the tythgs. of Upper and Lower Seagry. The great tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 163, and the vicarial for 159 16s. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Gloucester and Bristol, val. 173. The church, dedi- cated to St. Mary, has been recently rebuilt. It has one bell, and contains an ancient font. SEAHAM, a par. and seaport town in the N. div. of Easington ward, co. Durham, 5 miles S.E. of Snnder- land, its post town. It is a station on the Sunderland and Seaham line of railway. The village is situated on the road from Sunderland to Stockton, and has a good haven, originally formed in 1823 by the late Marquis of Londonderry, who purchased the estates of Sir R. Mil- banke Noel. It is a coastguard station and a sub-port to Sunderland. The par. includes the tnshp. of Seaton, and formerly belonged to the bishops of Durham. The new pier harbour is about 16 miles in extent, with a lighthouse constructed in 1843, and situated near Red Acre Point lights. In connection with the harbour are various jetties and quays for facilitating the shipping of coal and other produce. It appears to have been selected for the superior facility of its entrance, which is much safer than that of Sunderland. The soil is of a clayey nature, with a subsoil of clay and limestone. At Now Seaton are extensive collieries, giving employment to a large number of the inhabitants. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 666. The church, dedi- cated to St. Mary, has a tower containing two bells. The register dates from 1646. The parochial charities produce about 10 per annum. There is also a district church at New Seaham, the living of which is a perpet. cur.,* val. .385. There is a National school for both sexes at New Seaham, erected at the expense of the Marchioness of Londonderry, by whom it is entirely supported ; also a school established by the Hetton Coal Company. Seaham Hall is the principal residence. The Marchioness of Londonderry is lady of the manor. SEA-HEADS, a sandbank in Yarmouth' Roads, co. Norfolk. It lies outside Scroby Sand, and is nearly 4 miles long. SEAL, an ext. par. place in the hund. of Steyning, rape of Bramber, co. Sussex, 2 miles from Steyning, and 21 N.E. of Chichester. It is situated at the bridge over the river Adur, and has some remains of a priory founded by William de Braose in 1075 as a cell to Sau- mur Abbey in Normandy. SEAL, a par. in the hund. of Codsheath, lathe of Sutton-at-Hone, co. Kent, 2 miles N.E. of Sevenoaks, its railway station and post town, and 25 S.E. of London. The village, which is large, is situated on the Godstone and Maidstone high road. The manor was formerly held by William de Bryene, the Bethunes, Marshalls, Bigods, and other families of distinction. The land is partly in hop grounds. The surface is varied with hill and dale. The soil is of a sandy and loamy nature, with clay in places. There are quarries of ragstone, and a fine sand for glass-making is found in juxta- position with veins of ironstonei The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 152, and the vicarial for one of 458. The living is a cur. annexed to the vie. of Kemsing, in the dioc. of Canterbury. The church, dedicated to _St. Peter, has a tower containing five bells. The interior of the church contains monu- munts of the Bickerstaffes and Theobalds, also a full- length brass of De Bryene, bearing date 1395. The register dates from 1655. The parochial charities pro-