Balby
BALBY, with Hexthorp, a township and ecclesiastical parish, in the parish, union, and soke of Doncaster,
W. riding of York, 1½ mile (S. S. W.) from Doncaster;
containing 486 inhabitants. It lies on the east side of the
river Don, on the roads from Doncaster to Rotherham
and Worksop; and comprises 1420 acres, whereof 640
are the property of the corporation of Doncaster, who
are lords of the manor. There are a brewery and some
tanneries. The parish was formed in August, 1846, under
the act 6 and 7 Victoria, cap. 37. The church, the site
for which, and for some schools, was given by the corporation, was built by subscription, in 1847; and the
living has been endowed with £150 per annum by Miss
Elizabeth Goodman Banks, of St. Catherine's, in whom
the patronage is vested. The first meetings of the
Society of Friends, under their founder George Fox, were
held at Balby and the neighbouring village of Warmsworth.
Balcomb (St. Mary)
BALCOMB (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of
Cuckfield, partly in the hundred of Street, but chiefly
in the hundred of Buttinghill, rape of Lewes, E.
division of Sussex, 4 miles (N.) from Cuckfield; containing 1542 inhabitants. It comprises about 4170 acres;
and is intersected by the London and Brighton railway,
which here passes through its principal tunnel, the construction of which was attended with much difficulty on
account of the extraordinary swelling of the earth when
exposed to the air. Midway between Balcomb and
Cuckfield, the line is carried over the river Ouse by a
viaduct 462 yards in length and 60 yards high, which
rests on 37 arches. The living is a rectory, valued in
the king's books at £15. 18. 6½., and in the gift of the
family of Bethune: the tithes have been commuted
for £450, and the glebe comprises 70 acres. About a
quarter of a mile from the church is a spring, the water
of which is similar in its properties to the Tonbridge
waters.
Baldersby
BALDERSBY, a township, in the parish of Topcliffe, wapentake of Hallikeld, N. riding of York,
5¾ miles (N. N. E.) from Ripon; containing 296 inhabitants. This place is on the road from Thirsk to
Ripon, and comprises by computation 1600 acres; the
river Swale passes on the east, and on the west is the
great Roman road now called Leeming-Lane.
Balderston
BALDERSTON, a chapelry, in the parish, union, and
Lower division of the hundred, of Blackburn, N. division of the county of Lancaster, 4½ miles (N. W.) from
Blackburn, on the road between Whalley and Preston;
containing 585 inhabitants. The manor was possessed
by the Balderstons, by two coheiresses of whom it was
brought, in moieties, to the Harringtons and Talbots. A
portion subsequently passed to the Dudley family; and
after the execution of the celebrated Sir Edmund Dudley
for high treason, an inquisition was taken, 1st Henry
VIII., when it was found that the manor was an escheat
to the crown. The property was afterwards possessed
by Mr. Cross, who, some years since, sold it to Joseph
Feilden, Esq. The township comprises 1704a. 1r. 3p.,
of which 141 acres are woodland and plantation, and the
remainder arable and pasture; the soil is a stiff clay, and
the scenery beautiful, with extensive views. The river
Ribble forms the northern boundary for more than a
mile and a half. Part of the ecclesiastical district of
Mellor-Brook is within the chapelry. The living of Balderston is a perpetual curacy in the gift of the Vicar of
Blackburn, with an income of £118: the chapel is
dedicated to St. Leonard. There is a national school for
the poor.
Balderton (St. Giles)
BALDERTON (St. Giles), a parish, in the union of
Newark, S. division of the wapentake of Newark and
of the county of Nottingham, 2 miles (S. E.) from
Newark; containing 899 inhabitants. The parish comprises 3600 acres of land, with a clayey and sandy soil,
and of which the Duke of Newcastle is one of the chief
proprietors: the village consists of several well-built
and substantial houses, and the surrounding scenery is
agreeably diversified. The living is a vicarage, annexed to
that of Farndon: the glebe comprises about 33 acres.
The church is a very handsome edifice, principally in
the later English style, with a lofty spire, and has a
richly-ornamented Norman porch of exceeding beauty
and in good preservation. A school has been endowed
by William Alvey, with a rent-charge of £18.
Baldhu
BALDHU, an ecclesiastical parish, in the parishes of
Kenwyn and Kea, union of Truro, W. division of the
hundred of Powder and of the county of Cornwall, 3½
miles (S. W. by W.) from Truro. This place derives its
name from Bal-mine-dhu, or rather diu, black; it is
about three miles in length and two and a half in breadth,
and of hilly and barren surface. The Carnon river
forms its boundary on the south, and the Truro and Redruth road on the north; the Cornwall railway passes
nearly along its boundary on the east. Several mines
are wrought, the chief produce of which is black-jack
and black tin. The "Old Men's Workings" consist of
gigantic excavations in the Elvan rock, open to the sun,
in some places more than 150 feet deep, and extending a
distance of a mile and upwards: they are probably
among the original mines of the county, and are not now
wrought. There are also several smelting-houses. The
parish was formed in 1847, under the act 6 and 7 Victoria, cap. 37; the living is in the gift of the Crown and
the Bishop of Exeter alternately, and has an income
of £150. The church was erected in 1847-8, at a cost
of £1800, of which sum the Earl of Falmouth, who had
the first presentation, contributed £1000; the Incorporated Society, £200; the Diocesan Society, £250; and
the Church Commissioners, £260.
Baldock (St. Mary)
BALDOCK (St. Mary), a market-town and parish,
in the union of Hitchin, hundred of Broadwater,
county of Hertford, 18 miles (N. by W.) from Hertford, and 37 (N. by W.) from London; containing 1807
inhabitants. This place, in the reign of Stephen, belonged
to the Knights Templars, to whom Gilbert, Earl of
Pembroke, had given the site. In a charter of confirmation granted by his descendant William, the place is
termed Baudoc, of which the present name is a variation;
though some antiquaries derive it from Balbec, supposing
the town to have been so called by the Templars, in
memory of the city of that name in Syria, from which their
order had been expelled by the Saracens. The town is
situated near the intersection of the great north road and
the Roman Ikeneld-street, between two hills which command an extensive view of a fine open country; and
consists principally of one street: the houses are mostly
ancient, but interspersed with several of modern erection,
and the inhabitants are amply supplied with water. A
horticultural society, patronised by the nobility and
gentry in the neighbourhood, was established in 1825.
The trade is principally in malt, the land in the vicinity being highly favourable to the growth of barley:
the fens and marsh land near the town form an extensive grazing district, and cheese of a peculiar quality is
made here; there is also a very large brewery. The
general market, which was on Saturday, has been discontinued; and a market exclusively for the sale of
straw-plat is now held on Friday. The fairs are on the
festivals of St. James, St. Andrew, and St. Matthew,
each continuing two days; at the last a great quantity
of cheese is sold. The county magistrates hold a pettysession here on the first Monday in every month. The
parish comprises about 150 acres of land, the soil of
which is in general chalky. The living is a discharged
rectory, valued in the king's books at £10. 8. 9., and in
the patronage of the Crown; net income, £126. The
church, erected by the Knights Templars, and nearly all
rebuilt in the early part of the fifteenth century, is a
spacious structure, partly Norman, and partly in the
later English style, with an octagonal steeple built a few
years ago; and contains a finely carved oak screen, part
of the ancient rood-loft, and a very curious font. There
are places of worship for the Society of Friends, Independents, and Wesleyans; and almshouses for twelve
aged widows, founded and endowed in 1621, by Mr.
John Winne. In cutting through Baldock hill, to form
a new turnpike-road, a great number of fossils, consisting of cornua ammonis, sharks' teeth, &c. was discovered.
Baldon, Marsh (St. Peter)
BALDON, MARSH (St. Peter), a parish, in the
union of Abingdon, hundred of Bullington, county of
Oxford, 6 miles (S. E. by S.) from Oxford; containing
360 inhabitants, and comprising 804 acres. This parish,
originally called Meres or Mars and ultimately MarshBaldon, derives its distinguishing name from one De la
Mare, a descendant of whom was patron of the living in
1381. In 1836, an act was obtained for dividing and
allotting lands in the parishes of Marsh-Baldon and TootBaldon. The benefice is a rectory, valued in the king's
books at £6. 13. 4.; net income, £93; patron, Sir H.
P. Willoughby, Bart. The church has a highly picturesque tower, mantled with ivy: over the communion
table is a painting of the Salutation, presented by the
late Sir Christopher Willoughby. Dr. John Bridges,
Bishop of Oxford, who died in 1618, was buried here.
Baldon, Toot (St. Lawrence)
BALDON, TOOT (St. Lawrence), a parish, in the
union of Abingdon, hundred of Bullington, county
of Oxford, 5¼ miles (S. E.) from Oxford; containing
269 inhabitants. This place, in Domesday book, is
called Baudindon; and was afterwards named Toot
Balden or Baldon, probably from one Le Tote, a landed
proprietor, to distinguish it from the adjoining parish of
Marsh-Baldon. The living is a discharged vicarage, in
the gift of Sir H. P. Willoughby: the vicar receives
£5. 5. per annum in lieu of tithes, and the interest of
£502 raised by private subscription about forty years
since.
Bale, or Baithley (All Saints)
BALE, or BAITHLEY (All Saints), a parish, in
the union of Walsingham, hundred of Holt, W. division of Norfolk, 16 miles (N.) from East Dereham;
containing 229 inhabitants. It comprises 1041a. 2r. 38p.,
of which 824 acres are arable, 100 pasture, and 73 woodland. The living is a discharged rectory, united to that
of Gunthorpe, and valued in the king's books at
£10. 13. 4.: the tithes have been commuted for £305,
and there are 21 acres of glebe. The church is in the
decorated and later English styles. Here was anciently
a chapel dedicated to St. Botolph.
Balham-Hill.—See Tooting, Upper.
BALHAM-HILL.—See Tooting, Upper.
Balk
BALK, a township, in the parish of Kirby-Knole,
union of Thirsk, wapentake of Birdforth, N. riding
of York, 3¾ miles (E. S. E.) from Thirsk; containing
89 inhabitants. It comprises about 780 acres, chiefly the
property of Viscount Downe.
Balkholme
BALKHOLME, a township, in the parish and union
of Howden, wapentake of Howdenshire, E. riding of
York, 3 miles (E.) from Howden; comprising by computation 550 acres, and containing 165 inhabitants. It
is on the road from Howden to North Cave; and the
river Ouse passes not far distant on the south.
Ballam
BALLAM, a hamlet, in the township of Westby
with Plumptons, parish of Kirkham, union of the
Fylde, hundred of Amounderness, N. division of the
county of Lancaster, 3 miles (W. by S.) from Kirkham;
containing 60 inhabitants. It lies on the road from
Westby to Lytham, and is divided into Higher and Lower
Ballam.
Ballidon
BALLIDON, a chapelry, in the parish of Bradborne, hundred of Wirksworth, S. division of the
county of Derby, 5¾ miles (N. N. E.) from Ashbourn;
containing 92 inhabitants. At the time of the Domesday
survey the manor belonged to Ralph Fitzhubert, and for
some generations afterwards was held by the family of
Herthill, whose heiress brought it to the Cokaines in the
15th century. In the reign of Elizabeth it was sold to
Sir Anthony Ashley, and subsequently came to other
families, among whom were the Boothbys, and the Murrays, earls of Mansfield. The chapel is very ancient, and
contains a curious font.
Ballingdon
BALLINGDON, a parish, in the union of Sudbury,
hundred of Hinckford, N. division of Essex, ½ a mile
(S. W. by W.) from Sudbury; containing 843 inhabitants. After the decay of the parochial church, the
village of Ballingdon, which had been previously only a
chapelry in the parish of Brundon, became the head of
the parish. The soil in some parts is a stiffish clay, retaining moisture, and in others a sandy loam, forming
some of the best arable land in the district. The living
is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £6. 13. 4., and
in the patronage of the family of Windham. The
inhabitants resort to the church of All Saints, Sudbury,
and contribute towards the church-rate of that parish.
Ballingham (St. Dubritius)
BALLINGHAM (St. Dubritius), a parish, in the
union of Ross, Upper division of the hundred of Wormelow, county of Hereford, 7 miles (N. by W.) from
Ross; containing 149 inhabitants. The parish is situated on the right bank of the Wye, that river surrounding
it on all sides except the west: it comprises 840 acres.
The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £165;
patron and impropriator, Sir E. F. S. Stanhope, Bart.
The tithes have been commuted for £177. 10.
Balls-Pond
BALLS-POND, an ecclesiastical district, in the parish
of Islington, Finsbury division of the hundred of
Ossulstone, county of Middlesex, 2 miles (N.) from
London. This populous suburb of the metropolis is of
modern origin, and consists principally of uniform
ranges of houses. A very large open area, surrounded
by a wall and cattle-shed, with a handsome entrance,
was formed for a market-place, intended to supersede the
celebrated market in Smithfield; and an act for opening
it as a general cattle-market was procured by its enterprising proprietor, Mr. Perkins; but it was soon after
closed from want of business, and no cattle have been
sold there for some years. A church dedicated to St.
Paul was erected in 1827, at an expense of £10,947; it
is a handsome structure in the later English style, with
a low square tower embattled and crowned with pinnacles.
The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £335;
patron, the Vicar of Islington. The Independents have
a place of worship, and there are almshouses belonging
to the London Benefit Societies, the Tilers' and Bricklayers' Company, the Cutlers' Company, and the Dyers'
Company. Samuel Rogers, the eminent poet, was born
in that part of Newington green which is within the
district.
Balne
BALNE, a township, in the parish of Snaith, Lower
division of the wapentake of Osgoldcross, W. riding of
York, 5¼ miles (S. W. by W.) from Snaith; containing
341 inhabitants. It comprises by computation 2750
acres, of which about 115 are woodland; the soil is
chiefly of a sandy nature. The village, which is scattered, lies to the south of the Knottingley and Goole
canal. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have
each a place of worship.
Balsall
BALSALL, a chapelry, in the parish of Hamptonin-Arden, union of Solihull, Solihull division of the
hundred of Hemlingford, N. division of the county of
Warwick, 4½ miles (S. E. by E.) from Solihull; containing 1160 inhabitants. It comprises 4824 acres; and
is partly bounded on the west by the river Blythe, and
skirted on the east by the road between Kenilworth and
Coleshill. The chapel, dedicated to St. Mary, was originally the church of a preceptory founded here by the
Knights Templars, to whom Roger de Mowbray had
given the lordship: it was repaired in 1823, at a cost of
£979. The living is a perpetual curacy; patrons, the
Governors of Balsall Hospital, in whom the impropriation
is also vested. Lady Katherine Leveson, in 1670, devised
the manor for the erection and endowment of an hospital for twenty women. The hospital was incorporated
in the first year of the reign of Queen Anne, and eleven
trustees were appointed, with power to enlarge the
buildings and increase the number of inmates, which
now amounts to thirty; exclusively of whom, the establishment comprises a master, under-master, apothecary,
matron, and nurse. The annual receipts are about
£1500, of which the master, in addition to his stipend,
receives £50 as perpetual curate of Balsall; a sum of
£50 is also paid to the vicar of Long Itchington.
Balscot
BALSCOT, a chapelry, in the parish of Wroxton,
union of Banbury, hundred of Bloxham, county of
Oxford, 5 miles (W. N. W.) from Banbury; containing
199 inhabitants. The village contains some interesting
remains of ancient domestic architecture. The chapel
is a small but neat edifice in the decorated English style,
with a tower of remarkably graceful proportions on the
south side of the building: the font is Norman. Until
1821, the dead were interred at Wroxton; but on the
28th of August in that year the chapelyard here was
consecrated.
Balsham (Holy Trinity)
BALSHAM (Holy Trinity), a parish, in the union
of Linton, hundred of Radfield, county of Cambridge, 3 miles (N. E. by N.) from Linton; containing
1271 inhabitants. It comprises about 4500 acres, the
soil consisting principally of clay and chalk. The living
is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £39. 16. 8.;
net income, £1104; patrons, the Governors of the
Charter house, London. The tithes were commuted for
land and a money payment in 1801. A little westward
from the village are Gogmagog hills, on the summit of
which are remains of a circular camp with a double
rampart, supposed to be British. The ancient trench
called Fleam-Dyke commences in the vicinity. Hugh
de Balsham, founder of Peter-house College, Cambridge,
was born and is interred here; and Thomas Sutton,
founder of the Charter house, resided at the place.
Balterley
BALTERLEY, a township, in the parish of Barthomley, union of Newcastle-under-Lyme, N. division of the hundred of Pirehill and of the county of
Stafford, 6½ miles (N. W. by W.) from Newcastle;
containing 316 inhabitants. This is the only part of
the parish lying in Staffordshire, the remainder being in
the county of Chester. The township comprises 800
acres, and the tithes have been commuted for £134.
Baltonsborough (St. Dunstan)
BALTONSBOROUGH (St. Dunstan), a parish, in
the union of Wells, hundred of Glaston-TwelveHides, E. division of Somerset, 5 miles (S. E.) from
Glastonbury; containing 718 inhabitants. It is annexed
to the vicarage of Butleigh.
Bamber-Bridge
BAMBER-BRIDGE, an ecclesiastical district, in the
chapelry of Walton-le-Dale, parish, and Lower division of the hundred, of Blackburn, union of Preston,
N. division of the county of Lancaster, 3½ miles
(S. S. E.) from Preston, on the road to Chorley; containing about 3000 inhabitants. The soil of the district
is a stiff clay; the surface is undulated, and the scenery
picturesque. The village, which is very pleasant, is the
spot where the Claytons established print-works as early
as 1760. A cotton-mill, belonging to William Eccles,
Esq., employs 500 hands; another, the property of
Richard Bashall, Esq., employs a like number; and a
third, the property of Richard Ashworth, Esq., employs
250. Among the seats in the vicinity are, Lostock Hall,
the residence of William Clayton, Esq.; Withy Grove,
the residence of Mr. Eccles; and Lostock House, the
residence of Mr. Bashall. Bamber-Bridge House, the
original seat of the Clayton family, is now divided into
several dwellings. The Blackburn and Preston railway
has a station at this place. The living is a perpetual
curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of Blackburn, with
a net income of £150, and a residence. The church,
dedicated to Our Saviour, is a very neat structure in the
Romanesque style, with a graceful spire; it was built
in 1837, at a cost of £2200. Robert Townley Parker,
Esq., of Cuerden Hall, has erected a vault under the
chancel, as the future burial-place of his family. There
is a national and Sunday school, in which more than
400 children receive instruction.
Bambrough (St. Aidan)
BAMBROUGH (St. Aidan), a parish, in the union
of Belford, N. division of Bambrough ward and of
Northumberland; comprising the chapelries of Beadnell, Lucker, and North Sunderland, and the townships
of Adderstone, Bambrough, Bambrough-Castle, Bradford, Budle, Burton, Elford, Fleetham, Glororum, Hoppen, Mouson, Newham, Newstead, Outchester, Ratchwood, Shorestone, Spindlestone, Swinhoe, Tughall,
Warenford, and Warenton; and containing 4231 inhabitants, of whom 375 are in the township of Bambrough,
4¾ miles (E. by N.) from Belford. Bambrough, originally called Bebbanburg, was prior to the Conquest a
royal burgh, and the residence of several of the kings
of Northumbria. It sent two members to parliament in
the 23rd of Edward I., and in the reign of Edward III.
furnished one ship for the expedition against Calais;
it had also a market, which has long been discontinued.
The surrounding district, formerly called Bambroughshire, was a separate franchise, in the possession of
various privileges, now become obsolete. The village
occupies an airy and pleasant situation near the sea and
Budle bay. The living is a perpetual curacy; net income, £121; patron, the Trustees of Lord Crewe, who,
with other proprietors, are the impropriators. The
church, with another long since in ruins, was given by
Henry I. to the priory of Nostel in Yorkshire, whereupon a small convent of Augustine canons was founded
here, in 1137, as a cell to that priory, the revenue of
which at the Dissolution was £124. 15. 7. There were
also a college, an hospital dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, and a house of Preaching Friars. At Beadnell,
Lucker, and North Sunderland are separate incumbencies. The church estate, which is situated at Fowberry,
in Bambrough township, consists of a farmhouse, outbuildings, and about 63 acres of land, let for £100 per
annum.
Bambrough-Castle
BAMBROUGH-CASTLE, a township, in the parish,
and N. division of the ward, of Bambrough, union of
Belford, N. division of Northumberland, 5 miles
(E. by N.) from Belford; containing 59 inhabitants.
This township is principally distinguished for its castle,
built about the middle of the sixth century, by Ida, the
first Anglo-Saxon king of Northumbria. In 642 it was
besieged by Penda, King of Mercia, who, after an unsuccessful attempt to set it on fire, was compelled to
retreat. In the beginning of the eighth century, Berthfrid, guardian of Osred, the young Northumbrian king,
defended it against the usurper Eadulph, who was taken
prisoner and put to death. It was plundered and almost
demolished by the Danes in 993, but was soon restored.
After the Norman Conquest it was held by Robert de
Mowbray, on whose insurrection against William Rufus
it was besieged, and, after an obstinate defence, surrendered to that monarch, who threatened, unless it were
given up, to put out the eyes of Mowbray, who had
been taken prisoner. During the war between Stephen
and the Empress Matilda, and the protracted struggle
between the houses of York and Lancaster, the castle
sustained repeated sieges: it was taken in 1463 by
Margaret of Anjou, queen of Henry VI., on her route
to Hexham, after landing at Berwick, on her return from
France, and at length became dilapidated in the reign of
Henry VII. The castle and manor were granted in the
reign of James II. to John Forster, one of whose descendants having joined the Pretender, they were confiscated to the crown, and were purchased by Lord
Crewe, Bishop of Durham, who, in 1720, devised to
trustees his manors of Bambrough and Blanchland, then
producing £1312 and now £8126 per annum, for charitable purposes. The income is appropriated to the
erection and repair of churches, the support of exhibitions and fellowships, the relief of the poor, the foundation and endowment of schools, the maintenance of the
establishment at Bambrough Castle, the improvement of
Sunderland harbour (for which £5000 have been paid
out of the funds), and various improvements along the
coast. Under the direction of Dr. Sharp, Archdeacon
of Durham, the castle was repaired in 1757, the keep
being set apart for the occasional residence of the
trustees; and the whole is maintained in repair, with
its furniture, by an estate left by Dr. Sharp for the
purpose.
The castle is situated on the summit of a steep rock,
which projects into the sea and rises perpendicularly to
the height of 150 feet above low-water mark, being
accessible only on the south-east side, where is the
ancient gateway flanked with a circular tower on each
side, and formerly defended by a trench cut through a
narrow isthmus communicating with the main land.
Within a short distance of this is a more modern gateway, with a portcullis; and a little further on is a round
tower. The keep, which is of Norman architecture,
and the most ancient part of the building, is a lofty
square structure. In 1773, the ruins of a church or
chapel, erected in the castle during the Norman period,
were discovered; and the font, richly carved, is preserved, among other curiosities, in the keep. In the
castle-yard are granaries, in which corn is stored to be
sold to the poor at proper times; and a market is
opened every Tuesday and Friday, when the industrious
poor are supplied with meal and grocery at the cost
price. In another part of the castle-yard is a dispensary,
at which a surgeon attends twice every week; and from
the surplus revenue the trustees have established two
national schools, for which schoolrooms have been appropriated in the castle, and which are free to all poor
children who may come. Thirty girls, between the
ages of nine and sixteen, are admitted to board and
lodge, and are likewise provided with clothes and washing. In 1778, the trustees founded a library, to which
Dr. Sharp generously bequeathed the whole of his
valuable books, including the greater part of the library
of Dr. Sharp, Archbishop of York; and this collection,
including nearly 6000 volumes, is open to persons residing in the neighbourhood, under certain regulations.
A principal object of the establishment is also to afford
assistance to shipwrecked mariners.
Bamburgh.—See Baumber.
BAMBURGH.—See Baumber.
Bamford
BAMFORD, a hamlet, in the parish of Hathersage,
union of Chapel-en-le-Frith, hundred of High Peak,
N. division of the county of Derby, 6¼ miles (N. by W.)
from Stoney-Middleton; containing 297 inhabitants,
and comprising 1456 acres, of which 700 are common
or waste. The impropriate tithes have been commuted
for £33. 9., and the vicarial for £4; there is a glebe of
33 acres.
Bamford, Lancashire.—See Birtle.
BAMFORD, Lancashire.—See Birtle.