Part 24

Traces of ancient vineyards are abundant in this county. At Great Hampton is a place called "Vineyard Hill," where a vinery was established in the Conqueror's time. ("_Et vinea novella ibi_," Domesday.) In South Littleton is "Vineyard Orchard," "Vine Street" in Evesham, and "Vineyard Hill" near that town. At Pensax is a field called "The Vineyard," and there is a tradition that a Mr. King, about a century ago, endeavoured to establish there a vineyard of considerable extent, and created an artificial atmosphere by means of flues spread over the piece of land. The appearance of the field justifies the tradition. Is there any allusion to this wild scheme in the archives of the Dean and Chapter, to whom the land belonged? In the rector's garden at Fladbury is the supposed site of the "Vineyards," which in the time of Henry III were cultivated there--(_Item percepit duas paries decimarum terrarum quondam ubi vineæ fuerunt apud Fladbury_: Priory Ledger.) Vines still flourish and ripen well in that garden. To the south of Astley church, across the road, lies the "Church-bank," whereon, tradition says, the monks of Astley Priory were wont to cultivate the vine; and traces are still visible of terraces whereon probably the vines were planted. Documents exist relative to vineyards at Ripple, Leigh, Sedgberrow, and Elmley Castle; and at Droitwich is a place called "The Vines;" "Vine Hill" and the "Vineyards," at Doddenham; "The Vinne," "Vinne Orchard," "Big Vinne," "Little Vinne," and "Great Viney," at Abberley; "Vineyard," in Stoke Bliss; "The Vineyard," Powick (belonging to St. Martin's parish, and appropriated to the repairs of the church); "The Vineyard," Lower Mitton, &c. Some writers have supposed that the Romans planted vines in Britain. Tacitus intimates that the olive and the vine were deficient here; but it is clear from Bede and others that they were cultivated at a subsequent period, and perhaps were neglected only when the inhabitants found they could purchase better wines at a low price from France, or employ their lands to greater advantage by growing corn. (See also the chapter on Bishop Swinfield's Roll, p. 146.)

ECHOES.

Mr. Allies, in his "Antiquities and Folk-lore," mentions a remarkable echo at the Upper House, Alfrick, which is so distinct that it will allow about ten syllables to be uttered before it begins to repeat them. A pointer-dog in the neighbourhood used to resort to the spot, and bark till he was tired at his supposed antagonist. Nash records that in the parish of Bromsgrove were several echoes--one at the white gate, between Dyer's bridge and the turnpike; another in the Crown Close behind High Street; a third at the east and west corners of the church; a fourth at Woodcot; and a fifth on the east side of High Street, near the Presbyterian meeting-house, opposite New Barn. Whether any of these mocking nymphs have left their cells since the days of Nash, the writer is unable to say. There is a good echo in the Bath Road, about two miles from Worcester Cross, and another on Lansdowne Terrace. In the garden of Chaddesley Corbett vicarage an echo is produced by the tolling of the great bell of the church, which, after an interval of two or three seconds, returns distinctly upon the ear, as though it were the tolling of the bell of Stone church, which is two miles distant.

THE LAST FOOL.

The last country gentleman who kept a fool--that is, a professional jester--in his house, was said to have been Mr. Bartlett, of Castlemorton. Jack Havod, or Hafod, was the name of "the squire's fool," and his tricks and drolleries were remembered by the inhabitants of Castlemorton long after his death, and are related even in the present day. It is still a common saying there--"As big a fool as Jack Havod;" and it is also told of him that on one occasion he was assisting in storing peas in a barn, and there being insufficient room for the crop, Jack very coolly shovelled them out of a window into a pool of water underneath, saying, "We've got a vent for them now;" and to this day it is a proverb in the neighbourhood--"We've got a vent for them, as Jack Havod said."

NOTES ON ELMLEY LOVETT.

The only doctor of medicine known to have resided in this parish for the last 200 years was John Aaron, Esq., of the Moat House, Cutnal Green, who died in 1767, aged 83. He was descended from an ancient family of Little Drayton, near Shiffnal, Salop.--Dr. Wanley, of Elmley Lodge, who died in 1776, aged 69, was the only "D.D." that has held that rectory for the last two centuries.--Between the river Salwarpe and Bury-hill Estate, near Droitwich, is some meadow land belonging to the parish of Elmley Lovett. This land is more than two miles distant from the nearest boundary of the parish, and there runs some part of three other parishes between it, viz., Elmbridge, Hampton, and Salwarpe. The area of this land is about five acres, and is the property of Mr. Roberts, and rented by a gentleman at Droitwich, who pays the rates to Elmley Lovett.

COUNTY MAGISTRATES' WAGES.

By a statute as old as the time of Richard II, County Magistrates were allowed to make a charge of 4s. per day, and the Clerk of the Peace 2s., as wages for attending Quarter Sessions. That charge has been regularly made and allowed by the Sheriff up to the close of last year (1855), when the ancient statute was repealed by the passing of the Criminal Justice Act, 18th and 19th Victoria, chap. 126. In this county these wages were clubbed together as a dinner and wine fund for the magistrates, but the old practice is now discontinued, and the magistrates will henceforth be thrown upon their own resources. In the year 1810 a long and bitter controversy, at one time wearing a serious aspect, arose among the magistracy of this county, in consequence of Mr. Welch, the chairman, having been charged by Mr. Johnson, a fellow magistrate, with misappropriating a part of these "justice wages" that had been intrusted to him. The Bench acquitted Mr. Welch.

ROYAL VISIT TO KING'S NORTON.

There is a common tradition at King's Norton that Queen Elizabeth came thither, and was entertained at an ancient house adjoining the churchyard, probably the residence of the Manorial Bailiff; but the name of the Queen has perhaps been mistaken for that of Henrietta Maria, wife of Charles I, she, according to Dugdale's Diary (p. 52), having come to King's Norton from Walsall on July 10, 1643. The manor was part of the Queen's dower.

CROMWELL'S PARLIAMENT.

Names of the members for Worcestershire returned for Cromwell's second Parliament, July, 1654: Sir Robert Rouse, Knt. and Bart., Edward Pitt, Esq., Nicholas Lechmere, Esq., John Bridges, Esq., Talbot Badger, Esq., (Worcester City), William Collins, Esq. (ditto), Edward Elvines, Alderman (ditto). The names of the gentlemen returned to Parliament on September 17, 1656, are--Major-General James Berry, Colonel of Horse, and Major-General of the counties of Worcester, Hereford, and Salop, and also North Wales; Sir Thomas Rouse, Bart., Edward Pitt, of Kiere Park, Esq., Nicholas Lechmere, Esq. (Attorney of the Duchy of Lancaster), John Nanfan, Esq., Worcester City.--Edmund Giles, Esq., one of the Masters in Chancery, who married a relation of the Lord Protector; William Collins, Esq.

WORCESTERSHIRE ROYALISTS COMPOUNDING.

By an ordinance of the Parliament[10] made on the 31st of March, 1643, it was ordained that the estates of the two Archbishops and twelve of the Bishops, including the Bishops of Worcester, Hereford, Gloucester, and Coventry and Lichfield, and of all persons ecclesiastical and temporal as had raised arms or been in active war against the Parliament, or had voluntarily contributed any money, horse, plate, arms, munition, or other aid or assistance, towards the maintenance of any forces against the Parliament, should be sequestered.

[10] This ordinance will be found in extenso in Scobell's Collection of Acts and Ordinances of Parliament (a work in the Worcester Law Library) p. 37.

The owners of these estates were allowed to pay a composition for the restoration of their property. A list of the compounders and the sum paid by each was printed in 1655 by Richard Dring. The following is a copy of the title page of this work:

"A Catalogue of the Lords, Knights, and Gentlemen, that have compounded for their estates. London: Printed for Thomas Dring, at the signe of the George in Fleet-street, neare Clifford's Inn. 1655."

[Extract so far as relates to Worcestershire.]

£. s. d. Acton, George, Stilden, Worcest., Esq. 0120 00 00 Ablely, John, of Worcester, Yeoman 0010 16 00 Berkley, Sir Rowland, of Cotheridg, Com. Worcester 2030 00 00 Bromley, Henry, Holt Castle, Worc., Esq. 4000 00 00 Bushell, Anthony, Cleeve Prior, Worc. 0005 00 00 Barkley, Thomas, of Worc., Gent. 0423 13 04 Broad, Edm., of Stone, Worc., Gent. 0115 00 00 Bache, Tho., of Worc. Citty, Gent. 0002 10 00 Bayly, Thomas, of Evesham, Worc. 0003 06 08 Clare, Sir Ralph, Cawdwell, Worc. 0298 00 00 Churge, Burbage, of Worc., Gent. 0008 06 08 Child, Will., of Shrawley, Worc., Esq. 1844 18 08 Cupper, Henry, Woodcock, Worc., Gent. 0101 15 00 Davis, Edward, Droitwich, Worc., Gent. 0190 00 00 Day, Philip, of Witchfield, Worc., Gent. 0015 00 00 Defell, Thos., Senior, Sturbridg, Worc. 0060 00 00 Evet, John, of Woodhall, Worc., Gent. 0225 00 00 Evans, William, of Worcester, Gent. 0359 00 00 Freeman, John, of Buckley, Worc., Gent. 0380 00 00 Fortescue, John, Cookhill, Esq. 0234 15 5 Hacket, Henry, Grymley, Worc., Gent. 0300 00 00 Herbert, Sir Hen., of Ribsford, Worc., Knt. 1330 00 00 Ingram, Henry, of St. Jones, Worc. 0021 00 00 Lawrance, Giles, Bengworth, Worc. 0016 13 04 Littleton, Sir Edward, _p._ Fisher Littleton, and Francis Nevell, Esq. 1347 06 08 Midlemore, Robert, Mosley, Worcester, Gent. 0400 00 00 Mucklow, Thomas, Arley, Worcester, Gent. 0045 00 00 Midlemore, George, of King's Norton, Com. Worcester, Esq. 0167 14 08 Mucklow, William, of Arley, Worcester, Gent. 0360 00 00 Moore, Francis, Seavern Stock, Worcester, Gent. 0121 00 00 Not, Sir Thomas, of Obden, Com. Worcester, Knight 0354 07 00 Norwood, Henry, Bishampton, Worcester 0015 00 00 Nanfan, Bridges, of Worcester, Gent. 0080 00 00 Packington, Sir John, of Alisbury, Buckingham, Baronet, with £190 per annum, as settled 5000 00 00 Pennel, Edward, Lineridge, Worcester, Gent. 0060 00 00 Pitts, Scudamore, St. John's, Worcester 0018 00 00 Russel, Sir William, of Strentham, Worcester, Baronet, with £50 per annum setled for £10 1800 00 00 Shelden, William, of Bromsgrave, Worcester 0096 00 00 Shrimpton, Iohn, Norton, Worcester 0000 12 00 Sandis, Martin, Ombersly, Worcester, Gent. 0041 03 04 Stratford, Anthony, Bushly, Worcester, Gent. 0040 00 00 Shrimpton, Thomas, of Kingsham, Worc. 0000 16 00 Sands, Sir Martin, of St. Michael in Bedwardine, Worcester, with £50 per annum setled 0210 00 00 Seabright, Sir Edward, Besford, Worcester 1809 00 00 Talbot, Sherrington, Salwarp, Worcester 2011 00 00 Tyat, Daniel, of Worcester, Apothecary 0270 00 00 Tomkins, Nathaniel, Elmridge, Worcester 0208 16 08 Twitty, Thomas, of Claines, Worcester, Gent. 0002 10 00 Tyrer, John, of Ludley, Worcester, Gent. 0650 00 00 Twynning, John, of Fladbury, Worcester, Yeoman 0019 10 08 Vernon, Edward, of Hanbury, Worcester, Gent. 0400 00 00 Wilde, Robert, of Worc., Gent. 0576 00 00 Washburn, John, Wickenford, Worc., Gent. 0797 10 00 Winford, Sir John, of Astly, Worcst., Knight 0703 13 00 Wainwright, Robert, of Hol, Worcester 0001 00 00 Washington, Henry, of Worcester, Gent. 0015 00 00 Wainwright, Francis, Holt, Worcest., Yeoman 0012 00 00

To this payment Worcestershire does not appear to have been very heavily charged, as the entire list contains upwards of 3500 names, extending over the whole of England and Wales. The largest payment was that made by Baptist Noel Lord Cambden, which amounted to £9000, "with £150 per annum settled," which in the case of Sir Richard Tancred, Knt., is explained to be "settled on the Ministry." The smallest payment is that of Mr. John Shrimpton above-mentioned. It is stated in the "Pictorial History of England" [vol. iii, p. 525] that by these compositions above £4,500,000 were raised in England, and £1,000,000 in Ireland.

A QUADRUPLE ALLIANCE.

About the year 1823 were born at Bromsgrove four _female_ children at a birth, all of whom lived for many years. They were the children of Mr. and Mrs. Robinson, who had five other children, all single births. The writer of this note saw them when about three months old, when they were small for their age. He saw them again when they were about ten years old. They were then very pretty children, with dark hair and eyes. Three of them were very much alike, and exactly of the same height and size. The fourth resembled the others, but was about half a head shorter.

A VIRTUOUS PARISH.

It is a remarkable fact, that from October 2nd, 1842, to October 23rd, 1848, during which period there were entered in the parish register of Suckley 106 baptisms, not one illegitimate birth took place; but this happy state of things did not continue, for in the next six years, ending October, 1854, with 89 entries, there were 5 illegitimate births. Thus, during the last twelve years, the latter have numbered scarcely 1 in 38 of the rising population of Suckley. The average throughout the kingdom is 1 in 16. It is rather a singular coincidence that the illegitimate births, and consequently the illegitimate portion of the community, bear the same proportion to the general population as the paupers do, viz., 1 in 16. This remark must, however, be somewhat modified, for although it cannot be classed amongst _statistical facts_, it is probable that there die a larger proportion of illegitimate than legitimate children.

DROITWICH BRINE.

A correspondent says that the Droitwich brine has for a considerable time been declining in strength; so much so, that constant complaints emanate from the working men that they have considerable difficulty in earning the ordinary wages of labourers; and the coal which is consumed in manufacturing a ton of salt is considerably more than was formerly required. By some of the practical men of the place this deterioration is attributed to the excessive consumption of the last few years, and to the immense quantity that has been wantonly pumped into the river and canal; but the correspondent suggests the probability of the pits being insecure, and in consequence the fresh water mingling with the brine, and thus reducing its natural strength. It has always been an error (according to his opinion) that shafts should be sunk down to the brine, as they enlarge the difficulty of keeping out the water considerably more than the old-fashioned small bore-holes.

SMALL PARISHES.

The smallest parishes in Worcestershire are Oldberrow, Doverdale, Daylesford, Edvin Loach, Abberton, Bredicot, and Little Shelsley. The last named place contains the smallest population, being but 49 in 1851; Bredicot, 67; Abberton, 80 (although the worthy clerk alone mustered 19 children in his own family); Edvin Loach, 69; Daylesford, 66; Doverdale, 56 (here there are but five houses in the parish, besides the rectory and mill, and there is no recollection of any labourer's cottage being in existence); and Oldberrow, about 50 (here also is no labourer's cottage, and the only child in the parish is the rector's little boy; the parson's surplice fees in eleven years amounted to _one shilling only_, and but one interment took place during that time).

A CONTRADICTION.

The parish of Offenham is remarkable for some of the richest land and one of the poorest churches in the county of Worcester.

QUEEN ELIZABETH'S ARREARS.

A paragraph recently appeared in the London publication, known as "Notes and Queries," as follows:

"'Good Queen Bess,' when she visited Worcester, borrowed £200 of the Corporation, which still stands as a 'bad debt' on the town books."

On the occasion of the Royal visit alluded to, a "fare cupp" was bought at London "for the presenting the gyfte to the Queen's Majestie, and xl. pounds in sov'raignes and angells of her own coign and stamp;" a crimson velvet purse, with £20 in it, was also presented to the Queen on her visit to the Cathedral. The total outlay by the city for entertaining her Majesty was £173. 8s. 4d., but the writer is not aware of any record of the Queen's having borrowed £200, or of such an item standing as a "bad debt" on the books, which he has closely examined from a date prior to the Queen's visit.

WORCESTERSHIRE TOKENS--SEVENTEENTH CENTURY.

Traders' tokens were issued from the year 1648, towards the close of the reign of Charles I, until the year 1672, when they were cried down by proclamation of Charles II, and a new copper currency issued, the first we had in England, all previously being Royal tokens. During the Commonwealth they were not very numerous, but after the Restoration, in 1660, to the year 1672, they are exceedingly abundant, and were issued in nearly every town and village in England. They were issued without authority, no doubt, as many of them state, for necessary change. In London alone nearly 4000 were issued, and the remainder of England are estimated at 15,000 more. In the year 1669 (when this kind of coinage was first checked) the citizens of Norwich had a pardon granted them for all transgressions, and in particular for their coinage of halfpence and farthings, by which they had forfeited their charter, all coinage being declared to be the King's prerogative; and in 1670 the Worcester Corporation petitioned his Majesty's pardon for "putting out farthings in this city." The following list of Worcestershire tokens, recently published by Mr. W. Boyne, in "Aris's Birmingham Gazette," I now reprint, with a few additions:

WORCESTER.

1. (_Obverse_) A WORCESTER FARTHING Arms of Worcester; a castle with a bird above it. (_Reverse_) FOR NECESSARIE CHAING C. W. (City of Worcester) Value. 1667 1/4d. 2. RICHARD ALDNEY 1/2d.

3. _O._ EDWARD BARON OF YE CITTY E.B. conjoined. _R._ OF WORCESTER HIS HALF PENY Arms of Worcester; three pears 1/2d. 4. _O._ RICHARD BEDDOES OF YE Arms of Worcester. (16)59. _R._ CITTY OF WORCESTER Mercers' Arms. R. B. 1/4d.

5. _O._ RICHARD BEDOES Arms of Worcester. _R._ HIS HALFE PENNY Mercers' Arms. R. B. 1/2d.

6. A variety with the date 1664.

7. _O._ JOHN CHERRY HIS HALF Arms of Worcester. _R._ PENY IN WORCESTER 1664 I. S. C. 1/2d.

8. _O._ WILL. CHETLE IN BROD STRT. IN Merchant's mark. W. S. C. _R_. WORSTER CLO. HIS HALF PENY Arms of Worcester. 1/2d.

9. _O._ WILLIAM CHETTLE 1666 Merchant's mark. W. C. _R._ OF WORCESTER, CLOTHIER Arms of Worcester 1/4d.

10. _O._ HIS HALFE PENNY 1667 WILL. COLBATCH _R._ THE CITTY OF WORCESTER Arms of Worcester 1/2d.

11. _O._ WILLIAM COLBATCH OF W. C. conjoined. _R._ YE CITTY OF WORCESTER Arms of Worcester 1/4d.

12. WILL. FINCH 1/2d.

13. DITTO 1/4d.

14. THOS. FOWNE 1/4d.

15. THOS. HACKETT 1/2d.

16. JOHN HURDMAN 1/2d.

17. _O._ JOHN HILL DISTILLER Arms of Worcester. _R._ CITTY OF WORCESTER (16)64 HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

18. _O._ THOMAS JONES 1669 A hat and glove; Feltmakers' Arms. _R._ IN WORCESTER HIS HALF PENY 1/2d.

19. JOHN JONES 1/2d.

20. _O._ JOHN LILLIE IN WORCESTER Weavers' Arms. _R._ HIS HALFE PENNY 1667 Arms of Worcester 1/2d.

21. _O._ ARTHUR LLOYD IN Arms of Worcester. _R._ WORCESTER. 1663 HIS HALFE PENY 1/2d.

22. _O._ WILL MOORE OF WORCESTER Arms of Worcester. _R._ HIS HALFE PENNY 1668 Mercers' Arms. W. M. 1/2d.

23. EDWARD PRITCHETT 1/2d.

24. _O._ FRAN. RICHARDSON OF YE CITTY Arms of Worcester _R._ WORCESTER, HIS HALF PENNY F. A. R. 1/2d.

25. _O._ HIS HALFE PENY 1664 JOHN SEABORN _R._ THE CITTIE OF WORCESTER Arms of Worcester 1/2d.

26. JAMES SMITHIN 1/2d.

27. _O._ HIS HALF PENY 1662 WILL. SWIFT _R._ THE CITTY OF WORCESTER Arms of Worcester 1/2d.

28. A variety is without date, and the centre is brass, the other part copper 1/2d.

29. Another variety has the date 1663.

30. _O._ WILLIAM SWIFT OF YE W. S. conjoined. _R._ CITTY OF WORCESTER Arms of Worcester 1/4d.

31. A variety is silvered, and has the initial S. joined to the last limb of W.; in the other it is joined to the first limb 1/4d.

32. _O._ JOHN TUBERVILLE Arms of Worcester _R._ WORCESTER HIS HALF PENNY Mercers' Arms. I. T. 1/2d.

There were 36 of these tokens coined at Worcester, Rd. Bedoes having issued three varieties besides those attached to his name above, and Wm. Colbatch another variety.

BENGEWORTH.

33. _O._ EDWARD PITTWAY AT THE A lion rampant. _R._ RED LION IN BENGEWORTE E.F.P. 1/4d.

BEWDLEY.

34. _O._ THE WARDENS HALFE PENY OF BEWDLEY In four lines across the field. _R._ 1668. An anchor between a sword and rose (Octagonal) 1/2d.

35. _O._ SAMUELL CART A lion passant. _R._ IN BEAUDLY 1653 S.M.C. 1/4d.

36. _O._ THOMAS DEDICOT, GROCER, HIS HALF PENNY In five lines across the field. _R._ IN BEWDLEY (Three cloves.) SQUARE DEALING (SQUARE) 1/2d.

37. _O._ WALTER PALMER OF A hat. _R._ BEWDLEY, CAPPER 1656 W.A.P. 1/4d.

BROADWAY.

38. _O._ MICHAELL RUSSELL A dog. _R._ OF BROADWAY 1670 M.A.B. 1/2d.

BROMSGROVE.

39. _O._ HENRY JEFFREYS Grocers' Arms. _R._ IN BROMSGROVE H.I. 1/4d.