Site-Search
Coming Soon
|
Site-Search |
|
Page and site |
|
Hallaton in Leicester County England History and GeographyHALLATON, a parish (formerly a market town) in the hundred of GARTREE, county of LEICESTER, 7 miles (N.E. by N.) from Market-Harborough, and 90 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 664 inhabitants. The name is supposed by some to be a corruption of Hollow-town, in allusion to its being situated in a valley, or hollow spot; by others it is derived from Holy town. The market-cross is still standing, hat the market has not been held within the memory of the present inhabitants. An attempt was made to revive it in 1767, which proved abortive, owing in a great measure to the badness of the roads, which were then nearly impassable in winter. Fairs are held for cattle on Holy Thursday, and on the third Thursday after it. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Leicester, and diocese of Lincoln, formerly in medieties, which were united in 1728: the north mediety is rated in the king's books at £18. 13. 4., and the south mediety at £17. 6. 8.: it is held with the annexed donative of Blaston St. Michael, and is in the alternate patronage of the Rev. Calverley John Bewicke, and the Rev. George. Ouseley Fenwicke. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large and handsome edifice, consisting of a nave, aisles, chancel, and a western tower, with a spire: the aisles are of the same height with the nave, and lighted by fine large windows, decorated with mullions and elaborate tracery: it contains an ancient square font, supported by columns ornamented with grotesque heads. There is a place of worship for Baptists. A charity school has an endowment of £20 per annum, arising from different benefactions; and there are several charitable bequests for annual distribution among the poor. On the western side of the town, at the distance of a mile, is the site of an ancient fortress, called Hallaton Castle hill: the most conspicuous part of the remains is a conical eminence, one hundred and eighteen feet high, and six hundred and thirty feet in circumference, on which stood the keep, occupying, with the outworks, about two acres of ground. About a quarter of a mile south-west of this spot are traces of another fortress of nearly the same extent. A battle is said to have been fought near this town, and these vestiges lend countenance to the tradition, as also does the name of Blood-wood, affixed to a neighbouring spot. Hallaton is distinguished by a singular annual custom which is thus described: on every Easter Monday the inhabitants meet on a piece of ground which was bequeathed to the use and benefit of the rector, who then provides two hare pies, a quantity of ale, and two dozen of penny loaves, to be scrambled for. Attempts have been made to put down this custom, and appropriate the bequest to charitable purposes; but so attached are the inhabitants to it, that these efforts have always failed, and on one oceasion a riot was the result. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
Readers of this page were also interested in: Bedford County England History and Geograhy BEDFORD, a borough and market town, having separate jurisdiction, in the county of BEDFORD, 10 miles (N.W.) from Biggleswade, and 50 (N.N.W.) from London, containing 5466 inhabitants Chesham in Buckingham County England History and Geography CHESHAM, a market town and parish in the hundred of BURNHAM, county of BUCKS, 30 miles (S.E.) from Buckingham, and 29 (N.W. by W.) from London, comprising the chapelry of Lattimers with its hamlets of Waterside and Botley, and the hamlets of Ashley-Green, Billington, Chartridge, and Hundridge with Ashbridge, and containing 5032 inhabitants Leyland in Lancaster County England History and Geography LEYLAND, a parish in the hundred of LEYLAND, county palatine of LANCASTER, comprising the chapelries of Euxton, Heapey, Hoghton, and Whittle le Woods, and the townships of Clayton le Woods, Cuerden, Leyland, Wheelton, and Withnell, and containing 12,959 inhabitants, of which number, 3173 are in the township of Leyland, 4½ miles (N.W.) from Chorley Northwich in Cheshire County England History and Geography NORTHWICH, a market town in the parochial chapelry of WITTON, which is included in that part of the parish of GREAT BUDWORTH which is in the hundred of NORTHWICH, county palatine of CHESTER, 17½ miles (E.N.E.) from Chester, and 173 (N.W.) from London, containing 1490 inhabitants. The name of this place is intended to point out its situation with regard to the other wiches, or salt towns Orford in Suffolk County England History and Geography ORFORD, a borough and parish, formerly a market town, having separate jurisdiction, though locally in the hundred of Plomesgate, county of SUFFOLK, 20 miles (E. by N.) from Ipswich, and 89 (N.E. by E.) from London, containing, with the hamlet of Gedgrave, 1119 inhabitants. This was formerly a place of trade and importance, but has been reduced to an inconsiderable hamlet Potton in Bedford County England History and Geography POTTON, a market town and parish in the hundred of BIGGLESWADE, county of BEDFORD, 11½ miles (E.) from Bedford, and 48 (N. by W.) from London, containing 1498 inhabitants |
