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Lambourn in Berks County England History and GeographyLAMBOURN, a parish in the hundred of LAMBOURN, county of BERKS, comprising the market town of Chipping-Lambourn, and the tythings of Blagrave with Hadley, Eastbury with Bockhampton, and Upper Lambourn, and containing 2299 inhabitants, of which number, 1096 are in the town of Chipping-Lambourn, 5 miles (N.) from Hungerford, and 68 (W.) from London. This place formed part of the dower of Ealswitha, Queen of Alfred the Great, and continued in royal demesne under Edward the Confessor; after the Conquest it was given to the baronial family of Fitzwarren, at whose instance a market and three fairs were granted to it by Henry III. The town is pleasantly situated in a hilly district, near the source of a small rivulet of the same name, and which has the peculiar property that, during the summer months it has a full stream, which, decreasing about October, for a few of the winter months, sometimes leaves the channel perfectly dry. The streets are neither paved nor lighted; the inhabitants are supplied with water from wells: in the centre of the town is an ancient cross, consisting of a tall pillar, approached by a circular ascent of steps, and surmounted by an ornamented capital, supposed to have been originally the figure of a sphynx, but now nearly obliterated. The market is on Friday; fairs are held on May 12th, October 14th, and December 4th, chiefly for cattle. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Berks, and diocese of Salisbury, rated in the king's books at £10. 11. 10½., and in the patronage of the Dean of St. Paul's. The church, which is dedicated to St. Michael, is an ancient and handsome cruciform structure, in the early style of English architecture, with a square embattled tower rising from the intersection, and containing a peal of eight bells; in the interior are two chantry chapels, in one of which the inmates of the adjoining almshouses assemble every morning for prayers, kneeling around the tomb of the founder, Mr. John Isbury, who died in 1372. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists. Here are two free schools, one erected in 1735, by Organ Hippisley, Esq., and endowed with a small rent-charge for teaching eight boys to read and write: a Sunday school has been united to this institution, in which from sixty to one hundred children are taught to read, and for this an additional stipend is raised by subscription. Another school was founded, in 1792, by John Serjent, and endowed with a messuage and rent-charge of £11, for the education of twenty-five children; the master and children to be appointed by the vicar and church wardens of the parish. On the north side of the church is an hospital, founded, in 1502, by the son of the above-mentioned John Isbury, for ten poor men, who are nominated by the Warden and Fellows of New College, Oxford. From Lewis's Topographical Dictionary of England 1831, courtesy of Databases 4 Sale |
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