Moorhouse
MOORHOUSE, a township, in the parish of Burghupon-the-Sands, union of Carlisle, Cumberland
ward, E. division of Cumberland, 4½ miles (W. by N.)
from the city of Carlisle; containing 293 inhabitants.
There is a meeting-house for the Society of Friends.
Moorhouse
MOORHOUSE, a township, in the parish and union
of Houghton-le-Spring, N. division of Easington
ward and of the county of Durham, 3½ miles (N. E.) from
Durham; containing 45 inhabitants. In the seventeenth
century this township was the seat, in succession, of the
families of Ingleby and Roper. It lies on the extreme
western verge of the parish, near the river Wear, and
comprises by measurement 220 acres, of which 140 are
arable, 68 grass, and 12 wood: the few houses are convenient to the road from Durham to Sunderland.
Moorhouse
MOORHOUSE, a chapelry, in the parish of Laxton, or Lexington, union of Southwell, South Clay
division of the wapentake of Bassetlaw, N. division of
the county of Nottingham, 3¼ miles (S. S. E.) from the
town of Tuxford; containing 77 inhabitants. The
chapel is a small ancient edifice.
Moorlinch (St. Mary)
MOORLINCH (St. Mary), a parish, in the union
of Bridgwater, hundred of Whitley, W. division of
the county of Somerset, 7 miles (E.) from Bridgwater;
containing 2281 inhabitants, of whom 331 are in the
hamlet. This parish, which is situated on the Bath and
Exeter road, comprises by measurement 1083 acres; the
substratum consists of a blue and white lias, of excellent
quality for building, and well adapted for mantel-pieces
and other ornamental uses. The living is a discharged
vicarage, valued in the king's books at £10; net income,
£440; patron and incumbent, the Rev. R. J. Luscombe;
impropriators, Mr. Gould, Mr. Sherston, and the Rev.
Mr. Baker. The church is a handsome structure, in the
later English style. At Stawell and Sutton-Mallet are
chapels of ease, of similar character; and at Burtle, Catcott, and Chilton-on-Poldon with Edington, are separate
incumbencies: the living of Burtle is in the gift of the
Bishop of Bath and Wells, with an income of £50.
There are places of worship for Independents. A cell
to the abbey of Glastonbury was maintained here.
Moorsholm or Moorsham
MOORSHOLM, or Moorsham, a township, in the
parish of Skelton, union of Guisborough, E. division
of the liberty of Langbaurgh, N. riding of York,
6 miles (E. by S.) from Guisborough; containing, with
Girrick, 316 inhabitants. Moorsham Magna and Parva,
which now together form the township, were anciently
two distinct manors, and at the time of the Domesday
survey, wherein the places are styled Morehusum, were
held by the Earl of Morton; they afterwards came, by
grant of the Conqueror, to the family of de Brus, and
from them descended to the Thwengs, Lumleys, and
others. The name is probably derived from the situation
of the township on the border of an extensive moor,
over which the road from Whitby to Guisborough now
runs. The area of Moorsholm is about 7075 acres, of
which 2806 are common or waste land: the village is
seated near a mountain rivulet which pursues a winding
course northward; and about a mile to the south is
Freeburg hill, a detached mountain of conical form,
which appears to have been in very ancient times a place
for assembling and transacting business of public importance. The tithes have been commuted for £180,
payable to the Archbishop of York. There is a meeting-house for dissenters.
Moorside
MOORSIDE, a hamlet, in the parish of Backwell,
union of Bedminster, hundred of Hartcliffe with
Bedminster, E. division of the county of Somerset;
containing 195 inhabitants.
Moorsley
MOORSLEY, a township, in the parish and union
of Houghton-le-Spring, N. division of Easington
ward and of the county of Durham, 4½ miles (E. N. E.)
from the city of Durham; containing 821 inhabitants.
This place was anciently called Moreslaw, "the Moorhill," and belonged to the convent of Durham, on the
dissolution of which the possessions of the institution
in Moorsley passed to the cathedral. The township
comprises 588a. 32p., whereof 355 acres are arable, 210
meadow and pasture, and 22 waste: the village lies on
a high bare brow, overlooking the vale of Houghton.
The Durham and Sunderland railway here joins the
Hartlepool railway. A modus of 20d. is paid annually
to the rector of Houghton in lieu of hay tithe, and the
other tithes have been commuted for £82. 12.
Moorthwaite
MOORTHWAITE, a township, in the parish of
Cumwhitton, union of Brampton, Eskdale ward, E.
division of the county of Cumberland, 10 miles (S. E.
by S.) from Carlisle; containing 75 inhabitants.
Moortown
MOORTOWN, a tything, in the parish of Fivehead, union of Langport, hundred of Abdick and
Bulstone, W. division of the county of Somerset;
containing 24 inhabitants.
Moor-Town
MOOR-TOWN, a township, in the parish of Brandsburton, union of Skirlaugh, N. division of the wapentake of Holderness, E. riding of York, 10 miles
(N. E.) from Beverley; containing 34 inhabitants.
This place, which derives its name from its situation,
anciently belonged to the Moore family, who flourished
here at a very early period. The township comprises
about 500 acres of land, set out in three farms; the soil
of the carrs in the vicinity has the black appearance
common to grounds long under water. The river Hull
passes on the west, and the road from Brandsburton to
Beeford on the east.
Moorwinstow (St. Morvenna)
MOORWINSTOW (St. Morvenna), a parish, in the
union and hundred of Stratton, E. division of Cornwall, 7¼ miles (S. E. by S.) from Stratton; containing
1050 inhabitants. This parish comprises 7300 acres, of
which 730 are common or waste; it is situated at the
northern extremity of the county, and is bounded on
the west by the Bristol Channel, and on the east by the
river Tamar, which, with the Torridge, has its source
here. The living is a vicarage, valued in the king's
books at £13. 10. 10.; patron, the Bishop of Exeter;
impropriator, D. Yonge, Esq. The great tithes have
been commuted for £390, and the vicarial for £365;
there is a glebe of 70 acres. The church is an interesting structure chiefly in the Norman style, abounding
with curious and elegant details; the south porch is a
highly-enriched specimen of Norman architecture. Here
is a place of worship for Wesleyans. Richard Stanbury,
Bishop of Hereford, who died in 1471, and Sir William
Adams, an eminent oculist, were natives of Stanbury, in
the parish.
Morborn (All Saints)
MORBORN (All Saints), a parish, in the union of
Peterborough, hundred of Norman-Cross, county of
Huntingdon, 2½ miles (N. W.) from Stilton; containing
93 inhabitants. It comprises by computation 1123
acres, of which about 600 are arable, and the remainder,
with the exception of a small portion of woodland,
pasture and meadow; the surface is flat, and the prevailing wood, elm, ash, and oak. The living is a rectory,
valued in the king's books at £10. 6. 10½., and in the
gift of R. E. Duncombe Shafto, Esq.: the tithes have
been commuted for £164. 14., and the glebe comprises
81½ acres. The church is an ancient structure, partly
Norman, and partly in the later English style.
Morchard, Bishop's (St. Mary)
MORCHARD, BISHOP'S (St. Mary), a parish, in
the union and hundred of Crediton, Crediton and N.
divisions of Devon, 6½ miles (N. W. by N.) from Crediton; containing 1880 inhabitants. There is a fair for
cattle on the Monday after September 8th. The living
is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £36, and in
the gift of R. H. Tuckfield, Esq.: the tithes have been
commuted for a rent-charge of £750, and the glebe
comprises 50 acres.
Morcott (St. Mary)
MORCOTT (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of
Uppingham, hundred of Wrandike, county of Rutland, 4¼ miles (E. by N.) from Uppingham; containing
516 inhabitants. It comprises 1248 acres, of which 40
are common or waste; the substratum abounds with
limestone and freestone of good quality for building.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at
£10. 19. 7., and in the patronage of Mrs. Mary Thorold:
the tithes have been commuted for £388, and the glebe
comprises 17 acres. The church is a very ancient
structure, in the Norman style, with a small spire
covered with lead. Here is a place of worship for Baptists. A national school is supported; and there are
almshouses for six persons, founded, and endowed with
land producing £30 per annum, by George Gilson, Esq.,
about a century since.
Morden
MORDEN, a parish, in the union of Wareham and
Purbeck, hundred of Loosebarrow, Wimborne division of Dorset, 6 miles (N.) from Wareham; containing, with the hamlets of Charborough, Sandford, and
Sherford, 1001 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage,
with the rectory of Charborough annexed, valued in the
king's books at £8. 4. 7.; net income, £287; patron
and impropriator, J. S. W. Drax, Esq.: the glebe comprises 90 acres. The church is an ancient building, with
an embattled tower crowned by pinnacles. There is a
place of worship for Wesleyans.
Morden (St. Lawrence)
MORDEN (St. Lawrence), a parish, in the union
of Croydon, Second division of the hundred of Wallington, E. division of Surrey, 1 mile (W. S. W.)
from Mitcham, and 10 miles (S. W. by S.) from London;
containing 685 inhabitants. This parish, which is
bounded by the river Wandle on the north-east, comprises by measurement 1426 acres; about one-half is
arable, and the remainder grass and garden-ground, with
a small portion of woodland, and 83 acres of common
or waste. There are two tobacco and snuff manufactories. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books
at £7. 12. 11., and in the gift of the Rev. R. S. Garth:
the tithes have been commuted for £420, and the glebe
comprises 14½ acres. The church, a small brick edifice
erected about 1636, has a large window of stained
glass, the ancient part of which is said to have belonged
to Merton Abbey. Several bequests for education,
amounting to about £30 per annum, are applied in aid
of a national school; and there are £1000 vested in
the three per cent. consols. for the support of a Sunday
school.
Morden, Guilden (St. Mary)
MORDEN, GUILDEN (St. Mary), a parish, in the
union of Royston, hundred of Armingford, county of
Cambridge, 5½ miles (E.) from Biggleswade; containing 808 inhabitants. The parish appears to have taken
the affix to its name from the decoration of the steeple
of its church with stripes of gilding. It is recorded that
Charles Yorke, son of the first lord Hardwicke, died
suddenly while the patent for raising him to the peerage
by the title of Baron Morden, taken from this place,
was in preparation. The living is a discharged vicarage,
valued in the king's books at £7. 3. 6.; net income,
£170; patrons, the Master and Fellows of Jesus College,
Cambridge; appropriator, the Bishop of Ely. The tithes
were commuted for land and a money payment, under
an act of inclosure, in the reign of George III.
Morden, Steeple (St. Peter and St. Paul)
MORDEN, STEEPLE (St. Peter and St. Paul), a
parish, in the union of Royston, hundred of Armingford, county of Cambridge, 5 miles (W. by N.) from
Royston; containing 797 inhabitants. It comprises
3853 acres, of which the far greater portion is arable,
and one-fifth part pasture and woodland; the soil is
fertile, and the substratum generally chalk and clunch.
The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's
books at £6. 18. 6.; patrons and impropriators, the
Warden and Fellows of New College, Oxford. The
great tithes have been commuted for £704. 10., with a
glebe of 201½ acres, and the vicarial tithes for £235,
with a glebe of 21½ acres. The church is an ancient
and spacious structure, much mutilated, and unsightly
from the loss of the steeple, which fell down many years
since. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.
Mordiford (Holy Rood)
MORDIFORD (Holy Rood), a parish, in the hundred of Greytree, union and county of Hereford,
4 miles (E. S. E.) from Hereford; containing 595 inhabitants. It is situated at the confluence of the rivers
Froome, Lug, and Wye, and comprises 1480a. 6p., of
which about 500 acres are arable, 640 meadow and
pasture, 170 woodland and coppice, 18 in hop plantations, and 47 in gardens. The substratum abounds
with limestone, in which is found a great variety of
fossils. The road from Hereford to Gloucester proceeds
through the parish. The living is a rectory, valued in
the king's books at £10. 6. 5½., and in the gift of E. T.
Foley, Esq.; the tithes have been commuted for £310,
and the glebe contains 3 acres. The church had a wooden
spire rising from the centre, which was many years
since taken down; a tower was erected in 1814. On
Blackbury Hill, within the parish, are some remains of
a work called St. Ethelbert's camp.
Mordon, or Morden
MORDON, or Morden, a township, in the parish
and union of Sedgefield, N. E. division of Stockton
ward, S. division of the county of Durham, 8½ miles
(E. by S.) from Bishop-Auckland; containing 161 inhabitants. This place gave name to a resident family,
of whom mention occurs in the 14th century; and
among other landed proprietors of former times were
the Trollops, who ceased to possess any interest in
the estate in the reign of James I. The name was
perhaps originally Moredun, or "the moorish hill,"
from the elevation of the place above a marsh. The
township comprises 1537 acres, the greater part of
which is arable, and of good quality. The village is
surrounded with rich low pasture grounds; and to the
south, the slow waters of the Skerne and its numerous
feeders form the wide morass just referred to. The
York and Newcastle and the Clarence railways pass
through the township. The tithes have been commuted
for £122.
More
MORE, a parish, in the union of Clun, hundred of
Purslow, S. division of Salop, 3 miles (N. E. by N.)
from Bishop's-Castle, on the road to Shrewsbury; containing 246 inhabitants. It comprises 3534 acres, of
which 943 are common or waste land; of the remainder,
the arable and pasture are in about equal portions.
The surface is undulated, and the scenery picturesque
and well wooded: the river Onney flows through the
parish. Good building-stone is obtained. The living
is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at
£8. 6. 2., and in the gift of R. B. More, Esq.: the tithes
have been commuted for £242, and the glebe contains
18½ acres, with a house. A school is endowed with £5
per annum.
Morebath (St. George)
MOREBATH (St. George), a parish, in the union
of Tiverton, hundred of Bampton, Cullompton and
N. divisions of Devon, 2¼ miles (N. by W.) from Bampton; containing 466 inhabitants. The parish comprises
3449a. 1r. 8p. Freestone of good quality for building,
and also for the roads, is obtained. A fair is held on
the last Monday in August. The living is a discharged
vicarage, valued in the king's books at £7. 8. 9.; patron,
T. L. Clarke, Esq.: the impropriate tithes have been
commuted for £115, and the vicarial for £234; the
glebe comprises 3½ acres. The church, erected in 1688,
contains some neat monuments to the families of Bere
and Sayer.