Willingale-Doe (St. Christopher)
WILLINGALE-DOE (St. Christopher), a parish,
in the union of Ongar, hundred of Dunmow, N. division
of Essex, 5½ miles (N. E.) from Ongar; containing 529
inhabitants. It comprises 1736a. 3r. 37p., of which 1408
acres are arable, 320 meadow and pasture, and 8 woodland; the soil is a rather strong clay. The small river
Roden flows on the east. The living is a rectory, with
that of Shellow-Bowels consolidated, valued in the king's
books at £16, and in the gift of T. W. Bramston, Esq.:
the tithes of the parish have been commuted for £489,
and the glebe comprises 31 acres. The church, consisting of a nave and chancel with a square embattled
tower, stands in the same churchyard as that of Willingale-Spain, and the parishes are much intermixed, though
distinct both as to ecclesiastical and civil concerns.
Willingale-Spain (All Saints)
WILLINGALE-SPAIN (All Saints), a parish, in
the union of Ongar, hundred of Dunmow, N. division
of Essex, 6 miles (N. E.) from Ongar; containing 207
inhabitants. The parish derives the adjunct to its name
from the family of Hervey de Spain, to whom it belonged at the time of the Norman survey. It comprises
1200a. 31p., of which 970 acres are arable, 200 pasture,
and 30 wood; the soil is similar to that of the preceding parish. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's
books at £7. 13. 4., and in the patronage of the Crown,
on the nomination of the Bishop of London: the tithes
have been commuted for £322. 12., and the glebe comprises 29½ acres. The church has a handsome altarpiece, the gift of William Brocket, Esq.
Willingdon
WILLINGDON, a parish, in the union of Eastbourne, hundred of Willingdon, rape of Pevensey,
E. division of Sussex, 2¼ miles (N. by W.) from Eastbourne; containing 621 inhabitants. This parish comprises 3822 acres, of which about 600 are common or
waste. The village is pleasantly situated on elevated
ground, on the road from London to Eastbourne, commanding very extensive views of the surrounding
country. Langley Point, with its forts and martello
towers, on the coast, is in the parish. The living is a
discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £12;
net income, £67; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of
Chichester; impropriators, Inigo Thomas, and R. Newman, Esqrs. The glebe consists of about 3 acres, with
a small house. The church, principally in the early
English style, contains portions in the decorated and
later styles, with a square tower, and some interesting
monuments to the Parker family. Henry Parker, who
was secretary to Cromwell, and author of various tracts
on religion and politics, was born at Ratton, in the
parish. On the downs are several barrows; and in 1825,
on lowering the road over Ocklynge, several skeletons
were discovered, lying in rows, side by side, with their
feet towards the east.
Willingham (St. Mary and All Saints)
WILLINGHAM (St. Mary and All Saints), a parish,
in the union of Chesterton, hundred of Papworth,
county of Cambridge, 6¼ miles (E. by S.) from St. Ives;
containing 1454 inhabitants. The parish comprises
4663 acres, of which 1638 are common or waste. Much
of the cheese which takes its name from the neighbouring village of Cottenham is made at this place, where
about 1200 milch-cows are usually kept. An act for
draining certain fen land and low grounds was passed
in 1842. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's
books at £18. 8. 1½ and in the patronage of the Bishop
of Ely: the tithes have been commuted for £670, and
there are 80 acres of glebe. The church is an ancient
edifice: on the north side of the chancel is a chapel in
the decorated English style, with a stone roof of singular
construction. Here is a place of worship for Baptists.
A charity school was founded by subscription, in 1593,
and an estate purchased for its endowment, which now
produces £20 a year; it is further endowed with a rentcharge of £10, bequeathed in 1700 by Dr. Saywell,
Master of Jesus College, Cambridge. An almshouse
for four widows, founded in 1616 by William Smith,
provost of King's College, Cambridge, is endowed with
£18 per annum.
Willingham
WILLINGHAM, a chapelry, in the parish of Carlton, union of Linton, hundred of Radfield, county of
Cambridge, 5½ miles (S. by E.) from Newmarket. The
chapel is dedicated to St. Matthew.
Willingham (St. Helen)
WILLINGHAM (St. Helen), a parish, in the union
of Gainsborough, wapentake of Well, parts of Lindsey, county of Lincoln, 6 miles (S. E.) from Gainsborough; containing 426 inhabitants. It is situated on
the road from Lincoln to Gainsborough, and comprises
by measurement 2200 acres, of which about two-thirds
are arable, and one-third is pasture; the soil is a strong
clay. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books
at £18. 6. 8.; net income, £352; patron, the Rev. J.
Peel: the tithes were commuted for land and a money
payment in 1779. The church is an ancient edifice.
There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.
Willingham (St. Mary)
WILLINGHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union
and hundred of Wangford, E. division of Suffolk, 4
miles (S.) from Beccles; containing 156 inhabitants.
It is computed to comprise 1000 acres. The living is a
rectory annexed to that of North Cove, and valued in
the king's books at £6. 13. 4.: the tithes have been
commuted for £236, and there are 19½ acres of glebe,
of which 3 belong to the rector, 15 to the rector of
Ellough, and 1½ to the rector of Sotterley. The church
was standing in 1529; but only a very small portion of
the edifice now remains.
Willingham, Cherry (St. Peter)
WILLINGHAM, CHERRY (St. Peter), a parish,
in the wapentake of Lawress, parts of Lindsey, union
and county of Lincoln, 4 miles (E. by N.) from Lincoln; containing 111 inhabitants. It comprises 1096
acres, of which the soil is a light clay. The surface
forms a gently-rising hill, washed on the south by the
river Witham; the lower grounds have been well drained.
The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's
books at £6. 13. 4.; net income, £95; patrons and impropriators, Messrs. Cock, Gordon, and Ellis.
Willingham, North
WILLINGHAM, NORTH, a parish, in the union of
Ca istor, S. division of the wapentake of Walshcroft,
parts of Lindsey, county of Lincoln, 4 miles (E. by S.)
from Market-Rasen; containing 210 inhabitants. It
comprises about 3000 acres: the soil varies, consisting
of clay, sand, and loam; the surface is generally hilly.
The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's
books at £5. 4. 4½.; net income, £69; patron and impropriator, Ayscoghe Boucherett, Esq. The glebe contains about 27 acres, in different parishes.
Willingham, South (St. Martin)
WILLINGHAM, SOUTH (St. Martin), a parish,
in the union of Louth, E. division of the wapentake of
Wraggoe, parts of Lindsey, county of Lincoln, 5
miles (E. N. E.) from Wragby; containing 296 inhabitants. It is computed to contain 2000 acres. The living
is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at
£13. 10. 10.; income, £389; patron, G. F. Heneage,
Esq. The tithes were commuted for land in 1769.
Willington (St. Lawrence)
WILLINGTON (St. Lawrence), a parish, in the
hundred of Wixamtree, union and county of Bedford,
4 miles (E.) from Bedford; containing 268 inhabitants.
The navigable river Ouse bounds it on the north. The
living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's
books at £7. 17., and in the patronage of the Duke of
Bedford, the impropriator. The great tithes have been
commuted for £300, and those of the vicar for £227:
there are 19 acres of glebe. The church is principally
in the later English style, and contains some old monuments to the Gostwicke family.
Willington
WILLINGTON, an extra-parochial district, locally
in the parish of Tarvtn, union of Great Boughton,
Second division of the hundred of Eddisbury, S. division of the county of Chester, 1½ mile (S. by E.) from
Kelsall; containing 103 inhabitants. It is situated on
the south-west side of Delamere Forest, and comprises
977a. 3r. 17p., of which, deducting 30 acres of wood,
two-thirds are pasture and one-third arable land, mostly
the property of Colonel Tomkinson. The upland is a
strong red loamy soil, adapted to the culture of potatoes,
of which great quantities are grown for the Manchester
market, a hundred bushels being now produced where
thirty years ago there was but one bushel. In the lower
part of the township, the soil is a strong clay, and excellent cheese is made. Red stone and sandstone are quarried. The mansion of Colonel Tomkinson, standing on
the borders of the forest, is a modern and elegant building in the Elizabethan style. For the performance of
ecclesiastical rites the inhabitants resort to the church
of St. Oswald, Chester. The tithes on 327¾ acres are
paid to the Dean and Chapter of Lichfield; 620 acres
are tithe-free. A school for boys and girls is supported
by Col. Tomkinson.
Willington (St. Michael)
WILLINGTON (St. Michael), a parish, in the
union of Burton-upon-Trent, hundred of Morleston
and Litchurch, S. division of the county of Derby,
7 miles (S. W.) from Derby; containing 409 inhabitants.
The property at the Domesday survey belonged partly
to the king, and partly to Ralph Fitzhubert. Henry II.
gave one of the two manors to Burton Abbey. The
other appears to have been given with the church, by
the family of Willington, to the prior and convent of
Repton; and William Westcote conveyed it, about the
year 1554, to Sir John Port, founder of Repton school.
The parish is on the road from Derby to Burton, and
comprises about 1260 acres, two-thirds of which are
grass-land; the soil is of a light quality, chiefly resting
upon sand and gravel. The river Trent, over which is
a handsome stone bridge of five arches, forms the boundary on the south. The Grand Trunk canal, connecting
the Trent and the Mersey, intersects the village; and
facilities of communication are also afforded by the
Birmingham and Derby railway, which has a station
here: the station is a very neat one; the roof is just
level with the rails, on account of the height of the
embankment. The line crosses two of the streets by
stone bridges. The living is a discharged vicarage,
valued in the king's books at £4. 17. 3.; net income,
£82; patrons, the Corporation of Etwall Hospital and
Repton Grammar School. The tithes were commuted
for land in 1766: thirty-six acres, and an allowance
from Queen Anne's Bounty, have been assigned to
the vicar. The church, erected in the 12th century,
is in the Norman style, with later additions. There are
places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyans
Willington
WILLINGTON, a township, in the parish of Brancepeth, N. W. division of Darlington ward, union, and
S. division of the county, of Durham, 4 miles (N.) from
Bishop-Auckland; containing 258 inhabitants. It is
situated on the north side of the river Wear. The
tithes have been commuted for £120. 18. 6. There is a
place of worship for Wesleyans; and a school is partly
supported by subscription.
Willington
WILLINGTON, a township, in the parish of Wallsend, union of Tynemouth, E. division of Castle ward,
S. division of Northumberland, 3 miles (W. by S.)
from North Shields; containing 1474 inhabitants. This
place is situated on the north bank of the river Tyne,
and contains some neat houses. Here is a colliery comprising several seams of excellent quality, of which two
are worked: one, the high main seam, occurs at a depth
of 100 fathoms from the surface, and is used for household
purposes, being sent to London as Bell and Company's
Wallsend; the other, which is found at a depth of 40
fathoms below the former, is used only for steam-engines.
An explosion took place in this colliery in 1841, by which
31 lives were lost, and the property sustained much
damage. An extensive ropery has been established here,
also some copperas-works. Near the river, which
affords great facilities for the shipment of coal and other
produce, is a corn-mill worked by steam; and at Willington quay is a dockyard, with a patent-slip for building and repairing ships. The Newcastle and Tynemouth
railway runs through the township, to its station at
Howdon, passing over the Willington viaduct, which
consists of seven wooden arches, each 120 feet in span,
supported on piers and abutments of stone, the whole
constructed from the designs of Messrs. Green, of Newcastle, at a cost of £25,000. The channel of the river
between Willington quay and Howdon has been greatly
deepened and improved by laying ballast in the bed, to
contract its width. The tithes have been commuted for
£356. 2. 10., of which £90 are payable to the curate of
Wallsend. There are places of worship for Wesleyans.
Willington
WILLINGTON, a hamlet, in the parish of Barcheston, union of Shipston-on-Stour, Brailes division of
the hundred of Kington, S. division of the county of
Warwick, 1¼ mile (S. S. E.) from Shipston; containing
149 inhabitants. The tithes have been commuted for
£199, and there is a glebe of 4¼ acres.
Willisham (St. Mary)
WILLISHAM (St. Mary), a parish, in the union
and hundred of Bosmere and Claydon, E. division of
Suffolk, 3 miles (S. S. W.) from Needham-Market;
containing 217 inhabitants. The living is a perpetual
curacy; net income, £56; patron, the Rev. E. B.
Sparke. The tithes have been commuted for £246. 15.,
and there are 4½ acres of impropriate glebe.
Willitoft
WILLITOFT, a township, in the parish of Bubwith,
union of Howden, Holme-Beacon division of the wapentake of Harthill, E. riding of York, 5¼ miles (N.)
from Howden; containing 53 inhabitants. This place
was formerly the residence of the Vavasour family; it
is now the property of Colonel Wyndham, who is lord
of the manor.
Williton
WILLITON, a chapelry, in the parish of St. Decuman, union of Williton, hundred of Williton and
Freemanners, county of Somerset, 6¼ miles (E. S. E.)
from Dunster; containing 1318 inhabitants. This place
is situated about a mile and a half from the coast of the
Bristol Channel. It is a polling-place for the western
division of the county, and has a county debt-court,
established in 1847, whose powers extend over the
registration-district of Williton. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Vicar of St. Decuman; net income, £53. The chapel is dedicated to St.
Peter. There are places of worship for Baptists and
Wesleyans.