Woodmancote
WOODMANCOTE, a tything, in the parish of
North Cerney, union of Winchcomb, hundred of
Rapsgate, Eastern division of the county of Gloucester, 5 miles (N. by W.) from Cirencester; containing 256 inhabitants.
Woodmancote
WOODMANCOTE, a parish, in the union of Steyning, hundred of Tipnoak, rape of Bramber, W. division of Sussex, 6 miles (N. E. by E.) from Steyning;
containing 378 inhabitants. The road from London to
Brighton, by way of Horsham, runs through the parish.
The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at
£13. 1. 10½., and in the patronage of the Crown: the
tithes have been commuted for £482, and the glebe
comprises 18 acres. The church is principally in the
early English style of architecture.
Woodmancott
WOODMANCOTT, a hamlet, in the parish of
Bishop's-Cleeve, union of Winchcomb, hundred of
Cleeve, Eastern division of the county of Gloucester, 3½ miles (W. by S.) from Winchcomb; containing 372 inhabitants.
Woodmancott (St. James)
WOODMANCOTT (St. James), a parish, in the
union of Basingstoke, hundred of Mainsborough,
Winchester and N. divisions of the county of Southampton, 8 miles (S. W.) from Basingstoke; containing
93 inhabitants. It comprises by measurement 1396
acres, of which 889 are arable, 338 woodland, 25 meadow, 117 open down and furze common, and 18 in
homesteads; the soil is various, but chiefly a strong
clay, and the surface hilly. The living is annexed to
the rectory of Brown-Candover: the tithes have been
commuted for £168. 10., and the glebe comprises 8
acres. The church is a neat structure; the churchyard
was consecrated in 1838, previously to which the parishioners buried at Candover.
Woodmancott
WOODMANCOTT, a tything, in the parish and
union of West Bourne, hundred of Westbourne and
Singleton, rape of Chichester, Western division of
Sussex; containing 94 inhabitants.
Woodmansey, with Beverley-Park
WOODMANSEY, with Beverley-Park, a township, in the parish of St. John, union, and liberties of
the borough, of Beverley, E. riding of York, 2¼ miles
(S. E. by E.) from Beverley; containing 429 inhabitants,
of whom 222 are in Woodmansey. The township comprises 2910a. 2r. 38p., of which 386 acres are in Woodmansey, and the remainder in Beverley-Park, which
extends to the suburbs of Beverley; the soil is various,
and the surface well-wooded. In the hamlet of BeverleyPark are two quarries of excellent chalk, of which the
best whiting is made, and which is also burnt for lime.
The river Hull passes near the township, and has a commodious landing-place for coal, lime, and gravel; on its
banks are some mills, and there are other large mills in
the township. Beverley-Park was anciently a demesne
of the archbishops of York, who had a mansion here
called the Hall, now a farmhouse. Divine service is
performed on Sunday afternoon in a small chapel subordinate to the Minster of Beverley, erected in 1827
upon ground given by George Sumner, Esq.
Woodmansterne (St. Peter)
WOODMANSTERNE (St. Peter), a parish, in the
union of Croydon, First division of the hundred of
Wallington, E. division of Surrey, 5 miles (E. by S.)
from Epsom; containing 269 inhabitants. This parish,
also called Woodmanstone or Woodmansthorne, comprises by measurement 1553 acres, of which 1099 are
arable, 196 meadow and pasture, 118 woodland, and
91 down. The surface is elevated, richly embellished
¦with wood, and enlivened with several pools of water,
one of which, near the church, is named Mere Pond.
In the grounds of the Oaks, at one time an inn, but converted into a hunting-seat by Gen. Burgoyne, is an old
beech-tree remarkable for its boughs having grown
fast to one another. Shortes House, in the parish; is a
very ancient building with curiously-carved wainscoting. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's
books at £11. 7. 6., and in the patronage of the Crown;
net income, £301. The church is a neat edifice.
Woodnesborough (St. Mary)
WOODNESBOROUGH (St. Mary), a parish, in
the union and hundred of Eastry, lathe of St. Augustine, E. division of Kent, 1¾ mile (W. S. W.) from
Sandwich; containing 792 inhabitants. It comprises
2922 acres, of which 29 are common or waste. The
living is a vicarage, valued in the king's books at
£10. 0. 7½., and in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of
Rochester: the tithes have been commuted for £350.
The church is principally in the decorated English style.
On Woodnesborough Hill is a lofty artificial mount,
supposed by some to be either a place where the Saxon
idol Woden was worshipped, or the burial-place of
Vortimer; whilst others state it to be the Woodnesbeorth
of the Saxon Chronicle, and the scene of the battle
between Celred and Ina, kings of Mercia and the West
Saxons, in 715. A fine gold coin, bearing on one side
the figure of an armed warrior, and on the other that
of Victory, was found here in 1514.
Wood-Norton
WOOD-NORTON, a parish, in the union of Aylsham, hundred of Eynsford, E. division of Norfolk,
7 miles (N. W.) from Reepham; containing 325 inhabitants. The living comprises the united rectories of
All Saints and St. Peter, with the rectory of SwantonNovers annexed, valued in the king's books at £7. 12. 3½.;
net income, £709; patrons, the Dean and Canons of
Christ-Church, Oxford. The tithes of Wood-Norton
have been commuted for £430, and the glebe consists of
60 acres. All Saints' church, rebuilt in 1700, is in the
later English style, with a square embattled tower: on
the south side of the chancel is a piscina; the font is
Norman. The church of St. Peter is a ruin. At the
inclosure, 20 acres were allotted to the poor.
Woodrising (St. Nicholas)
WOODRISING (St. Nicholas), a parish, in the
union of Mitford and Launditch, hundred of Mitford, W. division of Norfolk, 2½ miles (W. N. W.)
from Hingham; containing 129 inhabitants. The manor
was formerly the property of the Southwell family, of
whom Sir Richard was chancellor to Edward VI., and
Sir Robert secretary for Ireland in the reign of Charles
II. It is now the property of John Weyland, Esq., who
resides at the Hall, a handsome mansion erected on the
site of the old manor-house, and surrounded by a small
park. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the
king's books at £4. 18. 4., and in the gift of Mr. Weyland: the tithes have been commuted for £250, and the
glebe comprises 17 acres, with a good house, erected in
1839. The church is an ancient structure in the decorated English style, with a tower in ruins, and covered
with ivy; it contains an altar-tomb, under a canopy,
with the effigy of Sir Robert Southwell.
Woodrow
WOODROW, a tything, in the parish, union, and
hundred of Melksham, Melksham and Northern divisions of Wilts; containing 429 inhabitants.
Woodseaves
WOODSEAVES, a township, in the parish and union
of Drayton-in-Hales, Drayton division of the hundred of North Bradford, N. division of Salop; containing 268 inhabitants.
Woodsetts
WOODSETTS, a township, in the parish of Anston,
union of Worksop, S, division of the wapentake of
Strafforth and Tickhill, W. riding of York, 4 miles
(N. W. by W.) from Worksop; containing 181 inhabitants. This township, which is situated on the confines
of the county of Nottingham, comprises 838 acres, including part of Lindrick common; the lands are interspersed with wood, and the scenery is pleasing. A
district church, dedicated to St. George the Martyr, and
intended for Woodsetts, for the township of GildingWells, and the extra-parochial district of Walling-Wells,
was erected here at an expense of £1000, by subscription, aided by a grant of £150 from the Incorporated
Society, and was consecrated on the 24th Sept. 1841, by
the Archbishop of York. It is a neat structure, with
a campanile turret, and contains 189 sittings, of which
129 are free. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the
patronage of the Chancellor of York Cathedral, and
endowed with the tithes of Gilding-Wells (commuted
for £100 per annum) by the joint liberality of the chancellor, as lessor of the tithe, and the late H. G. Knight,
Esq., of Firbeck, as lessee. A school for girls is supported by subscription.
Woodsfield
WOODSFIELD, a hamlet, in the parish of Powick,
union of Upton-upon-Severn, Lower division of the
hundred of Pershore, Upton and W. divisions of the
county of Worcester, 5½ miles (S. S. W.) from Worcester; containing 40 inhabitants. Here are the remains
of a chapel that was dependent on the church of Great
Malvern.
Woodsford
WOODSFORD, a parish, in the union of Dorchester, hundred of Winfrith, Dorchester division of
Dorset, 5½ miles (E.) from the town of Dorchester;
containing 158 inhabitants. This parish, which is
bounded on the north by the river Frome, comprises
1700 acres. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's
books at £4. 9. 9½., and in the gift of H. C. Sturt, Esq.:
the tithes have been commuted for £250, and the glebe
comprises 7 acres. The church is a small structure with
a low tower. Upon the river are the remains of a castle
of quadrangular form, built by Guido de Brient, one
side of which has been converted into a farmhouse, a
very lofty building. The principal entrance was on the
west, where is still an ancient staircase, and in the southeast corner is another, both pierced with narrow apertures for arrows, or small arms. The offices on the
basement are all vaulted with stone; above is an apartment called the Queen's room, with vestiges of a chapel,
and around the whole are traces of a moat.
Woodside
WOODSIDE, a township, in the parish of Westward, union of Wigton, Allerdale ward below Derwent, W. division of Cumberland, 2 miles (N. W. by
N.) from Temple-Sowerby; containing 415 inhabitants.
The Eden and Eamont unite their streams here. The
tithes were commuted for land in 1811.
Woodside
WOODSIDE, a township, in the parish and union
of Shiffnall, Shiffnall division of the hundred of
Brimstree, S. division of Salop, 3 miles (S. S. E.)
from Shiffnall; containing 360 inhabitants.
Woodside
WOODSIDE, an ecclesiastical parish, in the parishes
of Addle, Guiseley, and Leeds, Upper division of the
wapentake of Skyrack, W. riding of York, 4 miles
(N. N. W.) from the town of Leeds. The ecclesiastical
district of Woodside was formed in August 1846, under
the act 6th and 7th Victoria, cap. 37; and became a
parish under the provisions of that act, on the subsequent consecration of its church. It comprises 1900
acres, of which the surface is undulated and wooded;
and contains some stone-quarries. There are, a silk
and a woollen manufactory, some bleach-works, three
tanyards, four paper-mills, and two corn-mills. The
Leeds and Thirsk railway passes in the vicinity. The
church is in the early decorated style, with a bell-gable,
and affords accommodation to nearly 400 persons: the
living is a perpetual curacy, in the gift of the Crown and
the Bishop of Ripon, alternately; net income, £150 per
annum. The Methodists and Kilhamites have places of
worship.
Woodside-Quarter
WOODSIDE-QUARTER, a township, in the parish
and union of Wigton, ward, and E. division of the
county, of Cumberland, 3 miles (E. by N.) from Wigton; containing 745 inhabitants. A school for the
poor is partly supported by the interest of £3000 raised
by subscription.
Woodside-Ward
WOODSIDE-WARD, a township, in the parish of
Elsdon, union of Rothbury, S. division of Coquetdale ward, N. division of Northumberland, 1½ mile
(N.) from Elsdon; containing 124 inhabitants. It lies
on both sides of the Keenship burn, and contains by
measurement 6467 acres, of which about 215 are arable,
41 woodland, and the remainder pasture. Much of the
scenery is romantic, and the outline of the hills is very
fine. A little north of High Carricks, coal was worked
in 1810, in pits about ten fathoms deep, but much interrupted by dykes; limestone, also, crosses the road
from High Carricks to Headshope, on the south side of
which place it breaks out in grassy knolls. There are
still a few peel houses remaining, and until recently
other antiquities existed, including a cairn, removed before 1810 from the High Carricks ground.
Woodstock
WOODSTOCK, a borough and market-town, having separate jurisdiction, and
the head of a union, locally
within the liberty of the city
of Oxford, county of Oxford, 8 miles (N. N. W.)
from Oxford, and 62 (W. N.
W.) from London; containing 1412 inhabitants. This
town is of Saxon origin, and
was called by that people
Vudestoc, signifying a woody
place. It appears to have been chosen at an early period as an abode of royalty, and the manor-house, as
it was called, is supposed to have been built upon the
site of a Roman villa. Alfred the Great resided here
whilst translating Boëthius: Ethelred held a council
or parliament here, and made several of the statutes
enumerated by Lambard in his collection of AngloSaxon laws; and it was a favourite residence of Henry I.,
who in a great measure rebuilt the place, surrounded
the park with a wall, and stocked it with wild animals.
In the reign of Henry II., Woodstock became celebrated
as the residence of Fair Rosamond, whose romantic
adventures are so interwoven with the history of that
monarch: Henry here received Rhŷs, Prince of Wales,
when in 1163 he came to do homage. Edmund of
Woodstock, the second son of Edward I., was born
here; as were also Edward the Black Prince, and Thomas of Woodstock, sons of Edward III. Henry VII.
added considerably to the buildings of the palace, erecting the front and the principal gate-house. This gatehouse was for some time the place of confinement of the
Princess Elizabeth, during the reign of her sister Mary:
on her accession to the throne, Woodstock was occasionally selected as her residence, and the town was distinguished by her favours.
Seal and Arms.
During the civil war of the 17th century, the palace
was besieged and much damaged, the furniture was sold,
and the building allotted by Cromwell to three of his
partisans, two of whom sold their shares in 1652. The
third portion, consisting of the gate-house and some
adjoining buildings, was suffered to remain, and, after
the Restoration, was converted into a dwelling-house
by Lord Lovelace, who resided here for several years;
it was, however, finally taken down by Sarah, Duchess
of Marlborough, and the only indications of its site are
two fine sycamore-trees in Blenheim Park. The manor
continued in the crown until the reign of Queen Anne,
when it was granted to the celebrated Duke of Marlborough, for whom a splendid mansion called Blenheim
(which see) after the scene of one of his victories, was
erected at the expense of the nation, as a recompense
for his great military and diplomatic services.
The town is very pleasantly situated on an eminence,
on the eastern bank of the Glyme, an expansion of which
forms the lake in Blenheim Park, and which afterwards
joins the Evenload in the vicinity. The streets are clean
and spacious, and the houses, mostly built of stone, are
generally large and handsome. Glove-making is the
principal branch of trade, and although fluctuating, is
carried on to a considerable extent. The manufacture
of various articles of fine steel has very much decayed
since the rise of Birmingham and Sheffield: those made
here formerly brought very high prices, from the beauty
of the workmanship and the brightness of the polish,
and were remarkable as being generally manufactured
of old nails of horse-shoes, formed into bars. Queen
Elizabeth, among other privileges, granted a wool-staple,
of which there are no remains, and a market to be held
on Friday: at present the principal market-day is Tuesday. There are fairs on the Tuesday after Feb. 2nd,
on April 5th, the Tuesday at Whitsuntide, Aug. 2nd,
Oct. 2nd (a great mart for cheese), the Tuesday after
Nov. 1st, and on Dec. 17th.
Woodstock, which had long been a borough by prescription, was incorporated in 1453, by Henry VI.,
whose charter was confirmed and enlarged by succeeding monarchs, the last of whom, Charles II., granted
that under which the corporation now acts. The members are in number twenty-five, viz., five aldermen, from
among whom a mayor is annually chosen; a high steward; and a recorder, assisted by seventeen commoncouncilmen, and a town-clerk. The borough was always
privileged to send two representatives to parliament,
though the right was only exercised without interruption
from the 13th of Elizabeth to the 2nd of William IV.,
when it was deprived of one member, and the privilege
of voting was extended to the £10 householders of an
enlarged district, which comprises 21,712 acres: the
mayor is returning officer. The corporation, as lords of
the manor, hold a court leet annually. The powers of
the county debt-court of Woodstock, established in
1847, extend over the registration-district of Woodstock.
The town-hall is a handsome stone building, erected
about the year 1766, by the Duke of Marlborough, after
a design by Sir William Chambers.
Though for all civil purposes a parish, and by far the
more populous, Woodstock is only a chapelry to the
rectory of Bladon: a parsonage-house was erected here
by Bishop Fell, in which the rector may optionally
reside. The chapel, dedicated to St. Mary, was principally rebuilt in 1785, on the site of a chantry founded
by King John. In the original part of the building,
forming the south side, is a round-headed doorway of
early Norman architecture, composed of red stone, ornamented with chevron work; and in the interior are
three massive columns supporting pointed arches, with
capitals having various grotesque sculptures of the
human countenance. The modern portion of the structure is in a style no way corresponding with this ancient
part, but it has a tower of good proportions. The Particular Baptists and Wesleyan Methodists have each a
place of worship. The free grammar school was founded
and endowed in 1585, by Richard Cornwall, a native of
the town, and further endowed in 1616, by Thomas
Fletcher, with rent-charges of £12. Eight boys and
eight girls are instructed and clothed, under the benefaction of the Rev. Sir Robert Cocks, Bart., formerly
rector of Bladon with Woodstock, now producing upwards of £60 per annum; part of the endowment is
given as apprentice fees with the boys when leaving the
school. Almshouses for six widows were built near the
southern entrance of the town, in 1793, by the Duchess
of Marlborough; and there are various bequests for the
benefit of the poor generally, which are distributed
amongst them in money, clothing, &c. In the Rolls of
the reign of Henry III., mention is made of an almshouse, built near the king's manor, which Tanner thinks
may be the same with the hospital of St. Mary the
Virgin and St. Mary Magdalene, for which a protection
was granted to beg, by patent of the first of Edward
III. The union of Woodstock comprises 31 parishes
or places, and contains a population of 13,390. Roman coins, especially of Constantine, are occasionally
dug up within the limits of the borough; and the Akeman-street, an ancient Roman road, passes through the
northern part of Blenheim Park. Chaucer, the father
of English poets, lived, and is said by some to have been
born, here. Woodstock gives the title of Viscount to
the Duke of Portland.
Woodstone (St. Augustine)
WOODSTONE (St. Augustine), a parish, in the
union of Peterborough, hundred of Norman-Cross,
county of Huntingdon, ¾ of a mile (S. W. by W.) from
Peterborough, containing 262 inhabitants. This parish
is situated on the river Nene, and comprises 1027a. 3r.
15p., of which about 788 acres are arable, 212 pasture,
and 16½ wood; the surface is level, and the soil of a
light quality. The road from Peterborough to Oundle,
and the Northampton and Peterborough railway, pass
through. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's
books at £7. 11. 3.; net income, £342; patron, R. J.
Tompson, Esq. The tithes were commuted for land and
corn-rents in 1809; the glebe consists of 38 acres, and
there is a rectory-house. The church, a mixture of
various styles, having become ruinous, was enlarged and
partly rebuilt in 1844, retaining as much as possible
the original character of the edifice; a portion of the
old tower is preserved under an arch in the present
tower, on account of its antiquity, being Saxon. The
cost of restoration was £1100, besides which, a considerable sum was expended upon the chancel, not taken
down, it being of later date. The churchyard is neatly
laid out. John and Mary Walsham, in 1728, gave property now producing between £80 and £90 per annum,
for the establishment of a school, and other charitable
purposes.
Woodthorpe
WOODTHORPE, a township, in the parish of North
Wingfield, union of Chesterfield, hundred of Scarsdale, N. division of the county of Derby, 4 miles (S.)
from Chesterfield; containing 292 inhabitants.
Woodthorpe
WOODTHORPE, a hamlet, in the parish and union
of Loughborough, hundred of West Goscote, N.
division of the county of Leicester, 1½ mile (S.) from
Loughborough; containing 85 inhabitants.
Woodthorpe
WOODTHORPE, a hamlet, in the parish of Strubby,
union of Louth, Wold division of the hundred of Calceworth, parts of Lindsey, county of Lincoln; containing 55 inhabitants. It has an old Hall; and a chapel is
supposed to have anciently stood here.
Woodton (All Saints)
WOODTON (All Saints), a parish, in the union
of Loddon and Clavering, hundred of Loddon, E.
division of Norfolk, 5 miles (N. W.) from Bungay;
containing 567 inhabitants. It comprises 2124a. 3r. 16p.,
of which 1583 acres are arable, and 541 meadow
and pasture. The living is a rectory, valued in the
king's books at £6. 13. 4., and in the gift of the Rev.
A. Suckling: the tithes have been commuted for £615,
and the glebe comprises 27 acres, with a house. The
church is chiefly in the decorated English style, with a
circular tower of earlier date, surmounted by an octagonal turret, and has some handsome monuments to the
Suckling family. There are places of worship for Primitive and Wesleyan Methodists.
Woodville
WOODVILLE, an ecclesiastical district, in the union
of Ashby-de-la-Zouch, partly in the parish of Ashbyde-la-Zouch, hundred of West Goscote, county of
Leicester, and partly in the parish of Hartshorn,
hundred of Repton and Gresley, county of Derby,
3½ miles (N. W. by W.) from Ashby; containing about
700 inhabitants. Woodville is a modern village, until
lately called Wooden-Box. About thirty-three years
ago, a person appointed to take the toll at a side gate on
the road from Ashby to Burton-on-Trent, was sheltered
from the weather by a common watch-box, there being
at the time no houses in the neighbourhood; and when
the earthenware manufactories of Gresley and Swadlincote were extended to the place, it obtained the name of
Wooden-Box, which was changed in 1845 for its present
more euphonious name of Woodville. The houses are
on each side of the high road; those on the left side are
in the parish of Ashby, and the houses on the right in
Hartshorn parish. The inhabitants are partly colliers,
but chiefly potters, the immediate vicinity containing a
bed of fine clay, which is extensively used for earthenware and fire-bricks. Petty-sessions are held once a
fortnight at the Potters' Arms inn. The first stone of
the church, dedicated to St. Stephen, was laid in Nov.
1845, by Earl Howe; the edifice is in the Norman style,
and built of durable stone quarried near its site. The
living is in the patronage of the Bishop of Peterborough.
The Wesleyans have a small place of worship.
Wood-Walton.—See Walton, Wood.
WOOD-WALTON.—See Walton, Wood.
Woodyates, East
WOODYATES, EAST, a hamlet, in the parish of
Pentridge, union of Wimborne and Cranborne,
hundred of Cranborne, Wimborne division of the
county of Dorset; containing 93 inhabitants.
Woodyates, West
WOODYATES, WEST, an extra-parochial liberty,
in the union of Wimborne and Cranborne, hundred
of Wimborne St. Giles, Wimborne division of Dorset, 5½ miles (N. N. W.) from Cranborne; containing
14 inhabitants. It comprises 840 acres of land. On
the neighbouring downs are numerous barrows, also a
vast rampart and fosse, termed Grimesditch, crossed by
the Roman road from Dorchester to Old Sarum.