preceded the present good Bishop of Bristol;* who, at nore than seventy years of age, preaches nearly every Sunday, and otherwise approves himself as exemplary a parish-priest as diocesan.

It is pleasing to observe what the rational appropriation of superfluous riches, the influence of example, and zealous endeavours, will effectuate. No place has experienced more their good effects than this; nor has any one more deserved them, if being favourable to health, as the longevity of many inhabitants has proved, or if recluseness and contemplation be titles to regard. Much, indeed, has been owing to the late Sir Richard Hoare, Bart. He might be truly stiled the father of the wretched, and patron of every undertaking in the parish, calculated to relieve distress, and promote religion and morality. The system of comfort and instruction is indeed, here, excellent, and does credit to the inhabitants. In addition to a well-regulated workhouse, there is a charity-school for twenty children; and, to complete the scheme of good works, a Sundayschool has been lately instituted.

Sept. 1788.

Yours, &c.

TOPOGRAPHICUS.

V. A concise Account of the Parish of Widworthy, in the County of Devon; intended as an Answer to the Queries proposed by the Rev. R. Polwhele, for his History of Devonshire. By William John Tucker, M. A. Rector of Widworthy, 1791.

WYDWORTHIE (the ancient spelling) is undoubtedly a Saxon name: indeed, the appellations of most of the parishes in the county of Devon are of Saxon origin, and they are not unfrequently denominated from their approximation to some river with which this hilly country abounds, or are expressive of their situation or shape; as this of Widworthy, that is, Latus Fundus, the Wide Farm.

This parish is situated in the hundred of Colyton, in the South-east part of the county; and in one part adjoins to

[Dr. Christopher Wilson, canon-residentiary of St. Paul's, prebendary of Finsbury, and rector of Barnes. He was appointed to the see of Bristol in 1783, and died in 1792, in the seventy-eighth year of his age. E.]

Dallwood, in the county of Dorset.-Widworthy is rather a small parish, about eight miles in circumference, nearly resembling in form a trapezium, bounded on the West and North by Offwill, on the east by Shute, and on the South by Colyton, and a small part of Northleigh. The soil varíes, being in part meadow and pasture, part arable; and in the centre, on a hill, private property, though not inclosed, there is a very deep and extensive stratum of limestone, in the North-west part of the parish, which employs many of the inhabitants in burning that useful article for building and manure. There is likewise some excellent free-stone from the Northern and Southern extremity of the lime-stone rock. About a mile distant from each other, issue two remarkably transparent, warm springs, which, when diverted over some meadows immediately beneath them, leave a considerable slime on the surface, and render them luxuriantly fertile. The one falls into the river Coly, the other into a rivulet on the West side of the parish. The parish is inclosed with very good turf-hedges, on which the underwood grows fast; and the usual sorts of timber-trees are flourishing, and abound in the hedge-rows and coppices. The roads made and repaired with ints are sound, but rather rough. There is only one village, Wilmington, where a fair or revel is held the Monday after St. Matthew's day. It is situated on the great Western road, which divides the parish from Offwill on the North. The houses are all thatched, except the manor-house, and are neat and compact; and have all, even the cottages, gardens and a little orchard annexed to them. The inhabitants are all tenants at rackrent. Their farms are in as good a state of cultivation as most Devonshire farms, and are from fifteen to a hundred pounds per annum. The number of houses, of every description, is about thirty-five. Reckoning six souls to a house, you will nearly have the number of parishioners; among whom are not more than three freeholders.

The men are mostly employed in husbandry; the women spin wool. Benedictus Marwood, Esq. of Hornshays, in Colyton, first purchased the manor of the Chichester family, and, dying unmarried, left it to his brother Thomas, whose grandson now inherits it. Besides the manor and barton of Widworthy, there are two capital estates in this parish, Cookshays and Sutton, with large, decent houses on each, built by the Marwoods about eighty years since, and twenty years before they purchased the manor of the Chichesters. See Risdon, part II. p. 64. "Widworthy

thereof. The last Sir William, and Sir Hugh de Widworthy his son, in the age of King Edward I. left his daughter Emma, first married unto Sir William Prouse, secondly to Sir Robert Dinham, Knights. These lands remained divers descents in the name of Prouse, until by an heir of Wootton, that had wedded an heir of Prouse, it was carried into the family of Chichester of Raleigh, who gave this manor unto John his son, which he had by his second wife, the daughter of Bryett."

The mansion-house is situated near the church, a large old building, in form of a quadrangle, the undoubted residence of De Widworthy, Knt. the founder of the church. The front of the building is of more modern erection than the three other sides. Over the porch are the arms of the Chichesters, viz. Checky, a chief vairy; crest, on a helmet, an ostrich with a bit of iron in his mouth, in lead. In the ceiling of the hall is the date 1616.

The highest point of Widworthy-hill, which is as high a hill as any in the neighbourhood, is nearly the centre of the parish; on the North-east side of which are some remains of an ancient entrenchment; and near the church, on an eminence having a descent every way, in a field still called Castle Wood, are remains of a small entrenchment. In the Northern extremity of the parish there is a remarkably large flint-rock, five feet in height, and four in width and depth, known by the name of grey-stone; and nearly opposite, on the Southern extremity, is another stone of nearly the same dimensions, both of them evidently placed there by design. A school was founded by one Searl, but, having been endowed with a leasehold estate, is fallen into hand. A house and school have been since given by James Marwood, Esq. 1767 some other benefactions have increased the master's salary eight pounds per annum. No Dissenting Meeting, or Dissenters. The church is situated on a rising ground in the North part of the parish, dedicated to St. Cuthbert: it is built of flint, in the form of a Latin cross; as are all the churches I have hitherto seen dedicated to that Saint. The church is an uniform building, consisting of a nave, a chancel, and a transept; and, I should suppose, was built by one of the De Widworthys, Knights: though Mr. Incledon supposes it to have been built at different times. The height of the church, inside, is twentyone feet; the extreme length within, from the altar-piece to the tower, fifty-one feet; the breadth of the transept, including the nave, is thirty-six feet. The old timber being decayed, a new roof, covered with slate, was erected

în 1785, and neatly plaistered within, with a handsome cornice. There is a strong, square, plain tower, with battlements, in height forty feet, with five bells; a neat wainscot altarpiece, given by James Marwood, Esq.; and the church was newly seated with wainscot by the parishioners in 1787. The font is of one solid free-stone, in an octagon form, about four feet high, and bears evident marks of antiquity. The screen and rood-loft were taken down before my remembrance. There are several small niches for the holywater; and on removing the old plaister when the church was lately new roofed, the walls appeared to have been painted throughout. No stained glass. On the North wall of the chancel is a handsome marble monument, erected to the memory of some of the Isacks of Ford, who were buried here, though they lived in the adjoining parish of Dallwood, in Dorsetshire; it bears date 1685. Arms: Sable, a bend, Or; in a canton Argent, a leopard's head Sable, impaling, Ermine, on a bend, between bendlets Sable, three griffins' heads Or. The rest are modern, viz. another on the North, erected to the memory of three brothers, James Marwood, M. D. Benedictus and Thomas Marwood, Esqrs. eminent for honesty, piety, and good aconomy. Arms: Gules, a chevron Ermine, between three goats' heads erased Ermined. On the South wall of the chancel is a monument to the memory of " Jacobi Somaster, viri probi & rei medicæ periti, quam Honitoni novem per annos feliciter exercuit; 1748." Arms: Argent, a castle between five fleurs de lis, within a bordure Or. Crest, a portcullis. In the South transept is a very handsome monument to the memory of Robert Marwood, of Cookshays, Esq. 1755; and Mrs. Bridget Marwood, his sister, 1756: an unmeaning inscription at the bottom. Sua præmia virtus. Arms of the Marwoods, as above described. Crest to this: a goat couchant proper, on a wreath Sable and Gules. In the North transept is a monument to the memory of the late James Marwood, Esq. which exceeds my description: it is executed by that celebrated statuary Bacon, and is in his happiest style. In the centre is a beautifully enriched vase, placed upon a Roman pedestal. On the right side is a most animated figure of Justice, suspending her scale; and on the left, Benevolence, reclining over a pelican in its nest, feeding its young from its breast. The delicacy and expression of their countenances, attitude, and drapery, and the harmony and just proportion of the whole, rank it with the first performances of its artist. Beneath is an inscription: "James Marwood, Esq. died April 3, 1767, aged 65.

The memory of the Just is blessed." The whole is pléasingly relieved by a back-ground of deep yellow marble, with an elegant white marble bordure rising conically to an obtuse angle over it.

Under an arch in the wall, immediately under the Northern window in the same transept, lies the statue of a iman, very perfect, at full length, in complete armour, with spurs; his shield, suspended by a belt from his right shoulder, hangs over his left arm, and reaches to the lower part of his thigh; his head is supported by a cushion, with a cherub on each side, his feet by a lion; his hands recline on his breast, in the attitude of prayer. On his shield are three lions rampant between five crosslets, two at the top, one in the centre, and two in the base. There is not the least vestige of an inscription, nor, I believe, was there ever any. There is no tradition in the parish whom it was intended for; though I should suppose it the founder of the church, De Widworthy, Knt. There are two large flat stones, one in the chancel, the other in the body of the church. One has its inscription quite defaced; the other the Chichester arms, with this inscription: DORMITORIUM JOHANNIS CHICHESTER, ARMIGERI, QVI OBHIT NONO DIE IVNII, AN'O SALVTIS 1661. In a table over the door at the West end of the tower, on the outside, are three emblems; and over them some relief, but much defaced, which has the appearance of a crucifix, and on each side a person in a suppliant posture.

The following is an extract of the table of benefactions. In 1733, Robert Marwood, Esq. annually 20s. to the poor on St. Luke's day. 1741, Benedictus Marwood, Esq. the interest of 100l. to the parish school-master. 1767, James Marwood, Esq. 40s. yearly, and a school-room to ditto. 1769, Rev. Joseph Somaster, Rector, the interest of 1001. half to the parish school-master; the other to the poor, in bread, on Christmas-day. The communion plate is handsome; a chalice and a large silver vessel for the wine, given by Mrs. B. Marwood, of Cookshays, dated 1756, and a patten, given by the late rector, Jo. Somaster, in usum sacrosanctæ euchariste, 1756; who also gave a velvet cloth for the pulpit. The church-yard is large for the parish, being near half an acre; a large flourishing yew-tree decorates it. There are two old tombs, and a few head-stones,-the inscriptions not remarkable. The register is in good preservation, and quite complete from 1540 to the present date, 1791.-The population has been rather on the decline, though it is now increasing.

July, 1791.