ASBY, ASUAKUY. 15 miles to the N.W. of Flint, and 208 miles from -ituatc<l at the confluence of tin ': polin (in which ; --al stands), Talar, Muriadog, and ten others. The story of the place begins at a very early period, and the first fact related is the erection of a church by St. Keutigcrn, in the Oth century. It was built of wood, on a spot between the Elwy and Clwyd.
- this origin came its first name Llan Elwy.
tigcrn also founded hero a monastery, which grew into importance. The present name of the city is said to hare been given it in honour of St. Asaph, a native of the country, who succeeded the founder in his sacred charge, and whoso remains were interred in the church. Little is known of the history of the place for the next five centuries. The monks were cast out of the monas- tery about the close of the 8th century. The city was much injured during the conflict between the Nor- mans and the Welsh. In 1282 the cathedral and the dwellings of .the clergy were burnt down by the English ; the cathedral was again burnt by Owain Glyndwr about 1400 ; and after eighty years was rebuilt by Bishop Redman. The situation of St. Asaph is highly pictu- resque. The upper part of the city is built on a hill at I icning of the beautiful vale of Clwyd, between the Klwy and the Clwyd, which meet a little below. The < iiUt <lral occupies and adorns the summit of the hill, at the base of which stands the parish church. The sur- rounding landscape is rich with groves and woods. There is a bridge of fire arches over the Elwy, and a handsome new one over the Clwyd. The streets arc 1 and the houses well built, though mostly small. Under the Reform Act, St. Asaph is one of the cmitri- y boroughs to Flint, in returning one member to parliament. It is also the seat of a Poor-law Union, and a County Court district. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of St. Asaph, vol. 179, in the patron, of the bishop. The parish church is dedicated to SS. Asaph and Kenti- gvrn. It is small, has no tower, and is supposed to have been built about 1521. In the churchyard are some curious old tombs, made of stone and shaped like coffins. There is also a district church at Bodclwyddon, the living of which is a jx'rput. cur., val. 200, in the gift of Sir II. Williams, Hurt. The cathedral is a cruciform building in the perpendicular style, with a low square tower at the centre. It is 179 feet in length, and 108 feet in breadth through the transepts. The height of the tower is 93 foet. At the east end is a window copiod from one in Tintern Abbey. There is an altar- tomb of the Bishop Duvydd ao Owen, who died in 1512 ; and in the churchyard is the tomb of Bishop Barrow, an ancestor of the great Isaac Barrow. Then- is also a white marble monument to Dean Shipley. Among the prelates who have held this see are William Morgan, who took part in the first Welsh translation of the Bible ; Parry, who shared the same work ; William Bovcridge, a great orientalist; Thomas Tanner, tin- antiquary, and Horsley. The episcopal palace and the deanery have been recently rebuilt. There are i of worship for the Independents, and Calviniatic and Wealcyan Methodists. There is a free grammar-school, founded bj- Bishop Hughes, and endowed by Mrs. Eli- zabeth Williams. Almshouses for eight widows were Barrow. There are many minor charities, which. school and the almshousos, make a total of 179. The parish contains many scats of the gentry : among them are Pengwcrm, the seat of Lord Most; ,rd Dinorben ; Bodelwyddan, Ovn, &c. St. Asaph unt to Earl Ashburnham. The n is held on Saturday. Fairs arc hold on Easter Tuesday, i 'ith July, i tho 16th October, the ASP.Y, a par. containing tho vils. of Great and ..-, in East ward, in tho co. m the i the river Eden flows tt.: which -lip*, nf A- and Asby Windcnvath, and tho limit, of Asby Over- grange. The country in hilly, and a little to the sou the parish are Crosby-Garret and Hortou tells. At Castlefolds tho ground has a of 1,700 feet There is at Asby Gill a cavern called I'.ii.- Hole, i.uuo yards deep. There is abundance of limestone in the pa ; and a copper mine is opened and worked. The In i a rect. in tho dioc. ot Carlisle, val. 205, in 1 of Miss Hill. The parish church, which stand, i township of Asby Winderwath, is an ancient structure with a low square tower, containing an antiip:< markahle for its simple construction, and is dedicated to At Little Asby there was formerly a chap ' dedicated to St. Leonard, with which a chantry was c noctcd. The hamlet of Asby Ovorgrange was at time a possession of tho abbey of Byland. A school was founded hero in 1688 by George Smith, I endowment of which was augmented by Dr. Thou Smith, bishop of Carlisle; its present revenue is 4 1 school-house having been destroyed I was rebuilt in 1853 by subscription. St. Helen's all house for four widows was established in 1812, and an endowment of 28 per annum arising from luml pur- chased by the trustees. Tho other charities amount t about 17 per annum. Opposite the almshouses is Helen's well, a strong spring throwing up a con body of water, at which miraculous euros in have been wrought. Asby Hall is tho prineijMil i ASCOG, a district in tho par. of Kingarth, in the 1 of Bute, Scotland, about 1 J mile from Rotliesay. It 1 a church and a post office. ASCOT, a par. joined to Winl;licld, in the hund. Ripplcsmere. in the co. of Berks, 4 miles to 11. Windsor. It is a station on the South Western railv and is principally known as the site of a This course was formed by William Duke of ' land ; it is nearly 2 miles in circuit, and has a grand- stand, extensive range of stables and coach weighing-house, and other accommodations. The take place in the month of July, and are ospe patronised by tho sovereign and the nohility. ASCOTE, a hmlt. in the pr. of PttttfahaH, hund. Towcester, in the co. of Northampton, 3 miles *- Towcestcr. It is not far from Wnt A8COT1-: ( IIAI'KI,, ancxt. par. HI., in th. t low, in tho co. of Warwick, 3 miles from v ASCOTT, a hmlt. in the par. of Wing. Inn. tesloe, in the co. of Buckingham, "' mil of Ivinghoe. In the vicinity is Ascott Hill, the scat the Stanh'. ASCOTT, n hmlt. in the par. of Creat Milton, h of Thame, in the co. of Oxford, 7 miles from Th: The river Thame runs near it, and it is a Mai Oxford. V 1 Wolveihampton railway. ASCOTT, a hmlt. in the par. of Whi.-hfonl, bund, c Kingte.ii, in the co. of Varviek, 5 miles from Ship on-8tour. ASCOTT-rNI>i:i;- 'Yi II'iu|>. ,i par. in hund of Oxford, ."> mi the S. of I'hippii ;he luniks of the river Kvei lio borders of Whic.hu living IK n p.-rpet. cur. in the dioc. of O and in the ]Uron. of the hishop. The chin eh is Dated to th.- Holy Trinity. There are chap.-! to the We.ilevan Methodists and tho Particular Baptist*. The parochial charities amount to ASCKl I! ISI.KS .v. SM/I.ICT. /l-:r.V, a tn-hp. in the par. of Top- clitl'e, vap. nf Iliillikeld. in tin- North Killing of thn CO. !-k, .i mil V. ,.f Thirsk. The river Swnl ido of the township. ASFl Hi'IHSV. .v, A ".in IIIIDBV, Leici - 'AKHY. a pur. in ili. vap. of Aswanllnini, parU In. '< mile", to il,.- E. of .rd. It include* th.- limit, of Iloughton. The living is a rvct. united with that (.f Khkhy-le-Th 1 1.- , in the of Lincoln. Tho church, which is in the JK -qx-n- a tower Mil-mount' d h . spire. It is dedicated to St. And:
