ALBION. ALCESTER. ALBION, the most ancient name of Great Britain, and that by which it was known to the Greeks mid Romans. It is used by Pliny, and is probably derived from the root alb, signifying "white," in allusion to the white cliffa on that part of the coast which was first Boon by settlers from Gaul. ALBLESTHORPE, Nottinghamshire. Su Arrns- TUORFE. ALBOURNE, a par. in the hund. of Tipnoak, and rape of Brambcr, in the co. of Sussex, 6 miles to the 8.W. of Cueklicld. It is near the Brighton railway. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Chichester, val. 226, in the patron of J. Goring, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. Bartholomew. At Albourno Placo Bishop Juzon once resided, and afterwards Sir R. Fagge. ALBUH iHTI.KE, a tnshp. in the par. of St. Alkmond, Shrcwsbiiry, in Shropshire, 3 miles to theN.E. of Shrews- bury. It is at a short distance from Sundome Castle. ALBIUGHTON, a chplry. in the par. of St. Mary, Shrewsbury, und in the hund. of Punhill, in Shropshire, 3 miles to the N. of Shrewsbury. The living is a perpct cur. in the dioc. of Lichfield, val., 52, in the patron, of W. Spurrier, Esq. The church is dedicated to St. John the Baptist. ALBBIQHTON, a par. in the hund. of Brimstrce, in the co. of Salop, 5 miles to the S.E. of Shifftinl, and 8 miles N.W. of Wolverhampton. It is a station on the Birmingham and Shrewsbury railway. It was once a market town, and formed port of the posses- sions of Dore Abbey. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 651. The patron, is with the M and Wardens of the Haberdashers' Company, and the Governors of Christ's Hospital, London, who present by turns. Thi- church is in the early English style, and is dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene. It has been lately restored, and has a tower with six beautiful bells. The charities amount to 65, including poor's land, and a free school for six children. A parochial school was built for boys and girls in 185C. Albrighton Hall is a neat stucco building, the property of G. J. Barker, Esq. Cattle fairs are held on the second Monday in January, first Monday in March, 23rd of May, and third Monday ALB I 'RG II, a par. in the hund. of Earsham, in the co. of Norfolk, 3 miles to the N.E. of Harleston, und fi miles E. of TivcUhall railway station. It lies in several manors, and is near the river Vaveney. The living is a reel.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 395, in l!i. |tatnm. i>f the Master and Follows of St. John's College, Cambridge. The church, which has a tower and an old Norman porch, is dedicated to All Saints. The parish charities amount to 223, of which sum the town estate produces 181. The register dates from 1540. ALBTRY, a par. in the hund. of Edwinstree, in Uio co. of Hertford, lying 4 miles to the N.W. of Bishop-
- ml. It is situated in a pleasant spot on the river
The living is a vie." in the dioc. of Rochester, v:il. 300, in the natron, of the Treasurer of St. Paul's. The h u dedicated to St. Mary, and contains a brass of
- ney, and a tomb of De la Lee, a former owner
of Albury Hall. A fiiir is held on the 17th July. A LIU RY, a par. in the hund. of Bullingdon, in the co. of Oxford, 4 mile* to the S.V. of Thiunc, mile* from Oxford. It contains the hmlt. of Tid- dington, and is near the river Thame. The living U a rect.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 270, in the patron, of the Karl "t Ahinplon. Tim church, which has been rebuilt by the earl, is dedicati d t" St. II. VM is a free school for twelve boys, endowed by Lady Mary Bertie in 1737. M.M'IlV i |.ir. in t'i. ccfond div. of the hund. of
- . in the en. of Surrcv, 4 miles to the S
u a branch VYy, at the l"..-.t of the great chalk ridge called Hog'.* ilh Western railway. The IHUSJUWA from All'iiry Hill :li the sea The living .'!>, and wan latelv in tl. II. I'm:; I i. l'-.| , M I' , nf Allmry 1'ark. The chimb. is dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul. It contains tombs of the Duncombes and Finches, former owners of the hall, and two remarkable pillars, eight-sided, on circular marble bases, taken from a Roman temple formerly existing here. Near the site of this temple are a ditch and rampart of an old intrenchmont. There are chalk- pits, and a quarry of the Sussex marble in the parish. Some of the inhabitants arc employed in Magnay's paper-mills. TherectorywasonoehcldbyBishopHoi and some of the Arundelian marbles were collected here. ALBY, a par. in the southern div. of the hund. of Erpingham, in the co. of Norfolk, 5 miles to the N.E. of Aylsham, and 7 miles 8. of Cromer. It is near the river Bure. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 140, in the patron, of the Earl of Orford. 'Jin- church is dedicated to St. Ethelbcrt, and is a mn.ui old building, with square tower. The rectory waa rebuilt in 1843. The register dates from 1558. ALCAN COTES, Lancashire. Set ALKIXCOATES. ALCASTON, or ALCISTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Acton Scott, in the hund. of Munslow, and co. of Salop. It is situated about 1 mile from the parish church, and 1 J milo from Marsh Brook station, on the Shrewsbury and Hereford line of railway. It was formerly a Roman settlement. Loxdale Warren, Esq., is lord of the manor. ALCESTER, or ATJLSTER, a par. in the Alcester div. of the hund. of Barlichway, in the co. of Warwick, 8 miles N.W. of Strutford-on-Avon, 13 miles to the S.W. of Warwick, and 103 miles from London. Its name, position, and the Roman remains found near it, point it out as the ancient Alauna, one of the stations on the Roman road named Iknrild, or Jtyk- nitld Strttt,nn<i vulgarly, Ickle Street. It was a larj; important town in the time of the Saxons, and became a seat of their kings. A synod is said to have been held hero in the 8th century. It was conatit borough by Henry I. About the middle of tin- 1-th century, Ralph do Bolder founded a monastery of the Benedictine order here, which m the 16th century was so poor that it was made a cell to the abbey of Eveaham. Enclosed by the river Arrow and a moat, it received the name of the Church of our Lady of the Isle. Its re at the Dissolution was 102, and it was grant. Henry VIII. to the Grevilles. Roman urns, coins, and pavements have been dug up in and near the town, und in one spot some ancient foundations have 1 The town is situated in a pleasant valley on the river Alne, near the junction of the Arrow with it, each of these rivers being crossed by a stone or brick 1 The surrounding hills are well-wooded. The town has one princip ith a market-place from wl.i.h smaller streets I.MI. h out. It has several ancient houses. It is lighted with gas, and well supplied with spring water. There is a Jiandspme town-house and market, supported on arches, in Priory Place, in which the courts of tho manor are held. A com exchange has been I in High-Hired, in 1857, at the cost of 2,000. The ir . which was formerly carried on here, is now . litcli ; but there are still i ' nt works and brickfields. The chief' inhabitants is agricultural. The living is a reel.* in the dine, of Wom ifa r. val. 259, in the patron, of the ,Maic|uis of Hertford, who is also Ion! of tho manor. Tho church was rebuilt in 173'J, and is dedicated to St. Nicholas. It was pu- 1 to St. Andrew. The ancient ! with) 11 d pinnacles, still remains. The roof of the church rests on Grecian columns of tho Doric
or
