CEOWLE. CROXDALE. ancient one, mentioned in King Ethelbald's charter, is supposed to bo of the time of Edward II., and on one of the wings is a Saxon statue of King Ethelbald, evidently transferred from the ancient bridge, and attributed to the 9th century. Altogether, this singular structure may be idored the gTeatcst curiosity of its kind in Britain. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 115, in the patron, of the Marquis of Exeter and J. Whitsrd, Esq., alternately. The church, dedicated to SS. Bartholo- mew and Guthlac, is partly in the Norman stylo, with a tower in the perpendicular style. It was once part of the abbey church, and has niched figures of Ethelbald, St. Guthlac, and others, in the richly sculptured front of the early English nave, which is 144 feet long, but much dilapidated. The church contains an ancient font and a carved screen. The charities amount to 126 per annum. The Wcsleyan and Primitive Methodists have each a chapel, and there is a National school. Here are also the ruins of an abbey supposed to have been originally founded, in 716, for Benedictine monks, but having been several times burnt by the Danes, was rebuilt in 1112 by Abbot Jofirid. It was given by Edward VI. to the Clin- tons, and after remaining in ruins for two centuries, the W. front has recently been restored. Ingulph, the historian, was abbot here. A weekly market is held on Thursday, and a fair on the 4th September. CROWLE, a par. partly in the middle div. of the hund. of Oswaldslow, and partly in the upper div. of the hund. of Halfshire, in the co. of Worcester, 4J miles E. of Worcester, and 2 N.E. of Spetchley railway sta- tion. It formerly belonged to Worcester Abbey, and the moated building called Crowle House was onco the abbot's seat. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Wor- cester, val. 281, in the patron, of the Rev. W. II. Woolrych. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a small building partly in the Norman style. It contains a finely carved stone reading-desk, and several tablets and hatchments. The tithes were commuted in 1806. The charities amount to 18 per annum. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. The Dean and Chapter of Worcester are lords of the manor. CROWLE, a par. in the wap. of Manley, parts of Lindsey, in the co. of Lincoln, 27 miles N.W. of Lin- coln, and 11 N. of Goole. It is situated on the river Don, and is a station on the South Yorkshire railway. It contains Ealand, in the Island of Axholme. Much hemp and flax is grown. The village, which is large, was formerly a market town. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 850, in the patron, of the Rev. W. DunconVbe. The church, dedicated to St. Oswald, is a handsome building in the Saxon style. There is besides a district church at Eastoft, which now forms an ecclesiastical parish of itself, Lady Strickland having built a very handsome church there, with parsonage attached, and endowed it with 150 a year. The charities amount to 61 per annum. The Baptists, Independents, and Wesleyan and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship. Here is a free school. Earl Man- vers is lord of the manor. A market is held in the mouths of March, April, and May, on alternate Mon- i!a s. Fairs for cattle, &c., are held on the last Monday in May, the llth September, and the 23rd November. CROWLEY, a tnshp. in the par. of Great Budworth, hund. of Bucklow, in the co. of Chester, 5 m.Ues N. of Xorthwich, its post town, and 8 from Altrincham. The charities amount to 4 10s. per annum. By the Reform -Vt this township is included in the parliamentary limits of the borough of Wallingford. rUnWMARSH-BATTLE, or PRESTON CROW- MA liS] I. a limit, in the par. of Uensington, in the co. of Oxford, 1 mile N. of Wallingford. It is situated on the river Thames, and once belonged to Battle Abbey. OBOWMARSH GIFFARD, a par. in the hund. of Langtree, in the co. of Oxford, } mile from Walling- ford, its post town, and 3 from the AVallinglbrd lioail station on the Great Western railway. It is situated on the river Thames, over which is a bridge to Wallingford. At the time of the Domesday Survey it belonged to W. Gifiard, and was called Craiimares. In 1248 a small hospital was founded hero by tho Giffards. The living is a rect. * in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 247, in the patron, of Lord Banington. The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, is partly in the Norman style, and of great antiquity. The charities amount to 3 per annum. There is an infant day and Sunday school. In the vicinity are the remains of earthworks, thrown up by King Stephen whilst besieging the Empress Matilda in Wallingford Castle. CROW MEOLE, a tnshp. in tho par. of St. Chad, in the co. of Salop, 2 miles W. of Shrewsbury. CROWN FARM, an ext. par. place in the hund. of Lower Thomgate, in the co. of Hants, 3 J miles S.W. of Stockbridge. There is only one cottage. CROWN POINT, two small places of this name : one in the co. of Leicester, near Melton-Mowbray ; the other in the co. of Norfolk, 3 miles E. of Norwich. CROWNTHORPE, a par. in the hund. of Forehoe, in the co. of Norfolk, 2 miles N.W. of Wymondham railway station, and 4 from Hingham. It is situated on the river Yare, and contains only thirteen houses. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 155, in the patron, of Lord Wodehouse, who is lord of the manor. The church, dedicated to St. James, is a small building in the early English style, consisting of chancel, nave, and square tower. It contains a richly carved oak pulpit. CROWTHORNE-WITH-MINETY, a hund. in the S.E. div, of the co. of Gloucester, contains the borough of Cirencester, and the pars, of Ampney Crucis, Ampney St. Mary, Ampney St. Peter, Ampney-Down, Baunton, Badgington, South Convey, Coates, Daglingworth, Drif- iield, Rouse-Duntisborne, Harnhill, Maisey-Hampton, Minety, Preston, Siddington, and parts of Abbots'- Duntisbourne, and Stratton, comprising 33,720 acres, exclusive of Cirencester, which is a hund. of itself. CROWTON, a tnshp. in the par. of Weaverham, hund. of Eddisbury, in the co. of Chester, 5 miles W. of Northwich, its post town, and 5 from Warrington. It is situated on the river Weaver, near the Grand Junc- tion canal. The charities amount to about 10 per annum. There is a chapel for Primitive Methodists. Mr. Barry's trustees are lords of the manor. CROXALL, or CROXHALL, a par. partly in the huud. of Repton, in the co. of Derby, and partly in the hund. of Offlow, in the co. of Stafford, 5J miles N. of Tamworth, and 8J S.E. of Burton-on-Trent. It is situ- ated on the river Meese, and is a station on the West branch of the Midland railway. The par. contains the tnshps. of Oakley and Catton. Tho railway viaduct here crosses the rivers Tame and Trent. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Lichfleld, val. 489, in the patrom of the lord chancellor. The church, dedicated to St. Philip, or according to others to St. John the Baptist, is an old stone structure, and contains several monu- ments. The tithes were commuted in 1791. There is a National school. T. Prinseps, Esq., is lord of the manor, and resides at Croxall Hall. CRffXBY, a par. in the S. div. of the wap. of Walsh- croft, parts of Liudsey, in the co. of Lincoln, 5 miles S.E. of Caistor, its post town, 8j N.E. of Market Rasen, and 2 from the Ulceby railway station. It is situated on the Wolds, and contains Croxby Lake. There are only a few scattered houses. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 120, in the patron, of the lord chancellor. Tho church, dedicated to All Saints, is a small but very ancient stone building. Here is a meet for the Brocklesby hounds. The Earl of Yarborough is lord of the manor. CROXDALE, a chplry. in the par. of St. Oswald, S.E. div. of Darlington ward", in the co. of Durham, 3| miles S. of Durham, and 7 from Bishop Auckland. It is situ- ated on tho river Wear, into which the Croxdale Brook falls. Tho channel of this latter stream forms a pic- turesque dell, so deep that the sun's rays cannot clearly penetrate it ; and in ancient times it was believed to be the abode of evil spirits, for which reason a cross was erected, which subsequently gave the name of Croixdale to the surrounding lands. The living is a perpet. em-.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 120, in the patron, of the Dean
