LAYCOCK. 552 LAYTON, EAST. Wesleyans. Philip Saltmarsh, Esq., J.P., is lord of the manor, and principal landowner. LAYCOCK, or LACOCK, a par. in the hund. of Chippenham, co. Wilts, 3 miles S. of Chippenham, its post town, and 4 N. of Melksham. It is situated on the river Avon, near the Wilts and Berks canal. The vil- lage, which is considerable, was formerly a market town under the Longspecs. Here are the remains of an Austin nunnery, founded in 1232 -by Ela, Countess of Salisbury, and now converted into a private residence. The site was given to the Skerringtons at the Dissolution, at which time its revenues were estimated at 203 12s. 3d. There was a very ancient stone cross, which stood near the centre of the village. On the river are the remains of Bewly Priory cell. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 341 10s. 6d., and the vicarial for 325. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Gloucester and Bristol, val. 244. The church, dedi- cated to St. Cyriack, is an ancient structure with a spired tower containing six bells. In the interior are several monuments, including those of the Baynards, and Montagues of Lackham House, Bishop Johnson, &c., also a brass bearing date 1501. Mann, an ambassador to Spain, was a native of this place. The charities pro- duce about 3 per annum. There are National and Sunday schools for both sexes, also a place of worship for the Independents. The principal residences are Notton House, Notion Lodge, Lacham House, Bowden House, and Lacock Abbey which last, being built on the site of the above-mentioned nunnery, still retains the old cloisters, chapter-house, kitchen, and treasury for records, where is preserved Henry III. 'a Magna Charta of 1225, sent to the Countess of Salisbury, who at that time held the shrievalty of the county of Wilts. The charter is 15 inches by 10J, with the seal still attached. Here are also preserved the bell and many other relics of the old nunnery. W. H. Fox Talbot, Esq., is lord of the manor. LAYCOCK, a hmlt. in the par. of Keighley, West Hiding co. York, 2 miles W. of Keighley. LA YD, or NEWTOWN GLENS, a par. in the bar. of Lower Glenarm, co. Antrim, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, containing Cushendall, its post town. It is 7 miles long by 4 broad. The surface is mountainous. The soil is good. The coast is indented by Red Bay. The living ia a rect. in the dioc. of Connor, val. 185, in the patron, of the bishop. The church was built by means of a gift from the late Board of First Fruits in 1831. The Roman Catholic chapel is united to that of Ardclinis. There are a Presbyterian meeting-house, four Sunday, and five day schools. The ruins of the old church stand near the present building. There are several Danish forts, and the ruins of Red Bay Castle. LAYD, GRANGE OF, a lib. in the bar. of Lower Glenarm, co. Antrim, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, 5 miles W. of Cushendall. It forms part of the parish of Layd. LAYER-BRETON, a par. in the hund. of Winstree, co. Essex, 6 miles S.W. of Colchester, its post town. The village is situated on the river Homan. The parish is of small extent, and entirely agricultural. The land is chiefly arable, except about 40 acres of heath. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 288. The dedication of the church is unknown. The register dates from 1575. There is a Friends' meeting-house, and the Independents have a chapel on the heath, founded in 1798, and rebuilt in 1860. There is a National school, established by the late Rev. R. W. Sutton. LAYER-DE-LA-HAY, a par. in the hund. of Wins- tree, co. Essex, 4 miles S. of Colchester, its post town and railway station. The village, which is small and wholly agricultural, is situated on the road leading from Maldon to Colchester, and near Layer Cross. The parish derives the latter part of its name from the Hay family, its ancient possessors. The soil is in general light, but wet, producing good crops of turnips. The impropriate tithos have been commuted for a rent-charge of 680. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 110. The church, dedication unknown, has a stone tower containing live bells. There is a National school, also a place of worship for Independents. LAYER-MARNEY, a par. in the hund. of Winstree, co. Essex, 5 miles S.E. of Kelvcdon, its post town and nearest station on the Great Eastern railway, and 7 S.W. of Colchester. It is a small agricultural village. Here are the ruins of Layer-Marney Hall, consisting of the gateway, with its octagonal towers, erected in 1520 by Henry Lord Marney. The land is chiefly arable, with about 100 acres of wood and plantation. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 466. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 3-11. The church, dedicated to St. Mary the Virgin, has a brick tower containing three bells. The church has a chantry chapel containing a marble monument, repre- senting the figure of a knight in armour, to William Marney, bearing date 1414 ; also tombs of the Corsel- lises, who possessed the manor after the Mameys, Try- ons, and Tukes. There is a National school. This parish, during Edward the Confessor's time, belonged to the Bishop of London. The principal residence is Layer-Marney Tower, the seat of Quinton Dick, Esq., M.P., who is lord of the manor. LAYIIAM, a par. in the hund. of Cosford, co. Suffolk, 10 mile S.E. of Hadleigh, its railway station and post town. The village, which is small, 'is situated on the river Bret. The par. consists of two manors, named Overbury and Netherbury Halls. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in agriculture. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 800. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 800, in the patron, of St. John's College, Cambridge. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew. The parochial charities produce about 4 per annum. J. Robinson, Esq., of Hudleigh Hall, is lord of both manors. LAYMORE, a tythg. in the par. of Crcwkerne, co. Somerset, 2 miles from Crewkerne, and 20 S.E. of Bridgwater. It is situated in a valley near the river Parrett, and includes parts of Black-Down, Horn, Ash, and Greenham. LAYSTEHS, a par. in the hund. of Wolphy, co. Hereford, 5 miles N.E. of Leominster, its post town, and 4J S.W. of Tenbury. The village, which is small and w'holly agricultural, is situated near the road from Leominster to Tenbury. Here was formerly a moated seat of the [priors of Sheen, in Surrey. The land is partly in hop-grounds. The soil is chiefly a tenacious clay, resting on a substratum of coarse limestone. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Hereford, val. 335. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an ancient stone structure with a tower. The whole of tlie edifice has been recently restored. The parochial cha- rities produce about 16 10s. per annum. There is a parochial school. Near the church is a tumulus. LAYSTHORPE, or LAISTHORPE, a tnshp. in the par. of Stonegrave, wap. of Rycdale, North Riding co. York, 4 miles S.E. of Helmsley. It is a joint township with East Newton. LAYSTON, a par. in the hund. of Edwinstree, co. Herts, three-quarters of a mile N.E. of Buntingford, its post town, and 10 miles N. of Ware. It is mentioned in Domesday Book under the name of Iclietone. The ancient village of Layston, once a market town, has entirely disappeared. The workhouse for the union of Buntingford is in this parish. The living is a annexed to the perpet. cur. of Buntingford, in the * of Rochester, val. i'149. The church, which is situ about half a mile E. of the town of Buntingford, in a secluded spot, has a square tower crowned with a spire and containing five bells. In the interior of the ch are several monuments. The register dates from 1GOO. The Rev. John Henry Butt is lord of the manor. LAYTHAM, or LATHAM, a tnshp. in th.- par. of Aughton, Holme-Beacon div. of the wap. of Harthill, East Riding co. York, 8 miles N. of Howden. The village, which is inconsiderable, is wholly agricultural. The soil is loam and clay. LAYTON, EAST, a tnshp. in the par. of Stanwick St. John, wap. of West Gilling, North Riding co. York,
