MEATH, WEST. 805 MEDWAY. Puleek, Drogheda, Julianstown, and Gonnanstown ; to Slane, Tulliallen, Drogheda, Collon, Dundalk, Drum- condra, Carrickmacross, and Monaghan; to Donagh- patrick, Kells, Moynalty, Bailieborough, and Virginia ; and, lastly, to Trim, Clonard, Castle-Jordan, Kilcock, and Maynooth. The diocese of Meath is in the eccle- siastical province of Armagh, and comprises the quondam dioceses of Clonard, Duleek, Kells, Trim, and others. It spreads over nearly all the counties of Meath and West- meath, about half over Bang's County, and over portions of Cavan, Longford, and Kildare. It contains 107 bene- fices and 26 curates. It has neither cathedral nor chapter. Ardbraccan House is the seat of the bishop, whose revenue is 4,308. The Roman Catholic diocese includes 68 parishes. The episcopal residence is at Mullingar. HEATH, WEST. See WESTMEATH, Ireland. MEAUX, or MELSA, a tnshp. in the par. of Wawn, middle div. of the wap. of Holderness, East Riding co. York, 7 miles N. of Hull, and 3 E. of Beverley. The township derives its name from the settlers from Meaux in Normandy. There are traces of a Cistercian priory, founded by William-le-Gros in 1150, and valued at the Dissolution at 299. The inhabitants are wholly engaged in agriculture. The land is fertile. There are places of worship for the Independents and Methodists. MEAVY, a par. in the hand, of Roborough, co. Devon, 7 miles S.E. of Tavistock, its post town, and 10 N. of Ply- mouth. The line of railway to Plymouth passes through the parish. The village, which is small, is situated on the river Mew. It is wholly agricultural, and extends along the river bank. The soil is of a light nature, with a ferruginous subsoil. The surface is undulated. Nearly a third of the land is open and unproductive common, or coppice wood. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 220. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 210, in the patron, of the lord chan- cellor. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient stone structure, with a square embattled tower, containing six bells. The parochial charities consist of the interest of 300, bequeathed by the late Sir Ralph Lopes. There is a National school for both sexes, in which a Sunday- school is held. The Baptists have a place of worship. Near the church is a cross of great antiquity. The ruins of an old seat of the Drake family, of which was the great admiral Sir Francis, are in this parish. Sir Massey Lopes, Bart., is lord of the manor. A fair for cattle and pleasure is held annually. MECHLAS, a tnshp.' in the par. of Cilcen, hund. of Coleshill, co. Flint, 4 miles N.W. of Mold. MECKVEN, a vil. in the par. of Methven, co. Perth, Scotland, 5 miles W. by N. of Perth. MEDBOTJRNE, a par. in the hund. of Gartree, co. Leicester, 6 J miles N.E. of Market-Harborough, its post town, 41 W. by N. of Rockingham, and near the Mel- bourne Bridge station, on the Rugby and Peterborough railway. It is situated on the banks of a small rivulet, N. of the river Welland, and contains the chplry. of Holt. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agricul- ture. The land is divided between arable and pasture. The soil is various. The living is a rect.* with the cur. of Holt annexed, in the dioc. of Peterborough, val. 606, in the patron, of St. John's College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Giles, is an ancient stone struc- ture, with a square tower containing five bells. The paro- chial charities produce about 88 per annum, of which X32 goes to the free school, which is held in the N. transept of the church. In a field, a little to the N.W. of the village, are evidences of the site of a Roman station on the Via Devana, where coins, a tesselated pavement, and other relics, have been found. There is a mineral spring in the neighbourhood. Cosmo Nevill, Esq., is lord of the manor. MEDEN, a river rising near Hard wick Hall, co. Notts. After a course of fourteen miles, it joins the Idle below Thoresby Park. MEDINA, EAST and WEST, libs, in the Isle of Wight, co. Hants. The liberties comprise the whole o) the island, which see. VOL. II. MEDINA, or MEDE, a river of the Isle of Wight, rises near Kingston, and falls into the sea at Cowes, where it forms a good harbour. MEDLAM, a hmlt. in the par. of Revesby, co. Lin- coln, 2 miles N. of Bolingbroke. MEDLAR WITH WESHAM, a tnshp. in the par. of Kirkham, hund. of Amounderness. co. Lancaster, 2J miles N. by W. of Kirkham, which station is situated in this township. The houses are irregularly built. There is a large cotton mill and weaving shed, employing a great number of the inhabitants. Mowbreck Hall is the principal residence. MEDLEY, or MEDELEY, a spot on the Thames, co. Oxford, 2 miles N. by W. of Oxford. It is watered by the Isis, and was anciently a seat of the priors of Oseney, where Henry II. met Fair Rosamond when a nun at the Abbey of Godstone. MKDLICOTT, a tnshp. in the par. of Wentnor, co. Salop, 4 miles N.W. of Church Stretton. MEDLOCK, a feeder of the Irwell, rising at Scholver, co. Lancaster. MEDMENHAM, a par. in the hund. of Desborough, co. Bucks, 4J miles W. of Henley-on-Thames, its post town, and 3 S.W. of Great Marlow, The village, which is small, is situated I mile from the London and Oxford road, on the banks of the Thames. It is wholly agricul- tural, and has the ruins of a monastery for Cistercian monks, founded by Hugh de Bolibec as a cell to Woburn Abbey. Its revenue at the Dissolution was returned at 20 6s. Id. The incumbent's tithes have been com- muted for a rent-charge of 200. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 133. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a chalk, flint, and stone edifice, with a tower containing three bells. It has several stained windows, and has recently been thoroughly restored. In the churchyard is a monument to the wife of Bransby William Powys, Esq. There are two free schools, also a Roman Catholic school. The site of the abbey, which is partly occupied by a modern erection in imitation of ruins, is on the banks of the Thames, and is nearly overgrown with ivy. Danesficld House and the Vicarage House are the principal residences. Above the village are vestiges of a large square camp, surrounded by a single vallum and ditch ; also an ancient circular intrenchment, called Danesfield. C. R. S. Murray is lord of the manor. MEDOMSLEY, a chplry. and tnshp. in the par. of Lanchester, W. div. of Chester ward, co. Durham, 11 miles S.W. of Gateshead, its post town. It is situated on a branch of the Stanhope rail, and on the road from Shotley Bridge to Newcastle. The chplry. comprises the tnshp. of Medomsley, and part of the tnshp. of Con- side-cum-Knitsley. There are collieries, brick-kilns, and an iron foundry. The soil is chiefly loam and clay. Iron ore abounds in the coal formation of this district. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Durham, val. 150, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedi- cated to St. Mary Magdalene, is a stone edifice. There is a parochial school. The charities produce about 10. per annum. Christopher Hunter, the physician and antiquary, was born at Medomsley Hall in 1675, and interred in Shotley church in 1767. MEDSTED, or MEADSTED, a par. in the hund. of Bishop's Sutton, Alton div. of co. Hants, 4 miles S.W. of Alton, its post town. The village, which is small, is wholly agricultural. The surface is elevated, and the scenery picturesque. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Winchester, val. 580, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an ancient structure with a small tower. The interior of the church has some Norman pillars of great antiquity. There is a National school, and a chapel for the Independents. MEDUSA, the inner channel to Harwich harbour, coast of Essex. It passes over the Naze flats, and has the Stone Banks and Ridge on one side, and the Ledge and Pye Sands on the other. MEDWAY, a river known to the Romans as Macius or Vttffa, rises near Felbridgo Park, co. Surrey, but is called the Eden till after its junction with the Broad Mead 5 K
