MERTON. 822 HESSINGHAM. of the abbey in the 12th century, and bears the arms of England, with those of the priory, in the chancel window. The interior of the church contains a painting by Luca Giordano and several dilapidated tombs. The church- yard contains a tomb to Francis Nixon, who first intro- duced calico printing in this neighbourhood. The'registor dates from 1559. The parochial charities produce about ' 133 per annum, of which 96 were left by Rutlish for apprenticing poor children. There are National and infant schools, also an Independent chapel. Merton House was left by Lord Nelson to Lady Hamilton, and . gives the title of viscount to the present Earl Nelson. ; Thomas a Becket and Walter de Merton, founder of Merton College, Oxford, were educated in the convent j under its first prior. At the Dissolution the revenue of the abbey was valued at 1,039 5a. 3d. During the civil war of Charles I. the buildings were dismantled by order of parliament, but they appear to have been restored subsequently, as the priory was advertised to be ' let in 1680, when it was described as containing several large rooms and a fine chapel. The only vestiges are part of the outer walls, constructed of flint and rubble, which some years ago were nearly perfect, but have recently been much damaged by the copper works erected on the abbey site. Church House, in this parish, was once the residence of Garrick, and subsequently of Sheridan, who was frequently visited here by George IV., when Prince of Wales. MEUTON, a par. in thehund. of Shebbear, co. Devon, fi miles S. of Great Torrington, its post town, 5 N. by W. of Hatherleigh, and 13 from Eggesford station on the North Devon railway. The village, which is small, is situated on the river Muir, and is wholly agricultural. At a farm are the ruins of Potheridge House, the birth- place of General Honk, who rebuilt the mansion. The Boil is clayey. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 365. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 388. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a stone structure, with a tower containing four bells. The charities consist of a clothes club and 5j. per annum. There is a National school for both sexes, in which a Sunday-school is held. The Bible Christians have a place of worship. Lord Clinton is lord of the manor. MERTON, a par. in the hund. of Wayland, co. Nor- folk, 2 miles S. by W. of Walton, its post town, and 10 N. of Thetford. The village, which is small, is wholly agricultural. The Merton Hall estate comprises the whole of the parish, as well as the adjoining ones of Sturston, Tottington, Stanford, and part of Thompson. The soil, which is poor, consists of a light sand with a subsoil of clay and marl, but through the perseverance of the neighbouring farmers has been considerably im- proved. The tithes have been commuted for a rent- charge of 201 14s. The living is a rect* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 174. The church, which is situated in the park, is dedicated to St. Peter. It is an ancient structure, with a circular tower containing three bells. The church has some stained windows and a font-cover of carved oak, presented by Lord Walsingham in lieu of the old one. There is one brass in good preservation, and others much dilapidated. The charities produce about 20 per annum, chiefly the rent of the town estate. Merton Hall, the principal residence, is an Elizabethan red brick mansion, situated in a wooded park, and is the seat of Lord Walsingham. MERTON, or MARTIN, a par. in the hund. of Bul- lingdon, co. Oxford, 3 miles S.W. of Bicester, its post town, and 10 N.E. of Oxford. The village, which is small, is situated on the river Ray, and is joined by a causeway, 2 miles in length, to the village of Ambrosden. A branch of the Roman road traverses the parish. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The tithes were commuted for land under an Enclosure Act in 1763. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 90, in the patron, of Exeter College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. Swithin, is of great antiquity, and has a square tower, formerly surmounted by a spire. On the top of the tower is a decorated border in fine preservation. There is an old Elizabethan manor- house, now converted into a farmhouse. Sir Edward Turner is lord of the manor. MERTON, or MERTOUN, a par. in the co. Ber- wick, Scotland. It is bounded on the N. by the par. of Earlston, and on the other sides by the co. Rox- burgh. It extend/s in length about 6 miles eastward, with a breadth varying from 1J mile to 4 miles. The parish abounds in hills, and the soil is rich, and tho land in an excellent state of cultivation. The parish is watered by the river Tweed, which sweeps along the whole western and southern boundary. The Melrose, Newton, and Maxton stations on the Edinburgh and Kelso railway are within easy distance. This par. IB in the presb. of Lauder and synod of Merse and Teviot- dale. The minister has a stipend of 2a9. The parish church was erected in 1658, and was restored in 1820. There is a parochial school. Dryburgh Abbey, Merton House, and Bemersyde House, are the principal resi- dences. The latter belongs to Haig of Bemersyde, and has been in the possession of that family since the time of Malcolm IV. MESHAW, or MESHETT, a par. in the hund. of Witheridge, co. Devon, 6 miles S.E. of South Molton, its post town, and 14 N.W. of C'rediton. The village, which is email, is situated near the road leading from South Molton to Crediton. The inhabitants are chiefly em- ployed in agriculture. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 110. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Exeter, val. 197. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, is a stone structure, with a tower containing four bells. It was rebuilt in 1838. The interior contains tombs of the Courtenays. There is a' National school for both sexes. There is a pl;ice of worship for the Bible Christians. W. 8. Preston, Esq., is lord of the manor. MESHIE, a small rivulet in co. Inverness, Scotland. It flows northward to the river Spey, at a point nearly opposite Laggan church, in Budenoch. MESSING, a par. in the Witham div. of the hund. of Lexden, co. Essex, 3 miles E. of Kelvedon, its railway station and post town, and 6 S.E. of Coggeshall. The village, which is small, is situated near the river Black- water, and is wholly agricultural. Messing is said to have derived its name from two Saxon words, signifying the " field of trampling," which originated from an engagement between Queen Boadicea and the Romans, causing terrible carnage. On the site is a farm, called Harborough Hall, where several Roman vases have been found. The surface is elevated, and the neighbourhood adorned with many houses. The soil is light and moderately fertile. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 430. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 317. The church, dedicated 10 All Saints, is an ancient structure, with a red brick tower containing a clock and three bells. It has In in enlarged to a great extent, and has two new transepts, and upwards of 518free sittings. The font is carved. The E. window is of painted glass, representing the six Chris- tian Graces ; and the oak panelling of the chancel is of James I.'s time. Theye are two brasses. The register dates from 1690. The parochial charities produce about 4 per annum. There is a National school. The Kail of Verulam is lord of the manor. A fair is held on the first Tuesday in July. MESSINGHAM, a par. in the E. div. of the hund. of Manley, parts of Lindsey, co. Lincoln, 4 miles N.W. of Kirton-in-Lindsey, its post town and railway station, and the same distance E. of Butterwick-Ferry. The village, which is large and well formed, is chiefly agri- cultural. The par. includes part of East Butterwick, at which place there is access to the Hull and Gains- borough steamers on the Trent. The living is a vie. * annexed to that of Bottesford, in the dioc. of Lincoln, joint val. 598, in the patron, of the Bishop and Dran and Chapter of Lincoln alternately, who are the appro- priators. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, has a tower. It was partly rebuilt in 1818, at an outlay of nearly 2,000. There is a National school of recent
