Noake's Worcestershire Page 102

102 THE CROOMES AND PIRTON.

large tracts of grass lands, where once were nothing but swamps. Chief produce, corn, hay, roots, and a small hop-yard or two. There were twenty-one families here in the sixteenth century, and the present population numbers 163 persons,, all agricultural; acreage, 1,148. Of Pirton, 212 population; acreage, 1,672. Earl Coventry is patron of the united living; value, £500. Church accommodation at Croome, 120; free seats, 70; at Pirton, 150 seats, of which 90 are free. The Rev. W. Lister Isaac rector.

The Earl of Coventry is lord of the manor of Croome d'Abitot, Pirton, and Hill Croome, and is also the principal landed proprietor. Mrs. Dunne is lady of the nfanor of Earl's Croome, and besides her the landowners are Mr. J. Kent, Mr. H. B. Marsh, and Mr. Genge; in Hill Croome, Mr. C. Hunt, Mr. Banaster, the Rev. W. Temple, &c.

Pirton has a circumference of about five miles. Its commons were enclosed in 1763. The Beauchamps and the ancient family of the Foliots successively held the parish. Sir John Foliot sold it in the sixteenth century to Sir William Corteyn, and the Corteyns sold it to a Coventry, in whose family it still remains. The little church, which stands on an eminence, overlooking a beautiful country, is chiefly a Norman building, with Decorated and other windows inserted, and a wooden tower.

Earl's Croome has also & little church presenting Norman masonry in its chancel arch, doorways, and other portions, with an elegant Decorated window on the north side. An ugly tower was erected at the west end some years ago, but since then some judicious renovations have been executed. The country is flat, soil cold clay and moist, but the village is picturesque; the church, rectory house, and the court, the seat of the Hon. W. J. Coventry, contributing to a very pleasing effect. There were here 35 families in the time of Elizabeth; present population, 189; acreage, 1,100; patron, of living, the Rev. C. Amphlett; rector, the Rev. H. C. Philpot; value, £220.