CROPTHORNE. 103

Hill Croome, which contains a glebe farm of about 100 acres, is a living in the gift of the Lord Chancellor; value, £210; rector, Hon. and Rev. T. Coventry; population, all agricultural, 198 (having just doubled in three centuries); acreage of the parish, 628; church accommodation, 90; free seats, 50. The church is a simple structure, with gabled tower at the west end, and a piscina occupies an unusual position, being placed across the south-east angle of the chancel.

BETWEEN the ancient towns of Evesham and Pershore, delightfully situated on high ground overlooking the soft-flowing Avon, is Cropthorne, with an acreage of 2,000, and a population of 839, being nearly trebled since the time that good Queen Bess reigned. The Mercian King Offa gave it to the church of Worcester, and both priors and monks and deans and chapters seem to have kept this portion of their property from the hand of the spoiler from first to last. They had a bailiff and collector here; and in the lease of Cropthorne manor there •was a reservation of "one new chamber as often as the cellarer or steward and other servants shall happen to come hither;" to pay 48 quarters of wheat, 12 of rye, and 180 of barley, 40s. for the water mill, and meat, drink, and provender, at every half-yearly court, also £8 a year, which in time past was accounted rent for summering and wintering of 220 ewes, and to keep everything in good order except the great barn. Why that important part of. the homestead was excepted does not appear in the monastic records.

Charlton and Netherton were both hamlets in Cropthorne until 1864, when Netherton was added to Elmley Castle by order in Council. Charlton is distinguished as the ancient