106 CROWLE.

Parish schools have been recently erected here by subscription ; also a free school-house, endowed by Mrs. Mary Holland, in 1740, the funds of which are now applied to the support of the new parish schools.

CROWLE.

A RURAL parish, five miles or so eastward from Worcester Cross, having an acreage of 1,640, and a population of nearly 600. It was in a somewhat neglected state till the advent of the present vicar and patron, the Rev. W. H. Woolrych, who has already effected great improvements. The cottages of the poor were filthy and overcrowded, there was no sufficient school-house, the church tower was split so that those enthusiastic officials the bell-ringers, who, with

" Don Ferdinando,

Will do all that a man can do,"

dared not set np a peal for fear that "chaos would come again;" and altogether the parish required the hand of a kind, judicious, and liberal leader, to rectify, amend, and set forth a good practical example, as well as to enunciate orthodoxy from the pulpit. Well, Mr. Woolrych first caused some of the objectionable cottages to be swept away. Then, after much vexatious interference on the part of the Committee of Privy Council—which seems to operate as a great discouragement to the cause of education—the vicar procured the erection of a school-house for upwards of 100 children (the parishes of Huddington and Tibberton participating), with residence for master and mistress. The school was opened in April, 1864. And finally, the reverend gentleman's attention will be directed to the restoration of the church as soon as funds can be procured. It is a building well worthy of