ELDERSFIELD. 141

the Crown, next to the Coningsby and Blount families. It is situated near Bromyard, and is nearly surrounded by Herefordshire, to which diocese it belongs. The parish is two miles long and two broad, and was united in 1625 with Tedstone Wafre, which is in Herefordshire. Among its nota-bilia is an ancient camp. Rev, J. Grasett rector; Mr. E. Higginson patron; value of living, £156; population 53. The little place ought altogether to belong to our Herefordshire neighbours, and so I dismiss it with this brief notice.

Eldersfield.

WESTWARD of Tewkesbury and the Severn lies this parish, ten miles in circumference, with an acreage of 3,300 and a population of 782. In 1548 the number of "communicants," or inhabitants above a certain age, was 280. The name of the parish is probably derived from a large piece of unenclosed land with elder trees growing on it. There are curious names here: Tut's Hill, Cob Hill, Eggs Hay, Ordewick, and Gadbury Banks. The last-named is a remarkable elevation in the centre of what may be called a fine amphitheatre, is about sixty feet high, and of an irregular oblong shape. From its position and appearance it is thought to have been the site of an ancient British town, or of Druidical worship. Eldersfield belonged to the famous Earls of Gloucester, then to the Berkeleys, Bruggee, and Lechmeres. Sir Edmund Lechmere, Bart., M.P., is the present lord of the manor and owner of estates here, as also the Earl of Coventry, Joseph Yorke, G. N. Ireland, Joseph 'Ireland, Esqrs., Mrs. Huddlestone, and Rev. Mr. Whitmore. Hardwick, in this parish, was formerly the seat of the ancient family of De-la-more, who sold it to a Coventry. It is now occupied as a farm-house. The parish also gave name to the