Noake's Worcestershire Page 149

149 EVENLODE.

'QUAINT' old Habingdon says of this isolated parish (situate beyond the eastern limit of the county): "And heere mee thinckethe I see our shyre as mounted on a Pegasus flyinge over the neyghboringe countyes, and as hee lately crossed Staffordshire, Warwickshyre, and Gloucestershyre, so nowe coastinge to the confynes of Oxford-shyre hee touchethe that memorable stone devydinge fowre conntyes wheare Edmund Ironsyde, that English Hercules, overthrewe Canutus, the puissant and worthy Kinge of Denmarke; and thence he caryeth the authority of our county about and over Coteswould, neaver strykinge the earthe but wheare hee produceth a springe, w'ch beyond that of Helicon floweth w'th abundance of charity to heaven's eternity, as at Emlode (Evenlode) w'ch the Bishop of Worcester dyd before the conquest of England bestowe on the Prior and his mounckes of Worcester, but Emlode Church wanteth nobilitie of armes; her glory was in heaven."

There is but little to be said of this parish. It derives its name from the small river that runs through it, and the "memorable stone" alluded to above is called "the four-shire stone," where four counties meet. There are camps and earth-works at no great distance. The population, which ^umbered about 90 in the time of Elizabeth, are now increased to 276. Acreage of the parish, 1,563. The church is situate on the west side of the village, being an ancient structure, with some Norman and later work, and western tower. Mrs. James is patron of the living; value, about £400; Rev. J. M. Staniland rector.