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reign, with high and low bailiff, privileged with a court of pleas, a market on Wednesdays (afterwards altered to Monday) and a fair on the 8th and 9th of October - there are two now, in April and October. The abbot and convent also held the patronage of the parish church, which at the Dissolution passed to Sir John Dudley, as also did the manor and the site of the monastery. His successors were the Blounts and Lytteltons.

Alexander de Hales, a famous theologian, is said to have been born here, as also was Dr. Adam Lyttelton, author of a Latin-English dictionary and some theological works. Another native of some note was Caslon, the type founder.

A military road, called the Portway, passes through Warley Wigorn, being probably a branch of the Roman Ykenild Street, which runs through Edgbaston to Wall. A place called the Quinton, so called, it is supposed, from the ancient Roman sport practised there, lies in this parish, and there are many other curious old names, including "The World's End," possibly a corruption from Ward's End. In the town there is a Bull-ring, which was used within the present century for the brutal sport of bull-baiting.

At Hales Owen, in former times, the celebration of bride-ales, or love-ales, at a wedding prevailed and led to such disorder that in the reign of Elizabeth it was found necessary by the Borough Court to make stringent orders thereon. The custom was for the bride to sell a quantity of ale, for which she received, by way of contribution, whatever handsome price the friends assembled chose to pay, the object being to assist the young people in commencing housekeeping.