THE HAMPTONS. 185

growth of beans that an old farmer once boasted of having a Crop which had grown so tall that the rooks built in them ! Part of the parish is a mixed soil, capable of growing roots, barley, and vegetables. A colony of the Evesham gardeners have migrated hither for horticultural purposes. Hampton is exclusively an agricultural parish. It contains water of three kinds - a saline, somewhat similar to that of Leamington; Mother of a petrifying quality; and a patriarchal well of pure water, whither the inhabitants may be seen going to and fro with the yoke and buckets. As the position of this well is high above that of the houses, the water might, at an inconsiderable expense, be carried down for drinking and culinary purposes. If you sink for water at the lower level you top the saline, A railway runs through the parish from Evesham to Ashchurch, having been opened in 1864, and it has lately been extended to Alcester, en route to the intended junction at Redditch. There were twenty-eight families here three centuries ago, but the population is now upwards of 500; acreage, about 1,622.

The perpetual curacy of Hampton is worth about £150; patrons, Christchurch, Oxon; incumbent, Rev. F. F. Fawkes, who, however, has been non-resident for many years, and the parish is in charge of the Rev. N. Atkinson, who resides at Bengeworth. The patrons are too poor to provide a parsonage house, and consequently there has been no resident minister for many years. The church contains nearly 250 sittings, almost all of which are considered free. An unusual style of building is the church, having a chancel and nave, with tower at the junction of the two, and something like incipient transepts; date, chiefly Perpendicular, and in good condition. A piscina and the remains of the rood stairs may be noted here, also some elegant modern memorial windows, erected by H. Workman, Esq., and Mrs. Stokes. A parochial school-house exists, but not equal to the requirements of the place. The means of supplying the want will, however, soon be supplied from the residue of the rents of a farm in the