ASTLEY. 19

Astley.

A PARISH on the east of Abberley. In Saxon days Ernsi held it "and could go where he would," a condition of things sadly altered when Ralph de Todeni, the Norman, took possession, as he did also of Abberley, by virtue of the right of conquest. The latter is thought to have founded the Priory of Astley, which was richly endowed with lands in this parish. The priory first belonged to a foreign monastery, was seized into the king's hands in 1414, given to the College of Westbury, and then became subordinate to the Church of Worcester. Henry VIII bestowed the manor, &c., on Sir R. Sadler, and it afterwards was conveyed to the Blounts, and then to the Winfords and Cookes. The trustees of the Rev. D. J. J. Cookes are now the patrons of the living, which is valued at £750; population, 864; acreage, 2,875; church accommodation, 500. The Rev. H. W. Cookes, rector. In the return made to Cromwell, the "Lord Protector" was said to be the patron; value £80; "Mr, John Jordan the preaching minister; and the living not fit to be united or divided."

Unfortunately the church fell into the hands of the restorers in 1838, before the revival of architectural taste had been established. There is, however, some good old Norman work, and a peculiar arrangement of a bay on the south exterior of the nave; corbel table of grotesque heads, some coupled together; rood stairs in the north pier of chancel arch, and remains of rood screen worked into the seats; chapel north of chancel containing splendid altar tombs of the Blounts three centuries ago, and there are memorials of the Winfords, Sheldons, Freemans, Bowaters, Cookes, &c. John Ewer, a former Bishop of Bangor, lies in the chancel, and there are many quaint inscriptions.