Noake's Worcestershire Page 197

HARTLEBURY. 197

brick structure, but is conveniently fitted for upwards of sixty boys, and there are two masters' houses; head master, Rev. J. W. Lee. This school existed more than three centuries ago, and was so mismanaged that Queen Elizabeth found occasion to rectify it. At length I believe it is in excellent hands, after a long and weary time of trial and misapplied revenues - the old, old tale! Nor were the other charities of the parish in much better case, for the late Mr. T. Hawkeswood had a two years' correspondence with the Poor-law Commissioners as to certain almshouses at Stourside, belonging to the poor, having been sold in error as if it had been parish property. Although the error was admitted by the Commissioners no restitution took place!

Among the notabilia of Hartlebury it may be stated that the Maypole is still kept up on every 29th of May. One of the rectors of Hartlebury was Dr. Smith, Prebend of Exeter, Canon of Hereford, and eminent for his sacred music compositions, in the seventeenth century. He was one of the translators of the Scriptures, being engaged by King James to write the preface to the Bible now in use. He was a most devoted Royalist, and suffered many privations for his opinions.

Schools, clubs, and charitable institutions abound here; and with regard to Dissent, an Independent chapel was opened in 1857, near the Mitre Oak, at a place called Crossway Green. There was some kind of Dissent here as early as 1705, if not long before. In that year Thomas Taylor, of Hartlebury, obtained a licence for a meeting-house,"according to ye new Act of Parliament."