202 HINDLIP.

recently purchased the entire parish, with the exception of forty-six acres, which belong to R. Berkeley, Esq., of Spetchley, fifteen acres of glebe, and a few acres belonging to other parties. The acreage is 1,054; population, 136; there were nine families in the time of Elizabeth. Agriculture and gloving are the chief pursuits, and wheat, beans, roots, and a little barley, are grown. The Worcester and Birmingham Canal runs through the length of the parish.

Hindlip is chiefly noted for the historical interest attaching to its principal mansion, on the site of the residence of Habingdon, who, for his share in harbouring priests and others connected with the Gunpowder Plot, was condemned to confine himself to Worcestershire, and so amused his declining days by making extensive MSS. collections for the history of the county, which have since been rendered available in the works of Nash and others. The old house, the scene of these occurrences, was destroyed nearly half a century ago. It was curiously constructed within and without, with trap-doors, back staircases, and hiding rooms, built so as to have the exterior semblance of chimneys. Hindlip House was, from an early period of the persecution of Catholic priests, the great centre of Catholicity in this district, whither high and low repaired; and Oldcorn, who was Habingdon's priest, is described by Catholic writers as "the Apostle of Worcestershire," whose labours in this and the adjoining counties - the dangers he was exposed to and his miraculous escapes - are described as inconceivable. The extraordinary circumstances attending the search after Garnett and Oldcorn in this retreat, and the miracles which were said to have ensued, are fully detailed in "Worcester Sects." The present mansion, erected on the site of the old house, is the residence of Mr. Allsopp. The house is a square building, the principal front of which has four Ionic pillars supporting an entablature. From hence the views over the vale of the Severn, the wooded hills of Abberley, ancient Westwood, and other beautiful portions of Worcestershire, are truly charming.