Noake's Worcestershire Page 210

210 KEMPSEY.

the Severn, whereon the county regiment of yeomanry cavalry are drilled and reviewed every year, and much company drawn to the place. This ham is memorable for a duel which came off upon it on the 3rd of March, 1827, and although now forty years ago both the parties are still living, one of them being no other than the present Secretary for War, Sir John Pakington, and the other, Mr. J. Parker, at that time master of the Worcestershire hounds. Sir John (then plain Mr.) had ridden too closely or among the hounds, and some hasty words from the master led to a challenge. Both parties fired, but neither of the shots took effect; the seconds then interfered, and effected a reconciliation. An officer arrived on the ground, armed with a warrant to arrest the parties, but of course he was too late.

General Colvile and 'Squire Temple have handsome mansions in the parish, and the principal landowners are Mr. Temple, Rev. G. W. Southouse, Earl Somers, Mr. J. W. Lea, Captain Gorle, Mr. Holland, and the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, the latter being lords of the manor. There are the hamlets of Draycot, Brookend, Napleton, Stonehall, and Broomhall. The soil is light and sandy, but rich and good; there is abundant pasturage and rich meadows by Severn-side, besides which the usual cereal crops are grown; much, however, remains to be done in the way of drainage. Acreage, 3,132.

Kempsey manor was the Bishop of Worcester's from the earliest times until the Ecclesiastical Commissioners recently relieved his Lordship from the charge. The manor-house here was more like a palace, and was frequently visited by royalty, when of course the Bishops took care to be "at home." Strange scenes have taken place here. In 1253 a great riot occurred, when the Bishop's bailiff and tenants cut off the head of John de Draycot, clerk, and put it before the Bishop's gate. Henry II held a Court here, and delivered a charter concerning Inkberrow. A century later the third Henry was kept here as a prisoner by Simon de Montfort, just before