236 KNIGHTWICK AND DODDENHAM.

about 450. The Teme (which swarms with grayling and trout) divides the parish from Herefordshire, and the projected railway from Worcester to Bromyard crosses one end of Knightwick, where the line is far advanced, and would have been completed ere this but for the recent panic in the money and railway markets.

Knightwick belonged to the priory of Malvern, but was Surrendered in the fourteenth century to the Bishop of Worcester. It contained but ten families in the time of Elizabeth. Doddenham is a chapelry in the parish, and a manor that belonged to the priory of Worcester. The chapelry had eighteen families temp. Elizabeth. It is a tradition here that Charles II, on his retreat to the south-west coast, halted at Knightwick, and was glad to turn shoeblack at the Talbot Inn to avoid the suspicion of pursuers. Colonel Lane, of Bentley, who had charge of his Majesty, possessed property at Knightwick; and probably Mistress Lane, with whom Charles rode disguised as her servant, rested here on that account. In the return made to the Lord Protector, in the seventeenth century, it is stated: "Imprimis, the parsonage of Doddenham and Knightewicke have ever time oute of minde belonged to one man. They are very unfitt (as we conceave) to bee divided, having ever beene united, and are both very well worth £60 p. aun. Reprizes goeinge oute of the same wee knowe none, butt only 2s. 8d. a yeare that is paid to Mr. Henry Pitt of London. Glebe and tithes £30. The dean and chapter were formerly the patrons, but since the sale of dean and chapter land wee conceave Mr. Henry Pitt to be the patron thereof. The cure of both parishes, Mr. Taylor being sequestered, is now supplyed by Mr. Mathew Boulton, whoe receiveth the profittes thereof, whoe is an honest man, an able scoller, and a sound devine, as we suppose him to be."

The old churches at both of the above places were of rude construction. That of Doddenham has been recently destroyed, but the old parish church of Knightwick still stands, and is used as a mortuary chapel. In lieu of these old structures the