Noake's Worcestershire Page 291

OMBERSLEY. 291

tumulus (old barrow) is thought to have given it a name; but others allege that it was a superabundance of owls (Owlborough); and it is known that an old family who took their name from the parish bore three owls in their coat of arms. Among the old names here are Puck Meadow, Wharnap Hill, and Gospel Bit.

Ombersley.

A MODEL village, half a dozen miles from Worcester, on the road to Kidderminster; has fine old cross-timbered houses in good condition and modern ones en suite, with pretty gables and ornamental barge-boards; two or three good hostelries; a nicely-wooded park with good substantial mansion, the seat of Lord Sandys; and a fine showy church, not forty years old, with handsome spire. Ombersley formerly belonged to the Abbey of Evesham, and once gave name to a forest, which was cut down in the time of Henry III. A market and fair were granted to the town by Edward III, but there is now no trace of either. Lord Sandys owns the manor and most of the property in the parish. His Lordship traces his pedigree to Sandes, of Rattenby Castle, Cumberland, temp. Henry IV. There have been distinguished members of this family. Qneen Elizabeth, created Dr. Sandys Bishop of Worcester, and his son Samuel purchased the manor of Ombersley, Shortly afterwards lived Sir Edwin Sandys, the author, statesman, and traveller. Colonel Sandys was a noted supporter of the Parliamentary cause, and received his death wound at the battle of Worcester. He raised three regiments at his own expense, while his uncle, Colonel Martin Sandys, had a regiment of foot of the townsmen of Worcester, and was knighted at the Palace there in June, 1644, at the same time as was the Mayor. Then there