POWYKE. 303

Powyke.

WITHIN two or three miles of Worcester, an extensive parish, anciently belonging to the Church of Westminster, the Priory of Great Malvern, the Beauchamps, and others. There is a convent for nuns at Stanbrook, and the City and County Lunatic Asylum, an immense and costly establishment ably presided over by Dr. Sherlock and a joint committee of visitors, selected from the county and city magistrates.

In the parish of Powyke are four manors, Pixham, Woodsfield, and Holythorn Green, alias Beauchamp's Court, of which three manors Lord Beauchamp is lord, and the Earl of Coventry is lord of the manor of Prior's Court, alias the Rectory. Part of the manor of Bransford is also within this parish. Lord Coventry is patron of the living; and besides his lordship, Earl Beauchamp and Sir John Pakington are landowners; and among the resident gentry are Mrs. Wodehouse, Revs. E. Horton and E. Wall, Mrs. Morton, Mrs. Turbitt, Mrs. Moore, Messrs. J. Daniel, W. S. P. Hughes, G. Martin, and J. S. Isaac. A few of the females are employed in gloving, but the bulk of the people get their living in producing wheat, barley, oats, turnips, and hops. There is an acreage of 5,000, and a population of 2,222. The parish is well watered by the Severn and the Teme; and its ham, or common, is a large piece of land on the west bank of the latter river. The Rev. Cecil Hughes is the vicar; value of living, £320; church accommodation, 400; free sittings, 90. The church, which is a cruciform structure, has been recently restored. It contains specimens of almost every style, has an Early English east window, and western tower.