Noake's Worcestershire Page 309

RIPPLE. 309

dozen years, and a new organ erected by Nicholson. The building contains nothing remarkable save a niche for lamp or hour-glass for the preacher, also an inscription to George Shipside, brother-in-law to the martyr Ridley.

Richard and John Lane, brothers, for the murder of Thomas Goode, of Redmarley, were hung on the 10th of March, 1800.

Ripple.

On the southern border of the county, near Tewkesbury. Ripple includes the hamlets of Holdfast and Uckingshall, and the chapelry of Queenhill. It is supposed to have been a Roman settlement, as remains of that period and ancient roadways have been discovered near Bow Farm; and a monastery is said to have existed here in the eighth century, with vineyards, &c. The village is decidedly of the olden time, some of its houses having stood for centuries, and there are almshouses built in 1701, stocks and whippingpost (preserved as antiquarian relics rather than for use), National Schools erected in 1844, a rectory house built in the early part of the last century, and an Early English church. There is in Ripple a population of 849, and 196 at Queenhill, the males being almost entirely engaged in agriculture and the women in gloving and slop-making for Worcester tradesmen. With a fertile soil, and pastures near the Severn, an immense number of sheep and stock are bred, and turnips and barley chiefly grown, with some wheat. The acreage is 3,700. The parish was not enclosed till late in the last century, for I find that in 1786 the rectory field, near the church, was the only piece that was enclosed for the whole distance between Malvern Chase and the Severn. Mrs. Parkhurst is lady of the manor. Lord Coventry and the Rector are also landowners here;