320 SHIPSTON AND TREDINGTON.

Shipston had excellent markets and fairs, and we read of one Snow, a butcher and grazier here, who raised a great fortune and became High Sheriff of the county; but the town is not now so famous for its sheep fairs, owing to a lack of railway accommodation. There is a tramroad from Shipston to Moreton and Stratford, used for coals and heavy merchandise, the trucks being drawn by horses. A bill was recently passed for a railway from Banbury to Blockley, but the "cloud" which has rested on all such undertakings has for the present shut this out from view.

Shag-weaving, or plush-weaving, was at one time extensively carried on by looms, but at present only three looms are worked, namely, at the premises of Mr. S. Wise and Mr. Bradley. The town has not been drained, and is in other ways much behind-hand. It has no means of recreation. A library and reading-room was founded in 1837, but this has been wound up, and there is now no intellectual institution existing. The only bank in the place is a branch of the Stourbridge and Kidderminster. There is a Burial Board, with the Rev. W. Evans, the rector, as chairman; and a cemetery was established in the London Road, in 1863-5, with separate chapels for Churchmen and Dissenters, at a cost of £1,700. The Board of Guardians hold weekly meetings at the workhouse every Saturday, Lord Redesdale chairman; and there is a Highway Board holding meetings every first Tuesday of the month, at the George Hotel, W. Dickens, Esq., chairman. Besides which the magistrates hold petty sessions here every other Saturday. There are National endowed schools at Shipston and Tredington.

The parish church is modern, the tower erected in 1790, and the body in 1854 at a cost of £3,000. Rev. W. Evans, is rector of Shipston with Tidmington curacy; Jesus College, Oxford, and Dean and Chapter of Worcester, patrons, the latter presenting every third vacancy; value, £580. Population, about 1,800; acreage, 1,132; church accommodation, 805; free seats, 454. Rev. C. H. Watling is rector of