350 THE UPTONS.

unusually interesting. A charity was left by Alderman Sanders, of London, in the seventeenth century, producing £10 a year, for apprenticing poor boys of this parish, and the amount was to be paid by the Grocers' Company of London. This was the subject of a Chancery suit a few years ago, which swallowed up nearly the whole fund, and I have not heard whether the said grocers behave more handsomely now.

Upton Snodsbury stands on elevated ground, commanding nine surrounding parishes. The air is dry, bracing, and healthy, so much so that there has not been a case of sickness for three years in a population of 858!

The church (Early English and Decorated work chiefly) is large and interesting, still retaining the rood-loft and other relics. It is sadly in need of restoration. Rev. H. O'Donuell vicar and patron; value of living returned at £95; yet I am assured that the net value amounts to just £4. 6s. 10 1/2d. Earl Coventry is lord of the manor and impropriator of the tithes of three farms in the ancient parish of Snodsbury, which was formerly distinct from Upton Stephani, the other portion of the modern parish. The other landowners are the Green family, Dr. Johnstone, of Birmingham, the Brettells, Smiths, and others; but I am informed there is no resident gentleman either in Upton Snodsbury or the nine surrounding parishes! Acreage of the parish, 1,661 ; arable, pasture, and woodland; agriculture, glove-making, and handicraft, are the employments. All the cereals are grown, and apples, pears, and plums, turned to good account. Parish enclosed in 1774; allotments successfully managed.

Saxon (some think them British) remains have been recently found in a gravel pit, many of which are now in the possession of Mr. Ponting, of Worcester. It is supposed that Britons or Romans made an outpost of the hill of Upton Snodsbury, which is a natural defence of wood, hill, and ditch (if I may to designate a little stream which runs round the north and west borders of the parish and falls into the Avon). Remains of