354 WICKHAMFORD.

verted into a couple of cottages by the owner, D. Britten, Esq. Kenswick was formerly an extra-parochial chapelry, but the ruined old chapel was taken down a few years ago, and under a recent Act of Parliament Kenswick has become a parish of itself, and is joined to the Martley Union. The place now consists of Kenswick House (the residence of Mr. Britten) and a farm called The Kedges. Three centuries ago the population of Wichenford was 27 families; in 1861, 366. Present employment, entirely agricultural, with a little gloving by the women. Crops, chiefly wheat, barley, beans, occasionally oats and hops, with cider and perry. Some ancient worthies have been reared at Wichenford: a Mrs. Tilsley died here at the age of 102, and a Sarah Knowles at 101. There is a tradition that the latter, like Izaak Walton's wife, was "a woman of the primitive piety," and authoress of a work intituled "High-heel'd soles for limping sinners." Mr. Woodroffe, owner of the Court Estate, is lord of the manor; chief landowners, the Earl of Dudley, D. Britten, Esq., T. Jones, Esq., J. Bury, Esq., Major Norbury, F. E. Williams, Esq., Messrs. Hall, Southall, and Fawkes, of Worcester; and D. Graham Niven, Esq., is a resident gentleman in the parish.

Wickhamford.

EVESHAM abbey formerly owned this adjoining parish, till at the Dissolution it passed into the hands of the Throckmortons, and since then to the Sandys and other families. Lord Sandys is a principal landowner, but there are no resident gentry. Agriculture, with here and there gloving, is the employment; chief crops, wheat, beans, barley, oats, and roots. Population, 124; acreage, 1,203. The ancient manor-house near the church - an interesting