WOLVERLEY. 367

London, with twenty acres of land in Bethnal Green. He directed that the master should receive £20 a year and (after certain other payments to six neighbouring parishes, together with incidental expenses) the overpluses applied to increase that stipend, and to the repair of the church and four bridges in the parish. The Ecclesiastical Commissioners are lords of the manor, and the chief landowners are Sir T. G. Sebright, Beechwood, Herts; J. P. Brown-Westhead, Esq., Lea Castle; W. Hancocks, Esq., Blakeshall; W. Trow, Esq., Ismere; and F. W. Knight, Esq., M.P., Wolverley House. Wolverley Court belonged to the Attwoods, one of whom went out as a crusader, was put in a dungeon by the Saracens, till his lady at home, supposing him to be dead, was about to marry again, when the knight having vowed to the Virgin to present some of his lands to the church, was supernaturally liberated and whisked through the air to Wolverley, where of course he soon forbade the banns. The parish church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, was re-built in 1772 ; Rev. C. R. S. Cocks vicar; Rev. J. S. Crook curate in sole charge; value of living, £250 ; patrons, the Dean and Chapter of Worcester; church accommodation, 595; free seats, 86. There is now a church at Cookley. A district has also been assigned to it, and it is now constituted a separate parish for ecclesiastical purposes. Value, £200; W. Hancoeks, Esq., patron; Re,y. H. Kempson perpetual curate ; church jKcommodation, 500 ; 80 free; population, 1,500. Baskerville, the celebrated printer, of Birmingham, was born at Sion Hill, in this parish, in 1706.

In the dell upon the brink of which Lea Castle stands is still shown the spot over which Charles II crossed on his way to Boscobel.