A Topographical Dictionary of England: Volume 2 D Preface page 19 DENBURY, a parish in the hundred of HAYTOR, county of DEVON, 2= miles (S.W. by S.) from Newton-Abbots, containing 412 inhabitants. The living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry of Totness, and diocese of Exeter, rated in the king's books at #12. 7. 6. The Duke of Bedford was patron in 1798. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. Denbury, said to have been anciently a borough, belonged, with the manor, to the abbey of Tavistock, the superior of which, in 1285, obtained for it a weekly market and a fair; the market is disused, but there is a cattle fair on the 11th of September. A school-room has been built by subscription, on a plot of ground given by Mr. Bartlett, of Newton-Abbots, the National Society having contributed #25 towards defraying the expense: it is endowed, chiefly from the parish lands, with about #30 per annum, and is conducted upon Dr. Bell's system. A Topographical Dictionary of England: Volume 3 R. Preface page 629 The living, which comprises the two parishes of Romsey Infra and Romsey Extra, is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Winchester, rated in the king's books at #20. 18. 1=., and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Winchester. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, and formerly belonging to the abbey, is a very magnificent cruciform structure, with a low tower rising from the intersection: the principal portion was erected in the middle of the tenth century, and exhibits some fine specimens of the Norman style of architecture; within are various admixtures of round and pointed arches, with zigzag and other ornaments; the more modern parts of the edifice are in the early English style. The interior contains several ancient mernorials of the abbesses who were interred here; an elegant sepulchral inscription to Frances, Viscountess Palmerston, who died in childbed, in 1769; and a neat tablet to the memory of Sir William Petty, a native of this town, and ancestor to the present Marquis of Lansdowne: there is also a remarkable monument, with effigies and a curious inscription, to the family of John St. Barbe, Esq., a representative of this county in parliament in 1654. An apple-tree, supposed to be at least two hundred years old, grew on the roof until lately, but it is now dead. This venerable edifice has lately received an addition of eight hundred sittings, of which seven hundred and twenty-seven are free, the Incorporated Society for enlarging and building churches and chapels having contributed #450. At the east end of the building several stone coffins were discovered some years ago; at the angle of the southern transept are the remains of a fine Norman doorway, and in its western wall is a very ancient image of Christ on the Cross, in hasso relievo: the west end is separated from that part of the building appropriated to divine service by a curious and ancient oak screen: about fourteen years since, some curious old paintings were found behind the altar-piece. There are places of worship for Baptists, Independents, Wesleyan Methodists, and Sandemanians. A free school, in which thirty boys are educated and annually clothed, and some apprenticed every year, having been founded, probably, by subscription, was, in 1718, endowed from the estate of John Nowes, Esq., with an income of #30 per annum, for the instruction of twenty poor boys, and #60 per annum to clothe them: this endowment was augmented, in 1723, by a rent-charge of #25, for clothing and teaching ten boys, under the will of Sir John St. Barbe. The National school for three hundred boys is a neat building, erected in 1827, the site, and #150 towards the erection, having been given by Lord Palmerston: it is supported by voluntary contributions. The Union school for eighty boys, on the Lancasterian system, is supported by subscription. Almshouses for six widows were founded, in 1692, by John Hunt, Esq.; and six others for single women, in 1809, by John Bartlett, Esq. The only vestiges of the ancient abbey, exclusively of the church, are a few fragments of the old walls. Mr. Giles Jacob, author of the Law Dictionary, was born here, in 1686. A Topographical Dictionary of England: Volume 4 S Preface page 142 SPRATTON, a parish in the hundred of SPELHOE, county of NORTHAMPTON, 6> miles (N.N.W.) from Northampton, containing, with the hamlet of Little Creaton, 945 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Northampton, and diocese of Peterborough, rated in the king's books at #15, and in the patronage of John Bartlett, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Luke, has a Norman tower, and the body presents a mixture of that and the early and decorated styles of English architecture. A Topographical Dictionary of England: Volume 4 W. Preface page 576 WORTH-MATRAVERS, a parish in the hundred of ROWBARROW, Blandford (South) division of the county of DORSET, 3= miles (S.S.E.) from Corfe-Castle, containing 325 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Dorset, and diocese of Bristol, rated in the king's books at #8. 8. 4., and in the patronage of the Rev. T. O. Bartlett. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a very ancient structure. This parish has the English channel on the south, where is the noted cliff called St. Alban's head, one hundred and forty-seven yards in perpendicular height, with a signal-house on its summit; also the remains of a very ancient chapel, dedicated to St. Aldhelms, built and vaulted with stone, and supported by a single massive pillar, with four arches, meeting in a point at the crown: it is entered through a semicircular doorway in the north side, but has no window, only a hole on the south side. Near Quarr, which anciently belonged to the Cullifords, marble was once quarried. Real new to UK information, if anyone can help with this, or give insight, please let me know. Tammy bartlett@bartlettgenealogy.com