BEITH, a par. and market town, in the Cunningham district of the co. of Ayr, and partly in the co. of Renfrew, Scotland, 18 miles to the S. W. of Glasgow. It is situated in a pleasant and fertile district on the banks of the Rye Water, near Loch Kilbirnie, and is a station on the Glasgow and South-Western railway. The par. includes, in addition to the post town of its own name, the vils. of Gateside, Northbar, and Burnhouse. The town, which has grown into importance since the comencement of the 18th century, when it consisted of only a few poor dwellings, is seated on a lofty eminence, commanding extensive prospects over the surrounding country. The streets are not regularly built, but they contain many good houses and are lighted with gas. There is a townhouse, which was erected in 1817, a news-room, subscription library, and three branch banks. The principal branches of industry are the mannfacture of linen yarn, calicoes, and silk printing and dyeing. There are many dairy-farms, and a large quantity of the cheese called "Dunlop cheese" (from the neighbouring parish) is made here. Coal, lime- stone, and freestone are obtained in abundance, and some ironstone. The living, of the val. of £241, is in the presb. of Irvine, and the patron. of the Earl of Eglinton. The church, a handsome edifice with a spire, erected in 1807, stands on the loftiest spot in the town. There are places of worship belonging to the Free Church, and the United Presbyterians, and several good schools. Until 1838, when it fell down, the ruins of Giffen Castle, the old seat of the Eglintons, was a conspicnous object; and on the shore of Loch Kilbrinie, are those of Glengarnock Castle, now belonging to the Earl of Glasgow. On the summit of the lofty Cuff-hill, a supposed seat of Druidical worship, is a rocking-stone, which a touch suffices to move. Stone coffins and urns have been discovered in cairns in this parish. Dr. John Wotherspoon, afterwards President of Princetown College, New Jersey, was minister of this parish in 1745, when he raised and led a company of volunteers for the king. He was taken prisoner at the battle of Falkirk. Friday is the market day. Fairs are held on the first Friday in January, February, and November, and the 30th August.
BEKAN, or BECAN, a par. in the bar. of Costello, in the co. of Mayo, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 6 miles to the W. of Ballyhannis. It lies at the head of the river Robe. The living is a rect., united with that of Kiltullagh, in the dioc. of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry. Tho principal residences are Becan and Ballenville. There are some remains of the old parish church.
BEKESBOURNE. See Beaksbourne, Kent.
BELAN, a par. in the bar. of Kilkes and Moone, in the co. of Kildare, prov. of Leinster, Ireland, 4 miles to the N. of Castledermot. The living is a rect., united with the vic. of Timolin, in the dioc. of Dublin, Glen- dalagh, and Kildare. Belan House, the seat of the Earls of Aldborough, stands on the site of an ancient castle, which was a seat of the Fitzgeralds, and was destroyed by Cromwell.
BELAUGH, a par. in the southern div. of the hund. of Erpingham, in the co. of Norfolk, 6½ miles to the N.E. of Norwich. The village is pleasantly situated on the sloping side of a hill, which rises abruptly from the left bank of the river Bure, and is crowned by the church of St. Peter, from which there is a commanding prospect over a rich and varied country. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. with the vic. of Scotton, to which it is annexed, £411, in the patron. of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, has a square tower surmounted by four small spires, and contains a brass of 1471, and an ancient circular font. The register commences from the year 1638. Belangh Hall is the chief residence, and belongs to the Trafford family, who have long held the manor.
BELBROUGHTON, a par. and vil. in the lower div. of the hund. of Halfshire, in the co. of Worcester, 5 miles to the E. of Kidderminster, and 6 8. of Stourbridge, its post town and railway station. It is watered by the small stream of Rum Alley, and includes the hmlts. of Brian's Bell, Broomhill, Fairfield, and Hartley The manufacture of scythes, hay-knives, and every description of edge tools is extensively carried on at this place, one firm having been established upwards of century. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Worcester, of the val. of £1,244, in the patron. of the President and Fellows of St. John's College, Oxford. The church, an old stone building, is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The altar-place in the chancel is paved with encaustic tiles. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have chapels. There is a National school and a small free school, with an endowment of about £10 & year, and other charities producing about £24. Fairs are held here on the 30th May and the 26th September for cattle, horses, cheese, &c.; the latter day is also a statute fair for hiring servants. The parish to the northward is rather hilly, but generally fertile, and a large portion in pasture.
BELBY, a tnshp. in the par. of Howden, and wap. of Howdenshire, in the East Riding of the co. of York, 1 mile from Howden. The Hull and Selby railway passes near the township, with a station at Howden.
BELCHAMP NORTH END, and BELCHAMP NORTH WOOD, ext. par. places in the hund. of Hinckford, ford, in the co. of Essex, next to Belchamp Walter.
BELCHAMP OTTON, a par. in the hund. of Hinckford, in the co. of Essex, 5 miles to the N. of Castle Hedingham. Clare is its post town. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Rochester, of the val. of £446, in the patron. of the Rev. E. H. Dawson, incumbent. The church is dedicated to St. Ethelbert and All Saints There are charitable endowments, producing £21 per annum.
BELCHAMP ST. PAUL'S, a par. in the hund.of Hinckford, in the co. of Essex, 2 miles to the S.E. of Clare. The living is a vic. in the dioc. of Rochester, of the val. of £240, in the patron. of the Dean and Chapter of St. Paul's, London. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew. There is an endowment of small amount for a school. The vil. is a meet for the East Easex hounds
BELCHAMP WALTER, a par. in the hund. of Hinckford, in the co. of Essex, 3 miles to the W. of Sudbury. The living is a vic. consolidated with that Bulmor, in the dioc. of Rochester. The church is dedicated to St. Mary, and contains a monumental brass of the year 1691, and several monuments to the Raymond family, whose seat is Belchamp Hall. The mansion contains some interesting paintings, amongst which is a portrait of Sir Hugh Myddelton. The par., with Belchamp North End and Belchamp North Wood, which are a par., has an area of about 2,125.
BELCHFORD, or BELSHFORD, a par. in the northern div. of the wap. of Gartree, parts of Lindsey, in the co. of Lincoln, 6 miles to the N.E. of Horncastle. Good limestone is quarried here. In the parish Belchford Wood, where the South Wold hounds meet. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Lincoln, of the val. of £425, in the patron. of the lord chancellor. The church is dedicated to St. Peter and Paul.
BELCLARE, or CLARE TUAM, a par. in the bar of Clare, in the co. of Galway, prov. of Connaught Ireland, 3 miles to the S.W. of Tuam. It contains the hill of Knockma, which commands a fine view. There is a large extent of bog in the district. The living is a vic. united with that of Tuam, in the dioc. of Tuam, Killala, and Achonry. A Franciscan monastery was founded here at the close of the 13th century.
BELCOO, a vil. in the par. of Bohoo, and bar. of Clanawley, in the co. of Fermanagh, prov. of Uster, Ireland, 9 miles to the W. of Enniskillen. It is situated near the borders of Leitrim and Cavan, between Loughs Macnean and Neilly. Fairs are held here on the 5th April, June, and August, the 6th October, and the 26th November.
BELFAST BARONY, UPPER and LOWER, of the 14 bar. or subdivisions of the co. of Antrim prov. of Ulster, Ireland, sitnated in the south-east part of the county. It is bounded on the N.E. by the North Channel, on the 8.E. by Belfast Lough and the co. of
