Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/556

LAURENCEKIRK. 648 LAVENHAM. The greater portion of the parish is in pasture. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Oxford, vul. 618, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, has a very antique tower. The pews were removed in 1844, and the church refitted with open oak sittings. There are National and infant schools. The Independents have a place of worship. The Dean and Chapter of Westminster arc lords of the manor. LAURENCEKIRK, a par. in the How district of co. Kincardine, Scotland. It measures 4 miles in length, and is 3 broad. The land is chiefly arable, with about 300 acres of wood, pastoral, or waste. The rivulet Leuthar and numerous brooks intersect the parish. The surface is flat in the centre, but hilly both towards the northern and southern boundaries. Weaving is carried on by the inhabitants. The parish is intersected by the Aberdeen railway, and by the road from Forfar to Aber- deen. The par. is in the presb. of Fordoun, and synod of Angus and Mearns, in the patron, of St. Mary's Col- lego, St. Andrew's. The minister's stipend Js241. The parish church is a modern and commodious structure. It was erected in 1828 in place of one built in 1626, and which was dedicated to St. Lawrence. The ancient name of the parish, however, was Cometh. The other places of worship are, Episcopalian and Independent chapels, and a Free church. There are parochial and other . schools, and one or two libraries. Dr. Beattio (1735 1803), the poet and philosopher, and his nephew, James Bcattie, professor of natural history in Aberdeen University, were natives of this place. The parish school was kept by Thomas Ruddiman, the grammarian. The town of Laurencekirk is a railway station on the Aberdeen line, and is 10 miles N. of Montrose, and 7 W. of Bervie. It consists of a main street nearly a mile in length, with another parallel to it, and two or three short ones branching from the principal streets. It is well lighted with gas. The town is greatly indebted for the consequence it enjoys at the present day to Lord Gardonstonc, a judge of the Court of Session, who, about 1762, purchased the estate of Johnstone, and built several houses. In 1779 he procured for this place the privileges of a burgh of barony, with the right of hold- ing a weekly market. It is governed by a bailie and four councillors, who arc chosen every three years, and regulate the police, &c. The manufacture of fancy work-boxes, wooden snuff-boxes, and also of linen, form the chief employments of the inhabitants. In the town are branches of the Aberdeen and County bank, the North of Scotland bank, and the Montrose savings-bank ; also a farmers' club, and a horticultural society. A sheriff's small-debt court is held here on the first Mon- days in February, June, and October. Market day is Monday. Fairs are held on the third Wednesday in January (old style), the last Tuesday in April, 26th May, Thursday after third Tuesday of July (old style), Thursday after second Tuesday of August (old style), Monday before the last Wednesday of September, first Thursday in November, and 22nd November. LAURENCETOWN, a post-office vil. in the par. of Clonfert, in the bar. of Longford, co. Galway, prov. of Connaught, Ireland, 3 miles N.W. of Eyrecourt. It is situated on the road from Aughrim to Banagher, and contains a Roman Catholic chapel, a Methodist meeting- house, and chief police station. Petty sessions are held at intervals. The neighbouring seats are Bellevue, Gortnamona, and Bellamore. Fairs are held on the 8th May, 22nd August, and 15th December. LAURENCETOWN, a railway station on the Ban- bridge and Scarva branch of the Banbridgo Junction railway, Ireland. LAURENS, ST., a par. in the Isle of Jersey, Channel Islands, 3 miles N.W. of St. Helier. It is situated near St. Aubin's Bay, and is well cultivated. __ LATJRIESTON, a vil. in the par. of Balmaghie, co. Kirkcudbright, Scotland, 5 miles N.W. of Castle Douglas. LAURIESTON, a vil. in the par. of St. Cyrus, co. Kincardine, Scotland, 4 miles S.E. of Laurencekirk. In the grounds of Laurieston House are the remains of th Stratons' old castle, taken by the English in 1336. LAURISTON CASTLE, in co. Edinburgh, Scotland, 3 miles W. of Edinburgh. LA VAN SANDS, in Beaumaris Bay, co. Cardigan. They extend for above 5 miles along the coast from Bangor towards the N.E., and are 4 miles over at the Aber ferry to Anglesey, being dry at low water. LAVANT, EAST, a par. in the hund. of Aldwick, rape of Chichester, co. Sussex, 2J miles N.W. of Chi- chestcr, its post town and railway station. It is situates on the river Lavant, which rises in Charlton forest, and contains the tythgs. of East and West Lavant. It i called Lmentone in Domesday Book, at which time the manor was held by Osbeme, Bishop of Exeter, and afterwards passed through various hands until it was purchased in the latter part of the last century by the Duke of Richmond, in whose family it remains. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Chichester, val. .410. The church is a stone structure, in the Norman style of architecture. It is dedicated to St. Mary. The register commences in 1653. There is a privilege belonging to this parish of sending four children to the free school, and four women to the almshouses, founded by the Countess of Derby, at Boxgrove. There are National schools for boys and girls, and an infant school. LAVANT, MID, a par. in the hund. of Westbourne, rape of Chichester, co. Sussex, 2j miles N.W. of Chi- chester, its post town. The parish, which is of small extent, is situated on the road from London to Chiches- ter fiu Midhurst. The living is a pcrpet. cur. in th dioc. of Chichester, val. 52. The church has a finely- sculptured monument, in white marble, to Lady Mary May. LAVENDON, a par. in the hund. of Newport, co. Bucks, 3 miles N.E. of Olney, its post town, and !)! from Bedford. The village, which is situated near the" river Ouso, is wholly agricultural. Lavendon was formerly a market town, by grant to Paulinus Peyore in 1248. An abbey of Prernonstratensian canons was founded here in the reign of Henry II. by John do Bidun, and dedicated to St. John the Baptist; its revenue at the Dissolution was returned at 79 13s. Sd. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1801. The living is a rect.* with the cur. of Cold Brafield annexed, in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 284. The church is dedicated to St. Mary. The charities produce about 13 per annum. There is a National school for both sexes. LAVENHAM, or LANHAM, a par. and small town in the hund. of Babergh, co. Suffolk, 7 miles N.E. of Sudbury, its post town, 10 N.W. of Hadleigh, and 19 N.W. of Ipswich. It is situated on a branch of the river Brett, and near the Great Eastern railway. It was given by the Conqueror to Robert Malet, and was subsequently held by the Do Veres, earls of Oxford, who once resided here. It is a polling and petty si 'ssion town, and had, until recently, a market. It was for- merly of more importance than at present, and was governed by six capital burgesses, styled headbomuohs, elected for the last time in 1775. The town still con- sists of several streets, but the houses have a mean appearance, showing the decline of trade. Then' is a horse-hair seating manufactory, and some of the inha- bitants are employed in wool-combing, and in plaiting straw for bonnets. Courts leet and baron are occa- sionally held by the lord of the manor. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 658, in the patron, of Caius College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul, is a stone and flint structure, with a lofty tower containing eight bells. It was rebuilt in the reign of Henry VI. The roof of the church is richly carved, and contains the arms of the De Veres, and of the family of Spring, wealthy clothiers, at whose ex- pense this edifice was erected. There are curious monuments of alabaster and marble to Allaine Disler, and the Rev. E. Copinger; also three brasses of the Spring family, one bearing date 1486, besides several other monuments of ancient date. The register dates from 1558. The charities produce about 450 per annum. The almshouses, for forty aged persons.