Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/858

MINCHMUIR. 850 MINNEEHTVE. Danes from Alfred the Great in 879. There is a petri- fying spring near Chalford, in this parish. Market day is Tuesday. Fairs are hold on Trinity Monday and on the 27th October for horses, cattle, and sheep. MINCHMUIR, a short mountain ridge stretching N. and S. on the borders of cos. Peebles and Selkirk, Scot- land, 4 miles S.E. of Innerleithen. The highest eleva- tion is 2,285 feet above sea-level. The ancient road between Peebles and Selkirk passes over this range, and commands scenery of the wildest description. It was by this route that Montrose passed in his retreat from Philiphaugh. MINCINGFIELD, a tythg. in the par. of Durley, co. Hants, 3 miles W. of Bishop's Waltham. MINDRUM, a hmlt. in the ward of East Glendale, co. Northumberland, 9 miles W. by N. of Wooler, and 60 N. by W. of Newcastle. It is situated under the Cheviots, and at Mindrum Hill is a meet for Lord Elcho'a hounds. MINDTO WN, a par. in the Bishop's Castle div. of the hund. of Purslow, co. Salop, 5 miles N.E. of Bishop's Castle, its post town. The parish, which is of small extent, is situated on the western side of the Longmynd range of hills. The village consists of a few farmhouses. Part of the land, situated on the slopes of the Longmynd Hill, is unenclosed. Traces of copper ore have been met with near the surface. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Hereford, val. 120. The church is a neat and very ancient edifice, dedicated to St. John. William Plow- den, Esq., is lord of the manor and owner of the soil. The old family seat of the Myn.de family is now a farm- house. MINEHEAD, a par., seaport, post, and market town, in the hund. of Carhampton, co. Somerset, 2J miles from Dunster, and 9 from Williton. It is situated on the cliffs of the Bristol Channel, and on the road from Wil- liton to Lynton. The par. contains the hmlts. of Bratton, Periton, Vineford, and Woodcombe. It is mentioned in Domesday Survey as Manheved, at which period it was held by William do Mohun. It is a decayed borough, having returned two members to par- liament from Elizabeth's time till the passing of the Reform Act, 2nd William IV. cap. 45, when it was disfranchised. The town, which has at various periods suffered from fires, is divided into three parts viz. Quay Town, Higher Town, and Lower Town, and is nomi- nally governed by two portreeves, &c. Quay Town consists of one long street running by the side of the harbour, which is considered the best and safest in the Bristol Channel. It includes the custom-house and the lighthouse, which latter is of recent erection. The trade, formerly of great importance, is now inconsider- able, there being but a few coasting vessels journeying to and fro from Bristol. The harbour dues are exceedingly high. There is a free reading-room on the quay, which is a solid piece of masonry, with a parapet towards the sea, into which it extends about a quarter of a mile, affording a tolerable shelter for small vessels. The coastguard service here is superintended by an officer and seven men. The Lower Town, comprising some respectable streets, contains all the principal shops and the Parade, on which stands the market-house, lately erected at the expense of J. F. Luttrell, Esq., and the exterior of which is adorned with a clock. The Higher, or Church Town, which has at different periods been subject to disastrous fires, one of which consumed ninety houses, is composed of mean irregular streets built on a sloping eminence called " Greenaleigh." The church and vicarage are situated in this part of the town. There was formerly a woollen manufactory in this parish, and there are still tanners' and curriers', also a fell- mongers', doing an extensive trade. On the shore sub- marine trees are found, and various kinds of shell-fish, including the " murex," so named from its affording a peculiar fluid having the property of communicating to linen a crimson tint, supposed to be similar to the "murex" which produced the Tyrian purple mentioned by Pliny. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Bath and Wells, val. 200. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a spacious structure, with an embattled tower contain- ing five bells and a chime clock. The interior of the church contains a monument to Judge Bratton, and a statue of Queen Anne, erected in 1719 by Jacob Banks, M.P. for this borough. The register dates from 1548, and shows how fearfully the plague prevailed in the years 1550, 1645, and 1654. The parochial charities produce about 73 per annum. An almshouse for 11 persons was built and endowed by Robert Quirke about 1648. There are schools for both sexes, supported by voluntary contributions ; also a Sunday-school. There is a place of worship for the Baptists. Bratton Court is an ancient mansion, and was formerly the seat of Judge Bratton. H. F. Luttrell, Esq., is lord of the manor. Dr. Brocklesby, the physician and friend of Johnson and Burke, was a native of this town. Market day is Wednesday for meat, fish, and provisions. A fair is held on Whit- Wednesday for pedlery, &c. MINEKA, a tnshp. in the par. of Wrexham, hund. of Bromfield, co. Denbigh. It is situated on the river Alyn and Offa's Dyke. MINES, a vil. in the par. of Minnigaff, co. Kirkcud- bright, Scotland, 3 miles from Newtown-Stewart. MINETY. See MINTY, co. Wilts. MINGALA, an island in the par. of Barra, co. Inver- ness, Scotland, 8- miles S. of Barra. It is situated near Barra Head Light, and extends 2J miles in length from N.E. to S.W., with an extreme breadth of 1J mile. Its highest elevation exceeds 900 feet above sea-level. MINGARRY, a ruined castle oa Loch Sunart, co. Argyle, Scotland, near Ardnamurchan. It is situated opposite Mull, and formerly belonged to the M'lans. MININGSBY, a par. in the W. div. of the soke of Bolingbroke, parts of Lindsey, co. Lincoln, 7 miles S.W. of Spilsby, its post town, 6 S. by E. of Horn- castle, and 9 N.E. of the Tattershall railway station. The village, which is small, is wholly agricultural. The navigation communicating with Boston is about 3 miles distant. The living is a rect. in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 294, in the patron, of the Duchy of Lancaster. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is an ancient structure, with a turret containing one bell. The register dates from 1688. The parochial charities consist of a share in the free school at East Kirby. There is a place of worship for the Wes- leyans. Sir John Smith, Bart., is lord of the manor and sole landowner. MINISHMORE, an islet on the N. side of Clew Bay, coast of Mayo, Ireland, 7 miles W. of Newport. It extends about 1 mile in length, and has a coastguard station. MINKE, a vil. in the par. of Llangendeirne, co. Car- marthen, 4 miles S.E. of Carmarthen. It is situated on the river Gwendraeth Vach. MINLEY, a tythg. in the par. of Yateley, lower half of the hund. of Crondall, co. Hants, 6 miles N.E. of Odiham, and 3 N.E. of Hartford Bridge. MINNAUN, a lofty hill on the S.E. side of Achill Island, coast of Mayo, Ireland. It attains an elevation of 1,530 feet above the level of the sea. MINNIBOLE. See MAYBOLE, co. Ayr, Scotland. , MINNICK, or MINNOCK, a rivulet in the co. of Ayr, Scotland. It rises among the lofty mountains in Barr parish, and flows 13 miles S. to the Cree. MINNICK- WATER, a rivulet in the par. of San- quhar, in Upper Nithsdale, co. Dumfries, Scotland. It rises under the Lowther hills, and, after receiving the Glendyne, joins the river Nith 3 miles below Sanquhar. MINNIEHIVE, or MINNYHIVE, a vil. in the par. of Glencairn, co. Dumfries, Scotland, 15 miles N.W. of Dumfries, and 68 from Edinburgh. It is situated on the river Dalwhat, at the bridge opposite Dunreggan. It is a burgh of barony, for which it received a charter in the middle of the 17th century, with the privilege of a market. In the centre of the village is a pillar, 9 feet in height, resting on a circular pedestal 5 feet high, inscribed with the date 1638. In the village are an IJnited Presby- terian church, a branch of the Union Bank, and two subscription libraries. Annual fairs are held on the last