Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 2.djvu/868

MOLE. 860 HOLLAND. The par., which is of large extent, includes the chplries. of Bistree, Gwernafield, Leeswood, Pontblyddyn, and Tryddyn, with eight other townships. At Maes-y- Garmon in this parish St. Germanus is said to have defeated the heathen Saxons in 448. The surface is varied and well wooded. The substratum abounds in mineral treasures, including lead, coal, limestone, and potters' clay. The town, which consists principally of one long and spacious street, irregularly built, contains about 9,000 inhabitants. It is an assize and sessions town, and under the Reform Bill is a contributory borough to Flint. It is also the headquarters of the county militia. Its early history is connected with that of the castle which stood on Bailey Hill, called by the Welsh Wyddgrug, or the " conspicuous eminence," from the fine view it commands of the circumjacent vale. This fortress, originally built by Eustace de Cruer, was defended by ramparts, and surrounded by a deep foss. It was first reduced by storm in 1144 by the Welsh forces under Owain Gwynedd, and was destroyed by Owain Glyudwr. It subsequently was taken and re- taken, destroyed, rebuilt, and destroyed again. The only remains are a few stones of the keep or donjon, which stood upon a part of the works greatly and arti- ficially elevated. These sieges are mentioned by the Welsh historians among the most splendid achievements in their annals. The principal buildings in the town are the county hall, where the assizes are held, built by Mr. Jones, of Chester, for 3,000, new market-house, two commercial banks, a savings-bank, cotton and woollen mills. A little to the N. of the town is Offa's Dyke, near the Chester road. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of St. Asaph, val. 322, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, was built in the reign of Henry VII, and previous to the Deformation belonged to Bysham Abbey, in Berkshire. The tower, which is the most modern part of the structure, is enriched with sculpture and crowned with pinnacles. The interior is highly decorated, and contains a carved font, and tombs of Bishop Warton, Davies of Llannerch, Dr. Wynn of Tower, and of Wilson the painter. In addition to the parish church are the following district churches, viz. at Bistre, Gwernafield, Pont-Blyddyn, Nerquis, and Tryddyn, the livings of which are all perpet. curs.,* varying in val. from 200 to 100 each. There are various places of worship for Dissenters, also National and other schools. The chief seats are Gwysaney, Hartsheath, Nerquis Hall, Pentre, and Khual. It gives name to a deanery in the archdeac. and dioc. of St. Asaph. In the vicinity many rare plants are met with. On the hills are many tumuli ; and in 1833 a gold corslet, 3 feet 7 inches long, was found near the bank of the river. Market day is Saturday. Fairs are held on the 13th February, 21st March, 12th May, 2nd August, and 22nd November. MOLE, two rivers of this name : one rises near Lyne Hall, in co. Surrey, and passing by a subterraneous channel under Boxhill, near Dorking, joins the Thames at East Molesey, opposite Hampton Court ; the other rises near High Bray, in North Devonshire, and joins the river Bray at Leigh. MOLE-COP, or MOW-COP, a vil. in the par. of Wolstanton, co. Stafford, 1 mile N.E. of Newcastle- urider-Lyme. It is a station on the North Staffordshire railway. It is situated under Mole-Cop, which is 1,091 feet in height. The Grand Trunk canal passes at a short distance and affords ready conveyance for the coal, lime, and ironstone which are abundantly procured here. Many of the inhabitants are employed in the manufacture of pottery. The living is a perpet. cur.* in the dioc. of Lichfield, val. 162, in the patron, of the bishop. The churott is modern. There are places of worship for Dissenters, also schools. MOLESCROFT, or MOSCROFT, a tnshp. in the par. of St. John and borough of Beverley, East Riding co. York, 1 mile N.W. of Beverley. The village, which is small, is situated on the Beverley and Cherry-Burton road, near Molescroft Carrs. One of the sanctuary- crosses is in this neighbourhood. MOLESDEN, a tnshp. in the par. of Mitford, W. div. of Castle ward, co. Northumberland, 3 miles S.W. of Morpeth. The village is small and wholly agricultural. MOLESEY, or MOULSEY, EAST, a par. in the first div. of the hund. of Elmbridge, co. Surrey, 3 miles N.W. of Kingston, its post town, and 13 from London. It is situated to the S. of the Thames, where the river Mole, from which the place derives its name, unites with the Thames, nearly opposite Hampton Court. The South- Western railway has a station here for Hampton Court, with which it is connected by a bridge. There are com and saw mills on the Mole. The land is nearly evenly divided between arable and meadow. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1815. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Winchester, val. 157, in the patron, of King's College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an an ancient brick structure, with a wooden belfry. It contains a curious brass to Anthony Standen, cup-bearer to King . T ames of Scotland. The register commences in 1650. St. Paul's, Kent Town, is a separate ecclesiastical district on the W. The living is a perpet. cur.,* val. 100. There are National schools for boys, girls, and infants, having an endowment of 6 per annum. Lord Hotham and Lady Berkeley are the lord and lady of the manor. MOLESEY, or MOULSEY, WEST, a par. in the first div. of the hund. of Elmbridge, co. Surrey, 1 mile W. of East Molesey, 2J miles N. of the Esher railway, and 4 W. of Kingston, its post town. The village, which is small, is situated on the Thames near Molesey Hurst. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agricul- ture. The parish is bounded on the N. by the Thames, across which is a ferry to Hampton, and on the S.E. by the river Mole. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1815. The living is a perpet. cur. * in the dioc. of Winchester, val. .100. The church has an old flint and rubble tower containing a clock and two bells. The fabric was rebuilt in 1843, and enlarged in 1860, when a N. aisle was added. The windows are of stained glass. The register dates from 1729. There is a National school. Molesey Hurst, or Common, on which the Hampton races are held, is situated in the N. part of the parish, on the banks of the Thames. Lord Hotham and Lady Berkeley are joint lord and lady of the manor. The races are held in June. MOLES.WORTH, a par. in the hund. of Leighton- stone, co. Huntingdon, 5 miles N.W. of Kimbolton, and 11 W. of Huntingdon. Thrapstone is its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is situated near Molesworth Wold, and gives name to the Molesworths of Swords and Pencarrow. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The tithes were commuted for land under an Enclosure Act in 1800, with the exception of a small portion since commuted for a rent-charge of 33 14s. The living is a reel.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 228, in the patron, of the Bishop of Chester. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient edifice with a tower. The charities produce about .27 per annum, which is distributed annually amongst the poor. Ben- jamin Welstead, Esq., is lord of the manor. MOLFEE, a hmlt. in the par. of Llandefeilog, co. Carmarthen, 4 miles N. of Kidwelly. MOLFRE, a tnshp. in the par. of Llangwym, CO. Denbigh, 13 miles S.W. of Ruthin. MOLL, a par. now joined to that of Morebattle, co. Roxburgh, Scotland, 12 miles S.E. of Kelso. It con- tains the upper portion of the Bowmontwater basin ad- joining the English border. The village is of ancient date, and in its vicinity are the ruins of Mow-Kirk. MOLLAND, or MOLLAND-BOTREAUX, a par. in the hund. of South Molton, co. Devon, 6 miles N.E. of South Molton, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. There is a camp under Molland Down. Several mines have been work& in this parish at different periods. The living is^a vie. annexed to that of Knowstone, in the dioc. of Exeter. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, contains tombs of