Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/144

OVER. 132 OVERTON the Great Eastern railway. The village, which is chiefly agricultural, is situated on the river Ouae. A portion of the land is fenny, with pasture. The soil consists of a strong clay. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Ely, val. 108, in the patron, of Trinity College, Cam- hridge. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, has been thoroughly restored and the K. aisle rehuilt. On the W. door was carved a figure of the Virgin clothed with the sun. The parochial charities produce about 401 per annum, of which 366 is realised from town lands, and 20 goes to the school. There is a National school for both sexes, also British and Sunday schools. The Baptists and Wesleyans have each a place of wor- ship. There is a townhall, which was rebuilt in 1849. E. Foster, Esq., is lord of the manor. OVER, a par., market town, and nominal borough in the first div. of the hund. of Eddisbury, co. Chester, 5 miles S. of Northwich, and 16 E. of Chester. It is situated on the road from Middlewich to Chester, near the Winsford bridge over the river Weover, which sepa- rates this parish on the E. from that of Davenham, and is navigable for barges. The par. includes, besides the town of its own name, the chplries. of Low Oulton and Wettenhall. The town, called in ancient records " the borough," was chartered by Edward I., who granted to it the privilege of a market, held on Wednesday, which, having fallen into disuse, was restored in 1840. It consists chiefly of one long and irregularly-built street, in which are remains of several crosses. It has been governed from time immemorial by a mayor and jury, who are chosen at the court leet and baron of the lord of the manor, held in October. It has long been celebrated for its salt-works. In 1861 the population of the town- ship was 3,774, and of the parish 3,454. The appropria- tion belongs to the Bishop of Chester, and the glebe consists of 24 acres. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Chester, val. 200, having been augmented by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners, and in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Chad, was rebuilt in the reign of Henry VIII., and contains some stained glass windows, and an altar-tomb supporting an effigy in brass to the memory of Hugh Starkey, founder of the church, and gentleman-usher to Henry VIII. The Independents have a place of worship. There is a free grammar school, founded in 1689 by Mrs. E. Venables, and endowed with land producing about 60 per annum. The school was removed to its present site in 1803, and is conducted on the National system. Fairs are held on the 15th May and 2oth September. OVER, a tythg. in the par. of Almondsbury, lower div. of the hund. of Langley, co. Gloucester, 2 miles S.W. of Almondsbury, and 5 N. by W. of Bristol. OVER, a hmlt. in the par. of Churcham, lower div. of the hund. of Dudstone, co. Gloucester, 1 mile N.W. of Gloucester. It is situated at the conjunction of the Hereford canal with the river Severn, over which is a bridge of 150 feet span, erected in 1829. OVERBERVIE, an ancient par. in the co. of Kincar- dine, Scotland, now joined to Glenbervie. OVERBURY, a par. in the middle div. of the hund. of Oswaldslow, co. "Worcester, 5 miles N.E. of Tewkes- bury. It is situated under Bredon Hill, and includes the chplries. of Alstone, Teddington, and Little Washbourne, end the hmlt. of Conderton. There are stone-quarries, malt kilns, and a paper mill. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1811. The living is a vie. * in the dioc. of Worcester, val. with the above curs., 460, in the patron, of the dean and chapter. The church, dedicated to St. Faith, is an ancient structure, containing a monument to W. Dowdeswell, with an epitaph by Burke. There are chapels-of-ease at Alstone, Teddington, and Little Washbourne. Elizabeth Wood, in 1824, bequeathed 200, of which the interest is distributed to the poor. OVER-CESTER, a hmlt. in the par. of Monk's Kiil.y, co. Warwick, 4 miles N. of Rugby. It is situated near the line of the Roman road Watling Street. OVERCHCJRCH, a par. in the lower div. of Wirrall hund., co. Chester. See UPTOK. OVER CHURCH. & CHURCH, OVEK, co. Wai-wick. OVERCOMBE, a tythg. in the par. of Sherborne, co. Dorset, near Sherborne. OVERLEY-WITH-ORGREAVE, a hmlt. in tha par. of Alrewas, N. div. of the hund. of Offlow, co. Stafford, 5 miles N.E. of Lichfield. OVERMEER, a small lake in the co. of Cumberland, 3 miles S.E. of Irby. It is situated under Caldbcck Fells, and is about half a mile long by a quarter broad. OVERS, a hund. in the co. of Salop, contains the pars, of Bitterley, Burford, Greet, Milson, Neen-Sollars, and Silvington, comprising an area of 19,110 acres. OVERSAY. See ORSAY, co. Argyle. OVERSLEY, a hmlt. in the par. of Arrow, Stratford div. of the hund. of Barlichway, co. Warwick, half a mile S.E. of Alcester, which place is partly encompassed by the river Arrow. The Warwickshire hounds meet in the neighbourhood. The union poorhouse is also situated here. OVERSTONE, a par. in the hund. of Spelhoe, co. Northampton, 5 miles N.E. of Northampton, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. The land is chiefly arable, with somo woodland and plantations. The soil is a fine red loam. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Peterborough, val. 265. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, is a modern edifice, with an E. window of painted glass. The parochial charities produce about 2 per annum. A school has been erected at the expense of Lewis Loyd, Esq., who is lord of the manor. OVERSTRAND, a par. in the hund. of North Erping- ham, co. Norfolk, 2 miles S.E. of Cromer. Norwich is its post town. The village, which is of email extent, is situated on the coast, and is chiefly agricultural. On the beach is a fishing station for the boats employed in the herring and lobster fisheries. The surface rises gradually from the shore, and is bounded on the S.W. by a range of hills. The soil is of a light sandy nature. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 80. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 75. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, is an ancient structure in a ruined condition, the nave being the only portion devoted to Divine service. It was erected on the site of an older one, which was destroyed by the sea in Richard II. 's time. The register dates from 1558. There is an endowed school for both sexes. OVERTON, a par. in the hund. of Maylor, co. Flint, 7 miles from Wrexham, its post town, 5 N.W. of Elles- mere, and 5 from the Overton station on the Shrewsbury and Chester section of the Great Western railway. Tha village which is of small extent, is situated at the bridge over the river Dee. It is mentioned in Domesday Book as Ovreton, and was formerly held by Robert Fitzhugh, Robert de Crevecoaur, the Stranges, and other distinguished families. It is a polling, petty sessions, and decayed market town, and unites with Flint in returning one member to parliament. The par. includes the hmlt. of Clog, Knolton, and Maesgwaylod. In the neighbourhood are traces of a castle built by Hadoo ah Mercdydd, Prince- of Powis. The living is a cur. annexed to the rect.* of Bangor-Monachorum, in the dioc. of St. Asaph. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a cruciform structure. The churchyard con- tarns some yew trees of great antiquity. The parochial charities produce about 34 per annum. There are several residences, including Gwernhaeled, situated in a j park, with a camp and barrow, and the residence of Bryn-y-Pys, where the late Duke of Wellington passed his childhood. Annual fairs are held on the Monday prior to Holy Thursday, llth June, 9th August, and 8th October. OVERTON, a hund. in the co. of Hants, contains the pars, of Ashe, Deane, Laverstock, Overton, Steventon, and Sudley, comprising an area of 15,500 acres. OVERTON, a par. in the above hund., co. Hants, 4 miles N.E. of Whitchurch. It is a station on the Yeovil and Exeter branch of the London and South- western railway. It is situated on the Great Western road, near the head of the river Test. It is o?