Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/200

PENROSE. 188 PENSELWOOD. incursions of the Scots, and was once the seat of the Countess of Pembroke, but was dismantled at the close of the great Civil War, and part of the materials sold. About 2 miles from the town, and on the S. bank of the river Eamont, is a circular entrenchment, where King Arthur is said to have entertained his Knights of the Round Table; and on Beacon Hill is a square stone tower, erected in 1719, and commanding a view of the surrounding country. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Carlisle, val. 200, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, was given by Henry I. to the see of Carlisle, then newly founded. It is a stone structure with its original tower, but the body of the church was rebuilt in 1723. It had a chantry founded by Bishop Strickland, by whose means water was first brought to the town. The chancel is adorned with appropriate paintings, and has portraits of Richard Plantagenet and his wife in stained glass. In the church- yard is the grave of Sir Ewain Csesarius, an ancient hero, who is said to have vanquished the robbers who infested Inglewood Forest; the grave is 15 feet in length, with two pillar crosses, 114 feet in height, and is called the " Giant's Grave." There is also another tomb with a cross 5J feet in height, called the " Giant's Thumb." Besides the parish church, there is the district church of Christ Church, erected in 1850, the living of which is a pei-pet. cur., val. 200, in the patron, of the bishop. St. Catherine's Roman Catholic church, with a school-house and presbytery adjoining, was also erected in 1850. The parochial charities produce about 352 per annum, of which 1GC goes to the vicar for reading prayers. There is a free grammar school, originally founded and en- dowed by Bishop Strickland in 1340, but refounded by Queen Elizabeth in 1564 ; also National, infant, and British and Foreign schools. The Independents, Pres- byterians, Wesleyans, Primitive Methodists, Quakers, and Baptists have each a place of worship. Penrith is the head of a Poor-law Union comprising thirty-seven parishes. The union poorhouse is situated in the Grey- Btoke-road. The principal residences are Eden Hall, Brougham Hall, Dalemaine House, Graystoke Castle, and Carlton Hall. Market days are Tuesday and Saturday. Fairs are held on the 1st March, 24th and 2oth April, and third Saturday in October for sheep, cattle, &c. Races are held in the first week in October. PENROSE, a par. in the lower div. of the hund. of Hagland, Monmouth, 6 miles W. of Monmouth, its post town, and 3 N. of Ragland. The village, which is of Email extent, is wholly agricultural. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Llandaff, val. 94, in the patron, of the dean and chapter. The church is dedi- cated to St. Cadocus. The parochial charities produce j about 2 per annum. PENROSE, a hmlt. in the par. of Wendron, hund. of Kerrier, co. Cornwall, 2 miles S.W. of Helston. It is situated near Looe Pool, on the river Hel, and has traces of lead and tin. The principal residence is Penrose Hall. PENRUDDOCK, a hmlt. in the par. of Greystoke, ward of Leath, co. Cumberland, 6 miles W. by S. of Penrith. It is situated in a hilly district near the river Petterill, and is a station on the Cockermouth, Keswick, and Penrith railway. In the neighbourhood coal, slate, ind lime are worked. There is a place of worship for the Independents. PENRYN, a post and market town, seaport, muni- cipal, and parliamentary borough in the pars, of St. Gluvias and Budock, hund. of Ksrrier, co. Cornwall, 26 miles S.W. of Bodmin, and 2 N. W. of Falmouth. It is a station on the Cornwall and West Cornwall railway. It is situated on the declivity of an eminence at the head of Fal- mouth creek, an inlet from Falmouth harbour, and con- sists principally of one spacious street, from which several minor streets branch off at right angles. It comprises ihe manors of Penryn Borough and Penryn Forryn, and .vas formerly held by the Osbornes, under the bishops .if Exeter, who had a seat here, and under whose pa- tronage the town first rose into importance. A college tvas founded by Bishop Bronscombe, in 1270, for a pro- vost, eleven prebendaries, seven vicars, and six choristers, which continued till the Dissolution, when its revenues were valued at 210 13s. 2d. It returned two members to Parliament first in the reign of Edward VI., or according to others, in the first year of Queen Mary ; but since the Reform Bill its bounds have been extended so as to include the borough of Falmouth and part of the parish of Budock. The town was garrisoned at the com- mencement of the civil war for Charlea I. ; but being attacked by the parliamentary forces, it surrendered to Sir Thomas Fairfax in 1646. It is a borough by pre- scription, and received its first charter of incorporation from James I., but which was further extended by James II. in the first year of his reign. The municipal re- venue is about 320. Under the new Act, the government is vested in a mayor, four aldermen, and twelve town councillors, the mayor and ex-mayor being justices of the peace, aided by five borough magistrates and a town clerk. The mayor is the returning officer. The petty sessions are held on the second Thursday in every month. The port is a member of that of Falmouth ; and there are warehouses on the quay for flour and grain, which are imported from Ireland, Hampshire, and the Isle of Wight, for supplying the adjoining mineral district. An extensive trade is done in the shipping of granite from quarries in the neighbourhood, chiefly for London. Ship-building is also carried on. There are gunpowder, corn, and paper mills, a woollen cloth factory, a',so a brewery, tan-yard, &c. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the fisheries and in the coasting trade. The houses are in general neatly built, and the streets well paved and lighted with gas. The town has an abundant supply of water from springs issuing from the neighbouring heights, one of which, in its descent, forma a cascade. The principal public buildings are the town- hall and market house, a mechanics' institute, union poorhouso, and an iron swing bridge. The adjacent country is well cultivated, and interspersed with gentle- men's seats. Several new roads have been formed to avoid the steep streets of the town. There was formerly a chapel-of-ease in the town ; but it long since fell into decay, and the inhabitants frequent the parish church of St. Gluvias, which is the mother-church, and is only 100 yards distant from the town. There are National schools for both sexes. The Independents and Wes- leyans have each a place of worship. A free grammar school was founded by Queen Elizabeth, and endowed with a rent-charge of 6 13*. 4rf. ; but it is now discon- tinued, and the endowment applied to the support of the National school, built in 1837. Market day is Satur- day. Annual cattle fairs are held on 12th May and 7th July, 8th October and 21st December. PENSAX, a tnshp. in the par. of Lindridge, lower div. of the hund. of Oswaldslow, co. Worcester, 7 miles S.W. of Bewdley, and 5 from Stourport. Lindridge is its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is chiefly agricultural. There are collieries which giva employment to a portion of the inhabitants. The living is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of Hereford, val. 100, in the patron, of the Vicar of Lindridge. The church, dedi- cated to St. James, has a tower containing three bells. The parochial charities produce about i'4 per annum. PEN8BY, a tnshp. in the par. of Woodchurch, lower div. of the hund. of Wirrall, co. Chester, 4 miles N.W. of Great Neston. It is situated near the river Dee. PENSELWOOD, or PENSCELLWOOD, a par. in the hund. of Norton-Ferris, co. Somerset, 4 miles N.E. of Wincanton, its post town, and 7 S.E. of the Bruton railway station. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the river Stour, and on the London and Exeter road. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture ; but some in a flax-mill, and others in the sand and green-stone quarries in the neighbourhood. At a short distance from the village, on the site of an ancient Danish camp, is a tower 120 feet in height, erected by an ancestor of Sir H. A. Hoare, Bart., to com- memorate the celebrated visit of Alfred the Great in the dress of a minstrel to the tent of Guthrurn, whom he afterwards defeated. The surface is in general hilly