Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/110

OAKHAM DEANSHOLD AND LORDSHOLD. 98 OAKLEY. breweries, one of which, known as the patent steam brewery of Messrs. Crowson, is considered to be un- equalled in tho county. The inhabitants are amply sup- plied with water, and the air is considered remarkably salubrious. It anciently enjoyed the staple of wool, and some years since a silk manufactory was established for weaving silk-shag for covering hats ; but no manufac- tures are now carried on except the knitting of fancy hosiery, in which part of the female population are en- gaged. A good trade is done in coal, corn, malt, and agricultural produce, which are conveyed in barges on the Melton-SIowbray canal. It is under the jurisdiction of the county magistrates, who hold petty sessions monthly at Empingham. The assizes and quarter ses- sions for the county are held in the town, as also a new county court. It is the place of election, and a polling- place for the return of members of parliament for the county. Courts leot are held annually by the lord of tho castle for the manor of Lordshold, and triennially by the Dean of Westminster for the Deanshold, at which parochial and other officers are elected. The county militia have their headquarters here. The tithes, with some slight exceptions, were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act, obtained in 1820. The appropriation belongs to the Dean and Chapter of Westminster. The living is a vie.* in tho dioc. of Peterborough, val. with the curs, of Brooke, Egleton, and Langham annexed, 1,000. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a spacious Gothic structure, chiefly of the reign of Henry VI. It has a tower, surmounted by a lofty spire, containing a peal of six bells, and had annually a chantry and three guilds. It contains several monuments of the Flowers family, and tho clinical library of Lady Harrington, and near it is a Lady well, once sacred to the Virgin. There are chapels- of-easo at Brooke, Egleton and Langham. The Inde- pendents, Wesleyan, and Calvinistic Methodists, Parti- cular Baptists, and Society of Friends have places of worship, but the last-named meeting-house is only occa- sionally used, the number of Eriends in the county having diminished of late years. Tho free grammar school was founded about 1581 by the Rev. Robert John- son, archdeacon of Leicester, who also established a similar school at TJppingham. These schools, which have hospitals annexed to them, were incorporated, and further endowed by Queen Elizabeth, with certain alienated ecclesiastical property producing an income of about 3,000 per annum, besides 38 exhibitions, ranging in value from 16 to 40, at various colleges. At Ox- ford and Cambridge the number of pensioners is now 100. There are also National and Sunday schools. The hospital of SS. John and Anne, originally instituted in the reign of Richard II. by Walter Dalby, was re- formed in the reign of Elizabeth, and has now an income from endowment of 200, applied to the relief of 20 aged men on the foundation, who reside at their own homes, the buildings of tho hospital, with the exception of the chapel and warden's house, having fallen to decay. Oakham Poor-law Union comprises Cold Overton and lynossington in Leicestershire, and 27 pars, or tnshps. in Rutland. It is the head of superintendent registry and new County Court districts. Oakham was the birth place of Geoffrey Hudson, tho dwarf, who was only 18 inches high at the age of seven years, when he was served up in a pie at Burley before Charles I., and subsequently grew to be 3 feet 9 inches. Monday and Saturday arc market days, tho former chiefly for corn and cattle, and the latter for butchers' meat, butter, and provisions. The three principal fairs are held on the 15th March, 6th May, and 9th September, under tho original charters, and other fairs, cliiefly for cattle, on some Monday in every month, excepting January, so arranged as not to interfere with Stamford fairs. OAKHAM DEANSHOLD AND LORDSHOLD, two manors in the par. and soke of Oakham, co. Rutland. OAKHAMPTON. See OKEHAMFTON, cos. Devon and Somerset. OAKHANGER, a hmlt. in the par. of Selborne, co. Hants, 4 miles S.E. of Alton. OAKHANGER, a hmlt. in the hund. of Kintbury Eagle, co. Berks, 3 miles N.E. of Hungerford, and 21 W. by S. of Reading. It is situated near the river Kennet, and the branch line of the Great Western railway. OAKHILL, a tythg. in the par. of Froxfield, co. Wilts, 2 miles W. of Hungerford. OAKHILL, a vil., partly in the par. of Ashwick, hund. of Kilmersdon, and partly in that of Shepton-Mallet, hund. of Whitestone, co. Somerset, 3 miles N. by E. of Shepton-Mallet. There is an extensive brewery. OAKINGHAM. See WOKINOHAM, co. Berks. OAKINGTON, a par. in the hunds. of Northstow and Chesterton, co. Cambridge, 6 miles N.W. of Cambridge, its post town, iind 8 from St. Ives. It is a station on the Cambridge and Wisbeach section of the Great Eastern railway. The par. contains the hmlt. of Westwick. The inhabitants are chiefly employed in agriculture. The soil consists of a stiff loam, and the subsoil of clay. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Ely, val. 199, in tho patron, of Queen's College, Cambridge. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a large stone structura, re- stored in 1850. Tho parochial charities produce about 50 per annum. There is a National school for both sexes, also a Sunday-school. The Baptists have a place of worship. OAKLANDS, the name of several private seats in England and Ireland. OAKLEY, a par. in the hund. of Stodden, co. Bedford, 4 miles N.W. of Bedford, its post town, and 7 N.E. of Newport-Pagnell. It is a station on the Midland rail- way. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the navigable river Ouse, which is here crossed by an old stone bridge of five arches. Disastrous floods oc- curred here in November, 1823, and in November, 1852, doing serious damage for miles around. The fishing in the river is preserved by the Duke of Bedford's order. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. It is a meet for the Oakley hounds. The surface is boldly undulating, and about half a mile from the village is Oakley Hill, commanding an extensive prospect. The tithes were commuted for land and a money payment under an Enclosure Act in 1803. The living is a vie. annexed to that of Bromham, in the dioc. of Ely. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure, with a square tower containing five bells. The interior of the church has recently been restored. The parochial charities produce about 8 per annum. There is a free school for both sexes, built at the expense of the Duke of Bedford. The Dissenters have two places of worship. Oakley House occupies a central position in the parish, and is the seat of the Duke of Bedford who is lord of the manor. OAKLEY, a par. in the hund. of Ashendon, co. Bucks, 6 miles N.W. of Thame, its post town, and 1J milo S.W. of Brill. The village, which is small, is situated on tho borders of Oxfordshire. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The par. includes the chplry. of Addingrave, but the chapel-of-ease has gone to decay. The tithes were commuted for land and a corn-rent under an Enclosure Act in 1819. The living is a vie. in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 230. The church, dedicated to St. Matthew, is an ancient structure, with a low tower in connection with a stair turret at the S.E. angle, which rises above the tower. The church contains tombs of Admiral Tyrrel and James Tyrrcl, author of a " History of England." The parochial charities produce about 100 per annum, 80 of which belongs to the poor in pasture land. Mrs. Ricketts is lady of the manor. OAKLEY, or OAKLEY MAGNA, a. par. in the hund. of Hartismere, co. Suffolk, 3 miles S.E. of Eye, 2 S.E. of Scole, its post town, and 2J N.W. of Diss railway station. The village, which is of small extent, is situated in a valley, and is wholly agricultural. It i bounded on the N. by the river Waveney, which sepa- rates it from tho county of Norfolk. The living is a rect. annexed to that of Brome, in the dioc. of Norwich. The church, dedicated to &i. Nicholas, has a square