Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/202

PENTLAND HILLS. 190 PENTRE-BRUNANT. Orkney Isles from the mainland of Scotland. It is 24 miles in length, and from four to five leagues in breadth, extending from Duncansby Head to Dunnet Head light on the S., and from South Ronaldshay to Hog Islands on the N. It has 10 to 40 fathoms water, and forms a communication between the North Sea, and the Atlantic Ocean. In the mouth of the Frith, towards the E. are situated the Pentland Skerries, two small uninhabited islands, upon one of which a lighthouse is erected, and in the middle, opposite Scalpa Flow, are Stroma and Swoma islands. The tides run E. from 5 to 10 miles an hour, causing whirlpools and eddies about the islands, the two currents, stretching from Duncan's Bay Head and St. John's Head, called respectively " The Boars of Duncan's Bay " and " The Men of Mpy " being con- sidered the most dangerous to navigation, the billows often rolling mountains high in the finest summer day. There is an anchorage in Gills Bay. PENTLAND HILLS, a range of hills in the cos. of Peebles and Edinburgh, Scotland, extending for above 12 miles in a westerly direction, and from near the Frith of Forth on the E. to the borders of Clydesdale. The hills are chiefly of porphyry, and form three ridges, the summits near the centre ranging from 1,500 to 1,700 feet, and the highest point at Eastcairn rising 1,832 feet above sea level. Boulders of granite and gneiss lie strewn on the surface near the top, and the slopes afford excellent pasture to numerous flocks of sheep. PENTLAND SKERRIES, a group of islets in the par. of South Ronaldshay, Orkney Islands, coast of Scotland, 6 miles S. of South Ronaldshay, and 4 N.E. of Duncansby Head. The group lie at the eastern entrance of the Pentland Frith, and the Great Skerry, which is the only one inhabited, is about a mile in length by half a mile broad. It is wholly appropriated to the pasturage of sheep and cattle, and has on it two fixed lights, put up in 1794 and visible at sea for 17 miles. The other islets are mere barren rocks. PENTLOW, a par. in the hund. of Hinckford, co. Essex, 3J miles E. of Clare, its post town, and 6 N.W. of Sudbury railway station. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the river Stour, and is wholly agricultural. The surface is in general elevated, except a tract of low meadow land. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 510, and the glebe com- prises 27 acres. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Rochester, val. 550. The church, dedicated to St. Gregory, is an ancient structure, with a round embattled tower of stone and flint containing five bells. On the N. side of the chancel is the mortuary chapel of the Kemp family. The parochial charities produce about 24 per annum. The present rector erected a tower in 1859 in memory of his father. It is of octangular form, and is ascended by a spiral staircase. The view from its summit embraces upwards of 46 churches. PENTNEY, a par. in the hund. of Freebridge Lynn, co. Norfolk, 6^ miles N.W. of Swaftham, its post town, and lj mile from Bilney railway station on the Lynn and Dereham line. The village, which is of small extent, is situated on the N. bank of the river Nen, and consists of numerous widely detached houses. It is chiefly agricultural. The soil, formerly wet and marshy, has been greatly improved by draining the lands, for which an Act of Parliament was obtained in 1815. The land is nearly evenly divided between arable and pasture. At a place called the Isle of Eva arc the ruins of a priory for Black Canons, founded in the reign of Henry II., by Robert do Vaux, one of the Norman followers of the Conqueror. At the Dissolution there were twelve canons, whoso revenue was returned at 215 18s. 8d. Between the priory and the church is an ancient cross, with a lofty shaft. The living is a perpet. cur. * in the dioc. of Norwich, val. 60. The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, is an ancient edifice, with a square embattled tower containing one bell. The parochial charities produce about 75 per annum. The Wesleyang, General Baptists, Particular Baptists, and New Con- nexion Methodists have each a place of worship. At the enclosure of the parish 62 acres were allotted to tho poor for fuel, and a house with garden has since been bequeathed for widows. Miss Thackeray is lady of tho manor. PENTON, a station on tho North Eastern railway, co. Cumberland. It is situated near the Scottish border, at the confluence of the rivers Kershopo and Liddel. PENTON-GRAFTON, a hmlt. formerly a par. in the par. of Weyhill, hund. of Andover, co. Hants, 3 milos W. by N. of Andover. PENTON-MEWSEY, a par. in the lower div. of the hund. of Andover, co. Hants, 3 miles N.W. of Andover, its post town. The village, which is of small extent, is wholly agricultural. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of 286, and the glebe com- prises 40 acres. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Winchester, val. 315. Tho church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The parochial charities produce about 9 per annum. There is a free school, which was erected by voluntary contributions' in 1815. PENTONVILLE, a suburban district of London and chplry. in the par. of Clerkenwell, Finsbury div. of the hund. of Ossulstone, co. Middlesex, 1 mile N.E. of St. Paul's. It lies between tho Angel at Islington and Battle Bridge on both sides of tho New-road, and occupies the site of a farm given by the Mandevilles to Clerkenwell nunnery. It was founded by the Pentons, from whom it takes its name, between 1773 and 1780, and now con- stitutes one of the most populous suburbs of the metro- polis, having a population of near 10,000. There are situated the London Female Penitentiary, founded in 1807, the government model prison in the Caledonian- road, built in 1842 at a cost of 84,000, for 1,000 con- victs, and White Conduit House. The living is a perpet. cur. with Christ Church, in the dioc. of London, val. 300, in the patron, of the Incumbent of Clerkenwell. The chapel, dedicated to St. James, was erected in 1788, by Hurst, and contains the altar-piece, by Fearon, " Christ Raising Jairus' Daughter." There is also the district church of St. Mark, situated iu Myddelton- square, which is a perpet. cur. in the dioc. of London, val. 535, in the patron, of the bishop. Tho church was erected in 1828, at a cost of 16,000. There is, besides, Claremont Independent chapel, erected in 1819. PENTRAETH, a parochial chplry. in the hund. of Tyndaethwy, co. Anglesea, 5 miles N.W. of Beaumaris, its post town, and 7 from Bangor. The village is situated on the banks of a rivulet which flows into Red Wharf Bay, about 1 mile N., on the shores of which are found a rare variety of shells. There are marble and limestone quarries in the neighbourhood. The living is a perpet. cur. with the cur. of Llanbedr-Goch annexed, in the dioc. of Bangor, val. 400, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, contains tombs of the Pautons of Plas Gwyn. The parochial charities produce about 14 per annum, of which 4 goes to Jones's school. Annual fairs are held on the 6th May, 24th June, and 20th September. PENTRE, a vil. in the par. of Llanfihangel Aber- cowin, co. Carmarthen, 2 miles N. of Laugharne. PENTRE, a hmlt. in the tnshp. of Mancott, par. of Hawarden, co. Flint, 2 miles N.E. of Hawarden. It ia situated on the river Dee, near the line of the Holyhead railway. The inhabitants are employed in the iron and lead mines. PENTRE, a hmlt. in the par. of Mold, co. Flint, 1 mile E. of Flint. PENTRE, a tnshp. in tho par. of Rhuddlan, co. Flint, 2 miles from Rhuddlan. PENTRE, a hmlt. in the par. and hund. of Kilgerran, co. Pembroke, 3 miles S.E. of Cardigan. It is situated near the river Teifi. PENTRE, a hmlt. in the par. and hund. of Aber- gavenny, co. Monmouth, 1 mile N.W. of Abergavenny. It is situated under the Sugar Loaf Hill, near the con- fluence of the rivers Gavenny and Usk. PENTRE-BRtJNANT, a hmlt. in the par. of Llanfi- hangel-y-Croyddin, co. Cardigan, 2 miles from Eghvys Newydd. It is situated on the river Ystwilh.