Page:The National Gazetteer - A Topographical Dictionary of the British Islands, Volume 3.djvu/550

STEWAKTON. 633 STIBBINGTON. extreme breadth of 4 miles, and is bounded by Renfrew- shire, and by the para, of Fenwick, Kilmaurs, Dreg- horn, Irwin, Kilwenning, and Dunlop. The surface is undulating and slightly elevated at the N.E. end, but gradually declines towards the sea. It is watered by the Annock, Twinsey, Corshill, Eastburn, and Glazert Waters. The soil is mostly a strong clay. Extensive plan- tations have lately been made, and the whole of the land is enclosed. The prevailing rocks are trap in the north- eastern district, with carboniferous limestone and traces of coal in other parts, both of which are worked. The par. is traversed by the roads from Irvine to Glasgow, and from Kilmarnock to Paisley. The town of Stewarton is about 5 miles N.W. of Kilmarnock, and 2 S.E. of Dunlop. It is a station on the Glasgow and South- western railway, and is within access of the Croft- head station of the Glasgow and Neilston railway. It is situated near the centre of the parish, on the right bank of the river Annock, which is crossed by three bridges. At a little distance from the town are the foundations of a house said to have been a seat of the royal race of Stewarts, from which the place derives its name. Of late years it has risen to some importance, and is now uniform and well built. ' It has a savings- bank and two commercial banks, one a branch of the Ayrshire Banking Company, and the other of the Western Bank of Scotland. This place has long been distinguished for the production of Highland or tartan bonnets, which business furnishes employment to from 300 to 400 hands. The manufacture of carpets, -which was considerable in the early part of the present century, has declined, but the forging of clockwork and silk and muslin weaving are still important branches of industry. There are besides several woollen mills engaged in carding and spinning for the carpet and bonnet trades. Justice of the peace courts are held on the first Thursday in each month, for the recovery of small debts, for the parishes of Stewarton, Duulop, and Fenwick. This par. is in the presb. of Irvine and synod of Glasgow and Ayr. The stipend of the minister is about 297. The parish church was erected in 1690, and enlarged in 1825. There are an United Presbyterian church, a Free church, a Congregational chapel, parochial and other schools. Market day is on Thursday, and fairs are held on the Thursday prior to the first Friday in January (old style), on the Monday prior to the first Thursday in May, and on the Wednesday prior to the last Thursday in October. STEWARTON', a vil. in the par. of Kirkcolm, co. Wigton, Scotland, 5J miles N. of Stranraer. It is situated on the W. side of Loch Ryan. The inhabitants are employed in weaving and agriculture. STEWARTON, a vil. joined to Wishawton, in the par. of Cambusnethan, co. Lanark, Scotland. STEWARTSTOWN, a small post and market town in the par. of Donaghenry, bar. of Dungannon, co. Tyrone, prov. of Ulster, Ireland, 25 miles E. of Omagh, and 104 from Dublin. It is situated on the road from Armagh to Coleraine, 3 miles from Lough Neagh. The town contains many well-built houses. Here are the market house, parish church, Roman Catholic chapel, Presby- terian and Wesleyan meeting-houses, National school, dispensary, and a police station. Petty sessions are held at intervals. Stewart's Hall, about 2 miles distant, is the seat of Earl Castlestewart. In this parish are the remains of a castle, built by Sir A. Stewart, to whom the place was granted by James I. Wednesday is market day. Fairs are held on the first Wednesday in each month (old style). STEWKLEY, a par. in the hund. of Cottesloe, co. Bucks, 5j miles N.W. of Leighton-Buzzard, its post town, and 5 S.E. of Winslow. The village, which is considerable, is situated near the North-Western rail- way, on the Chiltern hills. The par. includes the hmlts. of Stewkley Dean and Littlecote. A portion of the female inhabitants are engaged in straw-plaiting, the lace manufacture having become nearly extinct. Many fossils are found in the lime quarries. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Oxford, val. 194, in the patron, of the bishop. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a Norman structure, with a square pinnacled tower and five bells. The parochial charities produce about 26 per annum. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have chapels. STEWLEY, a tythg. in the par. of Isle of Abbots, co. Somerset, 5 miles S.W. of Langport. STE VTON, a par. in the Wold div. of Louth-Eske hund., parts of Lindsey, co. Lincoln, 2J miles S.E. of Louth, its post town. The village, which is consider- able, is situated near the East Lincolnshire railway, which passes through the parish. There are brick, tile, and drain works. The soil consists of loam and clay, with a subsoil of clay. The living is a rect.* in the dioc. of Lincoln, val. 131. The church is dedicated to St. Andrew. The register dates from 1711. STEYNE, a hmlt. in the par. of Acton, co. Middle- sex, 6 miles W. of St. Paul's. STEYNING, a hund. in the rape of Bramber, co. Sussex, contains the pars, of Bramber, Buttolphs, Coombs, Steyning, Washington, and Wiston ; comprising an area of 12.250 acres. STEYNING, a par., post, and market town in the above hund., co. Sussex, 5 miles N. of Shoreham, and 50 S.W. of London. It is a station on the South Coast railway. The town is situated at the bridge over the river Adur, and is a petty sessions and polling place for West Sussex. It returned two members to parliament, until disfranchised by the Reform Act. The town, which contains about 1,500 inhabitants, chiefly consists of two good streets, and has of late years considerably im- proved. It is 1'ghted with gas, and supplied with good water. There are two branch banks, a post -office savings-bank, two breweries, and an extensive parch- ment manufactory. The staple trade of the place is in agricultural produce. Here was formerly a priory, founded as a cell to the abbey of Fecamp, in Normandy. The vicarage stands on the site of the priory. The living is a vie.* in the dioc. of Chichester, val. 308. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is said to have been built about the 12th century. There are endowed grammar, National, and infant schools, and a place of worship for the Wesleyans. There are also a reading room and subscription library. The union poorhouse is situated at Shoreham. Highden and Western Park are the principal residences. Market day is held every alternate Monday, and a large cattle fair is held on the llth October. STEYNTON, a par. in the hund. of Roose, co. Pem- broke, 6 miles from Haverfordwest, and 2 from Milford, its post town. The village, which is small, is situated on Milford Haven, and near Pill Priory. Here are some ancient forts. The substratum is productive of lime and culm. The par. includes the vil. of Milford Haven. The living is a vie. annexed to the rect. of Johnstone, in the dioc. of St. David's. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is an ancient structure with a tower, which was garrisoned during the civil war. There is also a district church at Milford Haven, the living of which is a perpet. cur., val. 80. The parochial charities pro- duce about 20, which go to Devonald's school. St. Botolph's and Castle Hill are the principal residences. STIBBARD, a par. in the hund. of Gallow, co. Nor- folk, 4 miles N.W. of Foulsham, and 4 S.E. of Faken- ham railway station. The village, which is small, is situated on the road from Fakenham to Wells, and near the river Wensam. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The living is a rect. annexed to that of Colkirk, in the dioc. of Norwich. The church is dedi- cated to All Saints. The parochial charities produce about 30 per annum. There is a National school for both sexes, erected in 1858. The Wesleyans have a place of worship. E. Wodehouse, Esq., M.P., is lord of the manor. STIBBINGTON, a par. in the hund. of Norman Cross, co. Huntingdon, 9 miles from Peterborough, the same distance from Oundle, and 1 mile E. of Wansl'ord, its post town and railway station. The village, which is small, is situated on the great north road, and on thu