n the Textile Department of the South Kensington Museum is a very large and interesting map of Worcestershire and some of its neighbouring parishes. It is of the time of Queen Elizabeth. It appears to be on the scale of 3 or 4 inches to the mile, and shows clearly not only Tenbury, but Burford, Little Hereford, Knighton, Rochford, Kyre, &c. It shows the main roads, and the course of the River Teme. But whether there was then a bridge at Tenbury, or only a ford, the map does not make clear.

The Church tower is shown in higher proportion than at present; and, apparently, pinnacled, at all events crenulated. But of course tapestry work of this kind was not meant to be 'to scale'. An enlarged photograph of this tapestry map was in the possession of Mrs. Baldwin Childe, at Kyre Park, Tenbury,

2. AN OLD TIME BARGE.
At Kyre Park Mrs. Baldwin Childe possessed also a receipted account for a barge built by a Tenbury builder for use on Kyre Pools, in the time of Queen Elizabeth.

3. OLD HOUSES IN TENBURY

THE COURT.
This is a moated house; and, if its old history could be unearthed, could undoubtedly tell a long tale of bygone Tenbury. The moat (now dry) surrounds the house on the south side and on part of the east side. On the west and north runs the Kyre Brook. The southern part of the present house is said to be of eighteenth-century date. The northern part is modern. The late Mr. Septimus Godson rebuilt and added to the structure in his time—about 1850. It is believed that the original house stood some little way to the south of the present one. Mr. Edwin Godson recalls that in his boyhood (circa 1910) an aerolite fell on the Court garden path, making a hole quite deep down.

THE ROSE AND CROWN INN (Burford) close to Tenbury Station, is said to date from 1600.The original part of the pub is 17th century but was greatly extended in 1860 by the owner Lord Northwick, probably because of the coming of the railway in 1862. The record found so far, is for 1798 when the boundaries between Burford and Greet were being walked on Holy Thursday. Two of the boys going on this walk were sons of W Yates of The Rose and Crown. Again in 1800 the Burford Friendly Society was founded and meetings held at the house of William Yates of The Rose and Crown

THE ROYAL OAK, in Market Street, bears on its outside the date 1581. It is said, however, not to be of earlier date than about 1650. The interior has been modernized. It looks like a somewhat simpler edition of the 'Feathers', at Ludlow, and has been described as a 'beautiful specimen of an ornamental timbered house of the 'time of Queen Elkabeth'.




THE SHIP, in Teme Street, is a seventeenth-century half-timbered house, with an eighteenth-century brick front of two stories, with an original square brick chimney.

The Ship Hotel. This is basically a 17th century building with many modifications. A major exterior modification was made in 1879 when all the timberwork was faced to give us the present day exterior. This was in response to the coming of the railway and their desire to smarten Tenbury up for the racegoers coming on the railway, to Oldwood Common Races and the opening of the Spa building so that visitors could stay in the Town and visit the Healing Qualities of the Mineral Waters. The earliest Deeds are from 1791. The last of the deeds state that it was sold by Edwin Dickens to A Perrell and Co Ltd in 1890 for £1100. In these deeds it rather oddly states that the Wheelbarrow way is preserved down Ship Inn Yard and now called Market Inn to Teme Street House.

THE KING'S HEAD, in Cross Street, is said to be late sixteenth-century.
N.B.

Other public houses in Tenbury, now disappeared, were as follows:
THE RED LION (1647);
THE FEATHERS (1719);
THE HOP POLE;

THE UNION TAVERN, or WILDEN'S PUBLIC HOUSE (1849).
This house was close to the SHIP, and in its backyard was found the leaden case of coins mentioned elsewhere.(see p. 103, infra).
The BLACK CROSS, opposite to the Vicarage, disappeared somewhere late in the nineteenth century.
PEMBROKE HOUSE—also called, as a licensed house, THE HOP POLE. This stands in Cross Street, 'at the top of the town'. It was formerly an endowment of Pembroke College, Oxford (Dr. Johnson's College), and is a good specimen of the Jacobean style. Mrs. Baldwin Childe thinks that it probably belongs to an earlier date, and that it may have been built by William Sydney, Earl of Pembroke. This Earl was brother to Sir Philip Sydney, and son of Sir Henry Sydney, for many years 'Lord of the Marches', and Governor of Ludlow Castle in the reign of Queen Elizabeth. Was PEMBROKE HOUSE perhaps formerly the 'Parsonage'? (see chap, iii, p. 48, on Vicarage). COLLEGE HOUSE (? formerly BERRINGTON HOUSE). Late seventeenth century.


68 BERRINGTON ROAD. Late seventeenth century. This house has the date 1681 cut on the door lintel. CORNWALL HOUSE. This house is at the top of Cross Street, and is now occupied by Mr. Walter Hewitt. It is said to have been built by Thomas Cornwall, in the late seventeenth century, as a dower house for his wife Anne, daughter of Thomas Reade, and formerly of Eastham. The said Anne Cornwall's will (1691) denotes her as 'of Tenbury'. Under the top step of the staircase is a curious small locked recess, presumably for the concealment of money.

THE CHURCH HOUSE. KYREWOOD MILL, on Kyre Brook, now disused (see chap, iii, p. 3 8).

LOWER SUTTON. Sixteenth century. Oak panelling about 1650.

SUTTON COURT. A two-storied seventeenth-century brick house. Interior modernized. One of the rooms on the west still retains 'a fine ceiling of chamfered oak beams with moulded stops.'

BERRINGTON HOUSE. This modernized house has been largely altered and rebuilt at various times. The earliest date at which its records are traceable is 1673. The following names with their dates, &c., may be of interest, in connexion with the various mortgages, agreements, indentures, &c., of the property. What a number of local names are recalled, and what a number of local and domestic histories may be reconstituted in imagination, by the old deeds of one house!
1673 Thomas and Anne Eaton, William Gibbins.
1688 Francis Eaton.
1691 Anne Eaton, Edmond Lane.
1724 John Williams, Richard Smyth sen.
1724 Edward and Ann Hodgkins, John and Joan Sopp, John Williams.
1732 John Williams, George Nash.
1735 (i) George Nash, Richard Edwards, Richard Hinksman, Francis Askey, Thomas Hammonds and John Wall; (2) John and Jane Williams; (3) William Downes and Samuel Good.
1759 Probate of the will of William Downes.
1789 George Holland and Anne Holland.
1792 Anne Holland and Watkin William Davis.
1793 George Bowles and Samuel Holland.
1794 Samuel Holland and John Morris.
1804 (1) John Morris; (2) Thomas Yarrington and John Bishop.
1806 (1) Thomas Yarranton [sic] and John Bishop (2) John Howells and Margaret Child.
1825 Thomas Yarranton and William Cooke.
1850 (i)Mary Yarranton; (2) Thomas Cook Yarranton and John Cooke; (3) Joseph and Ann Cooke; (4) Richard Landon and Nathaniel or Hickman; (5) Henry Cooke; (6) Joseph Cooke.
1858 (1) Joseph Cooke; (2) Thomas Cook Yar-ranton and John Cooke; (3) William Reynolds; (4) George Winton.
1859 (i) William Reynolds; (2) William Tranter.

The present lawn and garden of Berrington House were formerly a tan yard; and there was a well under one of the present sitting rooms.


4. THE BRINE BATHS


The spring of the Tenbury mineral waters was discovered accidentally in the year 1839. The late Mr. Septimus Holmes Godson was sinking a well at his residence, the Court, Tenbury, for a household supply. At the depth of nearly 100 feet, below the harness-room of the present stables, or, as others say, under the old bath-house near the yard, the brine water issued from a massive stratum of old Red Sandstone. A small red-brick bath-house, still standing, was built near the well. Since then larger premises have been added, farther from the house. The waters, of a light blue colour, are said to contain a larger amount of saline matter than the springs of Cheltenham and Leamington, or even those of the celebrated German spas.

The most important element they contain is bromine, which is found here in considerable proportion. There can be little doubt as to the strength and medicinal value of these waters. Tenbury, however, has not even yet, in the course of eighty-five years, 'caught on'. Not even the postal change of name to 'Tenbury Wells' has availed to open up the town to any large extent. Old residents still prefer to call it 'Tenbury'. In 1911 the present owner of the springs formed the 'Tenbury Baths Company', presumably with the object of popularizing the waters.

Tenbury itself stands of course very low, and actually in the flood zone. Possibly some hydros and new residential houses, built on the higher banks round the town, might solve the question and make Tenbury a second Droitwich.

5. COINS, AND SOME OTHER WAR-TIME RELICS
There have been two interesting finds of coins at Tenbury.

ROMAN COINS.
Some years ago a number of valuable Roman coins were found in the grounds of Mr. G. R. Godson, of the Court. They were evidently relics of the ancient Roman occupation of Tenbury. They were of the currency of several Roman emperors, Claudius Caesar amongst them. He it was who, in A. D. 50, had sent the victorious general, Ostorius Scapula, to subdue this part of Britain, so gallantly defended by Caractacus. Half of these valuable coins, including a few golden ones, were sent, at the time of their discovery, to the British Museum. The other half appear to have been sadly diminished in less satisfactory ways. The owners have been too generous in admitting general access to such treasures.

TUDOR AND STUART COINS.
In 1849 my father, the late Rev. Preb. J. Wayland Joyce, Rector of Burford 3rd Portion, heard that a great number of coins had been discovered at Tenbury. On the day following this find he went from Burford to view them; and, in his Common-place Book (pp. 111 ff.), has left the following detailed account:

'On Wednesday, May 30, 1849, in digging a post-hole at the back of Wilden's Public House in Tenbury called, I think, the "Union Tavern" (close to the present "Ship Inn") one Morgan turned up a leaden case, containing perhaps 500 silver Coins. The small vagabonds with other idlers, not infrequent in the neighbourhood of the place, carried off a considerable quantity. The exact number of the Coins thus abstracted it is difficult to ascertain. The landowner now has about 450, saved from the pillage.' [N. B. Local tradition says that he retained a sufficient number at all events to take up to London for sale, and that with the proceeds he bought land at Malvern.] 'Among these are upwards of 200 shillings and sixpences of Queen Elizabeth,

(1) Eliz: Ang: Fra: et Hib: Regina. Head of Queen. Reverse, "Posui Deum adju-torem meum". Arms &c.

(2) Several of James I. "Jacobus D: G: Mag: Brit: Fra: et Hib: Rex. Head of King. Reverse, "Quae-Deus conjunxit nemo separet". (Referring no doubt to the new Union of England and Scotland.) Arms, &c. Others of the same reign, shillings, &c. Jacobus D: G: Ang: Sc: Fra: et Hib: Rex. Head of King. Reverse, "Exurgat Deus, dissipentur inimici". Arms, &c.

(3) Several of Charles I. Shillings, sixpences, and half-crowns—Carolus D: G: Ma: Bri: Fra: et Hi: Rex. Head of King. Reverse, "Christo auspice regno". Arms. One of the shillings has on the reverse, as a crest to the Arms, the Prince of Wales's plume, continuous to the mouth of the King's face. The half-crowns of Charles I are of different coinages. But they all have on the front the Figure of Charles I on horseback. On some this impression is most beautiful, and admirable in point of art.

(4) There are two, which I presume to be the most rare, of Philip and Mary's reign. Philip et Maria D: G: R: Ang: Fra: Neap: P: P: Hisp: Heads of Philip and Mary. Reverse, "Posuimus Deum Adjuttorem nostrum". Arms.

'Charles II slept at Tenbury, where some of his followers also passed the evening, before the Battle of Worcester (Sep: 3rd 1651.) This as asserted by Mr. Grove, the Landlord of the "Swan Inn" (? in 1849).'' '

Mr. Grove adds that a maternal ancestor of his after the Battle took a roast fowl to Charles on his way from Worcester to the coast. From the field Charles retreated by Kinver to Boscobel.

In reference to the Coins above mentioned, I cannot but think that they were part of the treasure for the payment of the Royalist Army. The place where they were found was an old Stable Yard. They are all without exception of the Current Coin of the time. Their date comes down to the end of Charles I, and not one is subsequent. If they had been the collection of a miser, they would have been more various both in metal and value. The probability is that they were for the payment of troops. J. W. J.'

The above account is most interesting, well reasoned out, and highly probable, as giving the correct historical facts of the case. It is possible, however, that the money in question may have been used for the payment of Royalist troops some few years before, at an earlier stage of the Civil War. The following extract from the Burford Deaneries Magazine, for 1884, may serve to throw some light on the whole subject:

'During the Civil War, in the time of Charles I, the Royalist troops were in this neighbourhood. In the interesting History of Cleobury by Mrs. Childe (p. 22) is quoted the following extract from a Journal called "The Weekly Account", of March 19, 1645:—"By letters out of Shrewsbury, it was this day certified that Prince Rupert was on Friday last at Ludlow, and Sir Jacob Astley at Bewdley, and some of their forces at Clybury, Tenbury, and Burford, and Prince Rupert sent out his warrants to summon in the country as a Convoy for His Majesty.' In connexion with the above, it may be interesting to note that the well-known antiquarian Mr. H. T. Weyman, of Ludlow, has in his possession an original placard which runs thus:

'UNLESS I RECEIVE THE SUM OF ...... BY TOMORROW MORNING, I BURN AND SACK THE TOWN.'
Signed RUPERT.'

This refers of course to Ludlow.

1 Note by F. W. J. It is said that, for three weeks previous to the Battle of Worcester, some of the King's Scotch Troops were encamped on the meadow below the Peacock Inn, at the confluence of the Cornbrook and the Teme. The site of the Camp is perhaps still marked by the ridge near the centre of the field.


OTHER RELICS.
A few other relics have been discovered from time to time, some of which may probably be traced to this period. Cannon balls have been dug up now and again in fields round Tenbury. One such was unearthed, about 1890, on Boraston Banks. One of the two diggers was an old Royal Artillery farrier. His remark was: 'That, I expect, was one of William the Conqueror's'

Old pieces of armour have also been found still kept in our farm houses. The following is an instance of considerable interest. About the year 1816, close to where the present Burford smithy stands, a Wych elm was cut down by the roadside. Beneath it was found a helmet, breastplate, an old sword, and a bar of iron, six feet long. The bar was inscribed with a Latin inscription, to much the same effect as the motto of Edmund Cornwall before mentioned:
'In my defense God me defend.'

Many cannon balls have been ploughed up in the fields of Shelsley Beauchamp. These are no doubt mementoes of the siege of Ham Castle by Oliver Cromwell. Near the Swan, not long ago, was dug up a silvered copper button, with crest of a broken spear. It had been probably dropped at the watering-place by a Break-spear soldier servant

6. OLD TRADES OF TENBURY A. D. 1753.
A woollen manufactory. A. D. 1771. A lace manufactory. (See chap, vii, p. 124.) Perhaps a silk manufactory. The Rev. T. A. Ayscough, late Vicar of Tenbury, believed that such an industry was carried on, at one time, in the valley of the Kyre Brook, just above the town. Flax-dressing. By 21 Geo. Ill, Cap. 58, and 26 Geo. Ill, Cap. 43, bounties were offered for the cultivation of hemp and flax. In 1782, amongst others, we find this bounty claimed by Joseph Everill, of Tenbury. In 1814, the Tenbury Baptism Register gives FLAXDRESSER as the occupation of the father of a baptized child. The Linage Farm is said to be so called from 'Linum' = flax, which was once grown there. In 1800-1900. Malting and tanning were still considerable trades in Tenbury. One tanyard was on the site of the present lawn and garden of Berrington House.


7. A TENBURY WAG
For want of a better place one more event may be here recorded. The story belongs to a more recent date (the early 1900's).

A popular Tenbury character made a bet that he would ride his horse from Bewdley to Tenbury, and, starting at the same time, would reach Tenbury station as soon as the train. Accordingly he took his horse to Bewdley in a railway van. On arrival there, preparations were made for disembarking the horse. 'No,' said his owner, 'leave the horse where he is.' When the train was due to start, the equestrian mounted in the van and majestically sat on the saddle until they all reached Tenbury station not later than the train itself. Thus at a small extra cost he duly won his bet.


8. CELEBRITIES OF TENBURY
In Worthies of Worcestershire (1916) the following four names are given under the head of 'Tenbury'.

Edmund Smith (1672-1710)
Benjamin Maund (1790-1863)
Frederick Arthur Gore Ouseley (1825-89)
William Norris (1821-1904)

Short biographies of the above will be found in the book named. The Life of Sir F. Ouseley, by the Rev. F. W. Joyce (Methuen), is unfortunately out of print. Two other names might well have been added:

Sir Thomas Lawrence, the famous portrait painter (1769-1830). It was his mother who was Lucy Read, daughter of the Rev. William Read, Vicar of Tenbury (1718-54), and sister of a succeeding Vicar, Francis William Read. Much of the young Thomas Lawrence's boyhood was spent, it is believed, at his uncle's Vicarage at Tenbury. (See chap, iii, p. 151.)

Henry Hill Hickman, M. D., M. R. C. S.
(b. 1800, d. 1829).
His should be recognized as one of the greatest names in the history of Medicine, certainly in that of the anaesthetic relief of pain by inhalation. Hickman was the pioneer, unrecognized in his own day, of the earliest steps of that great boon to suffering humanity, by way of scientific experiment. Some years before ether came from America to England (1846), and before Simpson in Edinburgh, three years later (1849), discovered chloroform.
Hickman, a keen young surgeon, had tried in vain, both in London and in Paris, to get his anaesthetic discoveries recognized by the medical profession. It was all in vain. His fate was that of many another pioneer. Others gained the credit after he was gone. He practised for a time in Ludlow, Shifnall, and Tenbury itself. He lived in Teme Street, No. 18, now a chemist's shop; and, at the comparatively early age of not quite 30, leaving a wife and four children, died, it is said, of a broken heart. His eldest daughter, later on, married the once well-known and much loved Dr. Francis Thompson, of Tenbury. In the early years of the present century Hickman's name was recovered from obscurity by Dr. Henry S. Wellcome and some of the leading medical papers. (See British Medical Journal, Apr. 13, 1912.)

9. THE MILITARY HISTORY OF TENBURY
The following notes are worth recording: In the latter part of the thirteenth century, according to the enrolment of inquisitions taken in the time of Edward I, Tenbury was held by Robert Mortimer, who had to provide 'IIII for the service of the King'. On September 23, 1642, Prince Rupert defeated a Parliamentary force, under Colonel Fiennes, at Powick Bridge. The same evening he marched to Tenbury, from whence he went on to Shrewsbury.


Sometime in the sixteenth or seventeenth century — the exact date is unknown — Bailey's Charity was originally left 'for fitting out soldiers for the Service of the king'. 'Given to Phillip Yappe who was crippled in the King's Service to accomodate him on his journey to ye Bath js.' During the Napoleonic Wars there was evidently considerable difficulty in getting men to serve. Here are some letters addressed to Mr. Evans, Tenbury, concerning men in this locality who had been drawn for the Militia : 'Worcester, Dec'r. 23d, 1796 Sir, The Difficulty having been found so great in obtaining men for the Army agreeable to the first Instructions, that Government have found it necessary to change them, and another Officer is arrived with fresh Instructions in the City, and growing Lads under 20 years of age are now to be taken at 5 feet 3 inches, this will help us forward a little ; but they will not allow the Bounty to be all paid, which is still a great Obstacle — Several Parishes have suffered themselves to be fined £20 a man after having shewed they had done everything in their Power to conform to the Act, which Fine I believe will be accepted pretty generally without giving the Parishes further Trouble; This will be better than giving 25 guineas a man. I am respectfully yr's
(Undated) 'Since I last wrote you' (N. B. the early date in England of this expression) 'anither Alteration has taken Place in the Army & Navy Act and fresh Instructions are received which I believe is in consequence of the War being continued. Each Parish must find the Men, as the Time will not exempt them, but a further Time is given; after the new Militia is drawn, there may be a chance of getting men, but till then they will be very scarce. You must of course be diligent: I will do all I can for you. I am yr's Tho's HolL'.

Two more letters follow—this time addressed to the churchwardens and overseers of Tenbury:

'Suckley, 4 May 1797
'Sirs, I must desire that you will meet me at the Hundred House on Wednesday the Tenth day of this Instant May, to pay seven Guineas due to John Carter who was drawn to serve & is now serving in the Worcestershire Reg't of Militia at Hastings in Sussex. I have an order under the Hand of John Carter to receive this money & also an order signed by two Deputy Lieutenants. Therefore unless you comply with this request I must be under the disagreeable necessity to levy the Penalty of five Pounds ag't you for the neglect. I am yo hble serv't J. S. Romney Clerk of the Meetings.'

'Suckley, 13th May 1797
Sirs, I once more request the favor of you to pay or send me the seven Guineas due to John Carter late of Tenbury now serving in the Worcestershire Regiment of the Militia at Hastings in Sussex. I beg leave to refer you for my authority to Mr. Holland Attorney in Tenbury who has seen the written order to me from Carter and also the order signed by two Justices for Payment of that sum; if you neglect I will certainly levy the penalty of five Pounds against you. I desire your final answer by Return of Post directed to be left for me at the Bell Inn Worcester, otherwise I shall proceed ag't you as the Act directs for Renvez. I am yo hble serv't J. S. Romney Clerk to the Militia Meetings.'

There exists an unfortunate reminiscence that at the time of the Crimean War (circa 185 5), when some repairs were being done to Teme Bridge, the recruiting sergeants, on arrival at Tenbury, discovered that the employees on the river bank were all of the feminine gender. The young men were busy on the harvest fields at Bockleton, and at other unfrequented spots four and five miles distant. In 1803 to 1860, may be noted the following events in connexion with the history of the Tenbury Volunteers: 'In 1803, the Tenbury Company of Volunteers, 100 strong—Captain Edward Wheeler—had all put in 30 days attendance.' 'In August, 1804, Colours were presented to the Ten-bury Contingent by Mrs. Pytts of Kyre House.' About 1860, colours were presented by the Hon. Miss Rushout, of Burford House. This banner had on it the Worcestershire emblem of a pear tree. In the Great War (1914-18) many men went from Tenbury, and thirty-three laid down their lives.

10. A SLACK PARISH CONSTABLE
In 1604, the Constable of Kyre 'allowed a rogue to pass thro' his Constablewick unpunished: he was indited.' (See Wore. Calendar of Sessions Papers, 1591-1643, p. cxc.)


11. A TENBURY NIGHT-WALKER In 1636, we find this record: 'Robert Darwen of Tenbury was a Night-Walker, a man of ill condition who daily abused his neighbours. He nightly turned his horses into his neighbours' lands. He kept a barn and stable from a man named Lane and refused to pay any Rent. He threatened to cut down Lane's fruit trees. He beat Mrs. Lane and took her husband's fruit, and daily abused them. He is a man who doth put money out to use, and doth take extortions of them.' (See Wore. Calendar of Sessions Papers, 1591-1643, p. cxxxiii.)


12. A TENBURY CENTENARIAN In 1810, M±s. Perkins is said to have died at Tenbury, aged nearly 105.


13. A TENBURY POSTAL ADDRESS Here may be inserted one of the triumphs of successful delivery quoted by the G. P. O. The letter was thus addressed, perhaps about 100 years ago, and duly reached its destination: 'too dad Thomas hat the ole oak Otchut 10 Bary Fade Sur please to let ole feather have this sefe.' Where the 'Old oak Orchard' is now, appears to be unknown. But old Dad Thomas of Tenbury evidently received his son's letter safe and sound.


14. A FEW LOCAL TRADITIONS, SUPERSTITIONS, ETC. Foxhall. This is the name of a field in Tenbury Parish. The house is gone. It is said that a farmer of this name, in Queen Anne's reign (1702-14), owed a neighbour money; and, being urged, on his return from market to pay, sought revenge. To this end, backed up by a wealthy man who lived close by, Foxhall laid a charge on oath that the neighbour had robbed him. On the following Sunday morning, the neighbour attended Service at Boraston Church. He then rode to London, procured the Queen's protection, and on his return left it with the Sheriff at Worcester. He then, on the following Sunday evening attended Service at Knighton Church. [N. B. 'Evening' then no doubt meant what many people now call 'afternoon'. 'Good Evening' is still the local salutation any time after midday. There would of course be no late Evening Services in those days in country parishes.] None but his own family were aware that he had been on this long expedition, of nearly 300 miles, in the interval between the two Sundays. The next morning, at the instance of his foe Foxhall, he was, as he expected, arrested, for 'highway robbery', and taken to Worcester. Being released, on the Royal Protection Order, he now summoned Foxhall for perjury. Foxhall escaped capture, leaped into the Teme, and was drowned. Thereafter the neighbour prophesied that the wealthy landowner, who throughout the whole business had been prompting Foxhall, should 'come to nought'. And so he did. For his estate has long since passed to others; and, save for 'Foxhall's Field', his name is 'clean put out'. Felo de se. Towards the end of the eighteenth century, about 1784, there was buried at Boraston cross roads the body of Anne Hinton—some say Anne Stinton—with a stake driven through her corpse. This was the recogni2ed custom in those days for those who had died by their own hand. Many of our cross roads, if they could speak, could no doubt tell us the same tale. They are of course generally regarded as haunted spots.

The story runs as follows (see Rural Rambles round Tenbury, No. iii, p. 31. B. Home, 1844):

'The said Anne resided at Boraston with her son, his wife and children. From some cause unknown, Anne had imbibed a fiendish hate against them. To gratify her revenge, she obtained poison and administered it to her son's little ones. But the deadly mineral not acting so potently as she wished, and medical aid being promptly had, they all survived. Not so the wretched woman: she had taken a more considerable quantity; and, to allay the burning heat it caused, she drank at the well. This added to her torment: she became swollen to a great degree, and expired in agony. Agreeable to the barbarous custom of the day, she was buried at the Cross Roads, as described above.' Hanging/or sheep stealing.

The last man so executed, for this offence, in Worcestershire, came from Boraston Mill, early in the nineteenth century.

Doing the Churches. In a parish, four miles from Tenbury, on the Glee Hill, a man had finished a year's imprisonment for manslaughter. It was a case with much justification. On coming out of jail, he went the round of all the churches, probably some eight or ten in number, within a few miles of. his own church: and it is said that he went to the chapels also. This must have been meant as a kind of public expiation, partly as penance, partly also perhaps as a publication of the fact that he had completed his year of imprisonment, and so purged his offence.

At Callow's Leap (Alfrick), it is said that a mighty hunter, named Callow, leaped down the precipice. Callow's Grave is said to be in the Tenbury neighbourhood. At the former place sights unearthly are seen at night, hideous black dogs running about, &c.

A custom used to be observed in the Tenbury neighbourhood of lighting twelve fires on Christmas Eve. This is supposed to be a remnant of some heathen ceremony, allusive to Ceres and the twelve months. The cows are said to kneel on Christmas night.

Another custom was to take the old mistletoe bough out of the kitchen, where it had been hanging for twelve months, and burn it. Then the new bough was taken into the house. St. Smthin's Blessing. It is 'bad luck' to cook apples until after July 15, when St. Swithin shall have blessed them.

St. James and the Hops:
'Till St James's Day be come and gone
There may be Hops, or there may be none."

The Worcestershire Cuckoo. It is proverbial in Worcestershire that you never hear the Cuckoo before Tenbury Fair I (now = April 22), or after Pershore Fair (June 26). Perhaps this is meant to apply only to the time when he is 'in tune'.

These few Memoranda of Tenbury, and of its life from one generation to another, may fitly, perhaps, , be concluded with the Napoleonic reminiscence of an old inmate of the Tenbury Workhouse in the early months of the Great War. The story well illustrates the unhistoric ideas of some of our non-reading people, even so late as the year
1914. To one of the Lady Visitors, paying her weekly visit to the inmates and taking them the news of the day:

'Well, Miss, I do 'ear as the French be come as far as to Lemster.'