NEWTON REGIS,-so named from being held by the crown till the period of Henry II., not being mentioned in Doomsday-book, it is supposed to have belonged to Seckington. It is a parish in Hemlingford hundred, 4 miles N. E. from Tamworth and 115 from London. In 1811, the population was about 300. In 1821, it contained 76 houses and 410 inhabitants. In 1826, its annual value was estimated at £1247, and its proportion to the county rate was £5 3s. 11d.

The church, originally dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, was, in the reign of Henry II. only a chapel to Seckington.

AUSTRY,-five miles E. from Tamworth and 110 from London, is a parish in the hundred of Hemlingford, situate on the borders of Staffordshire and Leicestershire. In 1803, the parochial rates amounted to £407 9s. 7d. at 4s. 8d. in the pound. In 1811, the population was about 500. In 1821, it contained 98 houses and 542 inhabitants. In 1826, its annual value was estimated at £3952, and its proportion to the county rate was £16 9s. 7d. It is a vicarage, value £8, Patron, the King.

About sixty years before the Norman invasion, it is said to have belonged to Wolfric Spot, founder of Burton Abbey, in Stafford. shire, from whom it passed to Leofric, Earl of Mercia. He bestow. ed a part of it to the monks of Burton, who lost it at the dissolution, 30th Henry VIII. In the church (originally dedicated to St. Nicholas) are some curious specimens of stained glass, which ornament its windows.

POLESWORTH-This extensive parish, situate in the hundred of Hemlingtord, is about 5 miles N. W. of Atherstone and 112 from London. In 1803, its parochial rates were £1335 78. 34d, at 5s. 4d. in the pound. In 1821, it contained 363 houses and 1834 inhabitants. In 1826, its annual value was estimated at $4179, Dordon at £2590, Freasley and Hall's-end £1721 and Wharton £2826, and their joint proportion to the county rate was £47 38. It is a vicarage, value £10. Patron, the King.

Of this place, "though there be no remains in the Conqueror's Survey, yet, for antiquity and venerable esteem, neede it not give precedence to any in this county, being honoured with the plantation of the first religious house that was in all these parts, founded by King Egbert, our first English Monarch, for St. Modwene, daughter of the then King of Connaught in Ireland, who, if the tradition be true, had cured his son Ernulph of a leprosy. This ancient edifice presents some interesting remains." It appears that Polesworth was given by the Conqueror to Robert Marmion of Tamworth Castle. There is a school here endowed by Sir Francis Nethersole, Knight.

GRENDON, -is a parish (to which Whittington a township is included, and in Dr. Thomas's time contained only 9 houses) in the hundred of Hemlingford, on the river Anker, near the Coventry canal, 3 miles N. from Atherstone and 110 from London. In 1803, its parish rates were £517 9s. 3d at 5s 1d in the pound. In 1811, its population was about £450. In 1821, it contained 106 houses and 554 ínhabitants. In 1826, its annual value was estimated at £4257, and its proportion to the county rate was £17 14s 9d. including Whittington.

From the former a family assumed their surname, in the reign of King Stephen. This place is noticed in the Conqueror's Survey in which it was estimated at five hides and a half; a mill rated at 5s. with woods, one mile and a half long and one mile broad, where toge. ther valued at 4s.

BADDESLEY ENSOR, -3 miles N. W. from Atherstone and 110 from London, is a hamlet to the parish of Polesworth, in the hundred of Hemlingford. In 1811, it contained about 370 inhabitants. In 1821, 96 houses and 535 inhabitants. In 1826, its annual value was estimated at £1146, and its proportion to the county rate was £4 15s 6d.

Doomsday-book designates this place Bedeslei, containing two hides, with woods one mile and a half in length and half a mile in breadth. In the reign of Richard II. the addition of Ensor was given, on its passing to a person of that name, or Ednesoare, from whom it was transmitted to Herthull, and subsequently to the family of Cockain.

KINGSBURY, -is 6 miles S. of Tamworth, and nearly the same distance from Coleshill and Hartshill, and 110 from London. This extensive parish not only includes Hurley and Dosthill, but several places now of little note, and others sunk iato decay, such as Kymberley-hall, Plumpton, Flanders-hall, Hallaton, Drakenge, Whateley, Slately, Holtand Cliffe. In 1803, the parochial rates amounted to £965 4s. 2d. at 2s. 10d. in the pound. In 1811, the population was about 1100. In 1821, it contained 213 houses and 1111 inhabitants, of whom 67 families were employed in trade. In 1826, the annual value of Kingsbury, exclusive of Hurley and Dosthill, &c., was £5347, and, with which places, its proportion to the county rate was £38 2s. 2d. The church was dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. The living is a vicarage, value £8 13s.

Of Kingsbury Dugdale says, that "this place, in the Saxon's time, was a seat belonging to some of the Mercian Kings, is not to be doubted, the name importing no.less. Besides, if we regard the situation for delight few in these parts will equal it, considering the vicinity of the river, bordered on one side with hills and woods, and the other with spacious meadows; and that the verge of Sutton Chace, in those days a forest, extended to the skirts thereof. So that if I should hence conclude that this is the same Kingsbury where Bertulphas,

: :

King of Mercia, residing, had a great council of his prelates and great nobles in the year 851, I think it will be no great presumption; but of these ancient times, as we have little discovery, so is there no great certainty to be found." In the reign of Edward the Confessor, it is said the Countess Godiva held Kingsbury, when it was estimated at six hides of land, and two priests and a mill, rated together at £13. The Bracebridge family came into possession of this property in the reign of King John, and held it till the commencement of Queen Elizabeth's reign, when it was sold to Sir Francis Willoughby of Middle_ ton. There was a chapel at Kymberley Hall, founded by the Bracebridge Family, in the reign of Richard II.

MIDDLETON,-6 miles from Coleshill and 109 from London,-is a parish in the hundred of Hemlingford. In 1803, the parochial rates amounted to £583 12s. 10d. at 3s. 6d. in the pound. In 1811, the population was about 540. In 1821, it contained 107 houses and 623 inhabitants. In 1826, its annual value was estimated at £3800, and its proportion to the county rate was £15 16s 8d. It is a curacy, in the patronage of Lord Middleton.

The manor has been in the possession of the Willoughby family for a number of years. Sir Thomas was created Baron Middleton, by Queen Anne, in 1711. Henry, the present Lord, has a handsome mansion surrounded with fine wood scenery, which is now the residence of Francis Lawley, Esq. one of the members of Parliament for the county.

KINGTON HUNDRED.

9.-BRAILES DIVISION,

Containing Fourteen Parishes, One Township, One Hamlet, and One Extra

Parochial.

ABBREVIATIONS EXPLAINED.

R. Rectory-V. Vicarage-C. Chapelry. | P. Parish-H. Hamlet-T. Township

BRAILES, a parish in the hundred of Kington, (containing the villages of Chelmscote, Winderden, &c.) 3 miles from Shipston-on-Stour, and 63 from Lon

don. In 1803, its parochial rates were £1079 163. 8d. at 4s. 2d. in the pound. Iu 1811, it contained 179 houses and 980 inhabitants. In 1821, it contained 227 houses, and 1233 inhabitants. In 1826, it was valued at £10,851, and its proportion to the county rate was £45 4s. 3d. It is a curacy.

This manor, it appears, was in possession of the Earls of Mercia, previous to the Conquest, and subsequently in that of several of the Earls of Warwick, from whom it has passed through various hands. Chelmscote and Winderton having formed part of the same property, but no particular mention is made of them. John Rous complains of the depopulation of the former, which commenced about the time of Henry VII.

COMPTON WYNIATES-(extra parochial), situate in Kington hundred, near the eastern border of the county. In 1826, it was valued at £1513, and its proportion to the county rate £6 6s. ld.

It derived its name from a vineyard having, at an early period, been planted here. It is called Compton in the Hole by Camden, but Mr. Brewer points out this as a vulgar redundancy of expression, the word, Compton, signifying in itself a collection of dwellings in a Cwm, or valley, of which he says, a family affluent in men of worth and renown, took its surname from this well screened and fertile lordship. The first of the Compton family that attained great distinction was Sir Wm. Compton, who was placed, at the age of eleven years, as page or companion to the second son of Henry VII. then Duke of York, and afterwards King Henry VIII. The favour of this illustrious intimate of his youth procured for Sir William, at a subsequent period, state employments, which he supported with credit; and great riches, which he enjoyed without ostentation. His grandson, Henry, was summoned by a writ to the House of Lords, by the title of Baron Compton of Compton, and William, the son of this Henry, the first Baron, was created Earl of Northampton, in 1618. Spencer Compton, second Earl of Northampton, was one of the most zealous adherents to Charles I. By this nobleman, an op. position was raised in the county of Warwick to the factious influence of Lord Brooke; and the men levied by him in the county, for the king's use, bore a distinguished part in the several actions of importance. This high-spirited and loyal cavalier fell at the battle of Hopton Heath, Staffordshire. In this engagement the royal party, though much inferior in numbers to their adversaries, succeeded in driving their horse from the field, Pursuing with too much heat,

the Earl was left encompassed by a body of the enemy; and his horse béing killed under him, and the head-piece of his armour stricken off by the butt-end of a musquet, he was called to surrender, on a promise of quarter. To this summons he replied, that he scorned to take quarter from "such base rogues and rebels as they were," on which he was put to death; receiving, almost at the same moment, a blow in the hinder part of his head with a halbert, and a deep wound in the face. His lordship left six sons, who were all distinguished for loyalty and active virtue. Five were knighted; and Henry, the youngest, was Bishop of London, and is justly said to have been one of the most eminent prelates that ever sat in that see. He was born at Compton Wynyate, in the year 1632. After pursuing the usual course of academic study, with as much regularity as the unhappy character of the times would permit, he travelled for some years; but on the Restoration entered the king's service as a cornet of horse. He soon became tired of a military life, and dedicated himself to the service of the church. In 1675, he was nominated to the Bishopric of London, and was so highly esteemed by the court, that he was intrusted with the important office of educating the Princesses Mary and Anne. To the care of the bishop may be chiefly ascribed the firmness with which those princesses ever adhered to the Protestant mode of faith; for he was one of the most decided opposers of all covert or open endeavours to introduce the Roman Catholic religion to this country. On account of the undaunted exercise of such principles he was suspended by James II. and only was restored when the king dreaded the arrival of the Prince of Orange. This excellent prelate died, at the age of 81, in the year 1713."

"By Sir William Compton there was constructed, in the reign of Henry VIII. a spacious residence on this Manor, which is still standing, though only as a deserted monument of the mingled splendour and affliction of former days. Sir William had by the king's grant the custody of the neighbouring castle of Fulbroke; and from the ruins of that pile he removed the chief materials of which the mansion is composed. A surrounding park he commenced in the eleventh of Henry VIII. and obtained the king's licence to enclose, for that purpose, two thousand acres of land and wood. Compton Wynyate-house is an extensive, but irregular, edifice, formed to surround a court; and originally encompassed by a moat, some traces of which yet remain. Over the porch of the principal entrance are the royal arms of