193 



granting the parsonage of Clifton-on-Teme to the rector, A.n. 1527 ; attached to 

 it was the seal of the house, which was before unknown. It had been found 

 recently at Stanford Court. 



About a mile north of the ruins of Lymebrook Priory, hanging still on the 

 skirts of the forest of Deerfold, is the site of the ancient castle of Lingen. An 

 orchard inclosed with a deep and wide moat, wet still here and there, and a large 

 and steep moamd at the eastern end, surmounted by a picturesque Scotch fir tree, 

 present aU that remains of it. If it ever had walls, no trace of them exist, and 

 if it ever was a stronghold, it must surely have been at a time when the flat 

 ground surrounding it was boggy and insecure. The village of Lingen gives its 

 name to one of the oldest families in Herefordshire. Of the Castle and its 

 Lords, its history, and their adventures, it is not necessary to say anything 

 here, for is it not all told in that interesting and valuable contribution to the 

 history of the county, by one of oiu- members — " The Castles of Herefordshire 

 and their Lords," by the Rev. J. C. Robinson, M.A. 



Nor, for the very same reason, may the beautiful and extensive ruins of 

 "Wigmore Castle, on the other side of the Forest be dwelt upon : the ancient 

 Abbey near the castle ; nor the romantic passages in the history of their illus- 

 trious possessors, the Mortimers. It would be more in character with the 

 objects of the Club to speak of the geology of the Forest of Deerfold and its 

 natural productions, but this may not be, for the paper is ah-eady very long, 

 and the Club has fixed the first excursion of the approaching season to inves- 

 tigate more thoroughly these very points. 



One duty only I'emains, and it is the very pleasing one of returning thanks 

 to all those whose kind interest in the AVoolhope Club has led them to supply 

 the materials which form the groundwork of this paper. The facts of history 

 and legal memoranda are chiefly due to Lady Frances Vernon Harcourt, IVIrs. 

 Stackhouse Acton, R. W. Banks, Esq., and the Rev. J. C. Robinson. Thomas 

 Blashill, Esq., of London, has earned much gratitude. His drawings and 

 description of the old house of the Chapel farm shew clearly enough the very 

 great trouble he has taken to render them as accurate as possible. The permission 

 so readily gi-anted to examine the Episcopal Registers and books in the 

 Cathedral library has been most iiseful in opening up an almost forgotten 

 chapter in the church history of the county. The Rev. S. Clark, the Rev. T. 

 Woodhouse, and some other gentlemen have been more useful than they would 

 perhaiJS themselves admit ; and lastly the kind and genial hospitality at the 

 Haven in the Forest itself, has given all the visits of enquiry there a pleasant 

 recollection. The Messrs. T. W. and C. Fortey have indeed spared no trouble 

 to give every assistance required, and have clearly proved themselves, in the 

 eyes of our Club, woi-thy possessors of that most interesting tree — upon whose 

 branches after all this whole story hangs — 



THE MISTLETOE OAK OF THE FOREST OF DEERFOLD. 



