i m 



BIBERACH. 







present to the town ; two churches, two chapels, a convent, a gym- 

 nuium, lying-in institution, *c. The town is regularly built, several of 

 the streets are bordered with lime-tree*, brood, at right angles to one 

 another, and pared. The houses are mostly built of wood. Among 

 the other towns nnBielil; which stands in a very fertile district, 

 watered by the Narev and the Nurzek, 23 miles S. from Bialystok, and 

 has 2000 inhabitants : Sokolta, on the road from Bialystok to 

 Qrodno; population 1100: Z>roAicryi on the Bug, which has 1000 

 inhabitants : CieduuHneit on the Nurzek, a feeder of the Bug; 

 population 2700: and Siemiatycf, a well-built town, with 4000 

 inhabitants. 



BIBERACH, a town in the Donau-Kreis (circle of the Danube), and 

 in the south-eastern part of the kingdom of Wiirtemberg, is situated in 

 the beautiful valley of the Riess, and on the little river of that name. 

 It is surrounded by walla, with towers and a ditch ; contains four 

 churches, two public schools, three elementary or national schools, a 

 well-endowed hospital, two suppressed monasteries, and has a corn- 

 market, much frequented : the number of inhabitant* is about 5000. 

 Independently of agriculture and grazing, the inhabitants are engaged 

 in weaving fustians and linens, tanning, paper-making, brewing, and 

 bleaching. It WAS the scene of severe conflicts between the Austrian* 

 and the French in 1796 and 1800. Biberach came under the 

 dominion of Baden in 1802, and was ceded by Baden to Wiirtemberg 

 in 1806. It lies in 48 5' N. lat, 9 47' E. long. Wicland was a 

 native of Biberach. The cold baths of Jordan are situated in the 

 middle of a picturesque district about two miles from Biberach. 



BICESTER, BISETTER, or BURCHESfER, Oxfordshire, a 

 market-town and the seat of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of 

 Bicester and hundred of Ploughley, is situated in 51 54' N. l:it.. 

 1 8'W. long., distant 12 miles N.N.E. from Oxford, 54 miles W. X . \V. 

 from London by road, and 66J miles by the Buckinghamshire branch 

 of the London and North- Western railway: the population of the 

 town in 1851 was 2763. The living is a vicarage in the archdeaconry 

 and diocese of Oxford. Bicester Poor-Law Union contains 88 

 parishes and townships, with an area of 66,065 acres, and a popula- 

 tion in 1851 of 15,504. 



The origin of Bicester was probably about the year 640, when 

 Biriuus was bishop of Caer Dor, or Dorchester, in Oxfordshire. 

 There seems to have been here in the time of Birinus a frontier 

 garrison of the West Saxons against the Mercians; and it may have 

 assumed his name (Birincester, or Birin's town) because built by his 

 advice and assistance out of the ruins of Alchester and Chesterton, or 

 because a church was built and endowed by him. Alchester, or Alcester, 

 the JElia Castra of Richard of Cirencester, was a city of a square form, 

 divided by four streets, and appears to have been one of the garrisoned 

 places constructed by Plautius to secure the newly-acquired country 

 after his early triumphs over the Britons. The name ' Alehester ' is 

 still retained for the site on which it stood, about a mile and a half 

 to the south-went of Bicester, where, although the soil has long been 

 under cultivation, Roman coins and fragments of buildings have 

 occasionally been discovered in excavating. 



The parish of Bicester is divided into two districts or townships, 

 called King's End and Market End. The old town of Birincester, 

 which is believed to have been destroyed by the Danes, stood on tli 

 west part or King's End ; the other portion was formerly called I'.ury 

 Knd, but received it* present name from the weekly market whirl* ,i i 

 granted in the 10th of Henry VI. In the reign of Henry II. (1182), 

 Gilbert Basset, baron of Uodingdon, founded at Bicester a religious 

 house for a prior and eleven canons of the order of St Augustine, 

 dedicated to St. Eadburg of Aylesbury. The name of the saint to 

 whom it was dedicated is still preserved in St Kdburg*8 Well in the 

 vicinity. There was a neat and much frequented walk leading to thii 

 well from the priory and town. This is now denominated 

 St Edburg's Walk. 



The town of Bicester is neatly built Considerable improvement 

 has taken place in its appearance of late yean. The streets are 

 paved, and lighted with gas ; and the sewerage has been improved. 

 The parish church is a neat and commodious building, erected about 

 the ynar 1400 on the site of a former structure. It consists of nave, 

 chancel, and aisles, and has a lofty square tower. The i- 

 contains several fine monument* and old sculptures. It will 

 accommodate about 1500 persons. The Wesleyan Methodists and 

 Independents have places of worship. There are in the town a 

 Charity school for clothing and educating 30 poor boys, a Diocesan 

 school for boys of the upper and middle classes, a National school, a 

 Hchool for 60 girls, which is supported by subscription, and a savings 

 bank. 



Bicester possesses no manufacture" ; the trade carried on is chiefly 

 dependent on agriculture. The town is noted for its ale. The 

 Oxford Canal, which passes near the town, is of considerable 

 advantage to the trade of Bicester, but the chief part of its pr< 

 rises from the fairs and markets held here, which are well attended. 

 Friday is the market-day ; fairs are held on Banter-Friday, the first 

 Friday in June, August 5th, the Friday after Old Michaelmas, and 

 two following Fridays, and the third Friday in December. A wool 

 fair is held in July. 



Bicenter Union workhouse, a spacious brick building capable of 

 accommodating 320 inmates, wu erected in 1836. The parochial 



charities for the benefit of decayed inhabitants, and for the poor 



generally, ore nnmTous. 



BICKNOK. KNtiMSII. [OLorcESTERSHlBZ.] 



H1DASOA. or VIDASDA. [NAVARBA.l 



BIDOri.l'H. [SrArtoHhsiiiRE.] 



BIDEFiiKI), Devonshire, a borough, market-town, port, and seat 

 of a Poor-Law Union, in the parish of Bideford and hundred of 

 Shebbcor, is situated on both sides of the river Torridge i 

 fluence with the Taw, in 51" 1' N. lat, 4 13' W. long. It 

 N.W. by W. from Exeter, 201 miles W. by S. fmni l...nd.m: the 

 population of Bideford parish and borough in 1851 was 5775. The 

 town is governed by four aldermen and twelve councillors, 

 whom is mayor. The living is a rectory in the archdeaconry of 

 staple and diocese of Exeter. Bideford Poor-Law Union contains 18 

 parishes and townships, with an area of 78,150 acres, and a 

 population in 1851 of 19,487. 



Bideford, sometimes, but erroneously, spelt Biddeford, derives its 

 name from its local position, being situated near an ancient ford, ' by 

 the ford. 1 At the Conquest it was bestowed on Richard de Qranvi'lr, 

 a Norman nobleman, by William I. Camdcn mention.* nidi-ford 

 place of little consequence in his time, and Leland only i 

 bridge, which he calls a " notable work, fairly walled on each 

 In 1573 Queen Elizabeth granted the town a charter, making it a free 

 borough. This charter was enlarged and continued by James I., in 

 the seventh and sixteenth years of his reign. Bideford got excused 

 from the burden of sending members to Parliament as a very great 

 favour, through the interest at court of the Granville family. The 

 inhabitants of this place were active in the civil wars of ('ii 

 Two forts were erected, one on each side of the river Torridge, so as 

 to command the river and the town ; and another was built at Apple- 

 dore, which effectually commands the entrance of the rivers To. 

 and Taw. These forts, as well as the towns of Bideford and 

 Barnstaple, surrendered to the Royalists on September '2nd, 1 >;!:'.. 

 Some remains of the fort on the right bank of the river still 

 They ore situated on the top of the hill, and are known as Chudlcigh 

 Fort, so called after the commander of the parliamentary forces by 

 whom the fortifications were built. In 1(!80 Bideford was visited by 

 the plague, which swept oft" a great number of its inhabit 



The larger portion of the town is on the left bank of the river, and 

 stands at a considerable elevation. A handsome bridge of twenty-four 

 arches, 677 feet in length, unites the two parts of the town. The 

 bridge is endowed with certain lands for its repair. The annual 

 revenue from the bridge endowment is from 300{. to 4(101. The 

 trustees are a corporation and have a common Heal. A hall was 

 built for their use in 1758. The bridge is used by the inhabit. 

 Bideford as their principal promenade: it is in many rejects well 

 adapted for such a purpose, the surrounding scenery and the view on 

 the river especially at high water being of an interesting character. 

 The position of the town is highly favourable to the health of its 

 inhabitants, as it affords facilities for good drainage and for k 



eoto clean. The town is well paved and is lighted with gas ; 

 and it has a plentiful supply of water. There is a fine quay 1 '.: 

 in length. 



The church, dedicated to St Mary, is supposed to have been built 

 about the 14th century. Externally the edifice does no 

 very attractive appearance ; the interior contains several 

 monuments and has a handsomely carved stone screen betwi < 

 chancel and the south aisle. It Will accommodate about - 

 The tower has six bells. There are places of worship in Hid. -ton! for 

 Independents, Baptist*, Wesleyan and Primitive Met!, 

 Bible Christians. There are in the town National, I!riti.-h, and Infant 

 schools. The Free Grammar school is of ancient date. It has an 

 income from endowment of OS/, a year with a house, and had 51 

 scholars in 1851, of whom 6 were free. The school is under the care 

 of a head master and three other teachers. The M -ho M! -house was 

 rebuilt in 1657, and a new front was added in 1780. Tli.-i. 

 Commercial school, at which a certain number of boys arc educated 

 at the expense of the bridge trustees. An hospital was built in tin- 

 old town for twelve poor families, pursuant to the will of Mr. Henry 

 Amory, who died in 1663. In 1810 Mrs. Margaret Newcouim. 

 a considerable fund for poor Dissenters in this and the adjoining 

 pui ben. Mr. John Stnuif- f..;m.i-'d four ahathoOSei in ICI'l. 

 There are a literary and scientific institution, a subscription reading- 

 room, with a billiard-room attached, and a dispensary lately established, 

 \\lnch is supported by voluntary contribu 



Bideford was a town of considerable importance at a very early 

 date. Silk-weaving was introduced in 1650, and after the revocation 

 of the edict of Nantes in 1685 many French Protestants settled in 

 the town, and established cotton and silk manufactures. In Charles 

 I.'s time large quantities of wool were imported from Spain, and 

 considerable commerce was carried on with Holland, K ranee, and the 

 Mediterranean. The foreign trade now carried on from lii.l. -ford is 

 not of large amount The exports are oak-bark, which is shipped in 

 considerable quantities to Scotland and Ireland ; earthenware, tiles, &c., 

 to Wales, Guernsey, and Jersey; and linen and woollen goods, cordage, 

 iron, naval stores, provisions, &c., to the North American colonies. 

 Worn is largely exported to the metropolis and to the ports along the 

 coast Bideford is advantageously situated for the shipping trade, 



