Chap. 7.] PARISH OF RIBCHESTER. 157 



eleyclogh in the west, ' et a proximo sicho ' on the north, to the oak 

 ' cruce signatuin ' on the south, and three acres of wood to assart ' inter 

 Lavedileye et Godericheclogh.' "—(Whit. WhaUor, II., 460.) 



"In time of John of Gaunt, William de Button grants lands to 

 William Moton and others. In 3 Edw. III. (1329), Ealph de Clayton 

 holds lands and tenements. In 1373, H. de Clayton re-grants the 

 Manor of Button to Eichard de Townley, in whose family it remained 

 until the death of Henry Townley, about the middle of the eighteenth 

 century." 



In 1337, Br. Whittaker says, Henry de Cliderhow was Lord of the 

 Manor of Eibchester. 



" In 1353, the Motons were Lords of Eibchester. By a deed, with- 

 out date, William, son of Walter Mutun, of Eibelcestre, confirms to 

 God and St. Mary, and to the hospital of St. Saviour under Langrig, 

 and to the master and bretheren there serving God, aU the land which 

 Walter, his father, gave to the hospital in poor and perpetual alms in 

 the town of Eibelcestre. The deed is signed by Adam de Blakeburn, 

 Sir John, his son, William de Samlesbury, Eichard de Alveton, Adam 

 de Horton, Thomas de Hunderesall, and others."— (Whitt. WhaUey, 



II., 468.) 



^ Hen. IV., 1406-7. 



" Katharine, wife of William Linehalls, lady of the Manor of Eib- 

 chester, founded a charity in the Chantry, and vested certain trust 

 lands, ' Cttidam Capellano divina qmtidie celehraturo in qimdam capella 

 constriwta in parte horeali ecdesice de RiMiester, pro salute Regis Henrici et 

 Rieardi EogMon, militis, patre et matre, etc.,' "—(Whitt. WhaUey, EC., 



460.) 



In 1447, Eichard de Hoghton was Lord of the Manor, in whose 

 family it remained until 1594., when Sir Eichard Sherburne became 

 Lord of the Manor. Then it passed into the hands of the Duchess of 

 Norfolk, and Cardinal ^Veld, by the latter of whom it was sold to 

 the late Mr. Fenton, whose son, James Fenton, Esq.. J.P., Button 

 Manor, is now the Lord of the Manor. 



Mr. W. Dobson says :— " There is little in the aspect of the village 

 of Eibchester to arrest the attention of the visitor. The Eibble flows 

 by it ; but though there are some exquisite patches of river scenery 



