186 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



At BILBROOK, iu the parishes of Codsall and Tettenhall, Mr, J. 

 Egintou has lately erected a handsome house, and introduced upon 

 his estate all the improvements of modern agriculture. 



Oaken, a hamlet in this parish, contains two elegant mansions, 

 occupied respectively by the Dowager Lacjy Wrottesley and Chris- 

 topher Wood, Esq. 



Codsall-wood is an extensive waste adjoining Chillington-park- 

 wall and Shropshire. Near Codsall-wood is a remarkable sulphur 

 or brimstone well, which springs up through the hollow stump 

 of a tree, and runs down the road, leaving a yellowness on the moss 

 resembling flour of brimstone : in warm dry weather it emits a sul- 

 phureous exhalation. It is reckoned salutary in scorbutic cases. 



OVER PENN, a pleasant village, two miles south of Wolverhamp- 

 ton, commands some extensive prospects of the surrounding country. 

 The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, is a vicarage in the 

 patronage of the Bishop of Lichfield : it was repaired in 1765, when 

 the tower, of brick, was erected. Here is a charity-school for the 

 poor children of Penn, founded by the Rev. Charles Wynn, vicar of 

 this place in 1714 ; ajid alms-houses for five poor persons, endowed 

 by Mrs. Ann Sedgwick, 1761. The Marquis of Stafford is lord of 

 the manor. South of this village, is The Lloyd's (in old deeds 

 Luyd and Lyde), the property and residence of R. B. Marsh, Esq. 

 Nether Penn comprehends the west side of the parish, which ex- 

 tends to Trescote-grange. Finchfield, and Castlecroft on the 

 Canal, are also included in this parish : the former is the property 

 of the Pershouse family, and the latter has been purchased by Mr. 

 Joseph Tarratt, of Wolverhampton. The Bates, of Penn and the 

 Leasowes, possess considerable property in this parish, mostly in 

 their own occupation. Here is Muckall Hall, the property and resi- 

 dence of Wm. Thacker, Esq. with that of Mr. Burne, and several 

 other respectable occupants. The modern system of farming is 

 attended to, and the neighbourhood is in an improving state. 



WOMBOURNE is an ancient village, in a low and recluse situa- 

 tion, four miles from Wolverhampton : Dr. Wilkes derives its ety- 

 mology from Won and Bourne, and thinks that a victory was ob- 

 tained over the Danes on the adjacent common, from the lows still 

 remaining there. The manor was purchased by the Wrottesley 

 family in the reign of Charles the First, and has lineally descended 

 to its present representative. The church is a vicarage, dedicated 

 to St. Benedict : the presentation has lain dormant since the death 

 of the last vicar, the Rev. Joseph Honeybourn, in 1760. It is an 



