23$ A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



the eastern bank of the river, several barren hills rise in frowning 

 majesty, bidding defiance to the skilful hand of the cultivator, the 

 fertilizing dews, the showers, and sunshine. 



This parish, exclusive of Okeover, which has been correctly 

 estimated before, contains 26 houses, 26 families ; 83 males, 94 

 females : total of inhabitants, 177. 



The village of Ham contains about eight or ten houses, including 

 the stately mansion of Jesse Russell, Esq. situated on a gentle emi- 

 nence, with two verdant terraces, and a pleasant lawn, in front, ter- 

 minated by the church-yard. Behind the house, on the s.w. bank 

 of the Manifold, a flourishing wood of oak, elm, ash, &c. rises 

 along the side of the hill, and spreads to a considerable extent, in 

 form of an amphitheatre, and above it the ground gradually rises 

 in a cultivated eminence to a great height, terminated by a cop- 

 pice, which is a conspicuous and pleasing object, and may be seen 

 for several miles. The river falls in two natural cascades near the 

 mansion, and their regular and constant sound, has a tendency to 

 tranquillize the mind. Eastward of the church, which is itself a 

 most interesting object, the village appears peeping amid the em- 

 bowering trees ; the white house of the vicar is most conspicuous; 

 while beyond it rise two barren hills or mounts, with the grey 

 rocks above the surface, which seem to forbid cultivation. 



The Church is a small but very beautiful Gothic edifice of stone, 

 vsituated about two hundred yards in front of the principal man- 

 sion. The date of its erection, as marked over the entrance, is 

 1618. The tower is of stone, with four pinnacles, a vane, and 

 battlements. Two of the pinnacles, and almost the whole of the 

 tower, to the ground, is covered with flourishing ivy in full ver- 

 dure, which has a most picturesque and pleasing effect. Part of 

 the west end, and of the body of the church, is also overgrown 

 with ivy. The interior is plain, and the pews of oak; but there 

 are several monuments in the chancel, particulary some tombs of 

 the descendants of Oliver Cromwell, who lived at Throwley Hall, 

 in this parish. 



The following inscription on a tomb-stone in the church-yard is 

 worth notice : 



" RICHARD ENSOR, A. M. formerly of Magdalen College, Cambridge, was 

 instituted vicar of this church, Anno Dora. 1669, departed this life, Nov. 6, 

 1714, aged 79. And on his right hand lies HANNAH, his wife, who died Dec. 

 29lh, 1740, aged 95." 



