254 A TOPOGRAPHICAL 



The Church is a vicarage, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, in the 

 patronage of the Dean of Lichlield. The Rev. Baptist Prohy is 

 the present vicar. The edifice is ancient and large, built of stone, 

 with a tower and lofty spire of the same material. From its ele- 

 vated situation it is a picturesque object, distinctly visible at the 

 distance of several miles. A new organ was erected and opened 

 on the Wake Sunday, Sept. 24, 1815. 



An excellent Free Grammar School was founded at Breewood, 

 by Dr. Matthew Knightley, and endowed with lands to the value 

 of c60. per annum. The Rev. Mr. Kempson, and the Rev. Mat- 

 thew Kemsey, are now the masters, and receive a limited number 

 of pupils as boarders. Some eminent men have been educated at 

 this school, particularly the late Bishop Kurd, preceptor to the 

 Prince Regent. 



The principal manufacture carried on at Breewood, is Joseph 

 Brewster's fixed and portable thrashing machines, kibbling mills, 

 and straw engines. 



Chillington is the largest estate in the parish of Breewood, and 

 includes the south and west part. It is the property of Thomas 

 Giffard, Esq. The mansion and offices are extensive ; and the 

 gardens, pleasure-grounds, and plantations, are laid out with great 

 taste, and much improved by the present owner. This estate con- 

 tains several villages and farm-houses, besides Chillington ; particu- 

 larly Gunston, Long Birch, the Hattons, White and Black Ladies, 

 and the Hyde. The Giffard family has large estates in other 

 parts of this county, but their religious tenets have kept them 

 from public employments. Mr. Giffard, of Chillington, is, how- 

 ever, a gentleman of liberal principles, and is married to a Protes- 

 tant lady, by whom he has a large family. His tenantry are 

 mostly Roman Catholics, who are accommodated with chapels on 

 his estate at Long Birch and Black Ladies. 



Somerford is another large estate in the parish of Breewood, in- 

 cluding the manor of Coven, Breewood Hall, Engleton Hall, Four 

 Ashes, and Somerford Hall. The present possessor and resident, 

 the Hon. Edward Monckton, is third son to Viscount Galway in 

 Ireland ; he has much improved this estate, and Somerford Hall 

 is now an elegant mansion, in a pleasant situation on the eastern 

 bank of the Penk. The estate was nearly stripped of all its tim- 

 ber by the former owners, but Mr. Monckton has improved its ge- 

 neral appearance by extensive plantations. The population o 



