The Environs of Bath. 189 



Langridge. 4 miles N.E. — This village lies on the 

 eastern ridge of the Lansdown hill. It is in the hundred 

 of Bathforum, and appears in Domesday under the name of 

 " Lancheris" which Dr. Stukely suggests, may be derived 

 from the Roman road which passes westward of it, but it 

 seems more probable that the situation of the place on a 

 long ridge of hills gave rise to the name. It was formerly 

 the property of the Bishop of Coutance, but in the early 

 part of the fourteenth century Adam le Walish was found 

 by inquisition to be the owner of the Manor and Advowson 

 of the Church, which continued in the possession of his 

 family for several generations, probably till about the end 

 of the fifteenth century. Many members of this family re- 

 sided in the old manor house, and were buried in the 

 Church. From the Walish's the manor passed to a gentle- 

 man of the name of Walrond, in whose family it continued 

 for some generations till the early part of the eighteenth 

 century, when it was sold to William Blathwayte, Esq., of 

 Dyrham, a member of whose family still owns it. The old 

 manor house was built by one of the Walishes, but very 

 little of the original building is left. The Church, dedicated 

 to St. Mary Magdalene is very small, consisting of nave, 

 apsidal chancel, tower and south porch. The inner door- 

 way is Norman, and on the right hand side is a stoup for 

 holy water. The chancel arch, which is also Norman and 

 only seven feet wide, was a few years ago obliged to be 

 partially taken down in consequence of its insecure state, but 

 all the old materials were worked up again, and a careful 

 restoration effected. Above the arch is an old piece of 

 sculpture which is supposed to represent either the two first 

 persons in the Trinity, or the Virgin with the Saviour in her 

 lap. The Church was restored in 1870, when the old 



