OAK 
teh belonged to the lords Tattefhal, 7 fee: king 
Richar advanced Edward, fon of the of York, 
sa fhoe from his orfe, to be nailed to the caftle- wall, 
fhould he Sate to give it, the bailiff of the lordfhip is 
it by force. ‘This due is now nie 
that from the hor fe’s foot. Several horfe. — "gle and of 
curious workmanfhip, in confequence ap caftle 
hall door, fome of them of sonfiderable ofa and 
others of recent donation This cuitom fesms to have been 
alti from the circ mie of the arms of the original 
owners of the caftle bearing ne horfe-fhoes 
The hall of this cies is now appropriated as a court-rooms 
in w ja - affizes are held, and all ie public bufinefs of 
7 come is neae eee. According to the par- 
fiaiacheaty returns of 1811, the conjuné population of the 
two manors or parifhes, with the {mall townfhips of Barley- 
thorpe and Leighfields, in the fuburbs, was eftimated at 
1709 perfons, and the houfes at 367 in number. 
Burleigh houfe, the feat of the earl of Winchelfea, is 
fituated about two miles to the north-eaft of 
, the ding pire point of the county, a 
ong for and north fronts oe 196 
feet in ane ee thofe bene Ge eaft and weft 96 feet, 
each fubtending fide refembling its oppofite, both i in elevation 
ng an 
me lodges i 
hand- 
e court 18 entere 
called the aes which is no le{s admired for supe ee 
and fine proportion than for its paintings, which reprefent 
the hiftory and wars of Julius Cafar. Thefe were executed 
by eae pupil of Verrio, who painted many rooms 
and det ched pictures at Burgley, near Stamford. The li- 
brary here is very extenfive, and contains, befides a valuable 
Y 
many valuable family 
iftory and Antiquities of a 
ae Lond. 1684, folio. Camden 
oli 
HAM, a woh of America, in Worcefter county, 
Maffachotste I a s N.W. of Worcefter, incorporated 
in I ile ne cntag “gor eerie 
ham, or Oakum, in the Sea Language, de- 
notes re matter of old te meee: and pulled out again 
OAK 
into loofe hemp, like hurds of flax, to be ufed in the cauk- 
ips. 
OAKHAMP 
ket-town in the hun 
continue 
Courtenays till the time . Edw 
ment to = canfe of Henry VI. vendered them the objeés 
’s rancour : at Thomas was beheaded at Ponte- 
fraG, ae the battle of Towton-field in the year 14615 his 
brother John fell in the field of baad heir pof- 
feffions were confifcated to the cro and Oakhampton 
caftle was conftituted a royal fortrels, bal Henry VII. re- 
with t eir other honours 
caftle became the property of 
m oes defcended to Chriftopher 
Harris, efq. of Heynes. The ruins of the caftle are para 
about one mile fouth-weft et the town, on a high ma 
their Hire, an 
and important. 
large conical elevation, which is oppofed on 
of the ftream by a fteep wooded bank. The river Oke 
meanders through the valley, oul runs immediately beneath 
the ruined wa 
e pari carck like the pai is fituated on an emi- 
nence at fome diitance from the t In the market place 
is an old sae oan the only building within the town 
wort 
Oa Champto ton, though a town before the Conqueft, was 
not incorporated till the reign of James I., by whole charter 
the civil government is vefted in a mayor, eight aldermen, 
eizht common-councilmen, a recorder, and a town-clerk. 
Previous to this charter, the chief officer was the portreeve ; 
an office now held by the fea for the time being, whereby 
the feudal and corporate powers are united in the fame 
perfon. The earliett an to parliament for this borough 
was made in the twenty-eighth year of Edward I.; it was 
again reprefented in the feventh of Edward II. It then 
ceafed to fend members “ill the year oe whe 
vilege was raed 3; and two members hav 
$ gularly chofen. The right of ele¢tion is in nie freeholders 
and freemen; the number of Hine aa about 180. The 
eanulnest of the sa arith in the year 1811, as ftated in the 
parliamentary ra ey; 14 
ou o 
