1809.] 
the’ village makes the necessaries of life 
moderate; the fertility and dryness of 
its situation renders it very healthy; the 
-roads are likewise particularly clean and 
pleasant. 
* « Temington Priors takes its name 
from its situation on the south side of the 
river Leame. In the Conquerors time 
Earl Roger held it to the extent thereof, 
being certified at two hides, which were 
valued at 41. having two mills rated at 
245s. , 
“ The church, dedicated to all Saints, 
was originally but a chapel belonging to 
Wooton, being therewith confrmed to 
the canons of Kenilworth, by Ric. Peche, 
Bishop of Coventry, in Henry the Se- 
cond’s days, and appropriated to them 
by G: Muschamp, his successor, in King 
John’s time, 1291. 19 Edw. I. it was 
valued at six marks over and above a 
pension of 20s. then issuing out of the 
abby of Malinsbury, and the vicarage at 
20s. But in 26 Henry 8th. the same 
was valued at 6l. 10s. the pension at 
83s. 4d. added by the canons of Kenil- 
worth computed. j 
«* All that is further observable touch- 
ing this place, is that nigh to the east 
end of the church, is a spring of salt wa- 
ter (not above a stone’s throw trom the 
river Leame) whereof the’ inhabitants 
make use for seasoning of meat.” 
** Newbold Comyn. This place (the 
original occasion of whose name is dis- 
covered by the latter syllable beld, which 
in the Saxon language signifieth house) 
is one of those depopulated villages 
whereof John Rous” (an antiquarian and 
some time chantry-priest at Guy’s Cliffe) 
** complayned, and lyeth on the north 
side of Leame. In Edward Confessor’s 
time it was the inheritance of one 
Vieucine, who gave it to the Abby of 
Malmsbury at such time as he was shorn 
‘amonk in that monastery; and, by the 
Cong. Survey is certified .to contain 
3 hides, at which time there was a mill 
yielding 8s, per ann. the value of the 
whole being 50s. But it was not long 
after the Norman conquest that the 
Monks of Malmsbury enfeoft one Radul-: 
phus Vicecomes in this their land at 
Newbold; which Ralph had issue, Wi- 
bert, and he a son cailed Anselme, who 
left one only daughter, sc. Joan, within 
age at her father’s decease, and in ward 
to the Abbott, by whom she was given in 
marriage to Elias Comyn. From which 
“Elias and Joan descended these Comyns, 
* See Warren’s Edit. of Dugdale, 1636 
Monrnty Mac. No, 185, 
Account of Lemington Priory. 447 
who had their seat here, and for distinc- 
tion from other Newbolds gave the addi- 
tion of their own name to this place.” 
“In31 Henry Tif. upon difference that 
grew betwixt John Comyn and Geffry de 
Simely, Lord of Radford, touching liberty 
of fishing in the river Leame, they came 
to an agreement that the said John 
should fish as far as his own land ex- 
tended.” 
Such was the state in former times of 
these two villages, which constitute one 
parish, or constablewick ; the river, which 
rises in this county, divides their dis- 
tricts, washing the banks from an eastern 
to a western direction; a handsome 
stone bridge of three arches has lately 
been erected, which holds a communi- 
cation between the two villages, and 
from whence proceeds a road leading to 
this city, &c, Last summer, a new salt- 
spring (the first of the kind, I suppose) 
was opened on the Newbold side, at 
about the distance of twenty yards from 
the river aud bridge, to which baths and 
proper conveniences will be made for 
using the Spa water. A new town i$ 
likewise building on this side for accom- 
modation, which is marked out on an ex= 
tensive scale;—the first stone was laid 
on Tuesday, 20th September, 1808, 
by John ‘Tomes, esq. the second by 
the Rev. James Wailhouse; the third 
by Mr. B. Satchweil. Here there is a 
wonderful instance of the mutability of 
human affairs. ,To the tumultuous throng 
which once inhabited this village had 
succeeded the solitude of death; Jast 
year it was a pasture field which bloomed 
with verdure; again a village in opulence 
and magnitude is rising: but reflecting 
that if this very place did once exhibit 
this aninated picture; who can assure 
me, that it will not be again desolated, 
and that another individual like our 
countryman Rous will not sit down amid 
silent ruins, and lament a people inurned, 
and their greatness changed into an emp- 
ty name? : ome 
The first spring in freehold ground on 
the Lemington side was originally sought 
for by Mr. William Abbots, deceased, 
on the 14th January, 1786, who- irame- 
diately erected a new set of hot and 
cold baths, being the first of the kind 
ever made here, and from the period 
which Dugdale wrote till then, I believe, 
it had remained much the same; so that 
from the exertions of the above individual, 
whe lived to see his benevolent inten- . 
tions usefully and generally adopted, this 
place may be said to hay¢ taken its rise. 
4N His 
\ 
_— ar 
ole ae ee 
