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Orleton, Herefordshire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

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The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland - 1868

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer (1868)]
"ORLETON, a parish in the hundred of Wolphy, county Hereford, 5 miles S.W. of Ludlow, and 1½ mile from Woofferton, its railway station. The village, which is small, is situated on a branch of the river Teme, and near the Leominster canal. Orleton is a petty sessions town, and was formerly held by the Mortimers, and subsequently belonged to Blount the antiquary. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The land is partly in hop grounds. The soil consists of clay and sand, with a subsoil of rock and sand of a singular nature. Many of the houses are of ancient date. The "Churn" landslip is in this parish, also the hamlet of Comberton. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent charge of £145 14s., and the vicarial for £129 9s.

The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Hereford, value £166, in the patronage of the Governors of Lucton School. The church is of great antiquity, and has a tower crowned with an oak-shingled spire, and containing three bells. The church has an ancient font, a piscina, two chests hewn out of the solid oak, portions of several stained windows, and monuments to the Blount family. The churchyard contains an old cross. The parochial charities produce about £5 12s. per annum. There is a National school for both sexes, in which a Sunday-school is also held. It was erected, with a master's residence, in 1855, at an outlay of £1,000. The Wesleyans and Primitive Methodists have each a place of worship. Orleton Court is an ancient building. W. Blount, Esq., is lord of the manor. A large cattle fair is held on the 23rd of April, and is celebrated for its best bred "Herefords"."

"COMBERTON, a hamlet in the parish of Orleton and hundred of Wolphy, in the county of Hereford, 5 miles N. of Leominster."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]