Croscombe (St. Mary)

CROSCOMBE (St. Mary), a parish, and formerly a market-town, in the union of Shepton-Mallet, hundred of Whitestone, E. division of Somerset, 3 miles (S. E.) from Wells; containing 804 inhabitants. The parish comprises by admeasurement 1436 acres, and is watered by a small river, which in its course turns several mills, whereof two are for grinding corn, one for winding silk, and another used as a stocking manufactory. A market was granted by Edward I.; it has been long discontinued, but there is a fair on Lady-day. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at £12. 6. 10½., and in the patronage of five Trustees: the tithes have been commuted for £200, and the glebe comprises 15 acres, with a glebe-house. The church is beautifully situated, and is a handsome edifice in the later English style, having a tower surmounted by a good spire; the pews are of carved oak. There is a place of worship for Particular Baptists, near which stands an ancient cross, fourteen feet high. In the vicinity are to be seen vestiges of a Roman encampment, called Masbury Castle.