Kinwarton (St. Mary)

KINWARTON (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Alcester, Alcester division of the hundred of Barlichway, S. division of the county of Warwick, 1 mile (N. E.) from Alcester; containing 67 inhabitants. This parish, which comprises about 450 acres, is situated on the road from Alcester to Henley, and bounded on the south-east by the river Arrow. The name is supposed to be that of a Saxon possessor. The manor was granted to Evesham Abbey on its foundation in the year 714; and the monks held a court leet here, and had divers other privileges from the time of Edward I. In the 32nd of Henry VIII., Kinwarton was granted to Anthony Skinner, of London, from whose grandson it was purchased by Sir Fulke Greville and Lord Brooke. The living is a rectory, with the livings of Great Alne and Weethley annexed, valued in the king's books at £7. 11. 0½., and in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester. The tithes were commuted for land on the inclosure of the parish; the glebe comprises altogether 120 acres, and, with the glebes of Alne and Weethley, is valued at about £440 per annum, net. The church is an ancient structure, in the early English style.