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Shorwell (St. Peter)

SHORWELL (St. Peter), a parish, in the liberty of West Medina, Isle of Wight division of the county of Southampton, 5 miles (S. W. by S.) from Newport; containing 714 inhabitants. This place was anciently an appendage of the priory of Carisbrooke, from which it was separated in the reign of Edward III., and made a distinct parish. The land, though partly consisting of down, is rich; and the scenery truly picturesque. The village is pleasant: near it is the handsome mansion of Northcourt, erected in the reign of James I., and beautifully situated in a well-wooded demesne, in which is a spring of pure water, whence the parish takes its name. The living comprises a sinecure rectory, valued in the king's books at £20. 0. 2½., and in the patronage of Lady Mildmay; and a discharged vicarage, united to the rectory of Mottiston, and valued at £17. 16. 0½. The tithes of Shorwell have been commuted for £192 payable to the vicar, £468 payable to the sinecure rector, and £288 to certain impropriators; the vicar has a glebe of two acres, and the rector one of three acres. The church, erected in 1526, is a neat structure, and contains some monuments to the Leigh family and others.

Transcribed from A Topographical Dictionary of England, by Samuel Lewis, seventh edition, published 1858.

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