chauntry chapel, and on the south side the chancel three arches formerly used for confession. The north aisle extends the whole lengh of the chancel.

HOUGHTON-PARVA.

Houghton-Parva, or Little Houghton, is about one mile from the former place. It is bounded on the east by Brayfield, on the north by the river Nine, and on the west and south by HoughtonMagna and Brayfield.

In this parish, on the bank of the river, is Clifford-hill. It is of a circular form, encompassed with a wide and deep ditch, and resembles the muniment, at Towcester, named Bury-hill, but is much larger. Around the top of it was formerly, as is reported, a mound of earth, which was pared off by William Ward, Esq. with a design to use it as a bowling-green. It is supposed to have been raised as a specula or watch-hill, for observing the motions of the enemy on the other side the Nine; or, perhaps, as a fortress to guard the ford, by which they usually passed the river in that part of it. There was formerly a ford below the hill, in that part of the river where it is divided into two streams; but it became unfrequented, and at length lost, upon the building

of Billing-bridge. There is also a hill now named the Cliff, not far from Brayfield, which possibly lay in or near the road that led down to the ford, from whence it took the name of Clifford. But, notwithstanding its present name, the Roman coins which have been found in paring off the hill, and in the neighbourhood, shew this to have been a Roman work. Amongst other remains of antiquity, in the north part of a furlong, called Tenyards, lying about two furlongs distant from the hill, Mr. Ward's servant, in 1717, cast up in ploughing, a gold medal, of Augustus, with a remarkable inscription. This hill overlooks and commands the country to a great distance on all sides, except towards the south, where other high hills interj

rpose.

The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, consists of a body, south aisle, and chancel, leaded. At the west end is an antique embattled tower, in which are five bells. The tower is ornamented with several arches, supported with small pillars. The upper end of the aisle is parted off from the rest, and is called the vicar's chancel. It appears to be the chapel which the Lord of the manor had appropriated to the use of himself and his family.

Here is a school founded by one of the family of

Ward, for teaching eight boys of this parish, and four from Great-Houghton. The master's salary is the interest of two hundred pounds.

KELMARSH

Is a small village, between Northampton and Market-Harborough; bounded on the east by Harrington, on the north by Oxendon, by Clipston on the west, and on the south by Maid well. In this parish is Kelmarsh Hall, the seat of William Hanbury, Esq. M. P. It is a large mansion, consisting of a body and two wings, connected by offices. The pleasure grounds are pleasingly diversified with the contrasting effects of wood and water; and the house contains a very fine collection of paintings and pictures.

The church, dedicated to St. Dennis, consists of a body, north aisle, and chancel, leaded; with a square tower at the west end, containing four bells; on which is a pyramidal spire. It contains some fine old monuments to the memory of the Hanbury family.

KINGSTHORPE.

Kingsthorpe, in Doomsday-book named simply Thorp, is a large pleasant village, about one mile

north of Northampton, on the road to Leicester. It is bounded on the east by Moulton, on the north by Boughton, by the river Nine on the west, and on the south by Northampton. In the hollow way between the village and Northampton, is a rivulet which, from some neighbouring inclosures, is called Wall-bank; near which are nine springs, including that which feeds the rivulet, which lie in a row within half a mile, upon the side of the hill. In the town is a fine spring, named King's-well.

In this village is a very pleasant mansion, now occupied by Lady Cave.

The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, consists of a body, north and south aisles, and chancel leaded; with a chauntry chapel at the east end of each aisle. At the west end is a spire, raised on an embattled tower, in which are five bells. The church and chancel are neatly pewed, the former with oak, at the expense of the late Lady Pritchard; who also new roofed the church, and repaired the lead-work. The church itself is a chapel (but enjoying all parochial rites) belonging to St. Peter's in Northampton; and therefore in all taxations is rated with that church, and has always had the same incumbents. In 1671, Mrs. Mary Reynolds, widow

of the Bishop of Norwich, gave five pieces of plate, to be used at the celebration of the Holy Communion.

In this church was formerly a chauntry, founded in the eleventh year of Edward IV, by John Bacon, and from him called Bacon's chauntry, to the intent that a priest might sing for ever at our Lady's altar.

There are also some curious old monuments erected to the memory of different families; and various sums of money have been left by individuals, to the poor of this parish.

At a small distance from the town, on the east side of the road which leads from Northampton, formerly stood an hospital, which was called the hospital of the Holy Trinity. It was founded in the year 1200, the second of King John, at the request of Peter the son of Adam de Northampton, and Henry the son of Peter, rector of Kingsthorpe, with the consent of the prior and convent of St. Andrew, in Northampton, who were at that tim impropriators of the parish, and gave the house and ground belonging to it. It consisted principally of one large body, containing three rows of beds, for the use of the poor, the sick and the stranger; with two chapels adjoining. It was under the direction of one master, procurator, or prior, and two chaplains, unless one of these chaplains was

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