Lodsworth

LODSWORTH is a parish and liberty, with the hamlet of LICKFOLD, in the Western division of the county, county Court district of Petworth, Chichester rape, diocese and archdeaconry, hundred of Easebourne, rural deanery and union of Midhurst, situate halfway. between Midhurst and Petworth 3½ miles from each of these towns. The manor is described in ancient records as a liberty, having the benefit of certain exemptions, granted to the Bishop of London, who at one time was lord of the manor: it was granted by Henty VIll. to Sir Anthony Browne, and thus became part of Cowdry. The church of St.Peter, an ancient edifice, consists of nave, chancel, two side aisles, north and south transepts, and square tower containing 3 bells, and has been completely restored. The register commences in 1563. The living is a perpetual curacy, value £56 per annum, with residence, in the gift of the Earl of Egmont, and held by the Rev. Leopold S. Clarke, B.C.L, of New College, Oxford. Here is a neat substantial National school for boys and girls. The Earl of Egmont is lord of the manor and impropriator of the tithes. The parish is about 8 miles long, and extends over 1,805 acres, and had in 1861 a population of 629. [Kelly's Post Office Directory of Essex, Herts, Middlesex, Kent, Surrey and Sussex, 1867.]