KIRBY (MONKS), a parish in the Kirby division of the hundred of KNIGHTLOW, county of WARWICK, 7 miles (N. N.W.) from Rugby, containing, with the chapelry of Copston-Magna, and the hamlets of Easenhall, Paitton, and Stretton under Foss with Newbold- Revel, 1659 inhabitants. The living is a discharged vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Coventry, and diocese of Lichfield and Coventry, rated in the king's books at £22. 9. 7., and in the patronage of the Master and Fellows of Trinity College, Cambridge. The church is dedicated to St. Edith. There is a place of worship for Baptists. Dugdale fixes here the town of Cyrcbirig, built by Ethelfreda, Countess of Mercia; but Gibson places it at Chirbury in Shropshire, on the frontier of the ancient kingdom of Mercia. A priory of Benedictine monks, a cell to the ahbey of Angiers in Normandy, was founded here about 1077, by Gosfred de Wirchia, the possessions of which, after its suppression, were annexed to the Carthusian priory of Axholme, and valued at £220. 3. 4. per annum.