ATHERSTON on the STOUR, (Warwickshire) so called, from its situation on that r. a little before it falls into the Avon,
and to distinguish it from the former; lies on the b. of Leicestershire, 103 m. from London, and is a pretty large, well
built T. with a chapel of ease, a ch. s. for girls, who are taught to sew, and spin linen and jersey, and Fairs, Mar. 27,
July 27, Sept. 8, and Dec. 4. of which that in Sept. is the greatest cheese Fair in England, and the factors buy up vast
quantities to carry to Stourbrige Fair, which begins about the same time, but holds much longer. Mt. on Tu. Here was
formerly a mon. of Mendicant friars, the only one they had in this Co. built upon 12 acres of land, given by Ralph, Ld.
Basset of Drayton. K. Hen. VIII. gave it to Henry Cartwright,and his heirs, but he sold it to one Mr. Hill, and he to the
above mentioned Sir John Repington. K. Hen. III. granted the manor to Godfrey Craucumbe, for his life, but the reversion
to Jeffery de Langley, whose family enjoyed it many descents, 'till it passed, by marriage of the heiress, to John
Clarelke, who conveyed it to Richard Empson, so infamous in the R. of Hen. VII. From him it came to Thomas Merton, Esq;
who, in the R. of Hen. VIII. passed it to Thomas Hanks, in whose family it continued, 'till the R. of Q. Eliz. when John
Hanks left a daughter, who carried it, by marriage, to Ralph Sidcote, Esq; after which, we do not find how it passed, only
that from the Ref. the Turners family had the Advowson of the Ch. to 1622.