BEOLEY, a parish in the upper division of the
hundred of PERSHORE, county of WORCESTER,, 7
miles (E. byS.) from Bromsgrove, containing 640 inhabitants.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry
and diocese of Worcester, rated in the king's books at
£7- 16. 10., and in the patronage of W. Holmes, Esq.
The church is dedicated to St. Leonard. Here are some
remains of an ancient castle, which belonged successively
to the noble families of Mortimer, Beauchamp,
and Holland. In the reign of Charles I. the manor was
the property of Ralph Sheldon., a distinguished royalist,
whose mansion was burnt, to prevent its falling into the
possession of the parliamentarians.