HAGLEY, a parish in the lower division of the
hundred of HALFSHIRE, county of WORCESTER, 2 miles
(S.) from Stourbridge, containing 595 inhabitants. The
living is a rectory, in the archdeaconry and diocese of
Worcester, rated in the king's books at £10. 6. 5.,
and in the patronage of Lord Lyttelton. The church,
dedicated to St. John the Baptist, has been lately enlarged
by the addition of one hundred and ninety-four
sittings, one hundred and thirty-four of which are free,
the Incorporated Society for the building and enlargement
of churches and chapels having granted £100
towards defraying the expense: it is beautifully situated
in the park of the Lyttelton estate. In 1754, the chancel
was rebuilt of freestone by the first Lord Lyttelton, and
decorated with an east window of rich painted glass.
Among the monuments to different members of th
Lytteltpn family, it contains a particularly chaste one
to the memory of Lucy, wife of George, the first Lord
Lyttelton; his lordship, an elegant historian, poet, and
miscellaneous writer, was born at this place, Hagley
hall and park, the delightful residence and property of
this noble family, have been celebrated by the muse of
Pope, and have elicited deserved eulogy from the pens'
of numerous tourists and historical writers. The "village
contains some genteel dwelling-houses, and several
highly respectable families reside in the vicinity. There
is a Sunday school for boys and girls, supported by
Lord Lyttleton. On Witchbury hill is a large Roman
encampment.