THE LIBRARY OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES THE HISTOR Y OF THE COUNTY OF GILOUCESTJEH BROUGHT DOWN TO THE YEAR 1803. VOL. II. A PROVINCIAL TOKK xs PI 2 JIMpM /Jr- it,, KJiUr < Tkr tltftarr at Oloarrftfrikiir.rovprrfmlJM-' JZ WCJ f ' fc.r~A.lfc4..- <;A. r THE HISTORY OF THE COUNTY OF GLOUCESTER; COMPRESSED, AND BROUGHT DOWN TO THE YEAR 1803. IN TWO VOLUMES. VOL. II. BY THE REV. THOMAS RUDGE, B. D. RECTOR OF SAINT MICHAEL, IN GLOUCESTER. Nee mihi vitio vertas, si res, quas ex lectione varia mutuabor, ipsis saepe verbis, quibus ab ipsis auctoribus enarratx sunt, explicabo, quia praesens opus, non eloquentix ostentatio- ncm, sed nosceudorum congeriem pollicetur. MACROBIUS, SJTURN. Lib. i. c. 1. GLOUCESTER : PRINTED FOR THE AUTHOR, BY G. F. HARRIS, HERALD NEWSPAPER OFFICE; AKD SOLD BY LONGMAN AND K.EES, LONDON; WASHBOURN, HOUGH, AND ROBERTS, GLOUCESTER; AND ALL OTHER BOOKSELLERS. 1803. THE DA v. HISTORY OF THE COUNTY FOREST DIVISION. 'T'HIS division contains six hundreds, four market-towns, -* 55 parishes, besides hamlets, 6050 inhabited houses, 6521 families, 274 uninhabited houses, 15,672 males, 15,221 females, 9975 persons chiefly employed in agricul- ture, 5052 in trade, 6Cc, 15,866 not comprized in the two last classes, 30,893 total. I. BOTLOE HUNDRED, Contains the following parishes: 191 Bromsborow 192 Dymock 193 Kempley 194 NEWENT, market town 195 Oxenhall VOL. II. B 196 Pauntley 197 Rudford 198 Tainton 199 Upleaden 1011 The History of the County of Gloucester. II. DUTCHY OF LANCASTER. 200 Bully 201 Huntley 202 Longhopc 205 Blaisdon 206 Churcham 207 NEWNHAM, m. t. ,203 Minstenvorth 204 Tibberton III. WESTBURY. 208 Tidenham 209 Westbury 210 Woolaston 211 Abbenhall 212 Bicknor, English 213 DEAN, MITCHEL, m.t. 214 Dean, Little 215 Flaxley 216 Hewelsfield IV. St. BRIAVELS. 217 Lea 218 Newland, with COLT- FORD, m. t. 219 Ruerdean 220 St. Briavels 221 Staunton V. BLIDESLOW. 222 Awre J 223 Alvington | 224 Lidney VI. DUDSTON and KING's BARTON. Upper Part. 231 North Hamlets 232 Norton 233 Sandhurst 234 Shurdington, Great 235 Witcomb, Great 225 T&dgworth 226 Barnwood 227 Brockworth 228 Churchdown 229 Down-Hatherley 230 Lassington 236 Barton Hamlets 237 Brookthrop 238 Elmore 239 Hascomb 240 Hempstead Middle Part. 241 Matson 242 Pitchcomb 243 South Hamlets 244 Upton St. Leonards 245 Whaddon The History of the County of Gloucester.- 3 Lower Part. 246 Hartpury | 247 Maisemore | 248 Preston The following places are either members of aggregate hamlets in the same, or of parishes in different, hundreds. The figures prefixed mark to which they respectively belong: 206 High Leaden 228 Hucklecot 231 Wotton 206 Highnam 231 Longford 206 Linton, and Over 243 Littleworth 231 Kingsholm 244 Prinknash 243 Tuffley 231 Twig worth Woolstrop is a portion of Queclgeley (180). At the time of the conquest, WESTBERIE, WESTBE- RIES, part of LEDENEI, and TEDENHAM, were included in the modern hundreds of ST. BRIAVELS and WEST- BURY. BLITESLAU, BLIDESLAWE, and part of LEDENEI, in BLIDESLOW. BOTELAU, part of WESTBERIE, in BOTLOE and the DUTCHY OF LANCASTER. DUDESTAN, DUNESTAN, LANGEBRIGE, ToLANGEBRI- CES, in DUDSTON and KING'S-BARTON. 2 The History of the County of Gloucester. FOREST DIVISION. FOREST OF DEAN. THE most conspicuous feature in this division is the FOREST of DEAN, situate in the western part of the county, between the rivers Severn and Wye. The name has been variously defined. Camden and Atkyns derive it from the Gaulish and British word Arden, by removing the first syllable. A very extensive forest in Germany was so called before the time of Caesar, and is so at the present period. The Latin writers, among whom is Gi- raldtis, called it, Danica Sylva, Danubia, or Dane's Wood, from the traditional account of that people having shel- tere4 themselves in it. Others derive it from the dens, or small vallies, which abound in the forest. No history or record mentions the origin of any of the forests belonging to the crown, (the New Forest, in Hamp- shire excepted,) which, though made by William the Conqueror, is called by Manwood, " the newest forest in all England." The bounds of many of the forests were enlarged by Henry II. , Richard I. , and John ; but they were reduced to their ancient limits in the reign of Edw. I. agreeably to the provisions of the Charta de Foresta ; and, in order to ascertain those limits, perambulations were then made, and afterwards confirmed by Parlia- forest Division. Forest of Dean. 5 merit. In the tenth year of Charles I. at a justice seat held at Gloucester castle, the ancient and legal bounds were settled, according to the perambulations made 12 Hen. III. and 10 Edw. I.; and within these bounds are contained 23,015 acres belonging to the crown, exclusive of a tract of land called Abbott's Wood, containing 872 acres, which was granted in fee, 42 Hen. II. to the con- vent of Flaxley, and at the dissolution, 36 Henry VIII. granted to Sir Anthony Kingston and his heirs, from whom, by purchase and inheritance, it has descended, with the manor of Flaxley, to Sir Thos. Crawley Boevey, Bart. The original grant reserved the herbage for the King's deer and wild beasts; with all mines and quarries, giving power to the grantee to inclose one-tenth part thereof, and to hold the same inclosed, against all ani- mals, except the King's deer and other wild or venary beasts, leaving nine parts always open. In consequence of public commotions, the grants of weak or improvident Princes, the neglect or abuses of of- ficers, and the unlawful encroachmants of others, great waste and devastations have been committed at various pe- riods. In no instance perhaps was greater mischief done than by Sir John Wintour, to whom a grant was made by Charles I. of all the King's coppices and waste soil of the forest, (except the Lea Bayley ) with all mines and quarries, in consideration of 10,6007. and a fee farm rent of 1950/. 1 2s. 8d. for ever. At this time, within the limits of the forest so granted, there were growing 105,557 trees, con- taining 61,928 tons of timber, 153,209 cords of wood. The full extent of the mischief likely to be occasioned by this grant was prevented by the civil war, which put an end to this patent. Eighteen thousand acres were in- tended to be inclosed, but the inclosures which bad been B 3 6 'The History of the County Qf Gloucester. made were now thrown down, and the whole rc-afforested. On the restoration of monarchy Sir John's grant was re- vived ; but on the representation of the neighbouring in- habitants to government, of the injury they and the public were likely to sustain, a commission was issued for the purpose of enquiring into the state of the forest; and upon an accurate survey there were found 25,929 oaks, and 4204 beeches, containing 121,572 cords of wood, and 11,335 tons of ship timber fit for the navy. On return of this commission, a new grant was made to the nominees of Sir John Wintour, of all the above mentioned trees, except the 11,335 tons of ship timber. Five hundred cut- ters of wood were immediately employed, and so rapid and alarming was the devastation, that an order of Parlia- ment was made to put a itop to any further felling of tim- ber or cutting of wood. The parliament, however, being prorogued before a bill could be passed, Sir John was left at full liberty to continue cutting, so that on a new survey in 1667 it was found, that of the 30,133 trees only 200 re- mained; and of the 11,335 tons of ship timber reserved, not more than 1100 tons had been delivered, and there would be a deficiency of 1 or 8000 tons. To repair these mischiefs, by an act of 20 Charles II. 1 1 ,000 acres were in- closed, planted, and carefully protected ; and it is chiefly in the parts at that time inclosed, that the timber with which the dock-yards have since been furnished from this forest, has been felled, and in which any considerable quantity of useful timber is now to be found. Another cause of considerable mischief was, the in- croachments and intrusions of the free-miners and others; therefore during the usurpation, Cromwell expelled nearly 400 cabins of beggarly people, living upon the waste, and destroying the wood and timber. In 1680, about thirty Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 7 cabins had been again erected, which were demolished, with the inclosures about them. Sir Robert Atkyns ob- serves, that in his time the six lodges built for the keep- ers were the only houses within the forest, and that all the cottages were pulled down. These attentions and re- gulations seemed to have produced many beneficial effects, and it is probable that, by the ^eal and co-operation of the crown officers, surveyors, and other subordinate agents, the forest was in its best state about this time. From the relaxation, however, of the legal government of the forest, and the neglect of those to whom the care of this valuable property was entrusted, abuses gradually crept in, and have been suffered to increase to such a height as sufficiently accounts for the wasted and unprofit- able condition to which it is now reduced. In 1714 it was computed, that there were 27,302 loads fit for the navy, and 16,851 of about sixty years growth, besides 20,066 loads of dotard l and decaying. In. 1783 it was computed, on a fresh survey, that there were 90,382 oak trees, con- taining 95,043 loads, and 17,982 beech trees, computed at 16,492 loads; and in 1788 the timber growing in the forest was nearly as follows : 24,000 oak trees, measuring on an average a load and a quarter each, girt measure ; 22,000 about half a load each, besides unsound trees, which were numerous, and a considerable quantity of fine large beech, and young growing trees in various parts. The persons employed in the last survey observed, that if the survey of 1783 were accurately taken, an immense quantity of timber must have been, in one way or other, taken down since that period. The ravages, indeed, of the timber stealers are very great. In seven years, Tho- mas Blunt, Esq. with the assistance of the keepers, brought to conviction 247 persons of this description B4 8 The History of the County of Gloucester. The principal stock of young timber from which any expectation can be formed at present, is in the Lea Bally, and Liningwoods, which in general are well planted and preserved ; but it is apprehended that of the inclo- sures which have been made within the last 35 years, of upwards of 2800 acres, only 323 will produce any great advantage from the almost total demolition of the fences. In the Buckholt inclosure, made about 100 years since, are some fine large oak, and young beech in abundance. The general demand of timber for the use of the navy of England is said to be 25,000 loads yearly ; of which 2000 only are supplied from all the King's forests. The forest of Dean furnishes about half of the 2000, while the remainder ismade up from Dantzic, in plank about 1 000, and 21,000 purchased from individuals. It has been stated by surveyors that the forest is capable of furnishing an annual supply of 1500 loads for 70 years in constant succession from the present stock, (1788), and by proper manage- ment, and regular inclosures it may be made perpetual. From 1761 to 1786, (both inclusive) the total quantity ttrtd value of timber felled for the use of the navy was as follows: Loads. . 3. d. Total quantity of oak - - - 16,573 30,814 14 4 Ditto beech - - - 871 908 13 7 Cords. Total quantity of cordwood - 22,430 6,953 7 1 Stakes sold in 1786 - - - 12 3 10$ Tons. Total quantity of Bark - - 1,510 2,650 1 5 41,339 3$ Expences of viewing, felling, wages, poundage, allowances, &c. immedi- diately connected with the timber - - 13,619 13 7$ Balance of navy timber account - .27,719 6 8f Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 9 This balance divided by the number of years in the sta- ted period, produces an annual profit to the crown of near- ly 1066, and the annual quantity of oak timber supplied in the same period was about 631 loads, bearing little less than a fortieth proportion to the quantity regularly requir- ed for the use of the navy. It is obvious, therefore, what dependance is to placed on this resource for the support of our naval armament, without some vigorous means being adopted for the planting and protecting nurseries for tim- ber. It has however been stated by the surveyors, that the forest of Dean may be made a very valuable nursery of timber for the navy, and productive of a considerable revenue. The soil is unquestionably in a high degree fa- vourable to the production of oak, but unremitted care and attention are necessary on the parts of those who are intrusted \vith the superintendance of this great nationaJ concern. THE PRESENT STATE OF THE FOREST. The forest is divided into six walks, called by the seve- ral names of the Speech-house walk, Ruerdean walk, Wor- cester walk, Latimer walk, Blakeney walk, and Park-end walk; which are under the care of six keepers, each of whom has a lodge and other buildings, and from 30 to acres of land, inclosed from the forest. In the three first of these walks the whole of the lands belong to the crown; in the three last upwards of 1185 acres are claimed by in- dividuals as freehold. These in general are encroachments made at different times, and now not easily to be reclaimed. In 1712 there was not one cottage in the forest ; there are now 696, and 1798 patches or small inclosures of land, con- taining about 1385 acres, which are occupied by 3325 inhabitants. It is not perhaps easy to calculate the injury JO The History of the County of Gloucester. which arises from* this circumstance: but it is worthy of be- ing remembered, that in 1300, during the extraordinary scarcity and clearness of provisions, these numerous in- truders, having from their settlement in an extra parochial district, no legal demand of relief, were assisted by the crown, at the expence of 1000 pounds. RIGHTS AND CLAIMS. The 11,000 acres which M'ere inclosed 20 Cha. II. are freed and discharged from all rights of common whatever. In the remaining quantity of 12,888 acres, the crown has different interests ; in 10,816 it has the property of the soil, and of all the wood and timber, with a power to in- close any part thereof for the growth of timber, on throw- ing open an equal quantity of the original inclosure. In Abbot's wood, the herbage and mines are reserved to the crown; and in a detached part of the forest called Hud- nalls, containing 1025 acres, the privilege of taking, cut- ting, and enjoying the wood growing thereon, is reserved to the inhabitants of St. Briavels. On the whole of the uninclosed, the neighbouring parishes liave a right of com- mon from May 4, to June 20, and from July 20, to No- vember 22. The first interval is the Fence or Fawning month, and during the winter Haining, no animal, ex- cept 800 deer, which the crown has a right at all times to keep, ought to abide in the forest. The crown may grant leases on the uninclosed part, but the right has not been exercised during the last cen- tury, and no lease now exists. DEER. It appears that the usual annual demand for deer on ac- count of the crown, is four bucks and four does, but it Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 1 1 frequently happens, that the number is not completed, and the warrants are sent back unexecuted, in conse- quence of the scarcity of these animals. COAL. The free miners and colliers claim a right not only to dig for coal and ore, with the consent of the gaveller, but to be supplied with wood and timber for their works ; and on an average of seven years, 1478 trees are annually de- livered to them. In 1788 there were one hundred and twenty one coal-pits, (thirty one of which were not work- ed;) in these were employed 662 men, who are free- miners. The quantity of coal raised was about 94,432 tons in the year, which are conveyed to the lower parts of the county on the east side of the Severn, Monmouth- shire, and Herefordshire. There are three sorts of coal, which at the pit were at that time delivered at the follow- ing prices : house-coal at about 4-?. per ton : smith's-coai at about 35. 6d. and lime-coal at about 2s. but the prices now are greater 2 . The miners, generally speaking, gain little more than a mere subsistence from their labours : to this circum- stance, and perhaps a jealous anxiety about their rights, it is owing that the usual methods adopted in collie- ries, of drawing off the water by steam and other engines, are not introduced here. Hence new mines are frequently opened, as they cannot pursue the old ones to any consi- derable depth, on account of the water. IRON. In 1188 there were eight mines of iron, in which were employed twenty men. The following sorts of iron-ore are found here ; 1 2 The History of the County of Gloucester. Minera fcrri chjystallizata, of a cbrystalline form, not much attracted by the magnet. Minera ftrri nigricans, magneli arnica, called by the miners brush ore. The colour is dark, and the forms are infinitely various, striated, radiated, and tesserated or broken into dice, very strongly attracted by the magnet. The pipe ore is a collection of small cylindrical columns, standing close together, and issuing at one end from a lump of the same kind of matter, occasioned, it is sup- posed, by the metal falling like icicles in a state of fusion from the mass to which the pipes are affixed. There is another rich and valuable ore, being a fine dark-coloured gravel, when washed by the rains, which is known by the name of smithy ore among the miners. This probably received its name from the smith works, as they are called, in the code of Forest Laws. The men who were employed in working them were called smith men, or smitliy men; and the masters, smith holders. CINDERS. The CINDERS, which have been found in different parts of the county, and particularly about the forest of Dean, are the scoria of iron, so are the shining glass-like cin- drrs of which great heaps, or mounts are to be seen at every iron furnace now in use, as well as the sites of those which arc gone to decay. These are called scruff; the former liaving been called cinders before any of the latter were seen. Scniff' is the scoria which rises upon the sur- face of the metal by the present mode of melting the ore in large furnaces : but the cinders were produced by the works of the ancients, before the use of the furnace was known. The scruff is a mere scoria, generally destitute of metal, and consisting of a vitreous substance, more or Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 1 3 less mixed witli the impurities carried off with it in its fluid state. The best is used as an ingredient in the ma- nufacture of common green glass ; for which purpose it is picked out, and reduced to a fine powder, by large stamping engines ; after which the lighter substances arc washed away by a stream of water. Sometimes among the scruff, during the process of stamping, are found con- siderable quantities of granulated iron and ragged lumps, which are called shot and scap iron. These are separated by the stampers and carried to the forges, to be worked up with the pig-iron. But the cinders are very different; being not at all vitreous, nor having any transparency like the scruff, but ponderous and opaque, containing a large quantity of iron ; and hence, since the modern improvements, were for some time used as a principal material in working the furnaces of this country. There is no doubt but that these cinders were left by the works called blomaries, or blomary forges. The pro- cess in this was very tedious and elaborate. The bellows were only such as could be blown by the strength of man, and the hammers no other than sledges worked by men's arms, for it is known that the beds of cinders are generally found in places where no stream of water could ever be led to turn a wheel; and the large quantity of iron found in them shews that the blast was not strong enough to ex- tract from the ores more than a small proportion of metal. The work of the present finery forges, which perform the first operation of the pig-iron after it comes from the fur- naces, appears to bear some resemblance to that of the b/omaries; only that the bellows and hammers being dri- ven by water, are larger and more powerful ; and that 1 t The History of the County of Gloucester. these bring the pis iron into a state of malleability, as the others did the o/Y 3 . To what acra these blomary cinders belong is a question of some curiosity. Casar says, that the Britons had iron when he was here, and brass, but the latter was imported. The iron they must have made themselves, and this they could not do without leaving scoria, or refuse. Hence it may be con- cluded, that they have been laid here from the earliest ages, and before the time of Caesar. That considerable quantities were afterwards deposited by the Romans is as- certained by coins, fibulae, and other things known to be in use with that people, having been frequently found among the cinders 4 . It is possible that some of the cinders might be made by the Danes, during the short time they were in this coun- try. Both they and the Saxons had too much use for iron and steel not to take advantage of the mines, which had long since been opened, and the works which had for ages been carried on by their predecessors. As little doubt can there be, that they were continued through a long succes- sion of ages after the conquest. By an inquest of the re- garders of the forest, returned at he justice seat holden as long since as 10 Ed. I. it appears, " that certain wages either in money or iron ore were settled to be paid to the miners, who supplied the King's works with ore." In process of time the King's works were let out to farmers, who paid an annual rent to the crown for them. William Earl of Pembroke, 1602, rented all the ironworks, coal, wood, to make charcoals, &V. in the forest, at the yearly rent of 2 J-33/. 6s. 8d. There is therefore little doubt of the blomaries having existed from the earliest times, when the art of making iron from the ore was first found, to Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 1 5 that period when these works were superseded by others more effectual. At what period the use of furnaces was first known, is our next enquiry. The present method of melting the ore in large furnaces, and running it into massy ingots of pig iron, is a modern improvement, at least not of very remote date. The heaps of scruff which are visible in different parts, point out both the number and situation of the furnaces, which have ever been in this country ; and it is probable, that the first in England were erected in this forest, under the tenancy of the Earl of Pembroke; since it may be presumed, that so large a sum as 2433/. 6s. Sd. (which in 1612 was a prodi- gious yearly rent for an individual to pay,) could only be undertaken to be paid, from the inducement of the most sanguine expectations, raised by an extraordinary turn in a trade unknown and unthought of in former ages. lu 1613 an information was filed in the Exchequer, on the be- half of the said Earl, against several miners, for digging and carrying away the several materials recited in the lease, to other works ; and an order of Court was made, that, in consideration of his Majesty's farmer of the iron- works not being furnished with matter to keep the forges at work, if the ore and cinders should be carried away, therefore the parties, and others accustomed to dig, Kc. should of charity and grace, &V. be permitted to continue digging and getting the said ore and cinders, so that they carry, or cause the same to be carried, to his Majesty's iron works and forges. Cinders, it is well known, have never been made use of as a material for any other iron works besides furnaces. The word furnace is not indeed mentioned in that record ; but in the early days of these works, as is the case now with persons little conversant 16 The History of the County of Gloucester. with iron works, the necessary distinction might not be observed between furnaces and forges 5 . The ancient works or blomarics, have in early records the name of forgii, or forgite errantes, from their capa- bility of removal from one situation to another. In P. Nicholas's taxation, they are mentioned under the name of molendin* filer 1 : Two were in the forest at that time, belonging to the abbey of Flaxley, and the Prior of Lanthony. " Bona temporal. Abbis de Flaxl" In Grang. ju.it a Abbiam unum molend\ foler\ ibidem per annum \QS. Od. " Prior de Lenton. juxta Glouc. percipit de uno molena? . foler 1 . apud Aylbriton per ami. Ol. los. od." The new names of furnaces and forges, (and sometimes of iron- mills,) distinguished the works, which in their improved state, had so increased the royal income: and that they were furnaces on the same principle as the present, such as are called fineries and chafferies, and all worked by wa- ter, cannot be doubted. In a demise from the crown in 1622 to Harris and Cha- loner, " all the ironworks, with the furnaces, forges, &V." are recited, and it was agreed, that the miners should furnish them, with ore for the furnaces, at the same prices they were obliged to find them for the King, wheu they were worked on his account. Hence it appears, that furnaces and forges, such as are now used for making iron, though since much altered, and improved, were, in use early in the reign of James I. and that the scoria or cinders, were then employed in working them. It can- not well be supposed that such powerful works were brought *o perfection but by slow degrees, and after some considerable experience. The first projectors could not be aware of the strength required to resist the force of Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 17 these furnace fires, and therefore in the early surveys they are described, as " very much cracked," and ruinous. The works of those days have, indeed, long been silent, and resigned the trade to others better placed and more improved ; and the small mounts of scruif to be seen now at the places where they stood, are a lasting evidence, that they were not going through many reigns. Upon the whole of these facts, it is a fair conjecture, that the first erection of our modern furnaces in England was about the middle or end of the 16th century, or during the reign of Elizabeth, under whom every art and manu- facture was cherished and promoted. It was before observed, that since the modern improve- ments, cinders were for some time used as a principal ma- terial in working the furnaces of this country. For this purpose they differ much in their goodness and value. Some were light and porous, and yielding little iron ; others were heavy, and abounding in metal. Of these latter, some were more brittle, and might be broken into small pieces by a slight blow of the hammer, and consequently more easily brought into fusion ; whereas others, not at all richer in metal, were more obdurate and intractable, requiring a greater strength of fire to melt them. It is observable, that these differences in the banks of cinders are commonly preserved through the whole of each; and that those found in every respective village or place, have a resemblance ; so that whether it be owing to their having been worked from any particular mines, or to any peculiar mode or process in the working of the blomaries, the peculiarity seems to have been preserved through the whole time in which the works were going on at the several places. The best ores which are raised in the forest or its neighbourhood are hard to be worked by VOL, II. C 1 S The History of the County of Gloucester. themselves ; probably owing to the quantities of heteroge- neous matters contained in them. A proportion of other ingredients, exempt from these matters, is required to bring them into perfect fusion ; for without this, the sco- ria, which must be freely separated and drawn off, becomes not sufficiently fluid ; and the labour to the men is thereby rendered extremely hard to keep the furnaces clear. It seems therefore particularly fortunate for the adventurers who first erected iron furnaces, that the^ found upon the spot an ingredient ready prepared in the cinders, dis- charged of all noxious substances, and on that account well fitted to assist in bringing the ores into fusion, and also itself affording a large portion of metal. The great consumption of cinders necessarily produced a gradual scarcity, and suggested the introduction of Lan- cashire ores in their room ; and these are now found so easy of fusion, and productive of metal, as in some furna- ces even to supersede the use of forest ores altogether 6 . REDUCTION OF IRON ORE. The modern form of the furnaces, and the mode of em- ploying them for the reduction of the ores are the follow- ing: " The furnaces are between twenty and thirty feet high, built of a gritty stone found in the forest, capable of enduring a fire intense enough to melt and break down al- most any other material. The shape is that a crucible, or cone inverted, about seven or eight feet in diameter at the top, to which the approach is by a natural or artificial bank. The process is begun by throwing into the furnace some lighted brushwood, then charcoal, with the ore and fluxing matters, which are usually calcareous and argilla- ceous stones, sometimes quartz and flints. These materi- als are thrown in alternately, and the whole covered with \ Forest Division.'- Forest of Dean. 19 charcoal. The blast is made at a hole about three inches diameter towards the bottom, by two large bellows nearly thirty feet long, which are driven by water, and work by alternate movements. At an orifice somewhat lower, the dross, which separates from the metal in fusion, is let out. Quite at the bottom is another opening-, occasionally closed with a plug, through which the metal is let out, upon a bed of sand, to the length of thirty feet, every 21 hours. A large groove is formed on the s.-.nd, which serves to convey the metal to several grooves on each side, smaller and shorter. In the former are cast the sows, and in the latter the pigs of iron ; both which are carried to thejine?y and chafery. On the hearth of the finery is a large charcoal fire, excited by bellows something smaller than those used at the furnaces. The ends of two or three pigs or sows are put into the finery together, where, soft- ening gradually, the metal is stirred and worked till it run into one mass or lump, which they call half 'bloom. This is taken out, and first submitted to the strokes of sledges, then of a large weighty hammer, which is moved by a wa- ter wheel. By this operation it is soon beaten out into a thick, short, square figure. It is then put into the finery again, and worked to the shape of a bar with a square knob at each end. The chafery finishes it into bars of the requir- ed shape and size. It is found by experiment, that the coals of the forest are too much impregnated with sulphur to answer the pur- pose of blowing the furnaces with complete success. In other parts of the island, where the ore is less mixed with noxious substances, coke is made from pitcoal, and thus possessing in a weaker degree the essential principles of charcoal, has been applied with good effect to the fusing of ore. The practice is not altogether unknown in this dis- trict, as atLidney furnace much ore is reduced in this way; 20 The History of the County of Gloucester. but at this and every other place where pitcoal is used, the iron is allowed to be of inferior tenacity and ductility to that manufactured by means of charcoal ; and a propor- tionate value is allowed it ; for when the former is sold for twenty pounds per ton, the latter will produce twenty- four. QUARRIES. Stones of different qualities and for different uses are dug in the forest. Mill stones are found at Stanton, paving stones at Bromley quarry, near Ruerdean hill, and other places, particularly atBlakeney. In colour they are gene- rally of a dark white or reddish brown. Exposed to the air they stand perfectly well, but often scale when used in- ternally for floors and kept in the dry. ROADS. The roads through the forest, and also through part of Awre, for the purpose of conveying his Majesty's timber to the Severn, were formerly repaired at the expence of the crown, but 36 G. III. an Act of Parliament was passed, by which his Majesty was exonerated from all future repairs, on advancing 10,645/. and enabling cer- tain commissioners to make the following roads. One from Mitchel Dean to Colford. A second from Little Dean, by the Speech-house, to the same place. And a third from the extremity of Awre, (which also extends to Pyrton Passage and Gatcomb,) to the same place. These great roads have opened a convenient and highly agree- able communication through a beautiful country to Mon- mouth and South Wales, and relieved the crown from the annual expenditure of nearly 450/. which was no way conducive to the preservation of the forest, nor much to the convenience of the public. Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 2 1 THE GENERAL APPEARANCE Of the Forest is beautiful and picturesque, finely broken with deep vallies and rising grounds. The majestic oak, interspersed with beech, hanging birch trees, hawthorns, hollies, and low wood, adorn the landscape with rich, verdant, and various foliage. Springs issue in copious streams, tinged with the colour of the ochveous beds, through which they pass, and strongly impregnated with iron 7 . One in particular, which rises about a mile west of Gunn's Mills,(211) after having made its way through a small grove, falls into an artificial square bason, five feet deep, with steps leading down to it, and large enough to bathe in. It is called St. Anthony's Well, and has long been famed for the cure of cutaneous disorders. The quantity of water furnished by this spring, is considerable enough to supply the adjoining paper-mills, and the iron- works at Flaxley, a little below, and it is said never to decrease in the driest seasons. The soil of the Forest is various, but generally inclining to a red marl, congenial to the growth of oak, but per- haps less so to that of corn. The styre apple is the boast of this district, from which a cyder is made of great strength, and, in the opinion of some, perceptibly par- taking a chalybeate flavour. OFFICERS OF THE FOREST. LORD WARDEN. The Right Hon. FREDERICK AU- GUSTUS, Earl of Berkeley. This office, and that of Con- stable of the Castle of St. Briavels, are held by patent during the King's pleasure. He appoints six deputies and the keepers; whose conduct he superintends, in re- gard to deer only, but has nothing to do with the timber No salary is annexed to the office. DEPUTY WARDENS. Sir Berkeley William Guise, c 3 22 The History cf the Counly of Gloucester. Bart. Sir T. Crawley Boevcy, Bart. Roynon Jones, Esq. Kdmund Probyn, Esq. JosephPyrke, Esq. ; and the sixth is vacant by the death of the late Maynard Colchester, Esq. This office is held during the pleasure of the Lord War- den, and the duty of the Deputy Wardens is to preside as Judges at the Miner's Court, and the Hundred Court of St. Briavels, for the recovery of debts and other purposes. No salary or fee is annexed to this appointment. VERDERORS. Edmund Probyn, Esq. Roynon Jones, Esq. Joseph Pyrke, Esq. and Sir Berkeley William Guise, Bart. These are chosen for life by the freeholders of the comity at large, and their duty is to preserve the vert and venison of the forest. Each is entitled to a buck and doe in the season. STEWARD OF THE SWANIMOTE AND ATTACHMENT COURTS. John Matthews, Esq. CHIEF FORESTER IN FEE, AND BOW-BEARER. Charles Wyndham, Esq. This office is held by the family of Wyndham by inhe- ritance ; in virtue of which he claims to be entitled to the left shoulder of all bucks and does killed within the forest ; also to ten fee-bucks and ten fee-does annually, to be there killed and taken of his own free will and pleasure, with licence to hawk, hunt, fish, and fowl within the said forest. As Bow-bearer, he is to attend the King with a bow and arrow, and six men cloathed in green, when his Majesty shall be pleased to hunt in the Forest. OTHER FORESTERS IN FEE. Corporation of Gloucester; Jane Clark; T. Foley, Esq.; Heirs of Ralph Colster, Esq.; Heirs of Thomas Williams; Heirs of John Ayres; Heirs of Sir Robert Gunning, Knt.; Heirs of Henry Yearsley. These succeed by inheritance, but no emoluments are annexed to the office. Forest Division. Forest of Dean. 23 WOODWARD of Stanton, Wm. Hall, Lord Vise. Gage. Ditto of Bicknor, the same. Ditto of the Bearse, C. Wyndham, Esq. Ditto of Mitcheldean, Maynard Colchester, Esq. Ditto of the Lea Bay ley, Ditto. Ditto of Blakeney, Sir Thomas Crawley Boevey. Ditto of Ruerdeane, Jane Clarke. Ditto of Abbenhall, Edm. Probyn, Esq. Ditto of the Blyths Bayley, John Beale, Esq. The office of Woodward is to watch and preserve the timber, woods, and underwoods, and to present all of- fences relating thereto at the Forest Courts. They claim lops and tops of all timber and other trees felled within their bailiwicks, also all windfalls and dotard trees within the same, and house-bote for repairing the Woodward'* mansion-house. Six KEEPERS, who live in their lodges in the respective walks. Their duty is to preserve the vert and venison of the forest, for which they receive each a salary of 22/. per annum, with other emoluments, which amount in the whole to more than 800/. or about 135/. to each, besides the lodge, land, and right of common. WATCHMAN and SWORN DEPUTY KEEPER. His duty is to detect wood-stealers, and assist the keepers. He has a salary of 10/. per annum, and a house, but no casual fees or emoluments, except the fine on conviction of of- fenders. SURVEYOR GENERAL. The Right Hon. Sylvester Lord Glenbervie, who was appointed by the King January 5, 1803, on the death of John Robinson, Esq. GAVELLER. George Caesar Hopkinson, Esq. This office is held by letters patent of his Majesty, un- der the title of Keeper of the Gawles above and under c 4 2-t The History of the County of Gloucester. the wood, riding forester, and ale Conner within the Forest of Dean, during the King's pleasure. His duty is to watch the King's rights in the mines of coal and other mines, or the compositions paid in lieu of them. He has no fixed salary, but what arises from fines, fees, or com- positions, which after paying a deputy, amounts to about one hundred pounds a year. REGARDERS. By the old forest laws there should be twelve, but in this forest there is not one. CONSERVATOR. Roynon Jones, Esq. His office is to take care of the waste lands inclosed pur- suant to the statute of 20 Car. II. and of the woods and underwoods there growing. The appointment is in the Lords of the Treasury, with a clear yearly salary of 64/. 1 6s. Of the several officers above enumerated, few can be considered otherwise than as honorary, except the survey- or general, and his six under keepers, to whose hands the whole management of the forest in every particular, ex- cept the mines and coal, has been for many years con- fided. COURTS. There are three courts properly belonging to forests, namely, the Court of Attachments or Woodmote, the Court of Swanimote, and the Justice Seat, or Court of Chief Justice in Eyre. To this forest another court be- longed, called the Mine-law Court, held by the deputy wardens and deputy constables, for the regulation of all matters relating to the mines, and settling disputes and questions between the miners ; but for several years past this court has been discontinued. These courts are generally held at the King's lodge, or Speech-house, situate nearly in the centre of the forest. Forest Division. Botloc Hundred. 25 XVI. BOTLOE HUNDRED. CXCI. BROMSBOROUGH anciently BRUNMEBERGE, Is a parish about eight miles in circumference, contain- ing 1100 acres, and distant 14 miles N. w. from Glou- cester ; at the extremity of the county, and adjoining to Worcestershire. The land in general is a deep red sand, 'better adapted to the production of rye, and the inferior sorts of grain, than wheat or beans. Some rich meadows however are found on the banks of the Glynch, a rivulet which intersects the parish. The soil is also favourable to the production of many fruits, and particularly the Old- bury and other pears. The road from Gloucester to Led bury leads through this parish. The etymology of the name is with great probability supposed to be bryme Sax. famous, and berg, a town, or beorgh, a castle. In Domesday survey, Radulfus de Todeni is the propri- tor of Brunmeberge, in Botelau hundred, containing five hides. In the descendants of this family it probably con- tinued till it passed to the Beauchamps, Earls of Warwick, by marriage with a female of the Todeni's 8 . In the reign of Richard the second, a collateral branch of the family of Bromwiche, of Castle Bromwich, co. Warwick, be- came and continued possessors through several centuries. Early in the last century it passed by purchase from Ed- mund Bromwich, Esq. to John Hyett, Esq. of Gloucester, and soon after, in the same way was transferred to Walter 26 The History qf the CoutUy of Gloucester. Yate, Esq. From him it passed by will, after a beneficial term of BIX years to John Yate, Esq. barrister at law, to John Yate, only son of Charles Yate, Esq. of Arlingham, co. Gloucester. He died unmarried, and the property de- dolved to Robert Dobyns, Esq. the heir general of Wal- ter Yate, Esq. being the grandson of his sister, Catherine Unett. He assumed the name of Yate, and dying in 1765, left two sons and four daughters by his Avife Eliza- beth, daughter of Richard Gorges, of Eye, co. Hereford. Robert Gorges Dobyns Yate, the eldest son succeeded to the manor and estates in this and other places. On his death in 1785, he left two sons and two daughters under age, by his wife Annabella Christiana, only daughter of William Honey wood, Esq. of Maling Abbey, co. Kent, and sister to Sir John Honeywood, Bart. Walter Ho- ney wood Yate, Esq. the eldest son, is now lord of the manor, and proprietor of about half the parish. The family mansion now called Bromsberrow-place, was built on the site of Hooke-house by Robert Dobyns Yate, Esq. and finished in its present elegant style by the late Robert Gorges Dobyns Yate, Esq. GROVE-HOUSE and RUSSELS-END belong to William Brooke, Esq. in whose ancestors they have for many years been vested. BROWNS-END is the property of Mrs. Webb, late of Mrs. Nanfan, relict of John Nanfan, Esq. The HILL, and another estate are the property of Lord Somers. The BROOK-END has long been in the family of Stone, and is now vested in Sam. Stone, Esq. resident in Ireland. WOOD-END is a small hamlet or place in this parish. Seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 80 1 38 235. Houses inhabited, 40. farcsl Division. -Rotloe Hundred. 27 The benefice is a rectory in the Forest deanery. Wal~ ter Honeywood Yate, Esq. is patron, and Henry Gorges Dobyns Yate, LL. D. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient struc- ture, but has been very much modernized by some late re- parations. It consists of a nave only, with a battlement- ed tower at the west end. A burial chapel, adjoining the chancel, and appropriated to the family, was built by Walter Yate, Esq. in 1725. By the care of the present incumbent, some curious painted glass has been preserved and arranged in the windows of this chapel. In P. N. tax. The church of Brymmesbarewe, 10/. In the King's books, ll. 15.v. Of/. CXCII. DIMMOCK, DYMOCK, anciently DIMOCK, Is a parish containing 3500 acres, distant four miles N. from Newent, and twelve N. w. from Gloucester. The *oil is generally of sand, in some places inclining to loam, and applied in about the proportion of a third part to the production of wheat, barley, and peas. Eight hundred acres are in wood, and the rest in pasture, Apple and pear trees are planted in the open fields, and the oak and elm grow in great luxuriance. The small Ryeland sheep are bred here, and it is said, that King Edward selected the sheep which he presented to the Spanish monarch from this parish 9 . The name is derived by Atkyns from the Saxon Dim, dark, and Ac, oak, as giving the character of the place, in ancient days, when it was covered, in a great measure, with trees of that kind. This parish is intersected by the canal that leads to He- 28 Tlic History of the County of Gloucester. reford from Gloucester, and by the Leden in its course to the Severn. The buildings were formerly much more numerous and extensive than at present, as may be inferred from the names of several streets now retained. In the 10th Hen. III. the inhabitants had the privilege of markets and fairs, which are now totally disused. Near the turnpike-road, on the southern borders of the parish, is an elevation called Castle Tump, evidently the work of art. It is said that one of the Bohuns, Earls of Hereford, built a castle here, but of that no vestiges are remaining, and this eminence is too small for a building of that kind. It was probably thrown up during the civil wars, to serve the purpose of an arx ex-ploratoria^ or place of observation ; a provision absolutely necessary in a coun- try so much concealed in wood. Sir John Winter had a garrison here for the King, which, it is not unlikely, misht have been the old moated mansion, on the west O * side of the road, and separated from Castle Tump by not more than two hundred yards. The manor is part of the ancient demesne of the crown, and was held by King Edward before the conquest. It is recorded in Domesday as containing 20 hides, and a wood 3 miles long, and 1 broad. It came afterwards to Earl Wil- liam and his son Roger, on whose death without issue, it came to Roger, Earl of Hereford, who gave the demesne thereof, and half the wood, to the abbey of Flaxley. In 1291, five carucates, with a water-mill, are recorded to have belonged to that abbey. The manor is said to have belonged to the families of Clifford and Grandison. In J454, Sir Walter Devereux, and Elizabeth his wife, claimed four parts of the manor, which were vested in Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 29 1565 in Walter, Viscount Hereford, who left them in settlement to Lettice his widow, afterwards wife of Ro- bert Dudley, Earl of Leicester, whose right was proved in 1581. Giles Forster was proprietor in 1608, and soon after Sir John Winter of Lydney, from whom it was taken by Parliament during the usurpation, and sold to Evan Seys, 1657, and by him resold to Edward Pye, merchant, who left it by will to Edward Pye Chamber- lain, Esq. 1712, and his son transferred the mansion- house called the Boyce, with the manor and estate, to Anne Cam, spinster, by purchase, from whom they passed by will to John Moggridge, Esq. of Bradford, co. Wilts, and from him by gift in his life-time, to his son, John Moggridge, Esq. who resides at the mansion-house, and is lord of the manor of Great Dymock. The customs of this manor, which were enrolled in the reign of Elizabeth, and investigated by a committee of the House of Commons in 1776, are in some respects pe- culiar. Among them are the following : The ancient de- mesne tenants hold to them, and the heirs of their body, with reversion and remainder thereof in fee to the lord. For licence of alienation are paid one years rent, by the name of relief, and 2s. fee to the steward for a copy. In case of any tenant being attainted by law, the lands do not escheat to the lord, nor the King, but descend to the next heir. If a tenant die seized without issue of his body then the lord shall have the land to him and his heirs. The widow is entitled to the third part of her dower, against the heir and the lord. The tenants are bound to do such services in war, as have heretofore been accus- tomed. The parish is divided into five tythings, which are in- 30 Tlte History of the County of Gloucester. eluded in three divisions. I. WOODEND division takes in the tythings of Flaxley and Gamagt-hall. The Boyce, with several other estates, belong to John Moggridge, Esq. The IVhitehouse was the property of George Pritchard, Esq. of Hope-end, nearLedbury, co. Hereford, whose only daughter was the wife of Henry Lambert, Esq. by whom she left one daughter, married to Sir Henry Tempest,Bart. who in her right is now the proprietor of this and various other estates. In this house was born John Kyrle, the MAN OF Ross 10 . The Old Grange was part of the ancient property of the abbey of Flaxley. At the dissolution it was granted to Sir Anthony Kingstone. Thos. Wenman purchased it in 1582, from which family it descended to Wenman Wyn- niatt, Esq. and is now the property of the Rev. Reginald Wynniatt, A. M. (33) who is also lord of the manor of Little Dymock. Gamage hall was anciently held by the families of de Gamage, Pembruge, and Moreton, and was late the pro- perty of Richard Serjeant, Gent. This was the manor house of Little Dymock, from which it was detached early in the last century, by sale, with the reservation of the right of holding courts there. This manor has the same jurisdiction within itself as the greater manor. Other properties of considerable extent have for many generations been vested in the family of Hill, and are now held by different branches of it. 2. RYLAND division includes the tythings of Ryton and O eking ton. John Thackwell, Esq. possesses the Linch y and other es- Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 3 1 tates. He was the surviving residuary legatee of Mrs. Cam, and by that means succeeded to a large property not disposed of in her will. Ketford Farm, with several other estates, belong to W. H. Yate, Esq. (191) Great Lintridge, and another estate called Ketford, are the property of Henry Lambert, Esq. Other proprietors are William Baylis, Esq. John Hart- land, William Brooke, Esq. Kc. 3. LEADINGTON division comprehends that part of the parish which lies on the banks of the Leden. Great Netherton, with other estates to a considerable amount, belong to John Thackwell, Esq. Rowshill, Wincross, and other estates, are the property of the Rev. Reginald Wynniatt. The Green House is the property, and has been the re- sidence of the family of Hankins for many generations. Other competent properties belong to the families of Cole, Hiett, Hodges, Hooper, Kc. This parish is said to have been the birth-place of Roger Dimoc, a learned Dominican, who died 1390; and of Ro- bert Burhill, D. D. in the seveateenth century. Thirty -four freeholders voted in 1116. Population, 1000 1116 1223. The benefice is vicarial, in the Forest deanery. It has received an annual stipend from the impropriator, which has been raised from 40/. to 60/. According to the re- turn of the commissioners appointed to ascertain the first- fruits, the vicar was then entitled to vicarial tythes. It belonged, as appears from P. N. tax. to the priory of Newent, in 1291, and in the reign of Hen. IV. was trans- ferred to the college of Fotheringhay, which Henry ha4 founded. At the dissolution of religious houses, it was 32 Y/ttf llisloiy of the Cuuiiiy qf Gloucester. granted to Sir Richard Leu, at the yearly rent of 40$. The family of Winter held the rectory in the seventeenth century, till it was confiscated by Parliament, amongst other property, and sold to Wycherley and Milward, Sir Orlando Humphreys was afterwards impropriator, and sold it to George Pritchard, Esq. from whom it de- scended, as before, to Sir Henry Tempest, Bart, with the advowson. Part of the tythes have been sold to several of the land- holders by the present impropriator. Evan Evans, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists of a nave, of large dimensions, with a transept, unequal in height, and not opposite. The south side has some Saxon, or early Norman windows, which ascertain its date ; modern improvements having nearly removed all other marks of antiquity. The tower is massive, and supports a spire of obtuse form. In the north transept is an arcade or recess, which once contained an image of the patron saint. In P. N. tax. the church of Dymmock is recorded as belonging to the, prior of Newent, and taxed at 26/. 1 3s. 4d. In the King's books, 9/. 13s. 9d. CXCIII. KEMPLEY, KEMPLEYE, anciently CHENEPELEI, Is a parish containing about 750 acres of stiff red clay and loam, peculiarly fruitful, and applied nearly in equal proportions to pasture and arable. The fields are chiefly planted with fruit trees, at such a distance from each other as not to obstruct the cultivation of corn. The soil being deep, is productive of the oak and elm in great luxuriance. The church is distant fifteen miles N. w. from Gloucester. Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 33 Roger de Laci held Chenepelei of the King at the time of the survey. Henry de Grey, in the reign of Rich. I. and his descendants till 1399. John Abrahall was pro- prietor in 1464, and William Pigot, 1539. Anne, sole heiress of Henry his grandson, carried it by marriage to Henry Finch, of the Winchelsea family, by whose grand- son, John, it was sold to Sir Thomas Howe, Knt. third son of John Howe, Esq. of Compton Abdale, who died without issue. It was afterwards purchased by Reginald Pyndar, Esq. lord of the manor 1711. His son Thomas succeeded, and died 1722. Reginald Pyndar Lygon, Esq. of Maddersfield, co, Worcester, (which latter name he has assumed,) is the present lord of the manor, and proprietor of more than two-thirds of the parish. The manorial house is large, and appears from the date and armorial bearings carved in some of the apartments, to have been built in 1610, by Henry Finch, Esq. The sharp pediments and bay windows mark the style of that age. It is now used as a farm-house. The only estate of consequence, independent of the manor, belongs to Dan. Hulbert, Gent, besides which, other small properties belong to Messrs. Thackwcll, Wil- liams, Cummins, and Wyrmiatt. Lands in this parish were formerly held by lease of the Hospital of St. Bartholomew, in Gloucester, at -a rent of three cranocs (half quarter) of wheat and two quarters of oats. Seven freeholders voted in 1770. Population, 180 257 218. Houses inhabited, 49. The benefice is a vicarage in the Forest deanery, en- dowed with the impropriate tythes of the whole parish, except Prior's Court, which is charged with the repairs of the chancel. It is held under the Hospital of St. Kathe- VOL. ii. n 3 1 The History of the County of Gloucester. rine in Ledbury, and has been from a very early period, as appears from the entry in P. N. tax. " Ecclia de Kcm- pdey tst IlospiC de Led." The Dean and Chapter of He- reford, as trustees of the hospital, are the patrons, and R. D. Squire, A.M. is incumbent. The church is small, having only a nave, divided from the chancel by a heavy arch, with Saxon mouldings, and a door-case in the same style. The spire is low, and co- vered with shingles. Value in P. N. tax. Si. Value in King's books, 5l. 6s. b\d. CXCIV. NEWENT, anciently NOENT, Is a parish and market-town, distant eight miJes N. w. from Gloucester. More than 4000 acres are comprehended within the parochial boundaries, the soil of which is vari- ous. In general it is a light sand inclining to red, better adapted to arable than pasture, of which however there is some of a superior quality, as well as excellent orchard- ing. By Leland and others, the name is said to signify New Inn, being, when the communication was first opened by this way into Wales, a single house. Others were afterwards erected, till it became a IOM n. The Ell, a rivulet, runs through the north part, and drives several mills before it falls into the Leden. Newent appears to have been formerly a place of con- siderable importance, and so large as to have had nine streets and lanes. Ancient writings confirm the account of its having been a borough town, governed by a bailiff. William White is recorded as 1 the last officer, towards the end of the 17th century. A house now dilapidated, re- tains the name of the Boothall ; and Woeful Hill, in the Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 35 hamlet of Bowlesdon, is by tradition said to be the place where criminals were executed. Newent, in its present state, is a small irregular town, with a few good houses, but the greater part are poor and mean. A shorter communication, which is now making by means of a new turnpike road over Gorstley common to Hereford, will' probably much increase its consequence, and add to its improvement. The market is held on Thursday; and four fairs, viz. Wednesday be- fore Easter and Whitsunday, first of August, and Friday after the 8th of September. There was anciently an Alien Priory here. King Wil- liam the Conqueror, at the instance of Roger of Montgo- mery, gave this manor to the abbot and convent of Cor- meile, in Normandy, who thereupon sent over a prior and some Benedictine monks, and it became a coll to that fo- reign monastery. When, during the wars with France, this alien priory was seized by the King, it was farmed at 190 marks a year, and after the suppression of these houses, was granted by Hen. IV. and Hen. V. to the collegiate church of Fodringhey, co. Northampton, and as parcel thereof, 1 Edw. VI. to Sir Richard Lee. It was afterwards sold to Arnold, and next to Sir William Win- tour, from whose descendant it passed by purchase to an ancestor of the present proprietor, the Hon. Andrew Foley, youngest son of the late Thomas Lord Foley, created Baron 1776. In P. N. tax. " Bona temporalia, P*or de Ncwent in Epatu Heref. summa 461. 9s. Old.'" Very little remains of the old building to ascertain ifs site, except a gateway. A person of the name of Home was burnt in the yard D 2 36 Tlie History qf the County of Gloucester, belonging to the priory, for supposed heresy, in the reign of the bigotted Mary. TYTHINGS AND HAMLETS, i. NEWENT. In the town are resident Francis La wson, Esq.; James de Visme, Esq.; John Moggridge, Esq.; (who have considerable estates in other counties,) and other gentlemen of for- tune. Nellfield'sfami is the property of Mr. J. Beale. John Careless, Gent, has an estate in this tything. 2. COMPTON tything takes in Carswall, formerly a dis- tinct manor, belonging to Roger de Laci, and held of him by Odo. It afterwards came to the Pauncefote family, and is now the property of Sir George Pauncefote, Bart, of East-Stoke, co. Nott. ". Compton and Court Orchard, once the property of the Brays, of Barrington, now of Mrs. Jones, (relict of the late Charles Jones, Esq. ) and Edward Bearcroft, Esq. son of the late Edward Bearcroft, Esq. Chief Justice of Ches- ter. He married a sister of Mrs. Jones, and co-heiress of the late Mr. Rogers, of Okie, in this parish, who pur- chased the estate of the Brays. Waters, or Athelord's Place, or the Scar, formerly be- longing to Mr. Dobyns, afterwards to Mr. Sargeant, now to Mr. Hankins. Hays, or Hege, as in Domesday, formerly the property of the Walls, afterwards of Mr. Pritchard, of Hope-end, near Ledbury, now of Sir Henry Tempest, Bart, by mar- riage with his daughter(192). Stardens, annexed, with other considerable estates in this tything, to the manor. Ford-house estate is the property of John Wood, Gent. Waterdine, late the property of John Pitt, Esq. M.P. of Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 37 Gloucester, is now vested in John Wood, Gent, of the Fordhotise, by purchase. Callow-hill belongs to Mr. Woodward. 3. MAULSWICK, contains Okeky Clifford, Okeley Pritch- ard, and Okeley Grandison; Avhich are not always dis- tinguished in the old records. The family of Rogers were proprietors of Okeley Clifford at the beginning of last century, whose representatives, Mrs. Jones and Edw. Bearcroft, Esq. are the present owners of more than half the property of this tything. Wyndhams, with other considerable property, belongs to the Hon. And. Foley. Other proprietors are Miss Chinn, J. Wood, James Cummins, Kc. 4. CUGLEY. A good house and estate, formerly be- longing to the Woodwards, afterwards to the family of Chinn, has lately been sold by Ed. Chinn, Esq. to Fowke, Esq. of Tewkesbury, Other proprietors are, Samuel Draper, Gent. Rev. Wm. Beale, W. Hartland, and James Cummins. Woods of considerable extent in this tything belong to the lord of the manor. 5. BOULESDON gave name to a family, who held it from 1475 for several generations. It belonged to the Porters in 1558, and to the family of Nourse at the beginning of last century, from whom it passed by purchase to Mr. J. Nourse Morse, who is now lord of this manor, and a con- siderable proprietor. Other proprietors are, Grosvenor, Esq.; Wyndham, Esq. Kc, In this tything are two coal-pits, lately sunk at the ex- pence of several subscribers. The depth to the coal is forty-one yards ; the stratum, between four and five feet ; P3 Ss Tlie History of the County of Gloucester. about seven tons a day are brought; up ; and 125. per ton is the price at the mouth of the pit. 6. KILCOT, late the property of Mr. Nourse, now be- longs to Mr. Morse, who holds a court-leet. A chapel, dedicated to St. Hilary, stood formerly on the edge of Gorstley, but no traces of the building now remain ; the scite, however, is recognized under the name of * Saint Ililly's Nap, or Tump.' At YARTLEDON-hill (now called May-hill > on account of the festive games celebrated there on May-day 12 ) is a place called the Glass-house, and many entries appear in the register of persons buried from the Glass-house. Hence an opinion has been taken up, that a glass-manu- factory was once established here ; but it is conceived, without foundation. There does not appear a single ad- vantage arising from the nature of the situation, likely to induce a manufacturer to try the experiment, nor are there any remains of cinders, rubbish, Kc. to give colour to the tradition. In early times, when glass was not common, it might be sufficient to fix the name on the first farm house that happened to enjoy the improvement of glazed windows. Part of Gorstley common is leased out in small inclo- sures, to various tenants, by the lord. The tything contains a great deal of woodland. In this parish was born John Lightfoot, A. M. the cele- brated botanist 13 . One hundred and nine freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 1100 1560 2354. Houses inhabited, 459. The benefice is a vicarage, in the Forest deanery, en- dowed with great tythes. An ancestor of the Foley fa- mily made the grant of all the tythes, except those of forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 39 Yartledon woods. The Hon. Andrew Foley is patron ; and John Foley, A. M. incumbent. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is spacious and handsome, and by the reparations made in 1679, the interior has lost all vestiges of antiquity. The roof of the nave is sustained by screws, there being no pillars ; and over the porch is a lofty steeple, with six bells, and measuring 153 feet from the ground. The top of the spire was blown down in 1662, and the whole roof of the nave fell in, after divine service had been concluded, on Sunday, January 18, 1673. Dr. Crayster, who died vicar of this church 1737, left by will a valuable and extensive library, for the s jle bene- fit of his successors. In P. N. tax. the church of Newent, with the chapel of Panteley, 26/. 13s. 4d. The vicar's portion is not worth 4/. In the King's books (discharged) 23/. CXCV. OXENHALL, EXENHALE, dim HORSENEHAL, Is a parish of moderate size, eleven miles N. w. from Gloucester. The soil is in general a rich sandy loam, in some places inclining to clay. It contains 960 acres of meadow, pasture, and arable, besides 400 acres of wood land. About a moiety of the ploughed land is what is called rye land, and the other part wheat land, or bastard land ; and in all, the apple and pear are planted and grow with great luxuriance. Of timber trees, the elm and the oak thrive abundantly. A stream called Ellbrook, which rises in Herefordshire, runs through this parish, and falls into the Leden, at Leden Court. D4 40 The History of the CoutUy of Gloucester . This manor, of three hides, anciently belonged to Ro- ger de Laci. William de Evers hud charter of free war- ren 1252, and the same family possessed it till 1287. The family of Grandison held it for some years, and the ma- nor came afterwards by marriage to the Earls of Ormond. About 1462, James Earl of Wiltshire was seized of it, and on his attainder, it was granted, with the advowson, to Sir Walter Devereux. The manor again reverted to the crown, and was granted to the Duke of Northumber- land, on whose attainder, it came once more to the crown, and was mortgaged for money borrowed of the citizens of London, 1545. It was the property of Joan, widow of Arrowsmith, and daughter of Thomas Brook, Esq. 1548. William Pigot, Esq. died seized of Oxenhall and Kempley (193), whose grandson Henry left Anne, his only daughter and heiress, married to Henry Finch, Esq. ; who, in her right, was seized of this manor, and at his death, 1631, left an only son, Francis, whose son, by Jane, daughter of Dr. Thornborough, Bishop of Worcester, succeeded to the manor and property. From this family they passed to the Foleys, and the Honorable Andrew Foley is now lord of the manor, and proprietor of the whole parish, except a few small estates belonging to Sir G. Pauncefoot, Mr. Perkins, and Mr. H&>k. More than twenty tons of iron a week are said to have been worked, some years since, at a furnace in this parish, which is now out of blast. Six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 200 202 313. Houses inhabited, 69. The benefice is a vicarage in the Forest deanery. The impropriation formerly belonged to the preceptory of Dinmore, co. Heref. a cell to the priory of St. John of Je- rusalem, " Ecclesia de Exenhale, hospitcr sunt ibi recto Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 41 >w." P. N. tax. The family of Colchester bad been for many years impropriators, but they have lately sold their interest to Samuel Beale, Esq. of Upton-upon-Severn. Ninety acres of glebe belong to the impropriation. The Rev. Thomas Davies is incumbent, who receives 13/. 6s, %d. a year, in lieu of vicarial tythes. The church, dedicated to St. Anne, is small, with a spire at the west end. No value in P. N. tax. In the King's books (dischar- ged) 9/. 12*. 6(1. CXCVI. PAUNTLEY, anciently PANTELIE, Is a small parish, 11 miles N.W. from Gloucester, sepa- rated from Worcestershire on the N. E. by the Leden. The soil, in the elevated parts of the parish, is a red sand, formerly much cultivated with rye, and therefore called rye land. The lower part inclines to clay, and for a simi- lar reason is called wheat land. The remainder, which lies on the Leden, is a red clay, and meadow. The whole parish contains about 1000 acres, five-sixths of which are in tillage, and a considerable quantity in wood. The ploughed fields are generally planted Avith fruit trees. Ansfrid de Cormelus is recorded as holding one hide and a half in Pantelie. Walter de Paunteleye died seized of an estate called Paunteleye, 1248, whose daughter by marriage carried it into the family of Solers, a female de- scendant of whom, Maud de Solers, daughter and heir of John de Solers, Hope, co. Hereford, by marriage brought this estate into the family of de Witington, or de Vytein- ton. The manor appears, by the sheriff's return, 1 281 , to have been in William de Whytington. By the inquisition taken 1311, William, son of the last, was found to be the 4-2 The History of the County of Gloucester. next heir of John, son of Thomas de Solers, then twenty- four years of age, in whom the manor and estates were probably united. The fatnily of Wliittington were pro- prietors from this period till the year 1546. Richard de Whitington, the celebrated Lord Mayor of London, was the younger son of William. His eldest brother Ro- bert was sheriff of the county of Gloucester in 1402 and 1407. Thotnus, the last of the name, died in 1546, and left six daughters coheiresses, Blanch, married to John Saint Aubin ; Anne, married to Brice Berkeley ; Jane', to Roger Bodenham ; Margaret, to Thomas Throgmorton ; Alice, to Nanfant; and Elizabeth, to Sir Giles Pool, of Saperton, to whom four shares of the manor were con- veyed, 1588. Sir Henry Pool, his son, was lord in 1608, and died in 1616. The manor came afterwards to Henry Somerset, Esq. whose son Edward Maria Somerset was lord at the beginning of the last century. It was trans- ferred by purchase from Lady Somerset to Henry Scuda- more, Esq. of Cannon's Bridge, near Hereford, who was succeeded by his son, Henry Blackford Scudamore, Esq. He died and left his shares in this manor and estates to his vidow, Tamor Scudamore, for life, and at her death to be divided among the children. Since his death the whole of the estates has been purchased by Mrs. Scuda- more. In this and some neighbouring parishes, a custom, in- tended to prevent the smut in wheat, in some respects re- sembling the Scotch Beltein, prevails. On the eve of twelfth day all the servants of every particular farmer as- semble together in one of the fields that has been sown with wheat. At the ends of twelve lands they make 12 fires of straw in a row ; around one of which, made larger than the rest, they drink a chearful glass of cider to their Forest Division. Qotloe hundred. 4-3 master's health, success to the future harvest, and then re- turning home, they feast on cakes made of carraways, Kc. soaked in cyder, which they claim as a reward for their past labours in sowing the grain. This seems to resemble a custom of the ancient Danes, Avho, in their addresses to their deities emptied on every invocation a cup, in honor of them. NIORDI et FREI^E memoria poculis recolebatur, annua ut ipsis contingeretfelicitas, frugumyue et rdiquee an- -nona uberrimus pr&ventus. Worm. Monum. Dan. lib. i. p. 28. Other proprietors are the Hon. Andrew Foley, Esq. Sir H. Tempest, Bart. Samuel Beale, Esq. Thomas Wood, Gent. Mr. Hook, MissChinn, and Mrs, Cook. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 11587 215. Houses inhabited, 41. The benefice is a vicarage in Forest deanery, in the pa- tronage of the impropriator ; but ho presentation has been made for several years, on account of the smallness of the income, and the curate has been appointed by the Bishop. In 1292, it was a chapel annexed to Newent, as in P. N. tax. (194). The abbey of Cormeille was possessed of the advowson of the chapel 1 272. On the seizure of alien priories, the rectory and advowson of the vicarage were granted to the college of Fotheringhay, co. Northampton, and after the general suppression were granted to Sir Rd. Lee, 1547. Charles Welch, Esq. of Evesham, co. Wor- cester, is impropriator, who pays 13/. 6s. 8d. to the cu- rate. Thomas Davies, clerk, is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, consists of -a nave and chaneel, with a low embatteled tower. The south door is circular, with chevron and billeted mould- ings. Many of the families of Whittington, Poole, and Pauncefoot, are buried in the chancel. 44 The History qf the County of Gloucester. In the King's books (discharged) clear yearly value of J3/. 6s. Sd. CXCVII. RUDFORD, RODESFORD, anciently RUDEFORD. Is a small parish, containing 600 acres, bounded on the N. by the Lcden, distant four miles w from Gloucester. The soil is a deep red loam, and applied nearly in equa. proportions to arable and pasture. The meadows on the banks of the Leden are fertile, but subject to frequent in- undations. Cyder and perry fruits of excellent quality grow here. The name is generally derived from Rude, Sax. /on/, or the Red Ford, from the color of the soil. Madock was proprietor of Rudeford, containing two hides, under Edward the Confessor and William the Con- queror. William II. gave Rodesford to the abbey of Glou- cester, in the time of abbot Serlo. Winebald de Balun, a great Baron, gave the manor of Rudford to the same church, 1 126 15 . At the dissolution, it was granted to the dean and chapter of Gloucester, 1542. From Mr. Edw. Holder, the former lessee, the estates passed to the Guise family, but the manor was reserved. The estates in lease to Sir B. W. Guise, Bart, compre- hend about two-thirds of Rudford. Other proprietors are Mr. William Holder, John Spiers, and Thomas Matthews. HIGHLEADEN is a hamlet of this parish, but in the hun- dred of Dudstan and King's Barton. More than half the property belongs to Sir William Guise. Other proprietors are the Right Hon. Lord Viscount Southwell, and Robert Canning, Esq. in right of their wives (246), the chapter of Gloucester, Mr. William King, Kc. Forest Division. Botloe Hundred. 4o In digging the canal there were found in this hamlet se- veral human skeletons, supposed to have been buried here in the time of the civil wars. A garrison was placed at Hisfhleaden house, under Colonel Min, on the side of the O ' * King. Corbet, in his History of the Military Government of Gloucester, relates, p. 69, the issue of a skirmish here, as follows: " When we drew thence (from Tainton) our men beheld a faire body of horse at Highleaden, whereon a forlorn hope of our musketeers, with 20 horse, advanced upon them, and found their horse and foot drawn out at Highleaden house. These were to joyn with Colonell Min, who at that instant was marched out of Newent with a purpose to fall on Hartpury garrison. Here at the first some few of our horse gave the charge, hurried the enemy, and beat up their ambuscadoes. Then they drew out their whole garrison, and fell on ; their horse did not stand to it ; but with their foot there was an hot skirmish almost an houre. And though our seconds were slow in comming up, yet did the forlorn hope drive them from hedge to hedge, and after awhile our body comming on, beat them in, and pursued them up to the very house, took some few prisoners, and came off with the losse onlj of two men." Six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 106 106 165. Houses inhabited, 28. The benefice is a rectory in Forest deanery, in the pa- tronage of the chapter of Gloucester, and John Smith, D. D. is incumbent, who is also Master of Pembroke Col- lege, Oxford, and a Prebendary of the cathedral of Xjloucester. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a small building, and consists of a nave only, and chancel, with a low tower at the west end. The whole building, excepting a few 46 The History of the County of Gloucester. pointed arches, of modern introduction, exhibits a fine specimen of the circular Saxon, or early Norman style. The south door is ornamented with the chevron or zig-zag moulding ; and though the four windows of the chancel, as well as the east window, have been altered and reduced in size ; yet the old circular form is still visible. The arch which forms the entrance to the chancel is of the same style, resting on Saxon pilasters, with capitals finished with ziz-zag mouldings. On the side of the al- tar is a niche or cupboard, for holding the materials be- longing thereto 16 . The building seems to have been the work of the 1 2th century, not far distant from the period when the manor was given to the abbey. In P. N. tax. the church of Rodeford, with the chapel of Witledene 17 , 8/. In the King's books, 10/. ( XCVIII. TAINTON, TEYNTON, olim TETINTON, Is a parish of considerable extent, containing 1400 acres, five miles w. from Gloucester. The soil is gene- rally a deep, red, loamy clay, and nearly in equal pro- portions applied to pasture and tillage. Cyder of the first quality, and a perry of peculiar flavour and value, called Tainton Squashy are produced here. The oak also flourishes with great luxuriance. William Goizenboded held Tetinton at the general sur- vey, taxed at five hides. It was granted to Peter Ber- dune, 1201, and John de Abernoox purchased a charter of free warren, 1253. It came afterwards to the Mus- groses, and about 1290, passed into the family of John de Ferrers, Baron of Chartley, by marriage with Hawise, heiress of Robert de Musgrose, (who died 1281,) and wi- forest Division. Botloc Hundred. 47 dow of Sir William Mortimer, younger son of Roger Earl of March. In the family of Ferrers it continued till about 1460, when Anne, the only daughter of the last William Lord Ferrers in that line, carried the title to her husband, Walter Devereux, Esq. but the manor of Tainton being entailed on the male heirs, passed to Edmond Ferrers, brother of William, on whose descendants the whole, or part of the manor, continued till 1483. The Whitting- tons were the next possessors,( 199) and 1547, Thomas Whittington left his estates among his six daughters, but it does not appear to which of them this property came. It is however probable that one of the co-heiresses was married to a Blunt, as Sir Christopher Blunt was possessed of it in 1601, when he was attainted, and beheaded with the other conspirators in the plot of the Earl of Essex. The property being forfeited, was given by James I. to Sir Simon ^Weston and John Wakeman. In 1693, Mr. T. Pury, died lord of this manor and Minsterworth. lie was mayor of Gloucester during the siege in the great rebellion, and took an active part in it. He is acknow- ledged to have been a man of piety and worth, and to have used his influence in performing several very gene- rous acts. It is not improbable, that to his interference was owing the preservation of the cathedral of Gloucester from the outrages of fanatic madness. Mrs. Pury, his daughter and heiress, was proprietor at the beginning of last century. The property is now very much subdivided, and it does not seem to be agreed in whom the manor is vested. The principal estates belong to Ed. Probyn, Esq. Wil- liam Holder, John Holder, and the Rev. Mr. Price. Less considerable proprietors are Messrs. Burgess, Has- kins, Smith ? and others. 48 The History of the County of Gloucester^ LITTLE TAINTON is a hamlet and manor. It was held by William, soaof Norman, at the time of the survey. Hugh de Kelpeck held the manor of the King, by the ser- vice of guarding a Aj/, or wood, near Hereford, at his o\\ n charge. By marriage with Hugh's daughter and co- heiress, Isabel, it came to William Waleran, and was purchased of him by Bogo, or Bevis, sheriff of Salop and Staffordshire, Edw. I. With him it continued till 1339, when it passed to the Verdunes, and afterwards to the Casseys(51 ), of Cassey-Compton, the last of whom died 1596. John Viney, Esq. was lord of the manor at the beginning of last century, and his descendant, James Viney, Esq. is the present proprietor. Other proprietors are John Nourse, Esq. , Mr. T. Per- kins, Kc. Twenty freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 200 250' 378. Houses inhabited, 69. The benefice is a rectory in the Forest deanery. Thr dean and chapter of Gloucester are patrons ; and John Luxmore, D. D. dean of Gloucester, is incumbent. Maud de Teynton gave the church of Teynton to St. Peter's Abbey, to find lights; and Radulph Avenal con- firmed it, likewise giving a hermitage here, with a villein and his family to the same house ; and in the charter of endowments after the dissolution, the patronage of this church was confirmed to the chapter of Gloucester cathe- dral. A portion of tythes, formerly belonging to Kil- peck priory, co. Heref. is held under the same chapter by James Viney, Esq. The old church, which had been built in very ancient times, and stood at the north end of the parish, was, to gether with the parsonage, burnt down in the civil wars. The present church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, was Forest Division Eotloe Hundred. 49 trected during the usurpation of Cromwell, principally by the interest of Thomas Pury. It consists of a nave and a low spiral turret, and is dedicated, like the former, to St. Lawrence. Contrary to general custom, it stands north and south 18 . In P. N. tax. the church of Teintone, 8/. Portion of the sacrist of St. Peter, Glouc. I/. 05. Sd. Portion of the prior of Kilpeck, 165. In the King's books, 9/. 6s. Sd. CXC1X. UPLEADON, anciently LEDENE, Is a small parish, containing about 1000 acres, distant eight miles N. from Gloucester. The soil- is a- red loam, about a third of which is in pasture and meadow, on the banks of the Leden, which bounds it on the east. The ploughed fields are planted with fruit trees, of the choic- est sorts, particularly tbe squash-pear. There were formerly considerable iron forges here, which are now converted into flour mills. St. Peter's Abbey at Gloucester held this manor, con- taining four hides, before the time of the Conqueror, and continued in possession of it till the general suppression. It was then granted to John Arnold, and continued in his family till the beginning of the 17th century, when Do- rothy Arnold, the heiress, carried it by marriage to Sir T. Lucy, of Charlecot, co. Warw. who was lord of the manor 1608. T. Brown, Esq. alderman of Gloucester, was afterwards proprietor. William Dowdeswell, Esq. was the next lessee, of whose representatives it was pur- chased by the Rev. John Foley, rector of Newent, who is now lord of the manor, with a considerable estate. VOL. II. E 50 The History oftltf County qf Gloucester. James De Visme, Esq. is proprietor of an estate con- taining about 200 acres. The Hay estate belongs to the Rev. Mr. Beale, of Eve- sham, about 60 acres. Benjamin Hyett, Esq. has an estate here, of about 80 acres. Drews, containing 100 acres, is the property of Mr. White. Seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 100 80 160. Houses inhabited, 31. The benefice is a curacy in the Forest deanery, held by licence under the Bishop, and augmented with forty- three acres of land. The impropriation, formerly be- longing to the abbey, was granted to the dean and chap- ter cf Gloucester, and is in lease to Rev. John Foley, charged with 14/. 10s. to the curate. Thomas Davies, clerk, is incumbent. The church is small, with a low wooden tower at the west end. On the north side is an elegantly ornamented door-way, of Saxon architecture. Among the temporal possessions of the abbot of Glou- cester, in P. N. tax. is the following entry : " He holds " also, in the manor of Upleden, eight acres of meadow, " valued at Is. 4d. per acre. " The portion of the abbot of Gloucester in the chapel "of Upleden, 2/." forest Division. Dutchy of Lancaster. '>l II. DUTCHY OF LANCASTER. In 50 Ed\v. III. Lancashire was erected into a county J palatine, and John of Gaunt, son of that King, was created Duke of Lancaster. All the estates in Gloucester- shire, that came to him in right of Blanch his wife, daugh- ter of the preceding Duke of Lancaster, were severed from the hundreds to which they formerly belonged, and erected into a new one. When the Duke of Lancaster came to the throne, under the title of Henry the Fourth, the dutchy was extinct in his person, by reason of the union of it with the crown, but he, (suspecting himself to be more rightfully Duke of Lancaster than King of England,) determined to save his right in the dutchy, whatever might befall the kingdom, and therefore separated it from the crown, and settled it so in the natural persons of himself and his heirs, as if he had been no king or politic body at all. In this condi- tion it continued during the reigns of Hen. V. and VI. who descended from him ; but when Edw. IV. had, (by recovery of the crown,) reassumed the right of the house of York, he appropriated that dutchy to the crown again, but suffered the court and officers to remain as he found them ; in which manner it came, together with the crown, to Hen. VII. who, approving of Hen. IV.'s policy, (by whose right he also obtained the kingdom,) made a like separation of the dutchy, and so left it to his posterity, who still enjoy it. All matters appertaining to the dutchy, or county pa- E 2 S3 The History of the County nf Gloucester. latine of Lancaster, are decided in the dutchy court, by a decree of the Chancellor. Tin- principal officers arc, Karl of Liverpool, Chancellor; J. Ord, Ksq. Attoraevpeperal; T. PlniiKT, Esq. King's Serjeant; Lord Bolton, Receiver- General. Persons resident within the dutchy enjoy the peculiar privileges of- being exempt from the payment of toll, ton- nage, pickage, pontage, and other such like duties and demands within the kingdom of Great Britain. To enable them to establish their claim, it is only necessary to pro- duce an annual certificate of their residence within the dutchy, under the hand of the minister of the parish ; but when the residence is changed to a different hundred, the right ceases. This is the case in the county of Glouces- ter, but does not exactly apply in all other places where the custom prevails. A burgess of the town of Monmouth, whether by birth or otherwise, carries the right with him, wherever he resides, and to justify his right to immunity, has only to produce the certificate, or patent of his free- dom, under the se^al of the corporation cf Monmouth. CC. BULLY, BOLAY, anciently BULELEGE, Is a small parish, containing 500 acres, distant w. from Gloucester five miles, bounded on the s. by the turnpike- road leading to the Forest. The soil is a deep red loamy clay, producing plentiful crops of grass $ corn, and fruit. The elm and oak grow luxuriantly here and in the neigh- bourhood. Walter Balistarius is recorded in Domesday as proprie- tor of Bulelege in Westberie hundred, taxed at four hides. The immediate successor is not known, but the manor was in the family of Musgrose during the reign of Hen, IJT- Forest Division. Dutchy of Lancaster, 5!> John de Monemuthe held it 9 Edw. I. and Mortimer, Earl of March, 1361. It was held successively by John Elliford w//^ BLETESDEN. Is a small parish, nine miles w. from Gloucester. The soil is chiefly clay, and nearly divided equally into pas- ture, arable, and woodland. Natswood brook intersects it, in its way to the Severn. It was anciently a part of the Forest, and probably derived its name from that cir- cumstance, prefixing the name of the original proprietor. About the beginning of the last century, 50 acres of waste land were planted with firs, which have been cut down within the last ten years. Some of them, and par- ticularly those to which the greatest interval had been al- lowed, measured 100 feet each of timber. The average f O measure of each was about 50 feet. Five yards square were in general allowed to each plant, which, allowing 4840 square yards to an acre, gives on the whole' planta- tion 48,400 plants. If each tree, while standing, were valued at five shillings, the product would be 12,100/. and estimating the rent of the land, during the whole period, at 3750/. the remainder is left for the expence of planting and preserving. The property belonged to John Wade, Esq. and the land is now converted into tillage 21 . Forest Division. IVestbury Hundred. N 6.5 Blechesden Avas anciently appendant on Longhope, and in 1281 was returned by the escheator as a hamlet to it. The first account of its having a church and parochial rites is found in P. N. tax. 1299; and 1:359 Jeltry de Ma- rescal held the advowson. Humphry de Bohun was pro- prietor 1373. The manor was afterwards granted by him to the abbey of Flaxley, and at the suppression, it was granted to Sir Anthony Kingston, 1545. In 1608 Wil- liam Kingston held it, and from him it passed to the family of Wade. The manor is now the property of Anna, relict of William Gordon, Esq. late of Bristol, and heiress to the late John Wade, Esq. ( 114) Mrs. Sarah Boughton is in possession of an ancient free- hold, long vested in the family of that name. Uppw Standleys belonged to the family of Bullock so early as the reign of Elizabeth, and is now vested in Wil- liam Bullock, gent. Brickhouse is an estate belonging to the family of Hayle in Gloucester. t The Felt House, with the greater part of the other pro- perty in the parish, is attached to the manor. The number of buildings in this parish were much re- duced in 1699 by fire, and the loss on oath amounted to 42 10/. The event is recorded on a tablet, placed in the church. Nine freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 180 137 152. Houses, 34. The benefice is rectorial, in the Forest deanery, and the patronage annexed to the manor. John Black, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, consists of a nave only, with a low battlemented tower at the west end. VOL. II. F 66 T)ie Hislary of the County of Glouccttcr. In P. N. tax. the church of Blechedene, 4/. In the King's hooks (discharged) 5l. Is. 3W. CCVI. CHURCH AM, anciently HAM ME, Is a parish of considerable size, distant nearly five mile* N. w. from Gloucester. The soil is in general a fine red loamy clay, producing good crops either in grass or corn. The arable bears a greater proportion than pasture, and fruit trees are generally planted in the fields. Bird wood common is now inclosed. The east side of this parish lies sloping so advantageously to the morning sun, that the harvest is generally a fortnight earlier than in most of the adjacent places. Ham, Saxon, signifies -A farm or village; hence are de- rived names of places with this termination ; this place was anciently called Hamme simply, but being the part of the parish where the church was built, the addition was given to distinguish it from the other hamlets. This dis- tinction took place in 1 28 1 . The two manors of Churcham and Highnam were given by mandate of the Pope to the abbey of Gloucester, for the support of seven monks there, as an atonement for the murder of seven monks in their way to this place, by Wolphin de Rue, the proprietor of it, and consul of Gloucester, about 1048. The abbey continued the posses- sion till the dissolution, when Churcham, with Byrdewood, was granted to the dean and chapter of Gloucester, 1542. Sir John Chamberlain held the manor in 1608, as lessee. It afterwards passed to the family of Brown , an alderman of Gloucester, who died 1639, and left it to his widow. By her it was devised to John Harris, of London, in which family it was at the beginning of last century. Sir Charles rarest Division. Westbury Hundred. 67 Barrow, Bart, and Colonel Money were lessees till near the latter end of last century. The former permitting his Jease to expire without renewing, the manor, with the appendant estates, reverted to the dean and chapter, by Avhom they have since been granted to other lessees. Part of the estates belonging to Colonel Money were sold to Mr. Howies, and by him devised to his two sisters, Mrs. Crump and Mrs. Phelps. An estate called Cold Comfort, was devised by Colonel Money to Mrs. Roberts, and on her death descended to the Rev. Mr. Roberts, of Much Marcle, co. Hereford. In the last leases granted, the chapter reserved all nia- nerial rights. HIGHNAM, LINTON, and OVER are hamlets forming 77 o one tything, and lying in the hundred of Dudstan and Kings-barton, but anciently of Tolangebriges. 1. HIGHNAM is two miles distant from Gloucester, and contained according to Domesday seven hides. Part of the grange or mansion-house was reserved in the lease dated 7 Hen. VIII. for the abbot and his men, if the plague should be in Gloucester or Over. The manors of Highnam and Over were granted, 1542, to John Arnold, of Monmouthshire, who was succeeded by his son Nicho- las Arnold, and he by Rowland Arnold, who left an only daughter and heiress, wife of Thomas Lucy, son of Sir Thomas Lucy, of Charlcot, co. Warwick. He left an only daughter, married to Sir William Cook, descended from the family of Cook, of Giddy-hall, co. Essex. Sir Robert Cook, his son, was succeeded by William, and his eldest son, Dennis Cook, dying in his father's life-time, the estate came to his brother Kdward. William Cook, his Bon and heir, dying without issue, was succeeded by his brother Dennis, who having no male issue, die estate de- F 2 68 The History of the County of Gloucester. volved to his two sisters, agreeably to the father's will. The elder, Anne, was married to Roynon Jones, Esq. of Nass, co. Gloucester, who died, 1732(207), and the young- er, Mary, to Henry Guise, of Gloucester, Esq. who dying 1749, was succeeded by his son, John, afterwards Sir John Guise, Bart. He purchased the moiety which belonged to Roynon Jones, Esq. in right of his father's marriage. On his death, in 1794, he was succeeded by his eldest son, Sir Berkeley William Guise, Bart, the present lord of the manor, and proprietor of the estates dependant upon them, and heir to the late Sir William Guise, Bart, of Rendcomb, subject to the life-estate of the Honorable Jane Barrington, his sister, and Lady of the Bishop of Durham (238). The manshon-house was built after a plan of Inigo Jones, soon after the civil war, by William Cook, Esq. who had been a colonel under Cromwell, but was recon- ciled after the restoration. The old house was ruined during the seige of Gloucester, by having been used in turns as a garrison to both parties. The situation is plea- sant, and the gardens and offices extensive and conve- nient. Near the house, and too much in the front of it, is a private chapel, wherein several of the Cooks are in- terred, by whom it was built. The whole of this hamlet, as also of Linton and Over, with a very trifling exception, belongs to Sir B. William Guise, Bart. OVER lies on the banks of the western channel of the Severn, and communicates with Gloucester by a bridge, repaired at the expence of the county. This bridge probably gave name to the old hundred of Langebrigi. Over is derived from the Saxon Ofer, the bank of a river 22 . Forest Division. Westbury Hundred. 69 Two freeholders voted in 1776, for Churcham; and two for the three hamlets. Population of Churcham, 340 309 327. Houses in- habited, 74. Population of the three hamlets, 202. Houses inhabit- ed, 52. The benefice is vicarial, in the Forest deanery, in the patronage of the chapter of Gloucester, who are also the impropriators. William Gyllett, A. M. is incumbent, with the chapel of Bui ley annexed. The church consists of a nave only, with a low spire at the west end, covered with shingles. The arch which separates the chancel and the south door-way, now re- duced, is semicircular, resting on plain pillars, and ex- hibits the style of the early Norman, soon after the con- quest. In P. N. tax. the church of Chirchehm belongs to the abbot of Gloucester, 20/. Os. Qd. The vicar's portion with the Chapel of Bolay, 5/. 6s. 8d. In the King's books, 20/. 5s. Qd. CCVII. NEWNHAM, anciently NEUNEHAM, Is a market town, distant from Gloucester twelve miles, s. w. and situate on the Severn, which is here at high wa- ter nearly a mile from one side to the other. The parish is about eight miles in compass, and comprehends 900 acres of various soil, but a red loam predominates, and is chiefly in pasture. Cyder of excellent quality is produced here and in the neighbourhood. From this town is one of the passages over the river, which is perfectly safe, and may be made almost in every state of the tide for men, horses, and carriages. Near to F 3 T0 The History of the County of Gloucester. this place rock rises so near to the surface at low water, that horses and carriages are conducted across with great sal'i ty, by a guide, without a boat. But to those who are unacquainted witli the line of the ridge, the attempt is attended with extreme danger, as the rock does not gra- dually shelve off, but precipitates suddenly to a great depth on either side 23 . The passage is the property of Roynon Jones, Esq. The first fortification erected on the west side of the Severn against the inroads of the Welch, was at Newnham; and Strongbow, Earl of Chepsto\v, in pursuance of royal mandate, met Henry II. here. No remains of the ancient castle are now to be seen, frequent mention of which is made in several grants of lands in Newnham from the prior and brethren of St. Bartholomew's hospital in Gloucester 24 . This town had also a considerable share in the military events of the reign of Charles I. A strong party of Sir J. Wintour's forces kept garrison in the church and the fort adjoining, of considerable strength. The enemy soon pos- sessed themselves of the town, and got near the works, which were strengthened with double pallisadoes. The royalists, seeing the uncertainty of their situation, jumped over the works, and ran from the out-work into the church, hoping to clear the mount which the enemy had gained. Both parties tumbled into the church together. In this state of things, a barrel of gun-powder was fired in the church, conceived to be done by one Tipper, a pa- p:st, and a servant of Sir John Wintour. By this explo- sion many were blown out of the church) a great number injured, but none killed. The enraged soldiers fell upon the royalists, and, in the heat of blood, slew near twenty, and took a hundred prisoners, without the loss of a man on the side of the rebels 25 . Forest Division. Wcstbury Hundred. 7 1 The town, which was once distinct from the manor, was probably more extensive formerly than at present, as in the ancient grants of land in the borough, many names occur, of streets and lanes, which are now forgotten. It was one of the five boroughs within the county, in the rei n of Edw. I. and was governed by a mayor and bur- gesses. The sword of state given by John is still pre- served, and on it an inscription, signifying the year 1584, when it was repaired, with the name of the mayor, who presided at that time. The annual election of mayor has been some time laid aside. A court is held for the manor, at which two constables are appointed and sworn. A considerable trade is carried on from this place to London, Ireland, and other places; large quantities of bark and timber are exported, and wines imported: and some ships are built here. The situation is indeed fa- vourable to trade, but has not been perhaps improved with the same advantage as at other places. The glass- house which was worked in the reign of Cha. I. is en- tirely destroyed. Neuneham signifies Nova Villa, or New Town; from which Baxter is of opinion, that there was once another place in the neighbourhood of more ancient date, and op- posite to Framilode Passage, which he imagines to be the Durotuobriga of the Itinerary 26 . The cliff on which the church is situated, commands the great semicircle which is here formed by the Severn, with admirable effect, while the Cotswold range, ter- minating in the bold elevation of Stinchcomb Hill, bounds the vale to the east, and the undulating hills of the Forest of Dean close in upon it on the west, opening into vari- ous sweetly picturesque glens. F4 T'J The. History of the County of Gloucester. William, the son of Badcron, held Neuneham in the t ime of the Conqueror, taxed at one hide. The Bohuns afterwards held it, but resigned all right to King John in the first year of his reign. After having been held by William, Earl of Shrewsbury, and John Foliot, it seems to have reverted to the crown, but much confusion has followed, from the manor and town having been distinct; so that it is perhaps more difficult than useful to trace the descent with accuracy. The abbey of Flaxley were pro- prietors some time before the dissolution, after which it was granted to Sir Anthony Kingston, 154-5. Henry, Lord Stafford, and Ursula his wife, held it in 1555, by grant from the crown. It descended to Edward, his son, his grandson of the same name, and lastly to Henry his great grandson, on whose death, unmarried, it passed, 1637, to Sir William Howard, younger son to Thomas, Earl of Arundel and Surrey, in right of marriage to Mary, the sister and sole heiress of Henry. He was created Vis- count Stafford by Cha. I. and beheaded on account of the Popish plot, 1680. Henry, the eldest son, was created Earl of Stafford by James II. and succeeded to the manor in 1689. The Earl of Effingham was lord of the manor till his death, when he was succeeded by Henry Howard, Esq. M. P. for Gloucester. RUDDLE is a hamlet, formerly called Rodele, in early times belonging to the abbey of Gloucester; the possession of which was confirmed by Henry I. to find lights to burn continually before the high altar, for the soul of Duke Robert Curthoise, his brother. At the dissolution the manor was granted to William, Earl of Pembroke, who sold it to Sir Giles Pool, 1557, from whom it passed by purchase, to the family of Jones. Roynon Jones, Esq. the present lord of the manor, is the son of the late Wil- Forest Division. Westbury Hundred, 73 Ham Jones, Esq. of Nass, co. Glou. by Cholmley, daugh- ter of Sir John D'Oyley, Bart, of Chessel Hampton, co. Oxon. His residence is at Hay-hill House, which he has built within a few years past. Stairs or Staure, the seat and estate of William Mar- went, Esq. at the beginning of the last century, was de- vised to the family of Baron, from whom it passed by pur- chase to Thomas Morris, Gent, the present proprietor. Cockshoot, formerly belonging to Mr. Rolls, is now the property of Joseph Pyrke, Esq. of Littledeane. This, and Stairs are part of Rod ley manor (209), and in the Dutchy of Lancaster. Bleythe's Court, or Blaze Bailey, was the property of Mr. Pyrke, now of Thomas Beale, Esq. The Hill-house, formerly the property of Mr. Trigg, afterwards of Mr. Pyrke, is now held by his widow, under 'settlement. Twenty-nine freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 400 400 821. Houses inhabited, 144. The benefice is a curacy under the Corporation of Glou- cester, as trustees of St. Bartholomew's hospital, who lease the impropriate tythes to the curate at a small rent. William de Bohun gave the impropriation and advowson to the prior and brethren of the hospital, 1344. James Parsons, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, stands on a knole near the river, and is a prominent feature in the landscape of the surrounding country. It has a small aisle on the south side, belonging to the Marwent family, and a low wooden spire at the west end. The arch leading to the chancel shews considerable antiquity, being in the early Norman style, pointed and ornamented with zig-zag mouldings 27 . The more ancient building, which was a 74 The History efthc County of Gloucetter. chapel to Westbury (209), stood, according to tradition, at Nabb's-end, but being undermined by the water, was taken down ; and it is not improbable that the present building, from the continual wasting of a marly soil, will have a similar termination. In P. N. tax. the abbot of Gloucester hath in the manor of Rodele three carucates of land. CCVIII. TIDENHAM, TUDLHAM, anciently TEDENHAM, Is a parish of large extent, containing 5000 acres, ex- tending to the Wye on the west, and the Severn on the east, and distant twenty-five miles from Gloucester. The soil is light, and of a colour inclining to red, covering at a small depth a rock of limestone. The pasture exceeds the arable in quantity, and on the banks of the Severn are some fine meadows or salt marshes. Very good cyder is made in this parish. Atkyns deduced its name from the circumstance of the tides running up the rivers on each side of it ; but tbis con- jecture can with difficulty be admitted, because the name in Domesday is Tedenham, and it does not appear, that either Britons, Romans, or Saxons, gave the appellation of Tide or Teden to this natural phenomenon. More likely, the place or town might belong to a very early pro- prietor of that name. The bridge over the Wye, forming the junction with Monmouthshire, commences here. The half on the Glou- cestershire side is repaired at the expence of this county. The flooring of this part is formed of thick planks, which are kept firm in their places by wedges of wood. The general account is, tliat the flooring is left loose, for the purpose of rising with the tide ; but the truth seems to be, Forest Diiision. Watbwy Hundred. 75 that no such rise has ever been known to take place ; and though it is said, that the water is accumulated to the height of seventy feet here, yet it has been proved, that fifty-six feet is the highest point it has risen to in the me- mory of man. The cause why the swell of tide is greater in the Wye than in the Severn, is supposed to arise from the projection of the rocks at Beachley and Aust, which forces the current with increased rapidity up the fornu r river. The turnpike road leads through this parish into Wales, and for a considerable way commands a very extensive prospect over the wide estuary of the Severn to the east, and as far as the Hofines down the Channel. Near the confluence of the two rivers, are some ruin?, t r isible only at low water, said to be the remains of a very ancient chapel dedicated to St. Terendake, or Tecla, who was martyred in 47. The famous dyke made in 760 by Oflfa, King of the Mer- cians, (who had made himself master of the greater part of England,) to prevent his dominions from the incursions of the Welch, began here, and now forms a separation be- tween Beachley and Sudbury. This serves to shew the bounds of Wales about the middle of the eighth century. Claudh Offa, which is the British name, passes through Colford (218), is seen on Brachy-hill, and near Ryhd ar Helig, and Lanterden, in Herefordshire; and is continued northwards from Knighton, over a part of Shropshire into Montgomeryshire ; and may be traced over the long moun- tain called in Welch Kevn Digolh, to Harden Castle, cross the Severn and Lhan Dunio Common. Whence ir. passes the Vyrnwy again into Shropshire, not far from Oswaldstry, where there is also a small village called Tre~ 76 The Hittory of the County of Gloucester. vyrclawdh. In Denbighshire it is visible along the road between Rhywabon and Wrexham; from whence being continued through Flintshire, it ends a little below Holy- well, where that water falls into the Dee, at a place for- merly the site of the castle of Basingwerk. Harold established a law, that if any Welshman should be found armed on this side Offa's Dike, his right hand should be cut off by the King's officers. At the time of the survey there were several proprietors in Tedenham, but the abbey of Bath held the largest, containing thirty hides. The Welch took this with Wol- laston, but Walter and Roger, younger brothers of Gil- bert, Earl of Clare, retook them in 1 1*60. Richard Strong- bow, son and heir of Gilbert, became Earl of Pembroke and Strigule, (Chepstow). William Mareschal married Isabel, his only daughter, and in consequence succeeded to his title and property. William Earl of Pembroke died 1219, leaving five sons, who were successively Earls of Pembroke, but all dying without issue, their four sisters were coheiresses. Hugh Bigot, Earl of Norfolk, mar- ried Maud the eldest, and in her right became proprietor of the manor of Tidenham. Roger, his great grandson, dying without issue, the manor came to the crown, and was given by Edward IT. to his younger brother Thomas, fifth son of Edward I. with the title of Earl of Norfolk. Margaret, one of his daughters, afterwards created Dutchess of Norfolk by Rich. II. carried the estate by marriage into the family of De Segrave. Elizabeth, the sole issue of this union, was wife of John de Mowbray, who was created Earl of Norfolk, and Earl Mareschal. In this family the manor and estates continued, but not in the direct line, till they passed to the male heir of a col- Forest Division. Westbury Hundred. 77 lateral branch, on failure of issue from Anne, daughter of John, Duke of Norfolk, who was married to Richard, Duke of York, second son of Edward IV. Isabel, daughter of Thomas de Mowbray, who was cre- ated Duke of Norfolk by Richard II. had been married a second time, to James, fifth Earl of Berkeley ; and Mar- garet, the other daughter, to Sir Robert Howard. These great estates were partitioned among their heirs in 1499, as descendants in the female line. The manor of Tidenham came soon afterwards to the Earl of Worcester, and from Henry Earl of Worcester, who died 1550, it has regularly descended through the noble family of Beaufort to the present Duke, with the property of the greatest part of the parish. HAMLETS, or PLACES of distinct names. 1. CHURCH-END. Near the church Thomas Williams, Esq. has a good house, beautifully situated for an exten- sive view over the channel, with a considerable estate, late the property of Mr. William Jones. 2. BISHTON, formerly written BISTEN, is almost ex- clusively the property of the Duke of Beaufort. 3. SUDBURY, or a station two miles south of the mili- tary works, called the Bulwarks, is also the property of the Duke, in the proportion of nearly half. Mr. William Lewis is a considerable proprietor. 4. BEACHLEY, BETTESLEY or BETESLEGH. This ma- nor had been in the Lewis family for at least two centu- ries, till it lately became the property of Samuel Jenkins, sen. Esq. Some military works are seen here, by the name of Bulwarks. The almost insular situation of Beachley must have made it in all ages a place of importance, and therefore 7 8 Tfte History of the County of Gloucester. it is difficult to assign the earthworks, which are so fre- quent here, to any particular people. In the civil wars it was esteemed of so much importance, that Prince Ru- pert sent 500 horse and foot into the Forest, for the pur- pose of making it a lasting guard. The passage, which was the only commodious one from Wales to Bristol and the western parts, added much to its consequence. Cor- bet relates, that before the fortifications were finished, Go- vernor Massic attacked the royal forces, and after killing a great many, entirely dislodged the rest. The King's friends made a second attempt to fortify this place, but with no better success. Two hundred and twenty were kiHed in this attack, and Sir John Wintour was forced down the cliff into the river Wye, where a little boat lay to receive him. The traditional account of his leaping with his horse down the precipice, which is now called Winter's Leap, from the certainty of destruction conse- quent upon the attempt, carries its own confutation with it. 5. WIBDEN or WIDDEN, formerly belonged to John Madocke, Esq. who had a good estate and house. The latter is in ruins, and the former after having been in the family two centuries, passed to William Sheldon, of Wes- ton, co. Warwick. The manor of Walden in this hamlet, which belonged to Morgan Lewis, Ksq. is now the property of Samuel Jenkins, sen. Esq. Considerable property in this hamlet belongs to Thos. Williams, Esq. 6. STROAT or STROTE. Mere the family of James have for many years possessed a good estate, which is now vest- ed in Selwyn James, Esq. Charles James, Esq. of London, is also proprietor of a good house and estate, by marriage with the surviving Forest Division. Westbury Hundred. 79 daughter of the late Somerset Jones, Esq. of Tiden. ham. 1. LANCAUT. In this hamlet is a chape], on the banks of the Wye, dedicated to St. James, In .which divine ser- vice is performed once a month, ft was formerly a dis- tinct rectory, to which the Earl of Worcester presented in 1548, but is now annexed to Wollaston. The princi- pal property belongs to Thomas Williams, Esq. Twenty-seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 600 500 696. Houses inhabited, 138. The benefice is vicarial, in the Forest deanery, and pa- tronage of James Davies, Esq. and Davies is in- cumbent. The impropriation formerly belonged to the priory of Sheen, co. Surrey, who gave 13 bushels of wheat, and 1 3d. in money, to be distributed yearly to the poor, on the Thursday before Easter; in 1608 it was granted to Thomas James, with reservation of the same annual payment, which has been regularly continued. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists of a nave and aisle, separated by circular pillars, supporting plain pointed arches. The tower is ornamented with pinnacles ; the whole building stands on an elevated spot, and is seen at a great distance. In P. N. tax. the church of Tudeham, belonging totlia Prior de Lyra, 1 3/. 6s. Sd. The vicar's portion, 6/. 135. 4d. In the King's books (discharged) 9/. 0$. Od. 80 Tfie History of the County of Gloucester. CCIX. WESTBURY, anciently WESBERIE. Is a large parish, distant two miles N. E. from Newn- "ham, ten s. w. from Gloucester, and containing 8000 acres. The soil, except in the meadows adjoining the Severn, is rather light, and of a colour inclining to red. Nearly equal quantities are applied to pasture and arable. The former is planted, in considerable portions, with fruit. There are about 100 acres of wood. Rudder sup- poses the name to signify West camp, and observes that he can find no traces of ancient entrenchments; but there is no necessity of referring to a military station : if the ety- mology be decided from the termination of berie, it Avill signify the plain on the west ; or if from burh or burgh, Sax. it will mean a town on the west ; for these words as often have reference to a city or town, as an encampment: and west only refers to its situation on the western side of the river, in opposition to Eastington on the other. The addition upon Severn^ is given to distinguish it from ano- ther place of the same name in Henbury hundred. Here is a safe passage for men and horses over the Se- vern to Framilode on the other side. John Baynham, of this place, son of Sir Alexander Bajnham, the elder, a man of large property, was burnt in the reign of Hen. VIII. 1531, in Smithfield, for promot- ing the cause of the Reformation. This manor, at the time of the Conqueror's survey, con- tained thirty hides, and belonged to the King. It was granted to Ralph de Beauchamp 1216, and passed next to the Burghulls, or Bornhulls. Robert de Sapy was propri- etor 1337 ; Jeffery de Mareschal in 1359 ; John de Ayles- ford 1396 ; John Milborn in 1437 ; John Earl of Shrews- bury 1454; and Alice, widow of William Codder, 1456. Forest Division.' 'Wcstbury Hundred. 8 1 The manor passed afterwards to the Baynhams. Joseph Baynham was lord of it 1572. The records relating to this manor are intricate, in consequence of the inferior manors being often specified under the general name of Westbury manor. Several grants appear from the crown, but they were probably of estates and lands only, as the great manor or hundred of Westbury still belongs to the crown, and the court-leet is held by the sheriff. The parish is divided into several TYTHINGS and HAMLETS. 1 . WESTBURY tything. The church is situated in this, and the principal property belongs to Maynard Colchester, Esq. A good handsome modern house belongs here to the fa- mily of Colchester. It was built by Maynard Colchester, Esq. who died in 1756. In the front over the door is the following inscription : < D. O. , M. N. M. M.H. E. P. N. C. that is Deo Optimo maxima, Nwic mei, mox hiyus, et postea nescio ciijus. The present proprietor, who is a minor, is grandson to the said Maynard Colchester, Esq. who was nephew and sole heir of Colonel Maynard Colchester, grandson of Sir Duncomb Colchester, and great grandsorj of that eminent lawyer, Serjeant Maynard. 2. RODLEY is a member of the Dutchy of Lancaster, and Ues'E. from the church. Rodele was held at the time of the survey by Walter Balestarius, taxed at one hide 28 . It belonged to Henry de Bohun, 1 199 ; to Simon Mountford, Earl of Leicester, 1259 ; Gilbert Talbot, 1274; and after- wards to Richard Talbot. The Earls of Lancaster were successive proprietors from 1287 to 1359, when Blanch, VOL. II. G SJ The History of the County of Gloucester. one of the daughters and co-heiresses of Hen. Duke of Lan- caster, by marriage carried it to John of Gaunt, Duke of Lancaster, from whom were descended the Kings of Eng- land of the line of Lancaster. Hence it became a part of the Dutchy. From the late Sir William Guise, Bart, of Rendcomb, it passed to his sister Jane, and in right of marriage to Shute Harrington, Lord Bishop of Durham, the present owner of the manor, without any estate at- tached to it. The principal estate belongs to Maynard Colchester, Esq. Other proprietors are John Hartland, Newton Brabant, Gents. Kc. Prid-gravel is paid to the lord of this manor, for the i pri- vilege of fishing for lampreys (203). 2. CLAXHILL and BOLLOE, both situate E. from the church, and under one tythingman. The property is di- vided between Benjamin Hyett, Esq. and the Rev. Samuel Lysons. 3. UPPER LEIGH is situate about two miles N. E. from the church. The two principal estates belong to Sir T. Craw ley Boe- vey, Bart, and Edmund Probyn, Esq. 4. WALMER is a distinct manor, lying chiefly on (the banks of the Severn. The name is given from the circum- stance of its situation near the Sea Wall: Val or Wall, Sax. and Afere, the sea. Anthony Kemp, Esq. was seized of the manor, and a large house called the Grange ; both are now the property of Lord Newburgh, by marriage. 5. NORTH WOOD is a ty thing, situate N. from the church, und chiefly belonging to Lord Newburgh. 6. NETHER or LOWER LEIGH tything, N. E. from the church. The property is much divided. Anthony Ellis, Forest Division. Westbury Hundred, 83 Esq. of Gloucester, is the principal landholder. Other small estates belong to Lord Newburgh, Chas. Evans, Esq. and Rev. S. Lysons. 7. BOSELEY is a tything which lies N. w. from the diurch. 8. CLEEVE. 9. ADSET. 10. STANTEWAY, have one tythingman. The property of these places belongs to Maynard Colchester, Esq. the Rev. Mr. Lawrence, and Mr. Boughton, Kc. 11. ELTON tything lies w. from the church. The prin- cipal estates belong to Sir T. C. Boevey, Wm. Bullock, Wni. Baylis, and Mrs. Brown. A garrison was kept at Westbury in the great rebellion, on the side of the parliament, which, according to Corbet, was treacherously sold to Sir John Wintour, by Capt. T. Davis. The collector of extraneous fossils will be highly grati- fied in exploring the curious treasures of Garn's-hill (West- bury Clift), after the rocks and deposit of soil have been cleansed by a spring tide. Bones and other substances are found, embedded in a blue clay stone, always attended with, and sometimes completely enveloped in martial py- rites. The large bone mentioned by Rudder is still pre- served in the church, and probably, as he supposes, did belong to an elephant. In 1634 many bones of the same description were found in this neighbourhood, collected by order of Charles I. Dion informs us, that Claudius brought elephants with him into Britain ; and as the Romans had several stations on the Severn, the conjecture is not ill- founded 29 . Sixt3*-four freeholders voted in me. Population, 1200 1300 1651. Houses inhab. 286. The benefice is a vicarage in the Forest deanery, in thr G 2 84 Tlte History of the County of GloKccster. patronage of the custos and vicars choral of Hereford, and Richard Wetherell, A. M. is incumbent. The impropri- ate tythes belong to the same body, and are in lease to C. Evans, Esq. of Highgrove (203). The more ancient church, dedicated to -St. Peter, ad- joins the steeple, and is now used as a school house. The church in which divine service is performed, was built on the south side of the church yard in 1530, and dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. It consists of a large nave, and chancel, with a north and south aisle of less height. The spire is lofty, and covered with shingles, or small pieces of oak board, in imitation of tiles. In P. N. tax. the church of Westbury, with the chapel Newenh'm and Ministreworth, 53/. 6s. $d. Besides the vicar's portion, 6l. 1 3*. 4d. In the King's books, 20/. 2s. 8ld. CCX. WOOLASTON, anciently ODELAVESTON, Is a parish of considerable extent, twenty-two miles s. w. from Gloucester, and washed on the E. by the Se- vern. The soil, extending over not less than 3000 acres, is a red loam, and is proportionably divided into pasture and arable, in both which it is alike fertile and produc- tive ; with more than 500 acres of wood. A small brook runs through it towards the Severn, and the turnpike road continues its course over an eminence towards Chepstow and South Wales, leaving the church to the right. The name is evidently derived from an ancient proprietor, and might once be called OdelaveV town. The situation is peculiarly beautiful, and the prospect over the broad estu- ary of the Severn is bounded by the distant hills above Sodbury, while the castles of Berkeley and Thornbury, Forest Division. Westbury Hundred. 85 with some other buildings of inferior consequence, fill up the middle distance, and give variety to the scene. Domesday records William de O\v as the proprietor of this place, in Twiford hundred, which included only this parish, a part of Tidenham, and a place called Mo- dicete, now forgotten. It is probable that Woolaston was afterwards granted to the abbey of Tintern, co. Monmouth, by Walter and Roger, brothers of Gilbert de CJare, who retook this and Tidenham from the Welch. After the dissolution, Henry, Earl of Worcester was possessed of the Grange estate, and in 1608, Edward, Earl of Wor- cester was lord of the manor, which has descended to the present noble proprieter, Henry, Duke of Beaufort, in whom, with the exception of a few estates belonging to W. Williams, Esq. Selwyn James, Esq. James Hammond, Gent. &c. the whole parish is vested. The following are HAMLETS and HOUSES: PLUSTERWYNE, BROOKEND, NOVEREND, and HIGH WOOLASTON, hamlets ; in the last of which is Mr. Ham- mond's estate. The Grange, Keynsham, and Gumstod, are the names of farms belonging to the Duke of Beau- fort. Fourteen freeholders voted in 1176. Population, 400 459 613. Houses inhabited, 97 The benefice is a rectory in the Forest deanery, with the chapels of Alvington and Lancaut annexed, in the patronage of the Duke of Beaufort. John Price, B. D. is incumbent. The tythes were given to the abbot of Tintern, with the advowson, in 1131, by William, Earl of Pembroke, and after the dissolution were held with the manor. The liv- ing had been considered as a vicarage till the rectorial tythes were recovered by Mr. Griffiths, a late incumbent, c 3 86 The History of the County of Gloucester. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of a nave and cross aisles, with a low tower in the middle. The south door, and some other parts of the building, exhibit remains of Saxon architecture. Value in P. N. tax. 20/. Value in King's books, (discharged,) 18/. \\s. 5\d. IV. St. BRIAVEL's HUNDRED. CCXI. ABBENHALL, Is a small parish, about three miles in circumference, including 500 acres, adjoining to Mitcheldean on the N. w. and twelve miles w. from Gloucester. The soil is in general light, and converted more to arable than pas- ture. Several acres of common are in an uncultivated state, and covered with fern. The name is supposed to have been given it from a house belonging to the abbot of Flaxley, here. The turnpike-road leads through this parish to Newnham. The name does not occur in Domesday, and even so late as Edw. I. it was returned by the sheriff as united to Mitcheldean. In 1281, John de Abbenhalle held it, and his successors of the same family to 1 348. The Grenders were proprietors from 1 404 to 1 448 , when it passed by marriage to John Tiptot, Earl of Worcester, and on his death without issue, reverted to the male branch of the Grender family, but by marriage with the heiress of John Grender, it came into the family of Walwyn, about the Forest Division. St. Briavel's Hundred. 87 reign of Hen. V. Alice, daughter and heiress of William Walwyn, by marriage carried it to Thomas Baynham, of Clearwell, whose great great grandson, Thomas, was seized of in 1609. Marshall Brydges, of Worcestershire, Esq. was lord of it in 1711, and after him, John Howell, Esq. on whose death in 1778, it passed to his grandson, Edmund Probyn, Esq. (21 8) wno is the present proprietor of the principal part of the parish. One considerable estate belongs to Joseph Pyrke, Esq. of Littledean. The Wilderness i situated on the brow of the hill, and commanding a most extensive prospect, belongs to Mrs. Colchester, as trustee for her son (209). The same in- scription is found here as at the house in Wesrbury. GunrHs Mills, formerly an iron-forge, belongs to Mr. Lloyd, who carries on a very considerable manufactory of paper, by the assistance of a stream of water, which is- sues from St. Anthony's Well, just within the Forest. Seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 88 158 185. Houses inhabited, 38. The Grenders, or Grendours, were a family of consi- derable importance in the county of Gloucester, in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries. Sir John Greyndour was sheriff in 1405 and 1411, and his official seal was some time since found in a field near Dursley, and is now in the possession of Mr. Shrapnell, F.A.S. of Berkeley. -It is circular, with the legend S. IOHANNT GREYNDOUR, and on a quatrefoil, H.R.D.G. Henricus Rex, DeiGratia 30 . The benefice is a rectory in the Forest deanery, and the jidvowson is annexed to the manor. Rev. William Pro- byn, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, hath a nave and G 4 88 The History of the County of Gloucester. south aisle, which was rebuilt in 1749, with an unembat- teled tower at the west end. Value in P. N. tax. less than 4/. Value in the King's books, (discharged,) 6l. 6s. 6d. CCXII. ENGLISH BICKNOR, anciently BICANOFRE. Is distant nineteen miles w. from Gloucester, and con- tains about 1600 acres, nearly divided into pasture and arable, except some rich meadow land on the banks of the Wye, which is the boundary on the north side. The soil covers a lime stone rock, and produces sty re cyder of the best quality. The name is probably derived from bee, a river, and cfre, a bank, or upon; and English is prefixed to distinguish it from a village of the same name, on the Monmouthshire side. Several collieries are worked in this parish, and from hence were supplied very considerable quantities of cin- ders, so long as they were wanted. The manor of Bicanofre was held in the time of Ed- ward, by Morganan, and in the time of the Conqueror, by William, son of Norman. William de Musgros was seized of it, 1287; Richard Talbot, of Goderick castle, 1339; and in the time of Edward III. the family of Fer- res, with whom it continued till 1454. The manor soon after passed to W. Wallein, or Walwyn, of Abbenhall, who was seized of it, 1472. Sir John Luterell was propri- etor, 1658; and the Earl of Clanricard in 1608. It after- wards came to Benedict Hall, of Highmeadow, Esq. ; from whom it descended to Lord Viscount Gage, his son-in-law, and is now the property of William Lord Viscount Gage (321). Forest Division. St. Briauel's Hundred. 89 Eicknor Court, is the property and occasional residence of George Wyrhale, Esq. It is situated near the Wye, and partakes in a high degree of the romantic character of that river. Many of its wildest features have 'been chas- tened by art, and the whole has received various improve- ments from the taste and judgment of the present posses- sor. The family of Wyrhale settled in this place towards the latter end of the 15th century, upon the marriage of W. Wyrhale with Ann Asshehurst. Before this period, Whitecliffe, near Colford was their residence, and part of the old mansion-house was standing about the middle of the last century, when it Avas taken down and a farm-house built on the scite 31 . Eastbatch Court, belonged to Edward Tomkins Machin, Esq. a descendant of T. Machin, Esq. mayor of Glou- cester in 1601, for the third time. He died in 1778, and left his widow a life interest in the estate, on whose death it became vested by heirship in James Davis, Esq. who resides there. Another good estate belongs to the widow of the late William Lane, Esq. of Gloucester. Considerable property belongs to Mr. Wm. Amberry. Thirteen freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 300 800 465. Houses inhabited, 100. The benefice is a rectory in the Forest deanery, former- ly in the deanery of Ross, the advowson of which is by purchase in the visitors of Mr. Mitchell's foundation, Queen's coll. Oxford. Duncomb Pyrke Davis, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is large, with a nave and two aisles, and a chapel on each side of the chancel. The north chancel is separated from the nave by a Saxon, or early Norman arch. The window of 90 The History of the Counly of Gloucester. the south chapel is of a later style, ornamented with nail heads. The chapels are the dormitories of the Wyrhale and Machin families. The tower is low and battlemented. On Chapel-liill, in the s. w. part of the parish, the ruins of an oratory are said to have been visible in the memory of some persons now, or lately living. In P. N. taxat. The church of English Bykenore, I6/. 13s. 4rf. In the King's books, 1 3/. 6s. Sd. CCXIII. DEAN, MITCHELDEAN, DEAN MAGMA, anciently DENE, Is a parish of small extent, and a market town irregu- larly built, much in ruins, and inhabited by few good fa- milies ; distant from Gloucester 12 miles west. The soil, extending over 600 acres, is of the same kind as is gene- rally found through the Forest, and the greater part of the land in the neighbourhood is jn pasture. It is said that the clothing business was formerly carried on in this town, and not many years since the pin-making; but both are now lost, without being supplied by any other. The collecting of cinders for some years furnished the poor with the means of a livelihood; but that resource has failed, for reasons before given. Monday is the market- day, and two fairs are held annually, on Easter Monday, and October the tenth. The great travelling road to Monruouth from Glouces- ter, now leads through this place, which with the good ac- commodations afforded to travellers, will in process of time be probably the occasion of raising it to a considerable rank among towns of this description. William the son of Norman was proprietor at Domes- Forest Division. St. Briavel's Hundred. 9 1 day survey of two hides and a half in Dene. Whethex 1 this comprehended the whole of the manor at that time, is uncertain. The canons of Southwick, co. Hants, were seized of lands in Dene in the reign of John, while the rest remained in the King's hands. The manor was held by William de Dean 1263, and by his son 1292. John Abbenhall held it 1317, and William Dean 1319. The Grenders were proprietors in 1404, from whom it passed, as in Abbenhall (211), to the Walwyns and Baynhams, and T. Baynham had livery of the fourth part of the ma- nor 1578, and third part of the advowson. It afterwards passed to Sir Robert Woodruff, by purchase, in 160O. From the beginning of last century the old manor has been and still continues in the family of Colchester (209). Eli- zabeth Colchester, widow of the late Maynard Colchester, Esq. holds the manor and estates in trust for their son, Maynard, a minor. Excepting one competent estate, which belongs to Jos. Pyrke, Esq. and a few small freeholds, the whole property of the parish is in the Colchester family. In a wood upon the hill is said to be a subterraneous pas- sage, communicating with the church, supposed with pro- bability to have been, in feudal time,*, the retreat of out- laws, who sought sanctuary. Twenty-four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 600 590 563. Houses inhabited, 117. The benefice is a rectory in Forest deanery, in the pa- tronage of the Colchester family. Edward Jones, A.M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is large, of a quadrangular form. It has a lofty nave, with an upper tier of windows on each side, two north aisles, and one on the south 32 . On an unembatteled-tower rises a spire 156 feet 2 The History of the County of Gloucester. high, light, and well proportioned. Early in the last cen- tury it received considerable reparations. The whole roof of oak frame, studded with roses, and other devices, of excellent carving. The aisles appear to have heen built at different periods, by the varying forms of the arches ; but the whole may probably be referred to the middle ages. In the south aisle is a piscina. There are considerable remains of stained glass, particularly in the E. window of the farther N. aisle, where is an assemblage 7 O of female figures, with musical instruments, and in the other panes the heads of nobles and ecclesiastics, finely wrought. Value in P. N. tax. 6/. 1 3s. 4d. Value in King's books, 10/. 16s. Old. CCXIV. LITTLEDEAN, Is a small parish, twelve miles distant N. w. from Glou- cester, and containing about 300 acres. The soil is of the same nature as that which is generally found in the Forest district, and principally in pasture and orcharding. The market house which is still standing seems to shew, that this place formerly enjoyed the privilege of a market; but it is now lost. On Whitmonday, and November 26, it has a fair for pedlary. Coal and iron ore are found in abundance here. The labouring inhabitants are chiefly employed in mining, and the manufacture of nails. In pursuance of an act of parliament, passed in 1784, a house of correction was built here, for the Forest division, on a, very convenient plan, and has been found to be pro- ductive of most salutary effects. Littledean was the scene of some military operations in Forest Division. St. Briavel's Hundred. 93 the time of the rebellion, and the circumstances are re- lated by Corbet, with his usual acrimony against the roy- alists. After their success at Newnham, a party of repub- licans was detached to Littledean, where the King's forces were in garrison. Lieutenant-Colonel Congrave, governor of Newnham, and Captain Wigmore, with a few private soldiers, were surrounded in some houses by a party of the horse. After having accepted quarter, a trooper hap- pened to be killed by one of the company from the house, which so enraged the rest, that they broke in, and put them all to the sword. In the middle of the village is a curious market cross, around the shaft of which is a low octangular roof. A pinnacle of fine Gothic workmanship finishes the summit, witli small niches and statues. This place was probably a part of Mitcheldean, as it is not mentioned in Domesday survey. The descent of it to the present family of Colchester is nearly, if not altoge- ther, the same as that of Mitcheldean (213). ' Joseph Pyrke, Esq. has a good house and estate here. Thomas Pyrke, Esq. the late proprietor, married Dorothy daughter of Richard Yate, Esq. of Arlingham, and had four sons and two daughters, whom he survived. He died 1752, and left his estates to Joseph Watkins, Esq. de- scended by the mother's side from a brother of the said T. Pyrke. On coming to the estates, he took the name of Pyrke, and now resides in the family mansion. This fa- mily is said on a monument in Abbenhall church to have had their residence in this neighbourhood ever since the conquest (139). Sir T. C. Boevey, Bart, and George Skipp, Esq. are considerable proprietors here. 91 TJte History of the County of Gloucester. Grecnway, late JMonnor's, is now vested by purchase ua Mis. Abrahall, of the Lea (217). Twenty-nine freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 320 423 541. Houses inhabited, 108. The benefice is an impropriation, belonging to the corporation of Gloucester, as trustees of St. Bartholo- mew's Hospital, and is generally annexed to Newnham. The curate has a lease of the tythes, for which he pays Si. a year, to the use of the hospital. James Parsons, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Ethelbert, consists of a nave and north aisle, with a chantry parallel to the chan- .cel, and a spire of good proportion. Considerable re- mains of stained glass are in the north aisle and chancel. The ancient sacerdotal vestments of velvet, embroidered with the portraits of saints, are now used as a covering for the reading-desk. JLittledeane is not in charge in the King's books. CCXV. FLAXLEY, anciently FLAXLYN. Is a parish containing about 700 acres, distant eleven miles s. w. from Gloucester. The soil in general is a red marl or loam, lying on a limestone rock, and is chiefly in pasture, and about 150 acres woodland. It is intersected by the turnpike road leading from Mitcheldean to Newn- ham. The abbey was founded here by Roger, second Earl of Hereford, in the reign of Stephen, for Cistertian monks. The occasion of its foundation according to Leland, who copied the account from a table hung up in the abbey church, was an accident that happened to the Earl's bro- forest Division. St. JSriavel's Hundred. 95 ther, who was killed by an arrow in hunting. It does not appear that the members of this community were ever nu- merous, as at the suppression there were only nine monks, and their yearly revenues were rated at 112/. 13s. Id. The Blessed Virgin was the tutelary saint of this monas- tery, as she was of most other houses of this order. The scite of the abbey, with its appendages, was granted at the dissolution, 1545, to Sir Anthony Kings- ton, in whose family it continued till 1608, soon after which period it ipassed to Abraham Clarke, Esq. who was succeeded by his son, and on his death William Boevey, Esq. came to the possession of it. By his will, 1697, it passed, subject to jointure, to Thomas Craw ley, Esq. of Gloucester, who assumed the surname of Boevey. His grandson, Sir Thomas Crawley Boevey, Bart, is now lord of the manor, and proprietor of the estates, which include the whole parish, having succeeded to the title of Baronet in 1789, on the death of Sir Charles Barrow, Bart, of Highgrove, Minsterworth, in w r hose patent of creation the dignity was limited to the family of Boevey. Early in the last century, as appears by the plate iu .Atkyns, the ancient residence of the abbot and monks re- mained nearly perfect. It was low, but long in front, being sixty feet long, twenty-five feet wide, and only fourteen high ; the whole arched with stone, and the vault intersected with plain and massy ribs. The first floor con- tained a long gallery, and at the south end one very spa- cious room, which was supposed to have been the abbot's chief room. The dormitories or cells were connected with the great gallery. In 1777, a considerable part of the building was destroyed by fire, and rebuilt. In 178S the scite and floor of the chapter-house were discovered at a small depth in the garden, 45 feet long by 25 wide; at 96 The History of tlic County of Gloucester, the upper end a stone bench of circular form, and in tlia centre, the carved base of a pillar. Seven coffin-lids of stone were then found, sculptured with ornamented crosses, and upon one, a right hand and arm holding a crosier, probably the memorial of one of the abbots. The mansion house, the residence of Sir Thomas Craw- ley Boevey, Bart, is a square building, with sashed win- dows, and the front towards the turnpike road. The si- tuation is low, but the environs are beautifully picturesque and the views from the eminences extensive and interest- ing. The whole is well covered with wood, and affords a delightful retreat. The Grange Estate, riow vested in and the residence of the family of Skipp, is held under this manor. Abbots wood was given to the abbey in 1238, in lieu of the privilege of two oaks weekly, Avhich had been granted by Richard II. for the supply of an iron forge. The ma- nufactory is still carried on, and the iron is esteemed pe- culiarly good ; but its goodness does not arise from any extraordinary qualities in the ore, but from the practice of working the furnace and forges with charcoal wood, with- out any mixture of pit-coal. The quantity of charcoal re- - quired is so considerable, that the furnace cannot be kept; in " blow," or working, more than nine months succes- sively. At this time (October 28, 1802) a cessation has taken place for nearly a year. Lancashire ore, which is brought to Newnham by sea, furnishes the principal sup- ply : the mine found in the Forest being either too scanty to answer the expence of raising it, or when raised too dif- ficult of fusion, and consequently too consumptive of fuel to allow the common use of it. A ton of Lancashire ore in the furnace requires fifteen or sixteen sacks of charcoal. When the furnace is at work, about twenty Forest Division. S(. Briarel's Hundred. 97 tons a week are reduced to pig-iron : in this state it is carried to the forges, where about eight tons a week are hammered out into bars, ploughshares, &c. ready for the smith. The wheels which work the bellows.and hammers, are turned by a powerful stream of water which rises at St. Anthony's Well(2 11), and after passing the works, falls into a large bason below the house, and arlength empties itself into the Severn near Newnham. Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 200 196 135. Houses inhabited, 28. The benefice, in the archdeaconry of Hereford, is a do- native, receiving 8/. a year from the impropriation, Avhich is united to the manor, and endowed with an estate pur- chased for 12001. by Catherina, relict of William Boevey, Esq. for that purpose. John Longden, M. A. is incumbent. The church is small and neat, consisting of a nave and low spire covered with shingles. It was rebuilt about 1730, by Mary Pope, in pursuance of the will of the be- fore-mentioned Catherina Boevey. She was of the family of Riches, in London, a great benefactress on many occa- sions, is interred at Flaxley, and has a monument erected to the memory of her virtues, in Westminster Abbi j y. In P. N. tax. the bona temporalia of the Abbot of Flax- ley were valued at 14/. in the archdeaconry of Hereford, and 6/. in the archdeaconry of Gloucester. At the dissolution the value was according to Dugdale, 13s. Id. Flaxley is not in charge. VOL. II. H 98 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCXVI. HEWELSFIELD, HUETSFIELD, anciently HlWOLDESTONE, Is a parish about four miles square, containing 1200 acres s. w. from Gloucester twenty-four miles. The soil is various, but chiefly inclining to a deep red loam, and nearly in equal proportions applied to pasture and arable. The meadow saffron (colchicum autumnak) grows in the meadows with great luxuriance, and flowers in the autumn. The name of this place has been variously written at dif- ferent periods; but from the stile of it in Domesday, it may be supposed to mean, Hiwolde's town. The inhabitants claim the privilege of the Dutchy of Lancaster (to which they pay a certain annual sum), with other liberties in the Forest, and the right of common in Harthill. The situation of the village is high and healthy, and owes many advantages to the Wye, which flows on the west, and presents declivities peculiarly abrupt, but cloathed with timber and low wood of the greatest luxuri- ance. Over the rich scenery of the foreground, the eye is arrested by prospects at once grand, extensive, and di- versified. The long line of the Black Mountains, the tow- ering point of the Sugar Loaf, the Skyrrid, and the magni- ficent swell of the Blorenge, compose the scene. Hiwoldestone is recorded in Domesday as the property of William, son of Baderon, and by the King's order is in the Forest. Johnde Monemuta, constable of Sf. Briavel's castle, gave the vineyard, with the manor, to the hospital of the Holy Trinity, in Monmouth, of his own foundation; but Hualdesfield having escheated to the crown, Edw. I. gave it in free alms to the abbot of Tintern 1276. It con- tinued in the same religious house till the general suppres- sion ; and was soon after vested, with other large proper- Forest Division. St. Briavcl's Hundred. 99 ties, in Henry Earl of Worcester, whose noble descendant, Henry Duke of Beaufort, is now lord of the manor, but the estates belong to different proprietors. Huelsfidd Court, which claims manorial privileges, be- longed to the family of Macldox, and passed by marriage to G. Gough, 1558, whose grandson Richard Goughlcftit in moiety between his daughters Alice, married to Sir Ni- cholas Throckmorton ; and Eleanor, married to Sir W. Catchmay, Knt. Of the coheirs of Throckmorton, one moiety was purchased by Robert Symonds, Esq. whose de- scendant, T. Symonds, Esq. of Pengethly, co. Hereford, sold it to William Turner, Esq. of Upton Bishop, co. He- reford, the present proprietor and occupier of the mansion house. The other moiety descended to Tracy Catchmav, Esq. and by marriage with his daughter passed to Major James Rooke, pn whose death in mi, it descended to General James Rooke, the present proprietor. Another estate, late the property of Mr. Warren Jane, now belongs to the same William Turner, Esq. by pur- chase. Jlrockwear or Brockwere, on the banks of the Wye, is a small village and port, from which iron and timber are conveyed to Bristol, and some other trade curried on. Mr. Selwyn James, of Chepstow, has a good estate here. Fourteen freeholders voted in 1776. Population 200 253 298. Houses, 64. The benefice is annexed to Lidney, the incumbent of which has all the tythes. The church, dedicated to St. Mary Magdalene, is of va- rious architecture. Circular pillars, with unornamented Capitals, support the plain round arches, which separate the nave from the north aisle. The tower, low and co- H2 1 00 The History of the County of Gloucester. vered with slate, rises on pointed arches between tlie nave and chancel. The bier is used here for carrying the dead, and a porch or lich-yate is at the E. side of the churchyard. CCXVII. LEA, LEIGH, anciently LEGA, Is situate partly in Gloucestershire, and partly in Here- fordshire, and in Domesday is described as in Letbcrgc hundred. It is distant from Gloucester w. twelve miles, and two N. from Mitcheldean. The soil is universally of a sandy loam,, and applied in the proportion of about three fourths to tillage. The turnpike road from Gloucester to Hereford, by way of Ross, leads through it. The manor, at the time of the Conqueror's survey, be- longed to the Bishop of Constance, and contained one hide and two plow tillages in demesne, of the value of 20s. It afterwards came to the Marshalls, and from them de- scended to the Talbots. Big. Coll. John Talbot, the great Earl of Shrewsbury held it, and his son after him, who was killed at Northampton, in battle, 145O. The manor and estate were then confiscated, and granted to the Throckmorton's about 1470, in which family they con- tinued a century and a half, and are found 1 6O8 vested in Richard Hammeline. In the same century a transfer was made to Sir Duncombe Colchester, Knt. whose descend- ants have continued proprietors to the present time (209) of the manor and principal part of that portion of the pa- rish which lies in Gloucestershire. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 80 96 75. Houses inhabited, 15. The benefice is a perpetual curacy in the Forest deanery, annexed as a chapelry to Linton, co. Hereford. The im- propriation was held under the Bishop of Hereford, by the Forest Division,St. Briavd's Hundred, 101 late William Lane, Esq. of Gloucester, by whose will, on the death of his widow it will be the property of the Colchester family. Charles Whatley, M. A. is incumbent. The small tythes belong to the curacy, which has been twice augmented by the Queen's bounty. The church, whieh stands in this county, is dedicated to John Baptist, and consists of a nave, separated from a north aisle by light pillars, and a sepulchral chapel, with a low spire at the west end. CCXVIII. NEWLAND, anciently NOVA TERRA, Is a parish containing 1 0,000 acres, distant w. from Glou- cester twenty miles, and four E. from Monmouth. It is at least thirty miles in circumference. Through so large a district a variety of soil must necessarily occur, but in general the surface is of red loam. Pasture is more fre- quent than arable, and styre and other cyder liquors are produced in abundance and of good quality. About 1000 acres are in wood. NEVVJ.AND does not occur in Domesday, as probably at that time no grant had been made of it. Upon its being assarted and cultivated, it was called Nova Terra, (New Land) and 39 Hen. III. it is found under that name in the family of Kinerdsley. On the attainder of his son and successor, it reverted to the crown, and was regranted to Richard Marine, 1 277. Sir John Ap Howel held the ma- nor, which was forfeited by his rebellion against Ed. II. but restored by Ed. III. William Baynham levied a fine of it, 1553, after which it escheated to the King, and is now in the Right Hon. Frederick Augustus, Earl H 3 1O2 The History of the County of Gloucester. Icy, as Lord Warden and Constable of St. Briavel's, with- out any estate annexed. The village of Ncwland is principally built round the church, and forms an irregular square. Several families of wealth and consequence reside here in good houses, and thereby contribute very greatly to the pleasure and natu- ral advantages of the situation. Edmund Probyn, Esq.(21l) has a good house on the west side of the church-yard, which, from the back front commands the view of a beautiful country. His estates in this parish, and other parts of the county, are very considerable. A house and estate, late the property of Edmund Pro- byn, Esq. deceased, (of a different family,) now belong by heirship to William Perry, Esq. of Bristol. Mr. Pro- byn resided for many years at Newland, but had some time before his death in 1801, lived in a handsome house at Winterbourn (305). Highmeadow, the seat of Lord Gage (221), lies about half a mile north of the village. The house is large and handsome, with two wings in each front, and from its elevated situation, gratifies the spectator with a pleasing bird's-eye view of the church and houses below, and an extensive prospect of the scenery around. Colonel Kyrle, of the Royalists, being posted in Highmeadow-house dur- ing the civil wars, was surprised by the Governor of Glou- cester in the night. Wye Seal is an estate belonging to the dean and chapter of Hereford, late the property of Lord Sherbourn, as les- see to that society, but now transferred by sale to the Rev. Mr. Powell, of Monmouth. Manerial rights are claimed, and the privilege of a fishery in the Wye. Forest Division. St. Briavd's Hundred. 103 At.Redbrook is an iron furnace and copper works, to which belong three considerable estates, Upper Rcdbrook, Lower Redbrook, and Clidden Farms, containing in the whole 750 acres. HAMLETS. 1. CLOWERWALL, anciently called Wel- lington, sometimes Cleanvell, formerly belonged to the Joyces, and from them descended to the Grinders or Greyndours, from whom it passed, as in Abbenhall (211), to T. ap Enion or Baynham,'and continued in that family till 1609; about which time it passed to Sir William Throckmorton, of Tortworth, co. Glo. Bart, by marriage with Cecily, daughter and coheiress of Thomas Bayn- ham. It came afterwards to Thomas Wyndham, Esq. descended from an ancient family in co. Somerset. Tho- mas, his son, succeeded, and Charles after him, who in 1762, married Eleanor, second daughter of James Rooke, Esq. of Bickswear (220), by Jane, daughter of Tracy Catchrnay, Esq. of the same place. He died in 1801, having some time before taken the name of Edwyn, and is succeeded in the estates by Thomas Wyndham, Esq. his son and heir. The mansion-house was built by the grandfather of the present proprietor, in the Gothic style, and is surrounded by plantations arranged with taste, and without injury to the natural beauties of the situation. Longney-farm, containing 272 acres, belongs to Tho- inas Wyndham, Esq. 2. COLFORD, is a small market-town. Kino- James *f O granted the market and two fairs, one on the 20th of June, the other on the 24th of November. The market- house was built in 1679, towards which Cha. II. contri- buted forty pounds. This was the scene of some skirmishing in the civil wars. Offa's Dyke (208) passes through this hamlet. H 4 Id* The History oj tlx Counly of Gloucester. At White Cliif is an iron blast-furnace, belonging to Messrs. Teague and Co. and near it a pottery, where cast- ing-pots are made. The chapel was built in the reign of Queen Anne, who gave 300/. towards it, the old one having been destroyed in the great rebellion. The Bishop of Gloucester appoints the curate. The principal property belongs to Lord Gage and Ed- mund Probyn, Esq. Upper and Lower Eden Wall are the property of Wil- liam Partridge, Esq. 3. BREAM lies" four miles s. from the church. It has a chapel, to which the curate is appointed by certain trustees. Ji ream's Lodge is a large handsome house, lately be- longing to Mr. Barrow Lawrence, who died in 1773. He was of the Shurdington family, and proprietor of a good estate here and other places. This estate is now vested in John Matthews, Esq. of Newnham. Pastors hill belonged to Mr. W. Gough, jun. great grandson of William Gough, of Willsbury, who received t'i s estate from James Gough, Gent, younger son of War- ren Gough, of Willsbury. It is now the property by pin - "chase of William Partridge, Esq. of Monmouth. Yorklty Court, with other property, belongs to Mr. Packer. James Gough, by his will dated 1676, gave five shil- lings ro the minister of Bream every time he shall read prayers and preach on Sunday in the chapel. On default, to be spent in repairing the chapel, or given to the poor. 4. LKA BAILEY, formerly the estate of John Tiptot, Earl of Worcester, and afterwards of the Talbots, Earls of Shrewsbury, though a part of the parish of New- Forest Division. St. Briatel's Hundred. ] 05 iand, lies near to Mitcheideane. The property is much di- vided, but the principal belongs to Maynard Colchester, Esq.(213) On the west side of the church yard is a free grammar school, founded by Mr. Edward Bell, in 1632, ,is appears from the following inscription on the front of the school house: " Edwardus Hell, Gen. scholam iianc ct vetus hos- pitiumfundavit, et expiavit y annoj}om. 1632," The origi- nal stipend was ten pounds a year, to which Alderman Whitston, of Bristol, made by will an addition of the same value. The same Edward Bell also founded an alm's-house (hos- pitium) for eight poor people of this parish, with 20s. a year to each. A large hospital, with sixteen tenements for as many women and children, with a weekly allowance of two shil- lings each, was founded here by Mr. William Jones, a Hamburgh merchant, who also established a lectures!) ip here, with a salary of a hundred marks yearly. The lec- turer is chosen by the Company of Haberdasher's in Lon-r don, out of three clergymen, whose names are returned by the parishioners. James Birt, A. M. is the present lecturer. A hundred and two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, Newland, 2543. Houses inhabited, 504. The benefice is a vicarage in the Forest deanery, for- merly in the deanery of Ross, in the patronage of the Bishop of I^andaff. Robert Gibson, clerk, is incumbent. The tythes of all the assart or ploughed lands in the Forest were granted to the church of Newland 1336, and the great tythes were appropriated to the see of Landaff 1399. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is large, with a tower at the west end, handsomely ornamented with pin- .106 The History of the County of Gloucester. nacles, and battlements with open trefoils. On the right side of the chancel is a piscina, and a lich-yate at the north cast angle of the church yard. In P V N. tax. the church of Nova t'ra, 26/. 13s. 4rf. In King's books, 18/. 6s. CCXIX. RUERDEAN, anciently REWARDYNE, Is a parish distant fourteen miles w. from Gloucester, bounded on the west by the Wye, and containing 800 acres. The soil partakes of the general nature of the Fo- rest, chiefly applied to pasture, and covering strata of coal in great abundance. The village consists of one long street, where iron cinders lie plentifully scattered, but no iron mine is worked in this parish. The prefix is probably a corruption from River, and was intended to distinguish it from the neighbouring places of the same name. Ruerdean does not occur in Domesday. The first men- tion is made of it in 1 256, when it seems to have become a distinct manor or estate, and was held by William de Alba Mara ; and in 1293, Thomas Devenrry was proprietor of it and St. Briavel's castle. At the dissolution of religious houses it was parcel of the possessions of Flax ley Abbey, and was granted to Sir Anthony Kingston, 1545. The Baynhams held it in 1608, and the Vaughans after them. John Vaughan, Esq. was lord of the manor at the beginning of last century, with a good house and estate. From this family it passed to the Clarks, of the Hill, co. Hereford, and Jane dark, spin- ster, surviving coheiress of Richard Clark, is now lady of the manor, with nearly the whole landed property of the of the parish attached to it. See Note '. HATHEWAYS was anciently a distinct manor, and long Forest Division. St. BriaveVs Hundred. 1 07 held by a family of the same name. In 1472 it belonged to William Walleyn, afterwards came to the Baynhams, and is now united with the other manor, by possession of the same proprietor. Sixty freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 500 758 845. Houses inhabited, 179. The benefice is a curacy in the Forest deanery, in the appointment of the vicar of Walford, co. Hereford. John Houghton Beeston, A. B. is incumbent. o * . The impropriation is in the precentor of Hereford. In P. N. tax. Walford is mentioned with its chapels, of which Ruerdean was one ; and hence it is supposed that a chapel was at that time standing, and the Saxon construc- tion of the interior arch of the porch, she \vsthaf to have been a part of it. Over the arch are the figures of St. George and the Dragon, in relievo. The other parts of the church 'are of a later style. The west window is large and beau- tiful, and was probably the work of the 14th century.. The whole is spacious, and consists of a nave and south aisle, with a handsome spire erected at the west end on an un- embatteled tower. In the chancel is a piscina, and from the south aisle there was once an opening, now stopped up, through which the elevation of the host was seen. The lich-yate is here on the south side of the church yard. CCXX. St. BRIAVEL's, anciently ST. BRULAIS, Contains nearly 4000 acres of cultivated, commonable, and forest land, and is distant twenty-three miles s. w. from Gloucester. The soil varies with the situation of clay or sand, of which about 800 acres are woodland, and the rest is nearly divided into arable and pasture. Styre cyder of prime quality is made here,. Scoria or cinders 105 The History of the County of Gloucester. are found in great plenty a little below the surface of the ground. A turnpike road from Ross to Aust passage leads through this village. There is no mention of St. Briavel's in Domesday ; but in later records it is noticed as belonging to the following persons: Jeffrey Wether 1219, William de Lescbroke 1261, Walter Wether 1270, the crown 1276, Hugh de Despenccr the you ger 1319. William de Staure 1324, and Robert de Aure 1326. The castle was founded by Miles Fitz Walter, Henry I. to curb the incursions of the Welch. In this family it continued about a century, when it was seized by the crown, which has appointed the constables ever since. The present Earl of Berkeley is the twenty-seventh on the roll of record from 1215. This castle once enjoyed pecu- liar privileges, exercising an exclusive jurisdiction, and has long since had the wardenship of the Forest annexed. The scite of the castle includes within the moat a compass of 500 yards, and is extra parochial. The north west front only has escaped the ravages of time. It is formed by two circular towers, of three stories. On either side a narrow elliptic gateway. Within are hexagonal rooms, with Avails eight feet thick, one of them serving for the prison of the hundred. Three or four other rooms are used for the purpose of holding courts. The keep, with two other smaller towers, fell down in 1752, and in 1774 the demolition was almost complete. The village seems, from some ruins lately discovered, to have been formerly more extensive than at present. The market anciently granted by Ed. II. and the exemp- tion from all tolls, pontage, pavage, and other customs granted to the burgesses of the town by Ed. III. are now disused and obselete. A right of common in a wood Forest Division. St. Briuvd's Hundred. 1 Oy called Hudnalls, confirmed by Cha. II. is still exercised. It is said that the right was originally granted on the same terms as Lady Godiva obtained the privileges for Coven- try. Each inhabitant now contributes annually one penny to purchase bread and cheese, which are given on Whit- sunday to every claimant, as a condition of the charter. The inhabitants have also a right of- common of pasture, imd common of estovers in the Forest. The Earl of Berkeley is lord of the manor, and para- mount of the hundred, but the property is much divided. The Hatheways were anciently possessed of lands in this parish, and gave name to a manor, which passed to the Baynhams in the same way as Ruerdeane(2I9), and is now, with a good estate, the property of Thomas Wyndham, Esq. of Clearwell. Bickwear, on the banks of the Wye, an ancient seat, was formerly a parcel of the possessions of the Bishop of Llandaff, and afterwards of the abbey of Tintern. It is now the property of General Rooke, to whose father it came by marriage with Joan, the only daughter of Tracy Catchmay, Esq. The family of Rooke are from Kent. James Rooke, Esq. rebuilt the mansion-house, 1755. This is said to be an ancient manor, and to owe no homage to the castle, as is the case with other manors in the neighbourhood. Aylesmore house belonged to the family of Bond, the co- heirs of which, the '-relict of Rosser, and her sister, Bond, joined in the sale of it to Mr. John Mudway, or Muthway, the present proprietor. Willslniry has been vested in the family of Gough fof many generations. By marriage witli one of the co le'.r- csses of William Warren, of St. BriavePs, they became possessed of this and other estates. James Gough, Esq. 1 10 The Hisloiy of the County of Gloucester. who took the name of Aubrey, from his mother's ances- tors, soKl it to Tho. Evans, Gent, the present proprietor. Stmo Grange is the property of Kedgwyn Hoskins, Ksq. of Clear well. Marksbrook formerly belonged to the family of Dale, and now by purchase to John Griffiths, Esq. of Monmouth, a descendant of the same family on the female side. Dunkelns t formerly in the tenure of the Barrows, is now vested in John Hughes, Gent. Hoggins, formerly belonging to the same family, is now the property of William Allen, Esq. a descendant of the female line. In a ground called Closctuft, a mile and a half N. w. is a stone setup on end, ten leet high, six broad, and five thick, which is supposed to have been erected by the an- cient Britons, probably a pillar of memorial. No stone of similar component parts is found in the neighbour- hood. . Thirty-four freeholders voted in 1116. Population, 400 766 670. Houses inhabited, 144. The benefice is a vicarage in the Forest deanery, an- nexed to Lidney. The impropriation belongs to the chapter of Hereford. The rectorial tvthes, late in lease to Mr. Joseph Clewer, came, on his death, among seve- ral relations, sister's children. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, consists of a nave and transept, with a low tower in the middle, pin- nacled .md embatteled. The south transept is sepa att-d by plain circular arches on octagon pillars, and the north by arches of the same kind on round pillars. The whole building is of an earlier date than the fourteenth century, and the transepts probably more modern. No mention is made of it in P. N. tax. Forest Division. St. Briavd's Hundred. 1 1 1 CCXXI. STAUNTON, STANTON, anciently STANTONE, Is t\vo miles w. from Coleford, twenty-three s, w. from Gloucester, and contains 2885 acres. The soil is thinly scattered over a limestone rock, and generally in tillage. The name is derived from the Saxon Stan, a stone, and ton, a town ; either meaning, the town on the stone rock, or refering particularly to the curious remain of antiquity in this parish, called Buckstone^ '. Stantorie. is mentioned in Domesday, as a member of Blachelaue hundred, held by Turston, the son of Rolf, and taxed at five hides. John Walding, who is afterwards called de Stanton, held it 1285. From this family it passed to the Baynhams, and from them, 1558, to the Brains. By marriage with one of the sisters and coheir- esses of Robert Brain, it passed to Sir Wm. Winter, of Lidney, and from this family to the Halls, of Highmea- dow(218). Sir Thomas Gage possessed it, by marriage with Beata Maria Theresa, daughter anrl heiress of Bene- dict Hull, Esq. Sir Thomas was created Viscount Gage, of Castle Island, co. Kerry, and Baron Gage, of Castlebar, co. Mayo, 1720. On -his death, 1754, William Hall, Viscount Gage, succeeded. He married Elizabeth, daughter of Sampson Gideon, Esq. and sister of Sir Samp- son Gideon, Bart, of Spalding, co. Lincoln, and is the present lord of the manor, and proprietor of nearly the whole of the parish. A road, certainly Roman, leads from Stanton up to the Kymin, on the way to Monmouth, and seems to havo been the ancient route from the last-mentioned place to Gloucester. Here are many indications of a Roman set- tlement ; vestiges of a considerable entrenchment appear 112 Tke History of tke County of Gloucester. in the vicinity of the church, and great quantities of sco- ria are scattered about the fields. The Kymin is now become a place of considerable cele- brity and resort, on account of the NAVAL'PEMPLE which has been erected on its summit, as a public monument of the splendid victories obtained over the enemies of Eng- land, on the seas, at different periods, but particularly in the last war. The building is a square of thirteen feet, situate on the ridge of a rock, and inclosed by a high wall. The broad frieze on the four sides is adorned with medal ions of the most distinguished British commanders, with the dates of their victories. The names of BOSCAWEN, MITCHELL, KEITH, PARKER, HOOD, HOWE, DUNCAN, WARREN, CELL, NELSON, VINCENT, THOMPSON, RODNEY, HAWKE, and BRIDPORT, are recorded, with the different rlags un- der which they fought, decorated with appropriate and emblematical devices. The Temple is with great propri- ety dedicated to her Grace the Dutchess of Beaufort, not only as a considerable benefactress, but also as a daugh- ter of the late Admiral Boscawen. In every direction from this spot the views are extensive, grand, and often highly picturesque. Eleven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 220 220 159. Houses inhabited, 42. The beneftce is a rectory, in the Forest deanery, in the patronage of Lord Gage. William Barnes, A. M. is in- cumbent. The church, dedicated to All Saints, consists of a nave and north aisle, with a handsome pinnacled tower. The separating arches are pointed and canopied, supported by plain round pillars, having their capitals alternately foli- Forest Division. Bledisloe Hundred. 1 1 3 ated. The pulpit, now not used, is of storue, as also the font, both the works of an early period, and probably coeval with the building : the latter is ornamented with quatrefoil and other Gothic devices. In the south chancel is a piscina. The square Gothic windows of the north aisle exhibit the architecture of a less remote aera. In P.N. tjix. the church of Stanton, 6/. 13s. \d. In the King's books (discharged) ll. V. BLEDISLOE HUNDRED. CCXXII. AWRE, anciently AURE, Is situated on a tongue of land, which is bounded by the Severn on the ;N. w. and w. at the extremity whereof is Awre Point. The whole parish consists of about 4000 acres, and the proportion of pasture to arable is nearly three parts to one. The soil adjoining the river is a deep clay, but the uplands are more mixed with sand. The name is supposed to be derived from Aure, British for yellow, which in some places is the colour of the soil. Others derive it from Gilbert de Awre, who is said to have come over with the Conqueror, but as it is observed that no such name occurs in the roll of Battle Abbey or Scri- ven, it is more probable tliat he took the name himself from the place. A small rivulet runs on the north and separates this pa- rish from Newnham, and another called Lynch Brook makes a boundary on the south. VOL. II. I j 1 In Domesday it is mentioned as a member of the manor of Bertune, and belonging to the abbey of St. Peter, be- fore the conquest. The conqueror confirmed the posses- sion in the time of Abbot Serlo ; and free warren was granted by Edward III. At the dissolution it was granted to the dean and chapter of the cathedral of Gloucester, and forms a part of their revenues. The manor of Bernewod is mentioned in P. N. tax. among the temporal posses- sions of the abbot of St. Peter, who is described as having four carucates of land, and two mills. Sir T, Stephens, of Little Sodbury, appears among the early lessees, and afterwards the Johnson family for near a century. , John Morris, Esq. became the principal lessee in 1182, by transfer from the three daughters, coheirs of W. Johnson, Esq. and on his death was succeeded by his eldest son Robert Morris, Esq. who resides in the mansion, which he has greatly improved and beautified, near the church. All the estates in this parish, except the copy hold, which Avere enfranchised under the land tax redemption act, are held by lease, under the chapter, of which Mr. Morris has two thirds. Other principal lessees are Mr. John Jordan, John Jones, &fc. No freeholder voted in 1116. Population 180 220 309. Houses, 46. The benefice is a curacy in Gloucester deanery, en- dowed with the vicarial tythes. The impropriation has descended with the manor from the earliest times. The dean and chapter are patrons, and John Longden, M. A. is curate. The present chancel is said to have been the ancient chapel, and on the eastern end of the roof there was a 1 34- The History of the County of Gloucester. cross pat6e encircled, said to be the badge of the Knightj Hospitallers of Jerusalem, but within the last two years it fell down, and has not been replaced. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, with the neat embatteled tower, and a narrow aisle resting on the arches of the nave were added by abbot Parker, about 1520. Over the door of the tower is an escutcheon in a decay- ing state, for Parker, " a stag at gaze, between three phaeons." On the east end of the nave stands a handsome square turret, finished with an ornamented pinnacle, of the same style, and built at the same time with the more mo- dern parts. The zig-zag moulding on the exterior of the east win- dow, which is lancet shaped, refers it to a period not far from the middle of the 12th century, when the pointed arch was beginning to take place of the Saxon, but still retained some of its ornamental mouldings. The roof of the nave was cieled 1730, and the whole neatly pewed in 1752, at the expence of 200/. left by will of Mrs. Whitehead for that purpose. CCXXVII. BROCKWORTH, dim BROCOWARDINGE, Is a parish of 1600 acres extent, distant four miles . from Gloucester, and intersected by the Irmin-street, or great Roman foss road ; some appearances of which were not long since to be seen. The soil is chiefly a stiff" clay, more in pasture than tillage. The name is derived from Broc or Broco, a Saxon proprietor of the manor, arid worth Saxon, for mansion. The manor was originally held by Hugo Lasne, of the King, and taxed at five hides. Afterwards it was in the Chandos family, and in the reign of John was given to Forest Division. Dudstanund King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 135 the priory of Lanthony. In the charter of confirmation, a house on the west side of the church, with several lands, are particularly specified. At the dissolution, it passed to John Gyes, Esq. in exchange for Asple Gyes, co. Bedford, and Weddington, co. Ox. 1541. In this family it has con- tinued ever since, and is now the property of the Hon. and Right Rev. Shute Barrington, Bishop of Durham, in right of his Lady, Jane, sister and heir of Sir William Guise, Bart, deceased. DROYSCOURT, claiming manerial rights, was purchased of Sir Lawrence de Chandos, 1 260, by the abbot of Glou- cester. At the dissolution this made part of the endow- ment of the see, and the scite of it is now in lease to Shute, Lord Bishop of Durham. Lands appurtenant to this ma- nor are held under the same tenure, by Mr. John and H. Jones, and Mr. Davies. BUCKHOLT or Buckwood, containing 300 acres, a mem- ber of the same manor, was in lease to Robert Morris, Esq. who sold it to Thomas Jeflferies, Esq. (244) by whom it has since been resold to David Whatley, Gent. HAMLETS. 1. COOPER'S-HILL, famous for having; o been the birth place of John Theyer, a learned antiquary, and firm loyalist to Charles I. He died 1673, and is said to have been buried in Brockworth church, but no monu- mental remains of him are to be found. The estate was late in the possession of Theyer Townsend, Esq. deceased. It was part of the manor of Droyseourt, but sold under the land-tax redemption act, by the Bishop of Gloucester, and separated from the see. It afterwards passed by purchase to Messrs. Davies and H. Jones, and is now vested in them as freehold. Cooper* s-hill house, most delightfully situated, and com- manding a most extensive view of the vale, was lately K 4 1 36 The History of the County of Gloucester. sold by James Lee, Gent, to Charles Dighton, Esq. who resides in it. Ten freeholders voted in 1116. Population, 200 253 350. Houses inhabited, 63. The bene6ce is vicarial in Winchcomb deanery. The impropriation once belonged to the priory of Lanthonv, and was granted to Robert Earl of Leicester, in exchange for other lands, 16 Eliz. It is now vested in the lord of the manor, and Edward Jones, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. George, consists of a nave and north aisle, with a low tower in the middle, slated in a conical form. The internal arches are of early Norman architecture. In P. N. tax. the prior of Lanton. holds at Brockworth four carucates of land, and each carucate is worth 30s. a year. The church of Brockworth ll. In the King's books (discharged) 6/. 175. \d. CCXXVIII. CHURCHDOWN, CHOSEN, anciently CIR- CESDUNE, Is three miles from Gloucester eastward. It contains 2300 acres of pasture and arable. Fourteen hundred acres are in tillage. The soil is generally of clay, in some places inclining to sand, but mostly productive of good crops. The name has evidently a reference to the situa- tion, and signifies the church on the hill, for don, doun, dun, are Saxon for a down, high hill or mount. The hill, on the summit of which the church stands, rises out of the vale in an oval shape, four miles in circumference at the base, and about 850 yards high. The whole is in cul- tivation, and equally fertile with the vale. The reason forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 1 .37 of the church being built on so elevated a spot must be assigned either to the laborious piety of our ancestors, which connected merit with difficulty ; or to the satisfac- tion of a penance self inflicted, or enjoined the founder by ecclesiastical authority, as an atonement for some crime committed. To works of this kind, which cannot otherwise be explained, a legendary tale is generally at- tached. The vulgar tradition is, that the original inten- tion was to build the church at the foot' of the hill, but that the work of the day Avas removed by some invisible hand, in the night, to the summit, and that these interruptions were so constant and unremitting, as at length to enforce a compliance with the will of the unseen agent, in build- ing the church on the spot where it now stands. The present situation is unquestionably unfavourable as far as it respects the convenience of the inhabitants ; but the building, as an object, may be considered not altogether uninteresting in the landscape of the country. John Harmar, the famous Greek professor was born in this parish. In the fields about the hill, and particularly at the eas- tern base, the crowstone is found in abundance. The manor anciently belonged to Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, afterwards to Thomas, Archbishop of York and his successors. In the reign of Edward III. this among other temporal possessions of that see was extend- ed, but again restored, and continued in possession of the Archbishoprick till 1553, when it was granted to Sir Thomas Chamberlayne, in whose descendants it has been vested since that time, and Edmund John Chamberlayne, Esq. of Maugersbury, is now lord of the manors of Church- down ancj Hucklecott. He holds a court leet, to which 138 The Hiitory qf the County qf Gloucester. Norton owes suit and service. A small property is attach- ed to the manor (83). HAMLETS. 1. CHURCHDOWN, where the church stands. 2. HUCCLECOTT, Hochilicote, and anciently Uchelcoed, which means a lofty wood (Uchel coed.) In Domesday survey, the wood is described as one mile long, and half a mile broad. A good house in this hamlet was built by the late Sir Edward Strachan, Bart, which, on his death, was pur- chased by Samuel Hayward, Esq. of Gloucester, and is now vested in Walter Wilkins, Esq. by marriage with his daughter. The Rev. Richard Rogers is proprietor of a good house and estate, which formerly belonged to the family of Wyndowe. Another house is also the property and residence of Mrs. Colchester. Parton and Elmbridge. The property of these places was anciently in the priory of St. Oswald, and passed through several branches of the Jennings family. The former is now vested, with manerial rights, in Mrs. Ca- therine Hayward, relict of the late Samuel Hayward, Esq. by purchase of the representatives of the late William Sin- gleton, Esq. of Norton, co. Glo 42 . The latter is the pro- perty of the Hon. Henry Augustus Berkeley Craven. Noke is an estate belonging to Mrs. Catherine Hayward. Brickhamptoj}-, at the beginning of the last century, be- longed to Sir Robert Atkyns, afterwards to Robert Atkyns, Esq. of Nether Swell. By marriage with one of his daughters and coheiresses, it came to Edmund Chamber- layne, Esq. the grandfather of the present proprietor, Edmund John Chamberlayne, Esq. (83) Forest Division. Dudslan and King's Bar ton Hundred. Upper. 139 The Loons is a considerable estate belonging to Mrs. Mary Holcomb. Twenty-five freeholders voted in 1T76. Population, 400 630 644. Houses inhabited, 144. The benefice is a perpetual curacy augmented, in Glou- cester deanery. The impropriation anciently belonged to the priory of St. Oswald, and at the dissolution was granted to the chapter of Bristol, whose lessee pays tho curate 20/. per annum. The nomination is in the impro- priator, and James Evans, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, was used as a chapel to the priory of St. Oswald. It has a nave and north aisle, with an embatteled tower at the west end. The following information is said in Bigland's Collections to be found on the inside wall of the tower, " This bei- hous was buylded in the yeere of our Lorde God, 1601." In P. N. tax. " The prior of St. Oswald, Glouc. holds at Parthon three caruc. of land and a half, and each caruc. is worth thirty shillings yearly. " The church of St. Oswald, with the chapel of Churchesdon, Kc. 4Ql." Not in charge in the King's books. CCXXIX. DOWN HATHERLEY, anciently ATHEI.AI, Is three miles N. E. from Gloucester, and contains about 750 acres of rich pasture and arable land. The soil is a mixture of clay and sand. The parish is intersected by a rivulet, which rises in Badgeworth, and falls into the Se- vern at Sandhurst. The turnpike-road to Worcester and the North also passes through it. The manor was seized by the Conqueror, and is re- corded in Domesday under the title of Terra Regis. On 1 40 The History of the Cointfy of Gloucester. the creation of the barony of GifTard of Brimpsfield, it was annexed thereto. In 1311, it was held by Sir John de Wyllenton, and passed by marriage to Sir T. Brooke, in 1389. Fulk Grevil, second son of Sir Edward Grevil, succeeded by marriage with the surviving grand-daughter and heir of Robert Willoughby, Lord Broke. The ma- nerial estate was purchased by Nicholas Norwood, Esq. of Leckhampton, from which family, in 1608, it was trans- ferred to the Gwinnetts, of Badgevvorth, and George Gwinnett, Esq. is the present lord of the manor(225). The most considerable estate in the parish was vested, 1368, in John At-Yate, from whom it passed to the Berkeleys, of Beverstone, and from them, in the seven- teenth century, to the family of Brett, which was suc- ceeded by that of Gibbes, about 1120. William Gibbes, Esq. resided in the mansion house till his death, 1784, when Sir Richard Sutton, Bart, of Norwood Park, co. Nott. succeeded by will, and dying in 1802, left his estates, which include about a fourth part of the parish, to his second son, Sutton, Clerk. ^ Other considerable proprietors are, T. Mee, Esq. Mrs. Catherine Hayward, Mrs. Anne Wicks, and Mr. Peter Herbert. Ten freeholders voted in 1176. Population, 100 100 119. Houses inhabited, 22. The benefice is a vicarage in Winchcomb deanery. The patronage anciently belonged to the priory of St. Oswald, afterwards to the priory of Usk, and in 1500 the abbey of Glouc. presented to it. Since the dissolution, it has been retained by the crown. Martin Barry, LL. B. is incumb. The church, dedicated to St. Mary and Corpus Christi, is small, and has a low, strong battlemented towej* at^the west end. Forest Division.- Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. \ 4 1 In P. N. tax. the chapel of Hatherl. inferior, 5/. Portion of the prioress of Usk, I/. In the King's books, 8^. 145. 4-1 f the County of Gloucester. whom (Walter) gave to the hospital of St. Bartholomew, in Gloucester, two cranocs (eight bushels) of oats, pay- able out of his barn at Lessedune, on Michaelmas day for ever. The family of Cooke were proprietors in the reign of Edward the third, and from the heirs of John Cooke, a transfer was made to Thomas Raleigh, Esq. of Farnborough, co. Warwick, 1390, in which family it re- mained till William Raleigh sold it to Sir John Scudamore, in the reign of Henry the sixth. In the next reign Sir John was attainted of treason, and this with his other es- tates escheated to the crown, 1465. In the same year a grant was made of it to Sir Richard Herbert and his heirs male, whence it passed to William Whorwood, Esq. At- torney General to Henry the eighth ; on his death, 1546, he left two daughters, Anne married to Ambrose Dudley, and Margaret married to Thomas Throgmorton. The other third part, lying in the parish of St. Mary de Lode, was given by John Pyrie to the abbey of Glou- cester, and confirmed by patent, 1272, according to Big- land; but probably Rudder is more correct, who fixes the grant at the latter end of the reign of Edw. III. as it is not mentioned among the temporal possessions of the abbey in P. N. taxation in the time of Edw. I. At the dissolution this third portion made part of the endowment of the , see of Gloucester, and was leased 1536 to John Arnold, Esq. who purchased the other two parts. At the beginning of the 18th century Edw. Cooke, of Highnam, Esq. was lord of two thirds of the manor. The other third part was in lease to different tenants till 1790, when Sir John Guise, Bart, became the lessee (206), and in 1800 under the powers granted by the land tax redemption act, it was sold to Sir B. Wm. Guise, Bart, his son, and is now consolidated with the other parts of the manor. Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 1 43 The property in this parish is annexed to the manor. One freeholder voted m 1776. Population, 45 33 85. Houses inhabited, 13. The benefice is a rectory in the deanery of Gloucester, charged with an annual payment of eight shillings to the chapter of Bristol, a pension formerly due to the prior of St. Oswald's, in Gloucester. A third part of the advow- son was granted by John Pyrie with the third of the ma- nor, and confirmed to the see by Hen. VIII. On the sale of the latter, as mentioned before, the share of pa- tronage was reserved. Two turns are now vested in Sir B. Wm. Guise, Bart, and one in the Bishop of Gloucester. The church, dedicated to St. Oswald, consists of a small turret at the west end, a nave, and a chancel. Portion of the prior of St. Oswald in the church of Lassindon Ql. 8s. Qd. In the King's books (discharged) 6/. IQs. Qd, CCXXXI. NORTH HAMLETS, Lie on the north side of Gloucester, and belong chiefly to the parishes of St. Mary de Lode and St. Catherine within the city. 1. KING'S HOLM, containing 152 acres, adjoins the city, and is intersected by the turnpike-road leading to Tewkesbury. It lies in the two parishes of St. Mary de Lode and St. Catherine. Hen. III. granted King's Holm, then valued at Si. per annum, to Robert le Savage, to be held by the service of door-keeper of the King's pantry. In his family it continued till 1363, when John Boteler, of the Park, held it. Through several proprietors, it passed to the Beauchamps. Sir Robert Willoughby, Lord Broke, was seized of it by right of marriage with Elixubeth, HI. The History of the County of Gloucester. daughter of Sir Richard Beauchamp. It came afterward-; to three coheiresses of that family, and again passed to Rowland Arnold, Esq. who died seized of it in 1573, leaving a daughter, Dorothy, wife of Thomas Luci. The hamlet is now divided among several proprietors. John Pitt, Esq. M. P. for Gloucester, is the principal landholder, and lord of the manor. The Kingsholm close came to him by purchase from the late Sir John Guise, Some copyholds were anciently held under this manor, but they are all extinct. The inhabitants of this hamlet owe suit and service to the lord of Dudstan and King's Bailon. Scattered properties belong to Messrs. Wilton, Rudge, Ellis, Kc. This hamlet was included within the operation of the late act of inclosure, and was discharged from tythes. A traditionary account prevails, that in the Kingsholm close once stood the palace of a Saxon King, but it is not corroborated by history. A house certainly stood there, but it is supposed to have been the manerial residence. From the great abundance of coins of the latter empire, and skeletons which have been dug up, there is no doubt of its having been a station of considerable consequence. It is generally understood that the principal part of Glou- cester lay here in the time of the Romans. If the conjec- ture may be allowed that in Saxon ages, the watery way was continued from Longford, and fell into the old chan- nel of the Severn near the chapel house, the etymology of the name is easily ascertained. Kings Holm, signi- fying, a plain belonging to the King, surrounded with water 43 . At what period the channel was filled up is un- certain, but the traces are now well marked, and the pro- pert}' of the soil belongs to the corporation of Glouces- Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 145 ter, whereas the land immediately adjoining on both sides is separate and distinct. Subsequent to the foundation of St. Oswald's priory, in 909, the key or wharf, which was near it, on the banks of the Severn, was removed, in con- sequence of a dispute between the priory and the town. After this removal, the channel was of little use, and from neglect, or other designed or accidental circumstances, might easily fill up. From this period we may probably date the ruin of the city in this quarter, and the increase of it in others. The poor of this hamlet are supported in the Gloucester workhouse, and the rates are assessed upon the inhabi- tants as if they were within the limits of the city. Two freeholders voted in 1116. Population, , , 139. Houses inhabited, 30. 2. LONGFORD is distant one mile from Gloucester, on the turnpike-road to Tewkesbury, and belonging to the parishes of St. Mary de Lode and St. Catherine. The soil is a black mould on a bed of gravel, and nearly di- vided between arable and pasture. By the late act of in- closure, tythes were abolished. The name is derived from the watery way, which till of late years extended through the hamlet. Little is known relative to this hamlet prior to the disso- lution. Hen. VIII. gave the manor of Longford, among others, with all its rights, members, and appurtenances, to the See of Gloucester, since which time, the estates appurtenant to the manor, have been held by lease under the Bishop. The principal lessees are, Richard Brown Cheston, M. D. James Wood, Esq. Mrs. Catherine Hay- ward, and John Pitt, Es The Bishop of Gloucester is lord of the manor. The dean and chapter have also considerable property VOL. II. ] 4-6 7 he History of the County of Gloucester. here, under whom the principal lessees are, the governor and guardians of the poor of Gloucester. A good estate belongs to the Rev. Mr. Beale, of Evesham. Another to Benjamin Hyett, Esq. Other proprietors are Messrs. Rudge, Olive, Theache r Kc. Kc. Longford-house was built by Rich. B. Cheston, M. D. and commands a beautiful view in front of Churchdown- hill, and the long range of the Cotswolds in the distance. From the back front are seen May-hill, with the high lands of the Forest of Dean, forming together a pleasing land- scape. The estates appendant to it are very consi- derable. In the support of the poor the hamlet is distinct, and separated from the city. Ten freeholders voted in 1776. Population in Longford St. Mary, , , 82. Houses inhabited, 18. Population in Longford St. Catherine, , , 84. Houses inhabited, 15. 3. TWICWORTH, adjoining to Longford, is wholly in the parish of St. Catherine. It consists of pasture and arable, and the soil varies very little from the last. The termination of the name, with the prefix, seems to imply that it was a village belonging to some Saxon chief (225). Twigworth is not mentioned in Domesday, but was probably included under the general account of the King's lands in Bertune. Cuthbert de Rivers had a grant of it in the reign of John. The manor afterwards belonged to the Beauchamps, and by marriage came to the Grevils. Fulk Grevil had livery of it in 1562. It is now divided among several proprietors. Mrs. Catherine Hayward has nearly two thirds of the whole hamlet. forest Division. Dudstan and King's Burton Hundred. Upper. 147 A considerable property is held under the chapter of Gloucester. The tythes of Twigworth belonged to the priory of St. Oswald, were granted to the See of Bristol 1543, and were commuted for lands by the late act of inclosure. It is said that the chapel of Twigworth was 'seized by Edw. III. into his own hands, but no mention is made of it in P. N. tax. nor is there any traditionary account of the place where it stood. This hamlet has its proper officers, and maintains its own poor. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, , , 59. Houses inhabited, 12. 4. WOTTON, anciently ULETONE, is a vill or hamlet adjoining to Gloucester on the N. E. It is in the parish of St. Mary de Lode, but has its own officers, and supports its own poor. The soil is generally a black mould on a substratum of gravel, and a good deal in pasture. The lands were much divided soon after the conquest. Some property belonged to the priory of St. Oswald in 1305, and was granted to Thomas Gatwick and Anselm Lamb 1558. Other lands belonging to the same house, with the tythes, were granted to John Hercy and John Edwards, 20 Eliz. By the late act of inclosure, tythes were abolished, and lands allotted in lieu of them. The property of this hamlet, though it contains but few acres, is divided among thirty-five holders. Wotlon-house , formerly the property of Mr. Horton, lately of the Rev. Richard Brereton, deceased, now be- longs to his son, Thomas Westfaling, Esq. of Rudhall, co. Heref.(l59) G. Caesar Hopkinson, Esq. colonel in the army, has a good house and estate here. L2 1 48 The History of the County of Gloucester. Three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 156. Houses inhabited, 28. 5. THE VINEYARD HILL lies on an eminence, about a mile west from Gloucester, with the Leden and the western channel of the Severn flowing at its base. It had been, from early t mes, part of the property of the abbey of Gloucester, and was continued to the bishopric at the dis- solution. The abbots had a large house here, to which they frequently retired. It was demolished during the civil war, but the scite and the surrounding moat are now visible. This building excited an emulation in the prior of Lanthony to erect a rival house on the south side of Gloucester (243). 6. WALHAM-MEAD, anciently WOLLAMS, lying north of the city, was the property of the prior of Lanthony, 49 Hen. III. By virtue of the late act of inclosure, the several properties which were before ill-ascertained, were settled, and the limits of the respective parishes defined. The privilege which used to be enjoyed by the lord of the manor of Highnam, of turning two horses into the mowing grass of this meadow, ceased on a compensation being given in lieu of it. 7. ALNEY, anciently OLANEGE, is an island formed by the separation of the Severn into two channels, and com- prehends many acres of fine rich pasture, about half of which is in the parish of Maisemore, and the other at- tached to the parishes of St. Mary de Lode or St. Nicholas, in Gloucester. Portham or Importham, was the property of the abbey, and at the dissolution, (according to Atkyns and Rudder,) was granted to John Arnold 33 Hen. VIII. but Importams otherwise Porthame, containing about 67 acres of meadow, and the first shoot thereof being part of the demesnes of Barton Abbotts, and for some time ap- Forest' Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 149 pertaining to the late monastery of St. Peter, was granted to the Bishop of Gloucester, towards the endowment of the new see, and continued so till about 1801, when it was alienated under the powers of an act for the redemp- tion of the land-tax, and is now vested in Sir Thomas Crawley Boevey, Bart, who had been for many years the lessee under the Bishop. It is remarkable, that a small portion of this meadow is in the hamlet of Highnam, and the property of Sir B. W. Guise, Bart. The after pasture is the property of the freemen of Gloucester. This island is famous for the meeting of Edmund and Canute in 1016. The two Kings had stood in sight of each other for some time, at the head of their respective armies, at Deerhurst, without either giving the signal for battle. At length Edmund challenged Canute to single combat, which was refused by the Dane, on the ground of the inequality of the combat, but he proposed a re- ference to the principal officers of each army, which Avas accepted. The plenipotentiaries met in the isle of Alney, and after a short conference, the peace was concluded by the partition of the kingdom 44 . The Castle-meads are the property of Sir Charles Henry Talbot, Bart, and lie in the parish of St. Nicholas. 8. Part of LITTLE-MEAD lies also in this hamlet, and in the parish of St. Mary de Lode, the property of Mr. Thomas Jones. The after-pasture of this also is reserved for the freemen. Monkleighton, on the north side, contains some rich pasture lands, the property of John Turner, Esq. 9. The CASTLE OF GLOUCESTER, (on the scite of which is the New County Gaol,) with its appurtenances, lies L3 1 50 The Histoty of the County of Gloucester. close to the city, and is extra parochial' 15 . The three last, with some other small portions, are included in the same assessments for the public service. ST. MARGARET'S HOSPITAL Is situated about half a mile N. of the city. It was built in honor of the sepulture of our Lord and St. Margaret, and has at different periods been known by the names of the Ifospital, or House of the Lepers of St. Sepidcher's and St. Margarets, also the Lower House of Dudstan. The foundation of it is of great antiquity, but the exact time as well as the name of the founder, are equally unknown. Alured, Bishop of Worcester, granted these lepers liberty of burial in their own church yard, about the middle of the 12th century. The intent of the establishment is as- certained to have been for persons afflicted with leprosy, a disease which, in the early periods of our history, was very prevalent. The patronage of the house belonged to the abbot of St. Peter, and the domestic economy was placed in a master, or supervisor, a prior, or chaplain, and brethren and sisters. At the dissolution the yearly value was 1 \l. Ss. 4rf. of which the brethren and sisters re- ceived 8/. 1 2s. and the priest had 2l. besides 1 5s. of out rents. The offices of master and prior ceased in the reign of Elizabeth, when the corporation of Gloucester be- came the governors, by grant from the crown. Since which time the number of persons has occasionally va- ried, but is now fixed to eight men, a reader, and some other officers. Two shillings is the weekly allowance, and a room. The chapel is a little to the east of the hos- pital, anil service is performed in it at stated times. Forest. Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 1 J I ST. MARY MAGDALEN, or KING JAMES'S HOSPITAL, Is situated a little beyond the last, and owed its founda- tion to the priory of Lanthony, which supplied it with a. certain weekly allowance of bread. The lordship of Ber- nitone, Harrington Great(&6), was given by Earl Milo to that priory, in part for the purpose of supporting thirteen lepers. The brethren received yearly to the value of 12/. 6s. 8d. for providing certain loaves, called the loaves of Dudestan, from the priory, and it is recorded in the regis- ter book of Henry Deene, a prior in the time of Edward IV. that the poor people of this hospital were assigned two loaves a day, a load of hay, and a tree for fuel yearly, with the pasturage of a cow, and some lands for the main- tenance of their priest. At the dissolution the income of the lands was certified to be yearly 3/. 6s. 3d. The go- vernment was afterwards placed in the hands of the corpo- ration, who rebuilt the hospital, and by a grant of Jas. I. the annual pension which had been usually paid by the crown, to the amount of 13/. to this hospital, was ordered to be applied to the maintenance of nineteen poor people und a minister. The present establishment consists of nine women and ten men, with an allowance of eighteen pence a week. The chapel, which stands near the turnpike road, bears in some parts of it,' and particularly the south door, the characters of great antiquity. In the certificate of the commissioners, at the dissolution, both the chapels are called parish churches ; but now they are extra-parochial, retaining the right of sepulture. CCXXXII. NORTON, anciently NORTUNE, Is a parish containing 1400 acres, five miles distant N. L4 1 j'2 The History qf the County of Gloucester. from Gloucester, and intersected by the turnpike road leading to Tewkesbury. The soil in general is a deep clay, in many parts mixed with rounded pebbles, and produces good crops both in grass and corn, and nearly in equal quantities. Tin' name is evidently derived from its relative situation to Gloucester, North town. Part of Wainload hill is in this parish. Stigand, Archbishop of Canterbury, held Nortune, con- taining five hides and a half, before the survey; and Thomas, Archbishop of York at the time of it. The ma- nor was afterwards held of the honour of Gloucester, and divided into two, Bishop's Norton and Prior's Norton. The former continued in the Arshbishopric of York till the dissolution, when it was granted to Sir Thomas Cham- berlayn, 1553, and passed to the family of Whitmore,of Lower Slaughter (96). George Whitmore, Esq. son of General Whitmore, sold it to William Singleton, Esq. of of whom it was purchased by the late John Webb, Esq. and is now in pessession of Mrs. Arabella Webb, his re- lict, for her life. Norton house, with a good estate, belongs to the same proprietor. It passed from John le Brun, 1301, and con- tinued in the same family (afterwards called Brown) to the beginning of the last century, when it was purchased by Daniel Lysons, Esq. of Hempstead, and sold again some years after to William Singleton, Esq. from whom it passed to John Webb, Esq. Prior's Norton, belonged to the priory of St. Oswald, Gloucester, and at the dissolution was granted, with the chapel of St. John's and a portion of tythes, to John Bloxholm, 1545. John Read, and after him Oliver St. John, had a livery of it in the reign of Elizabeth. It af- rarest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 15S terwards passed to a daughter of Lord Scndamore, and is now vested in the Duke of Norfolk, in right of marriage with Frances Fitzroy Scudamore. The temporal property of St. Oswald Priory, is thus described in P. N. tax. " Prior Sci. Oswalde, Gloucestre, habtt apud Northon unam caruc. terr. et dimid. at valet quadraginta solid. Kc. et ha- bet unu. moknd. quod valet p. annu. duos solid" The two reputed manors above mentioned are said to owe suit and service to Churchdown (228). Mrs. Catherine Hayward has a considerable property here. Another estate belongs to Thomas Paytherus, Esq. of London. Twelve freeholders voted in 1176. Population, 300 240 303. Houses, 64. The benefice is a perpetual curacy in Gloucester dean- ery. The dean and chapter of Bristol are impropriators, who appoint the curate, and pay him twenty pounds a year. Mr. William Butt is lessee. James Evans, M. A. is incumbent. The advowson was given to the abbey of Gloucester by Emmelina, and the grant was confirmed by her grandson Robert, 1126. In the thirteenth century Norton was a chapel to the church of St. Oswald, and the rectory and advowson of the vicarage of Norton, which belonged to the said priory, were granted to the dean and chapter of Bristol, 1543. The church consists of a nave and chancel, and has a well built battlemented tower at the west end. In P. N. tax. " The church of St. Oswald, with the chapels of Churchesdon, Norton, Sandhurst and Compton.'* Ij i The History of the County of Gloucester. CCXXXIII. SANDHURST, SAXTHURST, anciently SANHER, Is a parisli of 2000 acres, three miles N. from Glouces- ter, and bounded on the west by the Severn. The soil in some parts inclines to sand, in others is a deep clay, and on the banks of the river a red fertile loam. The propo- tion of pasture and arable is nearly equal ; of the former there is a considerable quantity of meadow, of the latter about 100 acres are common field. The manor of Sanher, in Dudestan hundred, was held by Edmar, a thane, in the time of the Conqueror. Karl Herald took this away with four other manors after the death of Edward, and Robert de Lurei put them to farm for 46/. 13$. 4d. Soon after the conquest it belonged to the family of de Willington, who either gave, or receiv- ed their name from Willington Court. In this family it continued till 1412, when John Wrath was proprietor, as son and heir of John Wrath, who had married Joan de Willington. He left two sisters, coheiresses; Elizabeth, wife of Sir William Poulton, and Isabel, wife of William Beaumont. On the death of Elizabeth, without issue, the whole fell to Isabel, who was succeeded by her son, John Beaumont; on his death without issue, Isabel, his sister, became possessed of the whole property of the Willington family in various parts of the county. She dying unmarried, was succeeded by Sir Thos. Beaumont, her kinsman and next heir, whose successors of the same name, in several periods of th reign of Hen. VII. levied fines to Giles Lord d'Aubeny, and other great lords, pro- bably to the use of the King. The before-mentioned Lord and his son Henry were successively seized of them, in the following reign, when they reverted to the crown, forest Division, Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 155 and having been granted to Edward, Duke of Somerset, on his attainder c. t me again to the crown. James Basset was grantee in the reign of Mary, and Arthur Basset, 7. Eliz. The manor came afterwards to the family of Winston, of whom, Philip died at Willington Court, and is buried in the church, 1672. John Viney, Esq. was lord of the manor at the beginning of the last century, from whom it has descended to James Viney, Esq. (198). Abiotic 1 s court, or Abbdode is a reputed manor. It was granted by Hen. I. to the abbey of Gloucester, Avith the grove of Barton, called Pay Grove, in exchange for an orchard belonging to the monks, the scite of the present cathedral tower. A farther grant of six ridges was made by the same King, and a similar portion by Ralph be Wil- lington and Olynipias his wife, situated behind the court in the same reign. Among the abbot's temporal posses- sions in P. N. tax. are mentioned " three carucates of land, valued at 145. each," and the same house had free warren in all their demesnes, 28 Ed. III. At the dissolu- tion it was granted, together with half a wood, called Woolridge in Ablode, to the chapter of Gloucester. John Guise, Esq. a younger branch of the Rendcomb family, was lessee, and afterwards a Mr. Cocketel. By an ordi- nance of Parliament, 1645, it was given to the mayor and burgesses of Gloucester, but on the restoration the chapter were reinstated, under whom it is held by Lord Sydney, their lessee, heir to the estates of the late Geo. Selwyn, Esq. (241). The abbot is supposed to have had a lode or passage over the Severn at this place 46 . BRUERNE, is another ancient manor, now by corruption called Brawn. It was formerly held by yEldred, Arch- cishop of York, under the name of Brewere, and con- 1 56 The History of the County of Gloucester. tained three yard lands, and through several proprietors, among whom was the family of Boteler, during the reigns of the three first Edwards, it passed at length to General Carpenter, whose descendants sold it to Thomas Vernon, Esq. in 1775, from whom it descended to his grandson, T. Vernon, Esq. now living. Culverden, or Bengrwe, is also a reputed manor, and seems to have gone with the manor of Sandhurst till Hen. VII. when it was transferred to, and continued in the fa- mily of Throckmorton. Subsequent to the reign of Eli- zabeth it passed into the family of Bell, of whose repre- sentatives it was purchased towards the latter part of the last century, by the late Samuel Hay ward, Esq. who died in 1790, and is now the property for life of Walter Wil- kins, Esq. by marriage with the daughter and heiress. Walsworth-hall, is a handsome modern built house, situ- ated in the hamlet, from which it derives the name, and is surrounded by a good estate, belonging to the same pro- prietors as the last. The Moat, with a considerable estate, is the property of Samuel Lysons, clerk (240). Other proprietors are Mr. John Phillpotts, Samuel Olive, and John Sulcomb. Fifteen freeholders voted in 1*776. Population, 300 260 365. Houses inhabited, 64. The benefice is a vicarage in Gloucester deanery. The rectory and advowson formerly belonged to St. Oswald Priory, and at the dissolution were granted to the see of Bristol. The Bishop of that see is patron, and Samuel Sadler, M. A. is incumbent. The impropriate tythes are in lease from the Bishop of Bristol to the famil y of Vernon. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, consists of a Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 1 57 nave and chancel, with a low tower at the west end. The present building was probably erected about the beginning of the 16th century. The chancel was repaired and beau- lifted at the joint expence of Samuel Hay ward and Thos. Vernon, Esq. In P. N. tax. it is recorded with Norton, 5Cc, (232). CCXXXIV. GREAT SHURDINGTON, olim SCHHWR- DINTON, Is a parish of 400 acres, distant six miles N. E. from Gloucester, and situate at the base of Leckhampton hill. The soil in general is of clay, and chiefly in pasture. A tumulus or barrow was opened not many years ago, and at the depth of about sixteen feet a stone sepul- chre was discovered, seven feet long and four broad, con- taining a perfect skeleton. The bones had a fresh and firm appearance, and the teeth were white. Over the head was suspended a helmet, which being entirely cor- roded by rust, fell to pieces on the slightest touch. It is said, that the numeral characters answering to 10OO were visible 47 . Gilbert Clare, last Earl of Gloucester, was proprietor of this manor 8 Ed. II. It afterwards continued in the family of Maltravers, and thence passed by marriage with Elea- nor, sister and heiress to Henry Maltravers, to John Arun- del, alias John Fitz Alan, in which family it continued to 35 Hen. VIII. when William Earl of Arundel died seized of it. All the latter possessors seem to have been mesne lords under the Archbishop of York, as in the grant of the manor to T. Chamberlayne, 6 E. VI. it is mentioned to have belonged to the Archbishop. It has continued in a direct line in the Chamberlayne family, and is now the pro- 158 The History qf the Cottnly of Gloucester. perty of Edmund John Chamberlayne, Esq. of Maugers- burv, in this county, without any landed property in the parish. UPHATHERLEY is a hamlet in this parish, having its own constable and overseer. George Gwinnett, Esq. is lord of the manor, but without any landed property in it. The principal property belongs to W. Lawrence, Esq. and Mrs. Hannah Palmer. Six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 70 80 85. Houses inhabited, 16. The church is an impropriation in Winchcomb deanery, belonging to Jesus College, Oxford, and Christ College, Cambridge (235), and is annexed to Badgeworth. The tythes anciently belonged to the nunnery of Usk, co. Monmouth, and were granted with, those of Up-Hatherley and South Hatherley to James Gunter and Walter Lewis, 1546, and tythes under the same description were granted to John Ferham, 1580. The chapel is dedicated to St. Paul, and has a hand- some steeple at the west end, with an aisle on the N. side, called Hatherley Aisle, which is repaired by the inhabi- tants of that hamlet. CCXXXV. GREAT WHITCOMB anciently WYDE- COMBE, Is a parish six miles N. E. from Gloucester, and contain* about 760 acres of pasture and arable, with a large pro- portion of woodland, chiefly beech, which is burnt into charcoal. The name evidently defines the situation of the place, which is a wide valley, between hills, from the two Saxon words wid, wide, and comb, a valley. The manor is not mentioned in Domesday, but occurs Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Upper. 1 55 under the title of Wydecombe in P. N. tax. In 1276 Ed- mund Earl of Cornwall is said to have been seized of it. The Archbishop of York held it afterwards for the use of the priory, by agreement. At the dissolution it was granted to Sir Thomas Chamberlain, in whose family it continued till the beginning of the nth century, when it was purchased by the widow of Sir Michael Hicks, about 1613, in which name and family it has descended to Sir W. Hicks, Bart, the present lord of the manor, and proprietor of more than two thirds of the parish. The family of Hicks is distinctly traced up to J. Hicks, of Tort Worth, 2 Henry VII. who was descended from Sir Ellis Hicks, Knight Banneret, in the reign of Ed. III. who added the three fleur de lis to his arms, as a reward for his bravery, and taking a pair of colours when in the ser- vice of the Black Prince. The family seat is situated at the base of the hills, co- vered with beautiful beech woods, and commands, thro' some openings, a grand and interesting view, bounded by the distant hills of Malvern, over the rich vale of Gloucester. William Caple, Esq. is a considerable proprietor here. Three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 9096 119. Houses inhabited, 26. The benefice is a rectory, in Gloucester deanery, The advowson formerly belonged to St. Augustine's Abbey, in Bristol, and now pays 135. 4?d. yearly to the chapter of that cathedral. Sir William Hicks, Bart, is patron, and Thomas Nash, D.D. incumbent. Wydecbmb is mentioned as a chapel in P. N. tax. and it is not ascertained at what period it first received paro- chial privileges. Some tythes anciently belonged to the )CO The history qf the County of Gloucester. priory of St. Oswald, which, in 1578, were granted to John Hercey and John Edwards. The church is small, dedicated to St. Mary, consisting of a nave, nortli aisle, and low wooden tower. In P. N. tax. the portion of the prior of St. Oswald, in the chapel of Wydecomhe, 1 3s. 4d. In the King's books, discharged, 4/. 6s. 8d. Middle Part. CCXXXVI. BARTON HAMLETS Adjoin the city on the east side, and form a street of considerable length. The houses and lands are divided between the parishes of St. Michael and St. Mary de Lode. The name was given from its having been a farm or bar- ton in the King's own hands, to subsist the castle of Gloucester. This howeVer was only one part, and pecu- liarly King's Barton: Another portion was called Barton Abbotts, and belonged to the abbey of Gloucester. In Bertune, King Edward had nine hides, and received from the farm 9/. os. and 3000 loaves for the dogs. In the reign of the Conqueror, it paid 20/. 20 cows, 20 hogs, and 165. in lieu of the bread. This manor continued ia the crown till 1218, when Jeoffry Lucy held it. Robert le Savage was seized of Barton Court 1261. Walter Wither 1270. John Musgross 1275. Ralph de Wales- worth 1280. The rent of the castle, and the Bertone and Tyne of Gloucester, which was 1 10/. a } f ear, was settled on Queen Margaret, in part of her dower, 1 299. Forest Division, Dudstun and King's Barton Hundred. Middle. 161 BARTON ABBOTS belonged to the abbey of Gloucester* by gift of Adelred, Governor of the Wicces, about 120, when Eva was abbess. This manor continued, (with the interruption only of its having been seized by the Arch- bishop of York)(228), in the abbey of Gloucester, to the dissolution, when a lease of the scite of it, with several lands belonging to it, for 21 years, was granted to John apRice, at the yearly rent of 14/. 45. 4d. ; and the re- version of all this and other estates were sold to the cor- poration of Gloucester, 1543 ; but the crown seems to have resumed its claim ; for the manor of Barton Abbots was granted to Sir Adrian Fortescue, and his heirs male, 1558. According to Atkyns, it again reverted to the crown in 1608. The manor and Barton Farm, with other lands, now belong to the corporation of Gloucester. This manor was always exempt from geld and royal service. On the 28th of September an annual fair is held in Bar- ton-street, which some years ago was well supplied with cheese ; but the modern mode of passing it through the factor's hands, has very much reduced the quantity offered to public sale. It is however still a fair much attended for the purchase of horses and cattle of all kinds. A certain toll on cheese, cattle, Kc. is received by Mrs Hayward (233). Queen Elizabeth, in the 28th year of her reign, granted to Edward Reade, and William Hulbert, among other premises, to be held as of her manor of Estgrene- wyche, at the yearly rent of two shillings and sixpence for ever, all the profits, customs, tolls, &V. of a certain fair, called Pigfayer, hoklen in Barton-street, on St. Lambert's day, which was the 17th of September; now, by the alteration of the stile carried forward to the 28th. From the original grantees the right has passed through VOL. II. M 16-J The History cf the County of Gloucester. different proprietors, and last from the late W. Singleton, Esq. (232) to 8. Hay ward, Ksq. (233). Enquiries into the ancient state of property in this ham- let are now rendered unnecessary by the operation of a late act of Parliament for inclosing the open fields in the neighbourhood of Gloucester ; and the confusion and per- petual disputes, which have for many years prevailed, both as to parochial boundaries, and tythes, are superseded by the commissioners award, M hich is deposited among the archives of the chapter of Gloucester, and open for in- spection, by application to their clerk. Population of Barton St. Mary, , ,412. Houses inhabited, 81. Population of Barton St. Michael, , , 285. Houses inhabited, 54. CCXXXV1I. BROCKRUP, BROCKTHORP, anciently BROSTROP, Is a parish containing 800 acres, and distant four miles s. from Gloucester. The soil is generally a stiff clay, and chiefly in pasture. Some land is in tillage in the unin- closed fields. The name is derived from JBroco, or Broc, in Saxon times(227), and threp orthrop, in Anglo Saxon, a street or village. Corbet, in his military government of Gloucester, men- tions a considerable skirmish that happened at Brockthorp hill, in which the parliamentary forces, under Massie, were brought into great danger by a manosuvre of the enemy, and the governor himself nearly cut off. In Brostrop Aluric held three virgates of land. In 1 1 03, Adeline, widow of Roger de Ivori gave this manor to the abbey of Gloucester, and King Stephen confirmed the Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. 'Middle. 163 o-rant. In 1121 Elias Giffard granted to the monks of Glou- cester all his land, estimated at half a hide and half a yard land, free from all customs except Danegelt due to the King ; and some time afterwards Roger I. granted to the same society eight acres of land near Brockthrop Court. The manor and estates continued in the possession of the abbey till the suppression, when they were granted to the new see of Gloucester. The family of Wood were lessees for many generations, and lived in the Court-house, now converted into a farm. The whole parish was held by lease under the Bishop of Gloucester. The manor and demesnes, which were in lease to Caro- line Busby, became the property of Alexander Maitland, Esq. on his marriage with her. A considerable part of this has been made free by sale to the said A. Maitland, under the land tax redemption act. About 240 acres are now in lease to him with the manor, on lives : the remain- der is freehold. Other lessees are John Pitt, Esq. Mr. Trye,and T. Smith. No freeholder voted in 1776. Population, 200 107 112. Houses, 27. The benefice is a vicarage in the deanery of Gloucester. The rectory and church, which belonged to the abbey of St. Peter, were given at the dissolution to the dean and chapter of Gloucester, who are now the impropriutors and patrons. Samuel Sadler, clerk, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Swithin, is an inconsider- able building, consisting of a nave, w\th a low slated tower. Value in P. N. tax. I/. 6s. Sd. Value in King's books (discharged), 7/. 17*. 6d. M 2 1 6't 'I he lltstory <>J the County of Gloucester. CCXXXVIII. ELMORE Is a parish containing 1200 acres, distant s. from Glou- cester four miles. The soil is generally of a deep clay, and about 25.0 acres are in tillage, the remainder is in pas- ture and meadow. Elm and oak trees grow here in great luxuriance, and on situations raised above the reach of the floods, the pear and apple are planted to advantage. The low meadows being subject to frequent inundations, are called the Moors, and hence the name is derived : the the British word Allmor, signifying a low situation near the sea, or some great river 48 . A rock called Stone-bench runs nearly across the rivet- here; it is sometimes visible above the water, and a small channel only is left on the opposite side for the passage of boats and barges of small burden ; but no trows or brigs can pass, till the high water of spring tide gives them depth sufficient over the ridge. A curious circumstance is recorded by Leland, that " the roots of oaks in this parish were converted into hard stones, within the ground." If the learned antiquary was correct in his account, it exhibited a petrifaction of an un- usual kind, but nothing like it is now to be seen, or even heard of by tradition. FAmorc Back lies on the banks of the Severn opposite to Minsterworth, so called from bac or hec, British for a ferry. It comprehends that portion of land mentioned as- in the parish of Minsterworth (203). The earliest possessor of the manor mentioned by histo- rians, was Hubert de Burgo, Earl of Kent, 1260, who granted to the priory of Lanthony the tythes of lampreys, and all fish taken. in lu's gurges or fisheries of Elmore. J. de Burg, his son, gave it in dower with one of his kindred forest Division.-~Dudstanand King's Barton Hundred. Middle. 165 to Nicholas de Gyse, of the family of Gyse, of Asple Gyse, co. Hereford, who assumed the arms of Burg, in honour of that family. The manor was re-granted to his son Sir Anselm Gyse, 1274, at the yearly rent of a clove gilly -flower. It is said, however, that the family of Gyse were only mesne lords under Lanthony, for Sir John Gyse invested three clerks in trust for the priory with the lord- ship, with the reservation of a fee farm rent, 1 358. Whe- ther the inheritance of the manor passed by this grant is uncertain; for Anselm Gyse died seized of it 1412, and Reginald in 1517. It was allowed to be parcel of the ho- nour of Hereford 1359, 1373, and 1558. Sir Christopher Guise, the eleventh in lineal succession from Anselm, who had the manor in the reign of Ed. I. by the gift of John de Burg, was created a Baronet by Charles II. 1661, and Sir William Guise, who died in 1783, was the fifth Baronet. He was unmarried, and on his death bequeath- ed this, with other estates, to his sister Jane, Lady of the Hon. and Right Rev. Shute Barrington, Lord Bishop of Durham, who in her right is lord of the manor (227), and with the exception of a few small freeholds, proprietor of the whole parish. Elmore-Court, the manerial house, stands on an elevated situation, and was built in the reign of Elizabeth, by John Guise, Esq. with stone brought from the castle of the De Bohuns, Earls of Hereford, at Harscomb (239). Ten freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 300 300 381. Houses inhabited, 64. The benefice is a perpetual curacy augmented in Glou- cester deanery. It was endowed by Sir John Guise, the second Baronet, with the privy tythes. The impropriate tythes were given 1137 by Milo, constable of Gloucester, M 3 1 66 The History of the County of Gloucester to the priory of Lanthony, and the vicarial to the church of St. Owen, in Gloucester, and confirmed by Walter de Cantilupo, Bishop of Hereford, 1256. At the dissolution both were granted to the family of Guise 49 , in which fa- mily the patronage now is. Joseph Chester, D. D. is in- cumbent. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, consists of a nave and north aisle, long and spacious, with a low battlemented tower at the west end. In the churchyard is a mausoleum, in a pyramidal form, supported by arches springing from each angle, under which are deposited the ancestors of the Guise family. CCXXXIX. HASCOMB, HARSCOMB, anciently HERSECOME, Is a parish situate in a secluded comb or valley, distant five miles s. from Gloucester. The contents of the whole are about 350 acres, and the soil generally of a stiff clay, chieriy in pasture. In the early accounts of this manor there is some confu- sion. One manor, probably that of Brockthrop, is stated to have been let by Earl Lurei for 46/. 1 3*. 4d. for the use of the King. The abbey of Glouces'erhelda manor, which was connected with Brockthorp, in early times, by dona- tion of Ade isa de Ibreio. Of this, the family of Wood were sometime lessees, and Alexander Maitland, Esq. now(237). But the original manor is said to have belonged to the Rufi, or le Rous, of Duntesborne Militis, the first of whom died seized of it 1273, and it descended, after five generations, to Juliana de Rous, first the wife of Sir Andrew Herle, Knt. and afterwards of Thomas MUl, ESQ Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Middle. \ 67 of Tremill, co. Devon. Thomas Mull, or Mill, his heir, settled at Harscomb 1 360, and was the ancestor of a fa- mily which remained there till the middle of the nth cen- tury, when their estate, much reduced, passed to Sand- ford and Roberts, from them to the Michells of Randwick, and some years since, first to Thomas, then to his brother, Miles Huntley, Gent, and on the death of the last, in 1790, it came by heirship to Miles Mitchell, Gent, of Westrip, whose uncle married a sister of Miles Huntley The estate is about a tenth part of the parish. The est tes called Backhouse and Laddersiik in this, and others in Brockthorp parish, which had been for many years in lease to the family of Savage, fell in to the Bishop of Gloucester, on the death of Colonel G. Savage, and are now in lease to Thomas Smith, Gent, who has other consi- derable property. Withyrows is the property of Mr. J. Kemberry. Other proprietors are, Mr. Hewett, Mrs. Jane and Mary Neale, S. Peach, Esq. Kc. Alexander Maitland, Esq. is lessee of the manor. An old mansion, said to be the castle of the Bohuns, was situated a little to the westward of the church. The materials were carried to Elmore, for the purpose of building the court-house, in the reign of Elizabeth. The appearance of the moat, &c. is still to be observed (23d). Fourteen freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 60 74 108. Houses inhabited, 24. The benefice is a rectory in Gloucester deanery, with Pitchcomb annexed. Fourteen acres of glebe belong to the rector. The church, dedicated to John the Baptist, is a small M 4 168 The History of the County oj Gloucester. building, with a nave only, and a low conic turret, of singular structure, finished with a cross. The dedication of the church was in 1315, according to Bishop Thomas's survey ; but either this is a mistake, or the church at this time was newly erected, because in the taxation of eccle- siastical property in or about 1291 , a church is mentioned, " Porco Prioris Lanthorf in Ecdia de Harscomb K Py- chem-comb" Value in King's books, (discharged,) 6l. Ss. lid. CCXL. HEMPSTEAD, HEYHAMPSTEDE, anciently HECHANESTEDE, Is a parish of 600 acres, distant one mile s. from Glou- cester, situated on a pleasant eminence, gently declining on all sides, and overlooking the vale in every direction. The soil in general is clay, and principally in pasture. Sted signifies a place or station, and probably the name originally might signify Hechane's town or station. The Berkeley canal, which here runs in a parallel di- rection with the turnpike road, intersects the parish. Domesday records the manor, containing five hides, as held by Edric Lang, a thane of Earl Herald's, but then let by the vice-comes or sheriff at 605. a year. In the next century it was parcel of the great property of Milo, Earl of Hereford, who 1 136 gave it to the priory of Lan- thony, near Gloucester, of his own foundation. The rights of the priory, and among othef s of free-warren in Hey-Hempstead and Podgemead, were confirmed in sub- sequent reigns. At the dissolution of religious houses, the Court of Augmentations sold this manor, with a fishery on the Severn to Thomas Atkyns and Margaret his wife 1546, from whom it descended in a regular line to Sir Robert Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Burton Hundred. Middle. } 69 Atkyns, of Saperton, who about 1-708 sold it to Allen Bathurst, Esq. of Cirencester, afterwards Earl Bathurst, of whom it was purchased by Daniel Lysons, Esq. about the middle of last century, from whom it descended to the late Daniel Lysons, M. D. his grandson, and on his death in 1800, Samuel Lysons, Clerk, M. A. of Rodmarton, his brother, became the proprietor. The manor-house is fronted towards the turnpike-road, and commands a beautiful view of the city and vale of Gloucester. It was built at the beginning of last century, and has received very considerable improvements under the direction of the present proprietor. The family of Lysons were principal lessees under the manor so early as 1630, but the manor was aot purchased till some years after. Their property now extends to something more than half the parish. The RHEE or REA, a hamlet lately belonging to T. W. Payne, Esq. is now by purchase the property of Mr T. Bacon. PODGEMEAD, another hamlet, once parcel of the en- dowment of the priory of Lanthony, is of considerable ex- tent. At the dissolution this estate, with some others in different places, were sold to Joan Cook, relict of John Cook, alderman ef the city of Gloucester. It was after- wards held by Henry Hoskins, Gent, who in 1653 granted it by will to the corporation of Gloucester, on condition that they should renew to the heir male of his descendant* a lease for 3 1 years, at a certain reserved rent, subject to a fine. The present hereditary lessees are George Phelps, Gent, and the family of Hope, and William Newman, Gent, is their assignee. Two freeholders voted in 1776. 170 The, History of the County of Gloucester. i Population, 140 129 159. Houses inhabited, 22. The benefice is a rectory in Gloucester deanery, in the patronage of the Duke of Norfolk, in right of his Dutchess, who was Miss Scudamore. Samuel Commeline, M. A. is incumbent. It was anciently a chapel to St. Owen's in Gloucester, which was at that time endowed with the small tythes of Hempstead. The great tythes given by Earl Milo 1 137, were confirmed to the Augustine canons of Lanthony, about 1240. At the general suppression they were granted to Sir Christopher Hatton, and were sold after- wards to Henry Powell, Esq. who resold them, 1662, to Lord Scudamore. By authority of Parliament, he made this church rectorial, and endowed it with all the impro- priate tythes, to which he added the tythes of the extra- parochial demesne of Lanthony adjoining. At this time the ancient house assigned for the officiating minister be- ing much dilapidated, the same noble benefactor erected the present parsonage house, at the expence of 700/. Over the door is written in gold letters : Whoe'er doth dwell within this door, Thank God for Viscount Scudamore. The church, dedicated to St. Swithin, consists of a nave and chancel, with a tower, low but neat. The architec- ture is probably of the early part of the fourteenth century. There are remains of handsome decoration on the inside, such as painted bricks. and stained glass in the windows. Under canopies the meeting of Mary and Elizabeth is re- presented. The font is curious and antique. Value in King's books, 8/. Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Brirton Hundred. Middle. 17 * CCXLI. MATSON, MATESKNOLLE, MATTESDUNE, anciently MATESDEN, Is a small parish, two miles s. E. from Gloucester. It contains 323 acres of land, the soil of which is a mixture of clay and loam, principally in pasture. 1 he name docs not occur in Domesday survey, but the termination of the old names knoll, dune, and den, evidently refer to the hill, as its principal characteristic, and the prefix may prob- ably be the name of some ancient proprietor, who has not been recorded. The hill, which rises conically out of the vale, is called Robinhood's Hill, or, perhaps with far more propriety, Robin's- wood Hill, probably from the family of Robins, who were mesne tenants for many years. It is not at all likely thatRobinhood, the hero of romance, could be con- nected with this part of the island 56 . The hill forms a beau- tiful object to the surrounding country, being to the very summit in a state of fertile cultivation, and covered with continual verdure, almost in the driest seasons. It is said that before the Norman conquest great quantities of iron ore were supplied from this hill to the forges in Glouces- ter. The ochreous water that issues from the sides seems to shew, that this ore is concealed in its bowels, but not any scoria or cinders have been found, which are generallv considered as the proofs of ancient blomaries having been worked. It has, however, been for more than four hun- dred years useful in another respect, in the supply of wa- ter of an excellent quality to the city of Gloucester, W. Gerard having granted the monks of the Grey Friars in Gloucester the privilege of water from this place, a ques- tion arose between that house and the abbey as to the quantity the former was to receive, which was settled by 172 The History qf the County of Gloucester. Edward the Black Prince. At this day the water is con- veyed by pipes to every part of city ; and the inhabitants, by means of smaller pipes, have a regular supply in their own houses, at a moderate expence. The profits arising therefrom, as well as the expences of repairs, belong to Lord Sydney. The manor of Matson was held of Humphrey de Boliun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, 46 Ed. III. William deGardi- nis had been lord of Mattesdon in the reign of Ed. I. During the former period many leases are still extant in the archives of Gloucester cathedral. It was given to the abbey by W. Nottingham, Esq. attorney general to Ed. IV. for the erecting of a chantry in the abbey, to be sup- plied by two of their monks. At the dissolution the ma- nor was granted to the chapter of Gloucester, 33 H.VIII. The mansion-house, with its appurtenances, which had been parcel of the possessionsof Lanthony, and inP.N.tax. are recited as containing one carucate of land, were grant- ed to the mayor and burgesses of Gloucester, 34 H. VIII. who, with the King's licence, sold the same to Thomas Lane, Esq. 1544, from whom it passed to Richard Pate, Esq. and then to his daughter Susannah, wife of Richard Brooke, and in marriage dower to Sir Ambrose Wil- loughby, Knt. From him it came by purchase to Jasper Selwyn, Esq. at the latter end of Elizabeth's reign. He was of Stonehouse, descended from John Selwyn, who set- tled in this county from Sussex, Rich. III. The estate passed in regular line to Colonel John Selwyn, eldest son of Major Gen. Wm. Selwyn, Governor of Jamaica. The an- cient entail being cut off, it was re-entailed on the de- scendants of his daughter, Albinia, wife of the Hon. T. Townsend. On his death it descended to John, who died Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Middle. 17 3 1751, leaving a younger brother and successor, George Augustus, representative in several parliaments for Glou- cester ; on whose death in 1791, it devolved to Thomas Lord Viscount Sydney, eldest son of Thomas and Albinia Townsend before mentioned, who is now lord of the ma- nor, and proprietor of nearly the whole of the parish, ex- cept three small estates belonging to T. Mee, Esq. Rob. Raikes, Esq. and John Howell, Esq. of Prinknash. By virtue of the act for redemption of the land-tax, an exchange took place between the chapter and Lord Syd- ney, by which his Lordship's estate was enfranchised at Matson, and the Lower Sheephouse in Tuffley given up to the chapter by way of compensation. The mansion-house was built by Sir Ambrose Wil- loughby, Knt. in the reign of Eliz. and during the siege of Gloucester in the rebellion, was the residence of Kino- o Charles and his court. The army were stationed in Tred- worth field, to which place, according to the Iter Caroli- num, he came Aug. 10, 1643. William Kendall, Esq. is the present occupier. One freeholder voted in 1776. Population, 50 45 51. Houses, 8. The benefice is a rectory in Gloucester deanery. By a a late inclosure it has been much improved, and in lieu of tythes has a considerable estate allotted. Ernulph, the son of Ralph, gave the church of Mattes- done to the abbey of Gloucester, and Simon, Bishop of Worcester, confirmed the grant. At the dissolution it was granted to the chapter of Gloucester, 34 Hen. VIII. and the dean and chapter are now patrons. Edward Jones, M. A. is incumbent. The old church was taken down in 1739, and the pre- 1 7 V The History qf the County of Gloucester. sent neat building erected, at the sole expence of Albinia Selwyn, relict of Major General Selwyn. The church- yard is planted with evergreen shrubs, which give a neat appearance. In P. N. tax. the portion of the church of the Blessed Mary before the abbey gate in the church of Matesdon, 5s. The portion of the precentor of St. Peter, Glouces- ter, 105. Value in King's books, 3/. 16s. b\d. CCXLII. PITCHCOMBE, anciently PYCHENECOMB, Is a parish of about 200 acres, distant five miles s. E. from Gloucester. The soil is generally rich, and applied to pasture. The streams of water which run through it, make the situation commodious for cloth-working, and several mills are employed for that purpose. The termi- nation Combe easily explains the nature of the village. The name is not mentioned in Domesday, and therefore at that time it was probably a part of Harscomb, as it is now in some respects united to it. It appears by an ex- tract from the Pipe Office, that firma de Pinchcomb be- longed to Osbert Gifford, in the reign of Hen. III. Wal- ter de Bruhl released to Gloucester abbey, and the al- moner of Standish a messuage, lands, and a hundred acres of wood in Pychenecomb 1 303, and Gilbert de Maysinton gave two messuages and lands in the same place to Glou- cester abbey the same year. The abbey of Gloucester had free-warren in all their demesne lands in Pychenecombe, 1355. At the dissolution, a messuage and lands, with Pitchcombe wood, were granted to Richard Andrews and Nicholas Temple in trust. Thomas Porter, Knt. died Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Middle. 175 seized of the scite and capital mansion of the manor of Pitchcombe, 1598. John Throckmorton was lord of the manor in 1608. Thomas Stephens, of Lypiatt at the be- ginning of last century, who was succeeded by John Ste- phens. On his death it came to his nephew Thomas Baer- \ * O hot de la Bere, of Southam, and from him by purchase to Paul Wathen, Esq. of Lypiatt, the present lord of the manor, without any land attached. The parish, which is not more than five hundred a year, is principally divided between John Rollings, Esq. John Carruthers, Esq. Mr. John Palling, and some small land- holders. Thirteen freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 80 90 216. Houses inhabited, 40. The benefice is rectorial in Gloucester deanery. The patronage is in the family of Purnell, of Kingshill, near Dursley, and Charles Wallington, M. A. is incumbent. It is annexed to Harscomb. The church is small, consisting of a nave only, with a chancel and low tower at the west end. CCXLIII. SOUTH HAMLETS. 1. LANTHONY comprehends several estates on the s. side of the city, among which the principal belongs to the Duke of Norfolk, being the scite and lands anciently be- longing to the monastery of Lanthony. The Upper Sheep-house, with Sudgroves, is the pro- perty of Lord Viscount Sidney. The Lower Sheep-house belongs to the dean and chapter of Gloucester (24-1 ). The Rigley-stile Grounds belong to John White, Esq. of Stonehousc, co. Gloucester. 176 The Hisloiy of the County of Gloucester. Besides these, are some other small properties. Before the canal was dug, a little island was formed between the present bason and the river, called the The PRIORY of LANTHONY was founded in 1137 by Milo, constable of Gloucester, for Austin Canons, to the honour of the Blessed Virgin Mary and St. John the Bap- tist, and for the reception of the monks of Lanthonv, in the north part of Monmouthshire, who had been driven from their habitation by the ravages and ill-usage of the Welch. The new monastery was built on a place called the Hide, and, as appears by the charter of Milo, amply endowed. At first it was only a cell to the old monastery, but afterwards became the head house, and much exceeded the other in revenues 52 , being endowed at the dissolution with 748/. 11)5. lid. The possessions of this religious house are taken notice of in the respective places or pa- rishes as they occur. In the time of P. N. tax. the nues amounted to 111. Is. 6d. The scite was granted 32 Hen. VIII. .to Arthur Porter, and Thomas Porter had livery of it 1558. Thomas Por- ter left an only daughter, married to Sir John Scudamore, ancestor to Lord Viscount Scudamore, of Horn Lacy, co. Heref. who was proprietor at the beginning of last cen- tury. The Duke of Norfolk, by marriage with Frances Fitzroy Scudamore, is the present proprietor. Very little now remains of the old monastery ; the barn is the principal part. Over the gate-way are the arms of the great family of the Bohnns, Earls of Hereford ; some of whom were buried in the church of the monastery. In digging the Berkeley canal, the foundations of the old church were discovered, and some bodies disturbed, Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Middle. 17* but no stones appeared, which could ascertain by inscrip- tions the names or dates of any ^of them 53 . At the dissolution this hamlet was exempted from the payment of tythes, as being the demesne lands of the priory of Lanthony ; but John Lord Scudamore 16G2 an- nexed all the tythes to the rectory of Hempstead, which grant was confirmed by Act of Parliament(240). Newark-house, standing on a fine elevation, which com- mands a view of the vale, is the property of the same fa- mily. It was built in the 17th century, on the same spot where stood the house belonging to the prior of Lanthony. It is said that in consequence of the abbot of Gloucester building for himself a country residence at the Vineyard, the prior felt something of rival jealousy, and erected another, which he called Newark(231). Both houses ex- perienced the same fate in the great rebellion. Behind the latter are still to be seen the entrenchments and earth- works. One freeholder voted in 1776. Population, , , 60. Houses inhabited, 8. 2. LITTLEWORTH, or Little Village (225), lies just with- out the liberties of the city, on the south side. Gaudy Green is the property of Sir Thomas Crawley Boevey, Bart. (2 15) The hamlet is small, and divided into inconsiderable portions. Both Lanthony and Littleworth are extra-parochial, and have their respective and separate officers. Seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, ,100 150. Houses inhabited, 39. 3. TUFFLEY, anciently Tujjkge, is part of the parish of St. Mary de Lode, lying on the s. E. side of the city. It belonged to the abbey of Gloucester before the Conquest, VOL. II. N 178 I he History oj the County of Gloucester. and excepting a temporary alienation, about the time of Hen. II. continued with it till the dissolution, and was then granted to the dean and chapter of Gloucester ; but the tythes of TufHey, and a place called Sudgroves mentioned before, were granted to Arthur Porter, 32 Hen. VIII. The Atkyns's were anciently tenants of the manor, and held a large estate in this place, where they had a good house anil park. This is now the property of Thomas Mee, Esq. of Gloucester. Considerable estates belong to Sam. Lysons, Clerk(240), and Edward \Vilbraham, Esq. (168) No freeholder voted in 1116. Population, ,140 112. Houses inhabited, 18. 4. WOLSTROP is reckoned among the South Hamlets br Rudder, but improperly ; as in every res|>ect, but that of being in a different hundred, it is a member of Quedgeley, and is included in the account of that parish(181). CCXLIV. UPTON SAINT LEONARD'S anciently OPTUNE, Is a parish distant three miles E. from Gloucester. It contains more than 2500 acres of land, of which half is in pasture, the remainder in tillage and woodland. The soil in general is clav or loam. The situation of the village on a gentle elevation, gives the etymology of Upton or Upper Town. Optune Avas a member of the great manor of Bertune or Barton, and appears in Domesday survey, among the crown lands. There were anciently two manors of the common name of Upton. Walkelyn de Fabrica held Up- tone of Edw. I. by the service of paying 200 arrow heads. Edmond Fitz Alan had the manor in the reign of Edw. II. Forest Division. Dudatan and Kings Barton Hundred. Middle. 179 but on his being beheaded at Hereford, all his lands came to the crown, and this manor was granted 1330 to Richard de Munemuth. It afterwards belonged to the Dukes of Norfolk, and to different branches of the Arundel family till 1455, when Eleanor, the widow of Sir Walter Hun- gerford, late wife of Sir Richard Poinings, and formerly the wife of John, Earl of Arundel, died seized of it. Another manor belonged to the Berkeleys, from the reign of Edw. III. to the 3d of Mary. The manor of Upton was granted to Walter Pye and William Beal, 1605. The manor now belongs to the freeholders, and is vested in Benjamin Hyett, Robert Campbell, Peter Snell, and Robert Raikes, Esqrs. for their use. Bullins is a reputed manor belonging to Lord Sydney, who has other considerable property besides. Grove Court is another reputed manor, formerly the property of Jeoffery de Grave, who held one yard land in Upton, by the service of attending the King in his wars against Wales, with bow and arrows, 40 days at his own expence, and afterwards at the cost of the King, 1221. This estate afterwards passed to -the Berkeleys ; then to Richard Walter, Esq. at the beginning of last century ; now to Joseph Blisset, Esq. Creed's Place is the property of Thomas Jeffreys, Esq. The house was built a few years since on an estate pur- chased of the late Sir John Guise, Bart, in 1770, by Robert Campbell, Esq. Whitley Court is a good house, surrounded by a consi- derable estate, the property of Peter Snell, Esq. ' St. Bridge, Simbridge Farm, with other lands, belongs to Robert Raikes, Esq. The LowerFarm is vested in Benjamin Hyett, Esq. N 2 1 80 7/a- History nf the County of Gloucester. The Farm, with other estates, belongs to John Howcll,, Esq. of Prink nash. The remaining property within this parish is very much divided among small landholders. Thirty-three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 450 300 621. Houses inhabited, 123. The benefice is a perpetual curacy in Gloucester dean- ery. The impropriation belongs to the see of Gloucester, and is no\v in lease to Mr. Thomas Frankis, of Upton, the patronage being reserved to the Bishop. Samuel Com- meline, A. M. is incumbent 64 . The church, dedicated to St. Leonard, has a nave and north aisle, with a well proportioned embatteled tower at the west end. At the west end of the north chancel is a turret for the Saint's bell. This chancel is now the dormitory of theSnell family. There are many appearances of antiquity about the church, particularly the south door-way, now stopped up, the arch of the chancel, &V. The nave is certainly much more modern, as well as the tower; on the south side of which is the following, on a tablet : This tower was repaired, and the pinnacles first erected, in the year 1745 ; SirTho. Snell, Knt. and Rich. Frankis, churchwardens. PRINKNASH is an extra-parochial district, adjoining to Upton St. Leonard's, about four miles E. from Gloucester. It contains 190 acres of meadow and pasture land, and 37 of arable. The derivation of the first part of the name is v uncertain, but the latter part seems to be easily explained from its situation. Nesss, Saxon, Ness, English, signifies a promontory, as Sheerness in the isle of Shepey, and an- swers to Rhyn, British, in composition Penrhyn, the com- mon word for a promontory or ridge of land. Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Middle. 1 8 1 This manor anciently belonged to the abbey of St. Peter in Gloucester. Echv. III. granted free-warren 1355, which was confirmed by Rich. II. and by the interest of the abbot was made extra-parochial. At the dissolution it was granted, under limitations, to Edward Bridges and Do- rothy Pray e, 1545, and the reversion of the house and park, which were formerly the retreat of the abbots, was granted to Sir William Sandys and Thomas Spencer 1606. The estate was soon after purchased by Sir John Briclg- man, Chief Justice of Chester, descended from an ancient family, who resided at Littledean, co. Glo. John Bridge- man, Esq. was lord of the manor at the beginning of the last century, from whom it descended to Henry Toy Bridgeman, Esq. of whom it was purchased in 1770, by John Howell, Esq. who dying 1802, was succeeded by his son, Thomas Bayley Howell, Esq. the present proprietor. The house is situated on the acclivity of the hill, shel- tered from the east winds by the high ground behind it, and in the front looking over an extensive and rich tract of land. In the house is a private chapel, consecrated 1629, and dedicated to St. Peter. The population is included in Upton. CCXLV. WHADDON, anciently WADUNE, Is a parish of 700 acres, three miles s. from Gloucester. The soil is chiefly a deep clay, and more adapted to pas- ture than arable. The elm grows freely here, and fruit- trees of various kinds. Domesday records Wadune as held by Durand the sheriff, and containing five hides. The manor after- wards came to Robert de Pont de Larch, or Pont de 1'Arch, 30 H. III. Robert Waleran, sheriff of the county, N 3 1 82 Tlie History of the County of Gloucester. was seized of it in the next year, 1246, and obtained the grant of an annual fair, to be held on the eve, the day, and the morrow after the feast of Margaret the virgin. William de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, brother on the female side to Hen. III. received the manors of Whaddon and Moreton Valence, by gift of Rob. de Pont de Larch, and had a confirmation of them from the King 1252, and privileges of court leet and free warren were allowed him 1287. Audomar de Valence, Earl of Pembroke, sur- viving son, dying 1324, left no issue, wherefore his pro- perty passed to his three sisters, co-heiresses. Joan, the 3 T oungest, was wife of John Comyn, of Badenagh, in Scotland. They left only daughters. Elizabeth, one of them, was married to Rich. Talbot, of Gooderick castle, co. Hereford, by which this and the other manors came into that family, and continued in it till 1456, when they were transferred to John Vise. Lisle, a younger branch of the Talbot family by Margaret, eldest daughter of Rich. Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and Elizabeth, the great heiress of Thomas Lord Berkeley. Margaret, widow of Thomas Viscount Lisle, Elizabeth Courtney, Countess of Devonshire, and Sir Arthur Plantagenet and Elizabeth his wife, cousin and heir of the Countess, were succes- sively in possession, till the property came to the crown, and was granted to Thomas Cromwell, Earl of Essex, and, upon his attainder, to George Earl of Shrewsbury 1539. Sir William Kingston was the next grantee 1541, who was succeeded by his son, who levied a fine to Sir Nich. Pointz 1552. The manor was afterwards transferred from the Kingstons to the Jerninghams of Cossey, co. Norfolk ; from whom itagain passed to Sir Wm. Dorrington, who was lord of it, 1608. Sir Samuel Eckley was the next pro- prietor, in the reign of Anne. It afterwards passed to Mr. John Small, and from him to Samuel Peach, Esq, Forest Division. Dudstan and King's Bart on Hundred. Lower. 1 83 who is the present lord of the manor, with about half the parish. Thomas Smith, Gent, is the only considerable land- holder besides. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 110 123 88. Houses, 20. The benefice is a curacy annexed to Moreton Valence, in Gloucester deanery- The tythes are appropriated to the church of Hereford, whose lessee generally appoints the curate. Henry Burgh, Esq. is the present lessee, and Benjamin Jones, Clerk, incumbent. The church dedicated to St. Margaret, consists of a nave and chancel, with a strong embatteled tower at the w. end. In 1299 it was a chapel to Moreton, as appears by the record in P. N. tax. " Ecdia de Morton cum capdf de Whaddon." Lower Part. CCXLYI. HARTPURY, HARDEPER, HARDEPERY, anciently MERE WENT, Is a parish of considerable extent, distant five miles N. w. from Gloucester, and six E. from Newent, bounded on the w. by the river Leden. The soil is in general a deep red loamy clay, including 3036 acres, of which about 1170 are in pasture, 367 in meadow, and the remainder in til- lage, with a small portion of wood. Abundant crops are generally produced, but the meadow on the banks of the Leden. is uncommonly fruitful. Sudden inundations, how- ever, oftentimes injure or carry off the grass when ready N 4 1 8-t The History of the County of Gloucester. for the scythe, or after it has been converted into hay. Great quantities of cyder and perry of excellent quali- ties arc made here. The original name of Merewent oc- curs in the early records, and gave place (but on what account is not known) to the more modern appellation, about the reign of Hen. I. Offa, King of Mcrcia, gave the manor of Merewent to the nunnery established at Gloucester, when Eva was abbess about the year 769, and it continued a parcel of the possession/of the abbey of St. Peter, till the dissolu- tion. Sir W. Herbert, Knight of the Garter, the first Earl Pembroke, had a grant of it from Ed. VI. From him it -passed by purchase to Walter Compton, Esq. in 1551, and to his descendant Walter Compton, who was created Baronet 1686. Sir Walter Compton, the iifth and last Baronet, died 1773, without issue, and the ma- nor and estates devolved to his surviving sisters, Catherine and Jane. The eldest was married to Edw. Bearcroft, Esq. of Droitwich, co. of Wore, and died in 1775, with- out issue. Jane was the wife of John Berkeley, M. D. of Hereford, and of that branch of the family which is set- tled at Spetchley, co. Worcester. They left two daugh- ters, Catherine and Jane. The youngest is married to the Right Hon. Viscount Southwell, and the eldest to Robert Canning, Esq. in whom, by right of marriage, the manor, with the estates, comprehending about three- fourths of the parish, is vested jointly. The manor house was anciently called Abbofs Place, being at that time one of the country residences of the abbots of St. Peter, and for many years after the dis- solution, of the Comptons. For some time it has been inhabited, under the munifi- cence of the benevolent proprietors, by a few nuns, who, forest Division. Dudstan and King's Barton Hundred. Lover. 1 85 having been obliged to leave the Continent, during 'the late revolutions, found here a comfortable retreat, in the enjoyment of their own religious opinions. A considerable estate and manor for many generations belonged to the Pultons, and another to Cha. Havward, O x * Esq. The former, worth 400/. per ann. is by marriage vested in Jeremiah Hawkins, Esq. of Minsterworth(203), and the latter by purchase is annexed to the manor. HAMLETS. 1. MOREWENT-END. 2. MOOREND, a commonable meadow on the banks of the Leden. 3. CORSE-END. 4. BLACKWELL'S-END. 5. LAMPER'S- END. 6. BUTTER'S-END. A decisive skirmish was fought here in the civil wars, when Col. Myn, of the royal party? suffered great loss. Ten freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 300 300 567. Houses inhabited, 92. The benefice is vicarial in Gloucester deanery. The impropriation is in the Bishop of Gloucester, with a cer- tain portion reserved to the vicar. Robert Berkeley, Esq. of Spetchley, co. Worcester, is lessee in trust for the lords of the manor. The exception in favour of the vicar is about 104 acres, of which the tythes are payable to him. Twenty acres of arable, and 55 of meadow and pasture belonging to the demesnes are exempt. George Rollo, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists of a nave and chancel, with a tower at the west end. The south door exhibits some remains of Saxon architecture, but the general style is that of the middle centuries. In the north window are some remains of painted glass. In P. N. tax. the church of Hardiper, 6/. 13s. 4d. The vicar's portion, 5/. In the King's books, 16/. 6s. 5{d. 136 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCXLVII. MAYSEMORE, MAZEMORE, MAYSMOR, Is two miles N. w. from Gloucester, and contains 1408 acres of rich meadow and pasture, with a proportionate quantity of arable. The soil varies with the situation. On the banks of the Severn, which flows on the eastern side, it is a red loam; and on the higher parts clay or gravel. The name does not occur in Domesday, it being at that time a member of St. Mary de Lode, in Glouces- ter. In a grant of Hen. J. it appears as part of the tem- poral possessions of the abbey. The etymology is pro- bably from maes, Celtic for a field or plain, and mor often in composition water only ; which is perfectly descriptive of its situation on the banks, and subject to the overflow- ings of the Severn. The parish was inclosed in 1793, and a great deal of waste and unproductive common brought into culti- vation. Upon the old bridge over the Severn at this place, there formerly stood a cross with this inscription, In honore Dni nri Jhu Christi, quiiwbis crucifixus erat, Ceosie croz fist Wilbn fiz Anketill de Lilton, et Ciseoli Willm fiz Anketill comenza pont de Mazemore. That is for the honour of the Lord Jesus Christ, who was crucified for us, William son of Anketill began the bridge of Mazemore Rudder. This evidently refers to the person who built the cross and began the bridge, but it does not fix the date. During the siege of Gloucester, a bridge was cut down by Colonel Nich. Myn, commander of the Royal Irish Brigade, and another rebuilt on the restoration of peace. This also being much decayed, was taken down Forest Division.- Dudstun and King's Barton Hundred. Lower. 1 87 about twenty years since, and another of two arches built about fifty yards higher up the river. The manor, with large woods, was given by Hen. I. to the abbey of Gloucester, 1101, with free warren, and continued with the abbey till the dissolution, when it was granted to the Bishop of Gloucester, who is now lord of the manor, and under him the greatest part of the parish is held either by copy or lease. The Manor-house^ with an estate of more than 200 acres is held by Benj. Hyett, Esq. Adjoining to this Wm. Pitt, Esq. has a good house, with nearly 400 acres of land. The Pei^sh estate is the property of Thomas Hawkins, Esq. held in moiety under the Bishop, and chapter 55 . Other proprietors are Thomas Smith, Esq. T. Rudge, Esq. T. Vallander, Tho. White, &c. OVERTON, or Upper town is the name of a hamlet. Three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 200 210 343. Houses inhabited, 51. The benefice is a perpetual curacy in Gloucester dean- ery, and has been twice augmented. John Pcarce, clerk, js lessee of the impropriation, under the Bishop, who re- serves the nomination of the incumbent. By the late act of inclosure, the glebe consists of 133 acres of land, and six cow common of pasture in the ham, in lieu of all tythes. Richard Raikes, clerk, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Giles, consists of a nave and chancel only, with a handsome embatteled tower at the west end. The style of building is of the Tudor sera. The feast of the patron Saint is celebrated on the first Sunday in September annually 56 . 1 83 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCXLVIII. PRESTON, anciaitly PRESTETUNE, Is a parish of 800 acres, situate at the extremity of the county, and in the nearest line about sixteen miles dis- tant from Gloucester. 1'he soil is a deep red loam, chiefly in tillage, except the meadows, which lie on the banks of the Leden. The fruit trees are planted here, as is the practice of this district, in the fields. The name is de- rived from the ancient proprietors, (Priest-town), it having been from a very early period appendant to a re- ligious house. This parish is entirely separated by many miles from any part of the hundred, of which it is a member. Anciently before the consolidation of the hundreds, it was a part of Tolangebriges hundred, as appears from the Domesday record, " The church of St. Peter, Gloweces- tre, holds Prestetune, in Tolangebriges hundred." In the same church it continued till the dissolution, when it was granted to the new see of Gloucester, under which it has long been leased to the family of Bromley. The manor-house near the church, called the Court, is built in the stile of the seventeenth century, and was the residence of former proprietors, but is now occupied by John Wood, Gent, the tenant of the greatest part of the parish. The White house, a competent estate belongs to Elton, Esq. and is the only one detached from the manor. One freeholder voted in 1776. Population, 60 10 87. Houses, 16. The benefice is a vicarage in the Forest deanery, in the patronage of the Bishop of Gloucester, and Jenkin Jen- kins, clerk, is incumbent. Forest Division. Dudstun and King's Barton Hundred. loiter. \ 89 The church is small and inconsiderable, consisting of a nave and chancel, with a low wooden tower at the west end. In the south window of the nave is preserved a painting on glass, of the crucifixion. The north door is of Saxon-architecture, and probably a part of the church as it stood before, or soon after, the conquest. In P. N. tax. the church of Preston, 3/. 6s. 8d. In the King's books (discharged) ll. 6s. 8d, I&O Ttie History of the County of Gloucester. BERKELEY DIVISION, IS divided into Upper and Lower, and contains 7 hun- dreds, 1 market-towns, 71 parishes, 13,240 houses inha- bited, 15,127 families, 488 houses uninhabited, 34,256 males, 39,321 females, 13,567 persons employed in agri- culture, 13,843 in trade, 46,162 not engaged in any par- ticular occupation, and 73,577 total. i VII. BERKELEY HUNDRED. Upper Part. 249 Ashelworth 250 Arlingham 251 BERKELEY, m. t. 252 Beverstone 253 Cam 254 Coaley 255 Cromhall 256 DURSLEY, in. t. 257 Kingscot 258 Newington 268 Almondsbury 269 Elberton 270 Filton 259 Nimpsfield 260 North Niblejr 261 Olepen 262 Ozleworth 263 Slimbridge 264 Stinchcomb 265 Stone 266 Uley 267 WOTTON, m. t. Lower Part. 271 Hill 272 Horfield Berkeley Division, Berkeley Hundred.- Upper Part. 191 VIII. GRUMBALDS ASH. Upper Part. 273 Alderley 274 Badminton, Great 275 Badminton, Little 276 Boxwell and Leighterton 277 Charfield 278 Didmarton 279 Hawkesbury 280 Horton 281 Oldbury on the Hill 282 Tortworth 283 WICKWAK, m. t. Lower Part. 284 Acton Turville 285 Doddington 286 Dyrham and Hinton 287 SODBURY, CHIPPING, m. t. 288 Sodbury, Little 289 Sodbury, Old 290 Tormarton 291 Wapley and Codrington 292 West Littleton IX. PUCKLECHURCH. 293 Cold Aston 296 Westerleigh 294 Pucklechurch 297 Wick and Abston 295 Syston X. LANGLEY AND SWINESHEAD. 302 Littleton on Severn 303 Olveston 304 Rockhampton 305 Winterbourn 298 Alveston 299 Bitton 300 Deynton 301 Frampton Cotterell XL THORNBURY. Upper. 306 MARSHFIELD, m. t. Lower. 307 Acton, Iron 308 Rangeworthy 309 THORNBURY, in. t. 310 Tytherington 1 92 Tfie History nf the County of Gloucester. XII. HENBURY. 3 1 1 Compton Greenfield 312 Hcnbury 314 Westbury on Trim 315 Yate 313 Stoke Gifiard XIII. BARTON REGIS. 316 Clifton 317 Mangotsfield 318 St. George's 319 Stapleton At the time of the conquest EDERASTAN und part of BACHESTANE'S were included in the modern hundred of THORNBURY. LANGLEI, LANGNEI, SUINEHEVE, SINESHOVEDES, TUIFERDE, nearly in SWINESHEAD. BERTUNE apud BRISTOW, part of WESBERIE, and BERNINTRERE, in BARTON REGIS and HENBURY. POLCRECERCE in PUCKLECHURCH. GRIMBOLDESTOWES*, part of BACHESTANE'S, part of POLCRECERCE, and EDREDESTAN, EDERESTAN, in GRUM- BALDSASI;. * Grimbolclestowcf, means Grirabold's place, now corrupted (o GrumbaldsaU. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 193 BERKELEY DIVISION. VII. BERKELEY HUNDRED. Upper Part. CCXLIX. ASHELWORTH, anciently ESCELEUUORDE, . Is a parish four miles N. from Gloucester, and separated at least ten miles from the nearest part of the hundred to which it belongs. It contains about 1560 acres of land, of which about one third is in tillage, and the remainder rich pasture and meadow, particularly on the banks of the Severn, which bounds it on the east. The soil is partly a light loam, and in some places inclining to sand. A whitish clay stone, which burns very well to lime is found not far below the surface. This manor, of three hides, belonged to Berchelai, and was part of that lordship in the time of Edward the Con- fessor. It was given by Robert Fitz-harding to the abbey of St. Augustine, in Bristol, which he founded, and remained there till the dissolution, when it was granted, with the rectory and advowson, 1543, to the see of Bris- tol. Charles Hayward, Esq. was the lessee under the Bi- shop of Bristol, of the manor and greatest part of the parish. On his death in 1803 he was succeeded in this and other large estates by his brother Thomas Hayward Winstone, Esq. (181) VOL. II. O ] 91 The History of the County of Gloucester, The manor-house, which bears the marks of great an- tiquity, is now occupied by a farmer. PLACES. 1. Longridge. 2. Knights Green. 3. Nup- ping end. 4. White end. 5. High Cross. 6. IVickcridge. 7. Mare-end; all of which are included in one ty thing of Ashelworth. The only freehold estate in the parish, about sixty pounds a veur, belongs to Jesse Colchester (not a branch of the Westbury family) The others are held by lease or copy under the principal lessee. Six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 350 , 476. Houses, 80. The benefice is a vicarage in Gloucester deanery, in the patronage of the Bishop of Bristol, and James Ed- wards, M. A. is incumbent. The impropriation, with the exception of some great tythes belonging to the vicar, is held by lease with the manor. The vicarage house is a very old building, chiefly of timber. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of a nave and south aisle, with a good tower, embatteled, six bells, and a stone spire upon it, at the west end. There are two chancels, one of which belongs to the lord of the manor. It is liable to inundation from its vicinity to the river. In 1770, November 18, the water rose to the height of four feet seven inches through the whole church. In P. N. tax. the abbot of St. Augustine, Bristol, holds at Assel worth of rent sixty-six shillings and eight-pence. The church of Asselworth, 6/. 13$. 8d. The vicarV portion, 4-1. 6s. Sd. In the King's books, III. 9s. 2d. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 1 95 CCL. ARLINGHAM, anciently ERLINGHAM, Is thirteen miles s. w. from Gloucester, and contains 2100 acres of deep rich soil, which are applied in nearly equal proportions to tillage and pasture. The common meads and fields were inclosed in 1802. The name is supposed to be derived from the British words Ar, upon, Iiig, a meadow, or watery place, and ffam, a village, that is, a village in a watery place. From this parish a communication is maintained with the western side of the county and Wales, by a ferry across the Severn to Newnham, the passage-house being on the opposite side (207). The Severn in this district makes a very singular turn, and comprizes this parish and Frethern completely within a peninsula, in the form of a horse-shoe ; the distance from the nearest points not much exceeding half a mile. This parish is in the Upper Level, and under the ma- nagement of the Commissioners of Sewers, who by judi- cious arrangements and banks have preserved 738 acres from inundation, Erlingham, as it is written in Domesday, is one of the five inferior manors, which were parcel of the great ma- nor of Berkeley, and is now, though distinct in other respects, within the leet of that hundred ; but it appears that there was formerly more than one manor in this pa- rish. The abbot of St. Augustine, in Bristol, was seized of a manor, 1287, of lands called Kern and Bethlea, which at the dissolution were given to tlie chapter of Bris- tol 57 . The monks of Flaxley had another manor, which was granted to Sir Anthony Kingston, 1545. The prin- cipal manor continued in the Berkeley family, till Wil- liam, Marquis of Berkeley, granted it with some others > 2 196 The History oj the Courtly of Gloucester. to Hc-nrv the seventh and his heirs mule. On the death of Kd\v. VI. it reverted to Henry Lord Berkeley, who had livery thereof granted to him 1 Mary (251). The family of Westwood were afterwards the proprietors, and Ro- bert Westwood on the de..th of his father had livery there- of f Eliz. From this family it p; ssed to the Yates. They came in with the conqueror, and have been possessed of property in Arlingham more than 500 years. John-at- Yate, bv marriage with the youngest daughter of John Berkeley, who died in 1321, became seized of an estate in Arlingham. He left a son, John, whose son, of the same name, died 1368. William his son left two sons, Richard and Walter, the former dying without issue, Walter succeeded, and from him came in lineal descent, Thomas, Richard, R'chard, and Walter, who was high sheriff of the county in 1696. Richard, his son bv Eliza- beth, one of the daughters and co-heiresses of Thomas Price, Esq. mayor of Gloucester, had t\vo sons, Charles and John, and three daughters, two of whom died in their infancy. Charles, son and heir of Richard, bv mar- riage with Mary, daughter and co-heiress of Hickes, Esq. had one son, John, to whom the manor and estate devolved in 1738. On his death without issue in 1758, the male line was extinct. It is now the property of Dame Dorothy Mill, relict of the late Sir Richard Mill, Bart, of Mattisford, Hants, and daughter of Richard Warren, Esq. late of Redcliff, near Bristol, by Henrietta his wife, who was youngest daughter of Charles Yate, Esq. of Coldthrop(i83), by Elizabeth, daughter of Richard Yate, who married Elizabeth Price, as before(26). The old familv mansion called the Courl, is said to have been built nearly five hundred years. Round a side door that leads imo a court before the house, is some sculpture Berkeley Division. Berkelty Hundred. Upper Part. 1 97 in stone, which bears the murks of great antiquity. The style, however, of the present building, is of the early part of Hen. VIII. as appears by the square gothic win- dows. Slowwe, is a handsome old house, belonging to the fa- mily of Hodges, to whom it came by purchase in 1586, from the Bridgemans. It continued in the family of Hodges till Thomas Hodges, Clerk, died in 1784, arid in him the male line of Slowwe ending, the estate passed to his sister. Puckpool is a good estate belonging to Mr. William Carter. Otlier proprietors are, Sir S. Wathen, Knt. Ch. Vcele, Esq. Kc. Thirty -two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 400 372 506. Houses inhabited, 87. The benefice is a vicarage in Gloucester deanery. It was anciently given by Roger, Lord Berkeley to the priory of Leonard's Stanley. In 1502, upon Leonard's Stanley becoming a cell to the abbey of Glou. ester, that society presented to it. After the dissolution, the rectory and advowson were granted to Sir William Rider, 1610; were afterwards in the Bridgemans and Toyes ; and from them came by purchase to Mrs. Eliz. Rogers, who pre- sented Thomas Jackson, A. M. the present incumbent. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, consists of a nave only, and chancel. Part of the ground on which it stands was given by one of the Yates, and the style of architecture is that of the fifteenth century. The interior is very neat, having been lately pewed. The pulpit, cloth, and cushion, of purple velvet richly fringed, were given by Lady Mill, and a handsome service of commu- nion plate by the late John Yate, Esq. Some portraits of o 3 198 Tlic History qf the County qf Gloucester. saints appear in the windows in stained glass. The tower is ornamented with a parapet of open Gothic work ; and at the end of the nave is a turret for a saint's bell. In P. N. tax. the church of Erlingham, 18/. 6s. 8rf. In the King's books, 19/. Is. CCLI. BERKELEY, anciently BERCHELAI, From which the hundred takes its name, is sixteen miles from Gloucester, seven N. from Thornbury, and one mile from the Severn, with which it communicates by the Avon, a small river, but capable of carrying vessels of forty or fifty tons burthen. The tide flows up this narrow channel round the castle gardens, near a mile above the town. The soil is composed of clay and rich loam, and is principally pasture. Here, and in the neighbourhood, is made the famous cheese called single and double Glou- cester; the best sorts of which are exceeded in no country whatever. Golden, or London-pippin cyder is made in good perfection here. ,The town of Berkeley is called a borough, though it sends no Members to Parliament. A MSS. written by John Smith the elder of Nibley, 1639, in possession of the Earl of Berkeley, explains the signification of burgh or borrow in the following manner : " Burgh or borrow " notes unto us from the Saxon, that the place was an- " ciently fortified ; the prints whereof are in some places " not digged down or washed out; the name also of " Lockfast-bridge yet remaininge, leading from Hame, " over the further ewe or water, seemeth to imply as " much." The town in former days was certainly much larger than it is now. At present it consists principally of one street, containing very few good buildings. In Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 1 99 consequence of the change in the direction of the main turnpike road, it is little visited, except for the purposes of business or curiosity. Tuesday is the regular market- day, but it is not much attended. The manor is one of the largest in England, taxed in Domesday at 160 hides, and 294 plow tillages and a half. The nobie family of Berkeley were so much concerned in the affairs of most of the reigns from the conquest, and so many historical anecdotes belong to them, that it would take up more room to relate than is compatible with the plan of a compressed history. The following account brings down t!ie pedigree to the present time. Roger, who came in the retinue of the Conqueror, was rewarded with this manor, and took the name of de Berke- ley from it. On his death without issue, William, h : s nephew and heir, possessed it about 1100. He was suc- ceeded by Roger, his son, who, taking part with Stephen against Henry II. was dispossessed of his castle, and lost his estate. Henry, as a reward for the services h,e had re- ceived, granted the castle and lordship of Berkeley to Robt. Fitzharding, governor of Bristol, descended, ac- cording to Leland, from the Kings of Denmark ; and Robt. Fitzharding, the ancestor of the present family, took his seat in the House of Peers as Lord Berkeley, 1. Hen. II. By family intermarriages, a reconciliation took place between the late and newly created lord ; and the former having been restored to the barony of Dursley, voluntarily released all right to the barony of Berkeley. On his death, 1170, Maurice, his second son, (Henry, the elder, having died young) succeeded, took the name of Berkeley, and was the first who resided here. He was succeeded, in 1189, by Robert, his eldest son. This lord took up arms twice against John, and lost his castle and i) 4 200 Tlie History of the County of Gloucester. lands. In the 18 John, he obtained a grant of the manor of Cam, on his submission, and upon the accession of Hen. III. was restored to all his lands, except the castle and town of Berkeley. He died 1220. Thomas, his bro- ther, had restitution of the castle, 8 Hen. III. He died in 1243, and was succeeded by his eldest son, Maurice the second. He had attended his father in the wars against France, and, 41 Hen. III. was in the expedition with Prince Edward against the Welsh. He was succeeded by Thomas, his second surviving son, a wise and provident person. Dying, in 1321, he was succeeded by Maurice the third, his eldest son, who had been summoned twice to parliament in his father's life-time, as lord Berkeley, of Berkeley castle ; and being of a warlike character, was engaged in many military actions; and after having been successful against the Spencers, with the earl of Lancaster, was, by a strange reverse of alfairs, with his adherents, de- clared traitors; and refusing to submit, lost his castle and lands, and was sent prisoner to Wallingford castle, and died there in 1326. Thomas the third, second lord Berke- ley, succeeded his father, and had the castle of Berkeley delivered to him, whereof Hugh le Despencer had pos- sessed himself. During this lord's time, Edward the se- cond was murdered at Berkeley, but he was acquitted both by jury and also parliament of having been concerned in it. He died in 1361, and was buried in Berkeley church, when Sir Maurice the fourth succeeded him, and died in 1367. Thomas, eldest son, succeeded as fourth lord Berkeley. He first let out his estates at a yearly rent, a custom which then began to prevail over England. He died without issue male, and was succeeded by his nephew, James 58 , who died 1463, and was buried in an alabaster tomb, in a chapel he had built on the south side of the "Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 201 high altar, in Berkeley church. William, his eldest son, was sixth lord of Berkeley, and died without issue in 1491, after having been created viscount and marquis of Berkeley, and lies buried in the church of the Friers Augustins, near Broad-street, London. Here the family honours are interrupted; for the Marquis having taken exception at his brother Maurice's conduct, settled the castle and appendages on Henry the seventh and his issue male; in failure of which, to revert to the right heirs of the Marquis. Maurice, the fifth of that name, chiefly re- sided at Yate. He died 1506, and was succeeded by Maurice the sixth, his son, who w r as made Knight of the Bath, at the coronation of Hen. VIII. and summoned to parliament as a baron, 14 Hen. VIII. He died without issue, 1523, and was buried at Calais. Thomas, his bro- ther, succeeded, and was made constable of Berkeley castle, which was then in the crown. He died 1531, and was succeeded by Thomas, his eldest son, the sixth of that name, who being in his way to London from Yate (315), where he resided, died at Stone, county of Kent, and was buried there, in 1535. Henry, a posthumous son, was his heir, and recovered the long-lost honours and lordships which William, the Marquis, had settled on King Henry VII. For Edward VI. dying before he was of full age, and no heirs of the male line being left, by special warrant from the Queen, he was put in possession of the barony of his ancestors, and summoned by writ to parliament, and there placed according to his ancient precedence. He was appointed lord lieutenant of the county of Gloucester, 7 Jac. He died in 1613, and was buried in the chancel at Berkeley. His eldest son, Thomas, died before him, but left a son, George, who succeeded his grandfather as twelfth lord of 202 Tfte History of the County of Glottctstot. Berkeley, if the succession had not been interrupted. He died in 1653, and was succeeded by his only surviving son, George, who was advanced to the dignity of Viscount Dursley and Eurl of Berkeley, 31 C. II. 1679. He died in 1689, and was buried at Cranford, in the county of Mid- dlesex. Charles, his eldest son, succeeded to the honours and estates. He had been made Knight of the Bath at the co- ronation of Charles II. and, in 1680 and 1681, returned member in parliament for Gloucester. He died in 1710, and was interred in the family vault at Berkeley. He was succeeded by James, his second son, third earl, who, in the same year, was made lord lieutenant of the county of Gloucester and city of Bristol, warden of the Forest of Dean, and high steward of the city of Gloucester. He gave many proofs of skill Seagrave, and Breaus of Gower, in Glamorgan- Berkeley Division, Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 203 shire, Lord Lieutenant and Custos Rotulorum of the county of Gloucester, and of the cities of Bristol and Gloucester, Constable of the castle of St. Briavel, and Warden of the Forest of Dean, High Steward of Glouces- ter, and Colonel of the militia of the county and cities of Gloucester and Bristol. The present form of the castle is nearly that of a circle. The great gate leads, under a lofty pile of building, con- nected with the keep on the left side, into an irregular court, about one hundred and forty yards round. The keep, whose walls are very lofty and massive, resembles the form of a Roman D, flanked by three semicircular towers, besides that in which the great stone stair-case is contained, which is square, and has a small room where Edward is said to have been murdered. The whole is rudely embatteled. The original building was finished some time before or about the reign of Stephen, by Roger de Berkeley. Many parts have been added at different periods. The hall, which is 48 feet by 33, was built in the reign of Edward the third. It is a lofty room, and has four windows on the north side, of Norman architecture, Of the same date is the chapel of St. Mary adjoining, which is 36 by 24 : the windows are within two spacious niches, formerly used as private oratories. Many good family portraits are dispersed about the castle. A state bed is here shewn, with a date 1530, the pillars of the Co- rinthian order of ebony gilt. Leland mentions several parks and chaces ; but all ex- cept Michael-wood chace and Whitley park, have received a better destination, by being converted into farms. The latter is near the castle, abounds with good timber, and is enclosed with a wall seven miles round. The fishery of 20 J- The History of the County of Gloucester. the Severn, to a great extent, is enjoyed among the ma- nerial rights, but there arc some exceptions of individual privilege. TYTHINGS and HAMLETS. 1. The BOROUGH, in which are various properties belonging to the families of Hicks, Jenner, Joyner, &'c. 2. ALKINGTON, in which Newport is included. Some part belongs to the manor ; the rest is vested in the names of Hicks, Cornock, Kc. 3. BR.EADSTONE, the property of which is divided among R. Nelmes, Esq. W. Adey, Esq. Jas. Crooine, Gent. Kc. 4. HAM. In this ty thing the families of Jenner, Jen- kins, and Gee, are among the principal proprietors, but the greatest part is attached to the manor. 5. HAMFALLOW. Lord Berkeley is the principal pro- prietor here. Other proprietors are, Miss Fust, Sir Sa- muel Wathen, Knt. W. Joyner, gent. Sfc. Wanswell Court is an old building; and that part which has Gothic windows was probably built in the 14th centu- ry; the other part about the time of Elizabeth, or James the First. The hall, which occupies the centre of the building, quite to the roof, is lofty and spacious, and has a curious Gothic chimney-piece. A moat still surrounds the house, full of water; and the remains of two draw- bridges may be traced. In the reign of Edw. I. the ma- nor belonged to Robert de Stone : by a marriage with his grand-daughter, in the reign of Edw. III. it passed to John Swonhonger. In the beginning of the reign of Rich. II. John Thorpe, a burgess of Bristol, was possessed of it, by marriage with Isabella, daughter of Swonhonger. sin 1672 it was purchased of this family by D. Lysons, Esq. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 203 '2 tO), whose great-grandson, D. Lysons, M. D. held it to his death, in 1800, when it came to his brother, the Rev. S. Lvsons, the present lord of the manor(m). It is said, that the tenure of the manor of Wanswell is by military service in a tower in the castle, called Thorpe's Tower, but this is disputed. 6. HINTON. More than half the property here is an- nexed to the manor. An estate, late Weston's, is vested in I. H. Hicks, M. D. by marriage with the heiress of that family. 1. STONE, was originally a hamlet, but is now in many respects a distinct parish (265). These tythings and hamlets have all distinct officers, and maintain their respective poor. At Purton the present Earl has made a large decoy- pool, the only one in this county 59 Iron ore abounds within the limits of this parish; and it appears from the quantity of cinders to be found, parti- cularly about Peddington, that blomaries were formerly worked here. An old religious house existed here long before the conquest, which might have been the family " atBercka" mentioned in the acts of a synod at Clovesho, A. D. 824. But it is more doubtful, whether it consisted of monks or nuns, who were suppressed by the villainy of Earl God- win, in the time of Edward the Confessor, as related by Cam den. The hospital of St. James and John is also mentioned, cart 12, Hen. III. m. 4, wherein is a confirmation of seve- ral parcels of land with which it was endowed. A priory or hospital was also founded in Long-bridge, in the tything of Ham, by Maurice Lord Berkeley in lien. II. and dedicated to the Holy Trinity. The estate 206 The History of the County qf' Gloucester. with which it was endowed is now a parcel of the impro- priation. One hundred and eleven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 2500 1854 3090. Houses inhab. 498. The benefice is a vicarage in Dursley deanery, of which the Earl of Berkeley is patron, and Caleb Carrington, elk. is incumbent. The patronage of the church was granted by Hen. VIII. to the chapter of Bristol, and was alienated by them, un- der the powers of an act of Parliament, to George, first Earl of Berkeley, in exchange for the rectory of St. Mi- chael's, in Sutton Bennington, co. Nott. but the impro- priate tythes were retained, and are now in lease to Ed- ward Lloyd, Esq. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists of a nave, two aisles and a chancel, all of considerable dimensions. The original church was probably built by Robert Fitz- harding about 1 1 20, but it has been much altered from its ancient form by frequent reparations, and particularly those of 1732, w r hen it was newly pewed. The west win- dow and door seem to be the principal unaltered parts of the first building, and are very elegant examples of the architecture of that age. The tower is at some distance from the church. It was erected about forty years since, on the same spot where the old tower stood. On the base of the windows of the south aisle are three cumbent figures, with a lamb couchant at the feet of each ; these are not more than a yard long. Whether they are meant for any children of the family who died in their infancy, or three nuns belonging to the foundation which once existed here, is not ascertained. To the chancel, on the south side, is joined the sacellum or burial chapel, erected by James, Lord Berkeley, 1450. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 207 In P. N. taxation the church of Berkleye, that is, the rectory, 24/. 6^. Sd. In the King's books, 32/. 15.9. CCLII. BEVERSTONE, anciently BEURESTAN, Is twenty miles s. from Gloucester, and contains 2300 acres of light stony soil, three fourths of which are in tillage, The manor, containing ten hides, was anciently a par- cel of tlte great manor of Berkeley, and at the time of the general survey was holden of it. Hen. II. gave it to Ro- bert Fitzharding, ancestor of the Berkeley family, who settled it on Robert his son, on his marriage with Alice, the daughter and heiress of Robert de Gaunt. Maurice de Gaunt, taking his mother's name, succeeded him, and dying without issue, his sister Eva, by marriage with An- selm de Gourney, carried the Beverstone property into that family, 1230. Robert, their son, the founder of Gaunt's hospital, in Bristol, was succeeded by his son Anselm, 1269, who left the manor to his son John, 1286, whose only daughter and heiress Elizabeth, by marriag carried it to John Ap Adam 1287. From their son Tho- mas the manor passed by purchase to Thomas Lord Berke- ley, 1331, in which family it continued till the reign of Elizabeth, when Sir John Berkeley alienated the manor to Sir John Poyntz, from whom it soon passed to Henry Fleetvvood, Esq. and from him after 1608, to Sir Michael Hicks; from him to Sir Henry, whose younger son, Michael Hicks, Esq. dying without issue in 1764, left the Beverstone manor and estate to Michael, son of Sir Howe Hicks, Bart, of Witcomb, tUen an infant, who is now lord f the manor, and proprietor of the whole parish (122). 20S 1 lie History of the County of Gloucester. BEVERSTON CASTLE, Is of uncertain foundation, but undoubtedly prior to the conquest. Earls Godwin, Swane, and Harald met at this place, under the pretence of assisting JEdward the Confessor against the Welsh, about 1048. Maurice, Lord Berkeley, or de Gaunt, fortified and repaired it, and was prosecuted by the King for doing so without royal permission, in 1227. It then became a military fortress, and was probably much dilapidated during the Barons' wars; for when purchased by Thomas Lord Berkeley, it was so much beautified and enlarged by the spoils and ransoms of the prisoners he took at Poictiers, in the reign of Edw. III. as to be almost a new structure. Soon after this period it was used only for a mansion- house, till the great rebellion, when it was held for the King and besieged by Col. Massie, to whom it was sur- rendered by the Lieutenant then in command, at the first summons. Soon after the siege the castle was destroyed by fire, and a large dwelling-house that was built within its walls was burnt down about a century ago. The pre- sent is a farm house. The castle was originally a -square building, moated round on all sides, with a tower at every corner, one only is now standing. The chapel still remains, and has a beautiful arched roof, a gothic window, and on the right side of the altar a shrine of two compartments of taber- nacle work, with a lavatory, a closet in which is a confes- sional, and over it a prison, the floor of which was once covered with lead, as appears from some now inserted on the walls. In the uppermost story is an aperture of about two yards square, through which the prisoner was K t down into the dungeon, which is only 9 feet square, and Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 209 has only one entrance by a dark passage, excavated thro' the wall. The windows and chimney-pieces were altered to the style of the 16th century, when it became a private "house. The outer gate stood over the moat, which was 200 yards in circumference, and the ruins are still remaining. It is impossible to traverse these remains without shud- dering at the unfeeling cruelty and unrestrained fero- city of ancient Barons, and reflecting with sensations of gratitude on the improved state of society and manners, by which the inferior ranks are protected from oppres- sion, and the superior indisposed, if it were in their power, to renew the tyranny of feudal times. The barn mentioned in Big. Col. is in the parish of Rodmarton. Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 164 144 142. Houses inhabited, 30. The benefice is a rectory in Dursley deanery, with the chapel of Kingscote annexed, in the patronage of the King, and Thomas Pettat, A. M. is incumbent. The impropriation and advowson anciently belonged to the; monastery of Bristol, but at the suppression the advowson was retained by the crown, and the benefice endowed with the tythes. One hundred and eight acres of arable in Beverstone, thirty-two in Kingscote, and thirty-five acres inclosed in both parishes belong to the rectory. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists of a nave, one narrow aisle, with a smaller one belonging to the lord of the manor, and an embatteled tower, with pinnacles. In P. N. tax. the church of Beverston, \Ql. In the King's books, 30/. VOL. II. V 210 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCLIII. CAM, Is one mile w. from Dursley, and fourteen s. w. from Gloucester, and contains 3000 acres, the chief part of which is in pasture, with fruitful and extensive orchards, ' and 280 acres of commonable lands. The village is divided into Upper and Lower Cam, which are separated by a rivulet which rises at Owlpen, passes bv Dursley, gives name to this parish and to Cam- bridge, and falls into the Severn at Frampton Pill. It is called Cam, from its winding course ; that word in British signifying crooked. The lower classes here and in the neighbouring parishes are generally employed in the different branches of the clothing business. Cam was a member of the great lordship of Berkeley, and included in the original grant from Hen. II. to Robert Fitzharding, in whose noble descendants it has been vested ever since, -with a very x considerable property. Down-house, with a competent estate, is vested in Thos. Morse, Esq. of Dursley. Clinger-house and estate is the property of Dan. Weight, Esq. Other proprietors are, J. D. Matthews, Esq.(2oo) John Yv r allington, Esq.(264) J. Blagden Hale, Esq.(273) John Tyler, Esq. Mrs. Purnell(256), Kc. Lorenge-jmin was anciently a member of this parish, and is still rated in the same assessment of land-tax: but in parochial rates it is joined with Leonard's Stanley. This estate was given in the reign of Hen. III. by Thomas Lord Berkeley to the priory of Leonard's Stanley, of which the abbot of Gloucester had the patronage. The monks of the last abbey procured it to be considered as a part of Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hwdred. Upper Part. 2 1 1 Leonard Stanley parish, and it has so continued ever since, though separated from it by the intervening parishes of Coaley and Frocester. UPPER CAM contains Upthorp, Ashmeads, and Hocker- hill. LOWER CAM contains Tilsdown, Clinger, and Bower Lye. Longdowne and Pikedowne are two eminences on the eastern side of the parish. The former is a long plain or down running nearly north and south, and terminating abruptly on the north, but on the south separated by a hollow road from Pikedown or Camlev, as it is sometimes called, which swells out of the vale in a conical form, ter- minating in a point. No vestiges of encampment appear upon it. Twenty-eight freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 800 1070 1285. Houses inhabited, 247. The benefice is a vicarage or rather curacy, endowed in Dursley deanery. The great tythes were appropriated to the abbey of Gloucester in 1361, and were continued to it after the dissolution. The Estcourt family have been lessees of the impropriation for many years. The curate receives 60l. per annum from the lessee, which was so settled by Bishop Goodman, in 1660. The Bishop of Gloucester is patron, and William Fryer, clerk, incum- bent. The present lessee is Edmund Estcourt, Esq. of Lincoln's Inn (169). The church, dedicated to St. George, consists of the nave arid an aisle on each side, with a lofty and lio-ht ' O tower, embatteled and pinnacled at the west end. The effigy of the saint, carved in wood, stood in the porch of the church, and was taken from thence by a clothier, and removed to Colnbrook, in the reign of Hen. VI. whence the inn there received its name. (AtkynsJ. P 2 - 1 ^ Th* History of ttic Cowuy qf Gloucester. The church, in some records of the reigns of Hen. IV. and V. is called the Blessed St. Mary. CCLIV. COALEY, COVVLEY, anciently COVELEGE, Is a parish three miles N. from Dursley, and twelve s. from Gloucester. It contains 22SO acres of a deep clayey soil, the greater part of which is pasture, and very fertile. The manor of Covelege belonged to the Honour of Berkeley, and has been constantly appendant to the pro- prietors of Berkeley castle down to the present time ; near- ly two thirds of the parish belong to the Earl of Berkeley. J. D. Matthews, Esq. is proprietor of a considerable es- tate (255). Eleven freeholders voted in 1716. Population, 500 598 800. Houses inhabited, 148. The .benefice is a vicarage in Dursley deanery ; the King is patron, and Meredith Jones, clerk, incumbent. The impropriation was given by Roger de Berkeley, to the abbey of Gloucester, and continued in it till the disso- lution, when it was granted to Sir Anthony Kingston, and after to Morris and Phillips, from whom it came to the Brownings, and of them was purchased by John Minett, by whose family it was sold to the Rev. John Golightly, M. A. the present impropriator. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, consists of a nave and north aisle, with a tower at the west end, em- batteled and pinnacled, with handsome fret- work, proba- bly the work of the convent of Gloucester. Two escutcheons are on either side the door case ; upon one the gothic D inclosing A, on the other a chevron de- faced, part of the arms of Berkeley. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 213 In P. N. tax. the church of Covele, 9/. 6s. 8d. fn the Kings books (discharged) 8/. 2s. 3\d. CCLV, CROMHALL, anciently CROMHAL, Is seven miles s. from Berkeley, and twenty-three from Gloucester, and contains 3000 acres of light soil on a bed of excellent lime stone, on the higher grounds, and a deep soil in the lower. The former is principally in tillage, and the latter in pasture, beside extensive woodlands in the park, and a considerable portion in orcharding. Before and after the conquest, Cromhall was a member of the great lordship of Berkeley. In 1148 Robert Lord .Berkeley gave one part of it, which has since been called Cromhall Abbotts, to the monks of St. Augustine, in Bris- tol. They had free warren and a court leet in it, 1287, and continued in possession of this manor till the dissolu- tion, when it was granted to the new see of Bristol, and still continues with it, but is inr lease to Lord Ducie. CROMHALL LYGON, so called from the proprietor of it in the reign of Eliz. belonged to Sir John Berkeley in 1428, from whose family it went by purchase to the Li- gons, of whose descendant, Richard Ligon, it was pur- chased by Sir Thomas Throckmorton, Bart. ; his son, Sir William, sold it to Sir Horatio Veele, lord of Tylbury in the reign of James I. Avho resold it to Sir Robert Ducie, alderman of London, from whom it has descended to the present noble proprietors (115). The park is not entirely within this parish. It was en- closed by Sir William Ducie 1661, and is very well wood- ed, with an extensive piece of water in the middle. The vestiges of a perfect encampment still remain. The dis- covery of a tesselated pavement, proves that the Ro- P 3 2 1 i Tlic History qf the County of Glouceslei: mans were once stationed there, but can hardly be al- lowed as proof that the Iter Antonini led through or near this place from Bath. A retired spot, called Anchorites' 1 hill, supports the tra- ditionary account of a hermit of the early ages having had n cell here; something like the ruins of which are now to be seen. Cromhall h'ath is a large uninclosed tract of land, to which this parish and.Wickwar claim a right of common. Woodend house, is a handsome modern mansion, built by Daniel Matthews, Esq. about [110. He was succeed- ed in this and other considerable estates by his son Joseph Daniel Matthews, Esq. who sold the house and some lands belonging to it, to Lord Ducie, the present proprietor 60 . Bibstonc house is the property and present residence of JOK' h D. Matthews, Esq. Heathend house, with the estates, were for many years the property of the family of Robins, and was sold by one his descendants to Mr. James Rudge, some time after whose death they were transferred to Thomas Webb, Esq. He died early in 1803, and the house is now the residence of his sister, Mrs. Dyer. Mr. Thomas Hickcs was proprietor of a good house, called Court-house, and estate, near the churcft, in the be- ginning of last century, descended from an ancient fami- ly, of which, Sir Baptist Hickes, Lord Campden, and Sir William Hickes, of Beverston, were branches. He died in 1726, and by the death of two brothers, Mary, the surviving daughter, became heiress. She died in 1783, when the property came to Thomas Webb, Esq. and on Ins death to the family of Dyer. The higher parts of this parish are on a limestone rock; which diverges from this point as from a centre, to the Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. '2 \ j south-east, as far as Sodbury, and to the south-west ter- minated by Aust Cliff. The lime made from it is pecu- liarly good and white, and in the interstices at various places, arc veins of lead ore, and Sulphate of Strontian (310) (315) (287). The lower parts, and the whole dis- trict south of it, extending beyond Bristol, abound with coal (31 5) (296) &V. In this parish some mines were sunk at the expence of the late Lord Ducie, but soon disconti- nued on account of the frequently intervening strata o! earth. The steam engine is now neglected and nearly in ruins. About the beginning of last century, there was in the park a large plantation of vines, which is said to have pro- duced ten hogsheads of good wine in one year 61 . Twenty-one freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 360 316550. Houses inhabited, 115. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkcsbury deanery, in the patronage of Oriel College, Oxford. Robert Penny,' D. D. incumbent. The advowson was annexed to the manor for many o-e- nerations, till Matthew, the first Lord Ducie, sold it to the present patrons in 1728. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, consists of a nave and south aisle, with a low embattelcd tower on the north side, apparently of a more modern date than the other parts of the building. The effigies of a man cross legged, mentioned by Atkyns, .and supposed to be one of the Ligons, was either built up in the wall, or hid from sight by the pews, when some reparations were made in the church in 1775. In P. N. tax. the church of Cromhale, 7/. In the Kings books, 16/. 19s. 2d. P 4 '2 1 6 77/0- History qf tltc. County of Lloucester. CCLVI. DURSLEY, anciently DERSILEGE, Is a parish and market town, fifteen miles s. of Glou- cester. It is in compass eight miles, of a soil light and gravelly, mostly in pasture, with '2000 acres of woodland. Under the ancient constitution of the borough, there was a chief officer, called Praepositus, who now receives the name of bailiff. His office was formerly to collect the King's rents, and now it is, to examine into weights and measures, nor does it appear that his authority extends farther. The first priepositus, in 1567, was James Small- wood, and the present is Isaac Danford, Gent. The mar- ket-house stands in the middle of the town ; it was buiit of freestone about the year 1733, and h^s the statue of Queen Anne at the east end, and the arms of the lord of the manor in the front, who was at the sole expence of it. Thursday is the market-day, and the annual fairs are on the 6th of May, and 4th of December. The town itself is situated at the base of a steep hill, irregularly built, and not of great extent. Some of the houses are handsome and respectable, and others bear the charac- ters of great antiquity, particularly one, which possibly might have belonged to the Webbs, alias Woolworth, or Wekys; one of the chambers is lined with oak wainscot, the arched roof framed with timber, and the beams high- ly carved and ornamented with a cypher, E. W. 1539. In Dr. Parson's MSS. it is said that the first charter for markets and fairs was granted in 1471, b}* Ed. IV. at the petition of William Lord Berkeley, and renewed in 1612, on the petition of Sir Thomas Estcourt, Knt. On the s. . side of the church-yard, some springs rise out of the ground, like boiling water, in so copious a man- ner, as to drive a fulling mill at about a hundred yards dis- Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part, 2 1 T tance below, and are never known to diminish in quantity. At their rise, they cover a fine level gravelly bottom, for about fifteen feet square, with nearly two feet of water, wherefore the inhabitants call it Broad Well ; but farther back than the time of Hen. III. it was called Ewelme. This is a Saxon word, signifying the head of a spring; arid it is conjectured that this remarkable water gave name to the town; for in British, dwr is water, and ley, tege, lega, are common terminations for pasture ground, parti- cularly in elevated situations. In any way, this remarkable spring seems to have suggested the first idea of the name. There is a stone found here of a peculiar nature, called, by Leland, towfc stone, and by moderns, puff stone, or tophus. It lies in one entire bed or stratum, on which the workshops of Mr. Phelps are now built, and is so soft, as to be cut into pieces or blocks of any size or shape ; but when it has been exposed some time in the sun and air, assumes an uncommon degree of hardness and durability. d The walls of Berkeley castle, and in part the churches of Dursley and Cam, were built with this stone, and are suf- ficient proofs of its power to resist the usual effects of weather and age. The extreme lightness of it renders it highly useful in the construction of vaulted cielings, to set between the ribs of springing arches. The high choir vault of Gloucester cathedral is said to be a fine specimen of it. On the top of the hill, near Niblev-park, is a place cal- led the Hermitage , bleak and dreary, where, it is said, an anchorite thought proper to spend his days. The last mention of Heremite, or Hemitage, is in the court roll of Ham, in 8 Hen. VIII. In this and the adjacent parishes, the following fossils ire to be found. Nautili, ammonoidoD, cochlese, and be- 218 The History of the County of Gloucester. Jemnites. Likewise ostracites, mytili, and pinnae marinae; besides asteria columnaris, found in some running streams, but not in abundance. Dursley gives the title of Viscount to the Earls of Berke- ley, and the eldest son is stiled Lord Dursley. Edward Fox, well known in history for the active part he took in promoting the divorce of Hen. VIII. from Queen Catherine, was a native of this town 62 . The ditch of the old castle is still to be seen in an or- chard at the N. w. end of the town, which is called the- Castle Orchard. The Conqueror gave three hides in Dersilege, being a member of the honour of Berkeley, to Roger de Berkeley. In this name it continued till the reign of Richard II. About which time the manor passed, by the marriage of Maud, daughter and surviving heiress of John de Berke- ley, to Robert de Cantelupe, and by marriage with their daughter to Richard Chedder, from which name also it was transferred by marriage with the heiress to Thomas Wike, or Wekys, who died seized 1474. His fifth de- scendant in lineal succession, Robert Wekys, sold the manor to Richard Bude and his heirs, from whom it soon passed to Edmond Woolworth, alias Webb, whose son William sold it to Thomas Estcourt, Esq. from whom it descended to Sir Thomas Estcourt, Knt. and on his death, in 1625, to Walter Estcourt, of Lasborough, Esq. who Avas succeeded by Thomas Estcourt, Esq. of Shipton Moigne. He dying unmarried, was succeeded by his brother, Edmond, of Burton-hill, near Malmsbury, co. Wilts, Esq. who dying without issue male, bequeathed his property to Thomas Estcourt, Esq. (second son of the late Matt. Estcourt, Esq. of Cam) who is the present lord of the manor, and resides at Estcourt-house, near Tctbury( 112). Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 219 King* s-hill-house is the property and residence of Mrs. Purnell, relict of Thomas Purnell Purnell, Esq. who died in December, 1801. WOODM ANCOTE is a tything and hamlet, adjoining to the borough, and an ancient manor, of which Otto was pos- sessor at the general survey. It afterwards came into the Svvyneburne family, from them to Thomas Lord Berkeley, and continued Avith his descendants till sold by John Berkeley to Richard Lambert, a merchant, of London, 1567. In 1670, it was transferred by purchase from William Luden and Elizabeth his wife, sister of Arthur Bromwick, Esq. to John Arundell. In 1762, it was sold by the co-heirs of John Arundell, Gent, to John de la Field Phelps, Esq. the father of John de la Field Phelps, Esq. the present lord of the manor. The homage paid twice a year to the court at Berke- ley, is a thong of blue leather, tagged with ten at each end. The clothing manufacture is carried on here to a large extent, and with every advantage of modern machinery 63 . The principal works belong to Messrs. John (264) and Edward Wallington, William Phelps, and Mr. Tippetts. Nao Mills is a good house, belonging to William Pur- nell, Esq. (184). Fifty-eight freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 2500 2000 2379. Houses inhabited, 460. The benefice is a rectory, in the deanery to which it gives name, anciently charged with the payment of I/. 6.?. 8cl. to the priory of Stanley St. Leonard, and in the patronage of the abbot of Gloucester, who, in 1475, at the instance of John Carpenter, Bishop of Worcester, ex- changed this rectory for the Archdeacon's house in Glou T 220 The History of the County nf Gloucester. cester, to which dignity it was then appropriated, and has continued annexed ever since. James Webster, LL. B. is. the present archdeacon and rector of Dursley. The church, dedicated to St. James, consists of a spacious nave, two aisles, a tower of modern Gothic, and a very handsome portal. The arms of Berkeley and Fitz Alan, and the device of Thomas Tanner, are carved on the tim- ber frame roof. The latter erected a chapel at the south end of the aisle for chantry, and the figure of a skeleton beneath a canopy is intended as a memorial for him. Tlie south aisle probably owed a great deal of its external em- bellishments to him, which is in the -best stile of that period. The old spire fell in 1699, while the bells were ringing, and many lives were. lost. It was re-built and finished in 1709, at the expence of 10001. The chancel was also re-erected in 1738, and neatly fitted up. On the end of the nave is a saint's bell turret. In P. N. taxation the church of Durselege is valued at 6l. 13s. 4d. In King's books, 10/. 14s. 6 Id. CCLVII. KINGSCOTE, anciently CHINGESCOTE, Is distant five miles N. w. from Tetbury, and sixteen s. from Gloucester. It contains 1 300 acres of a light stone- brash soil, chiefly in tillage and woodland. There are several deep valleys, whose acclivities are covered with beech, which grows with great luxuriance on this whole extensive range of hills. The termination of the name is evidently descriptive of its being overgrown with wood in ancient days. This manor, at the time of the general survey, was a member of the lordship of Berkeley. It was given to Ro- ger de Berkeley by the Conqueror, and afterwards taken Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 221 from another Roger of tho same name, and given to Ro- bert Fitzharding, who soon after gave it to Nigel de Kingescote, to be holden of him by half a knight's fee, on marriage with his daughter Aldena. They left two sons, Adam and Robert, the latter of whom, on failure of issue in the elder branch, succeeded to the estate. The manor was confirmed to his son Nigel! by Robert Lord Berkeley, in the reign of Richard, who dying without issue, left Richard, his younger brother, his heir. He was suc- ceeded by Nigell, who died 1319, and was father of Wil- liam, father of Nicholas, father of William, father of John, who died in the life-time of his father, leaving his son William a minor, father of William, who died 1525, and was father of William, who died 1541, who was fa- ther of William, who died 1583, leaving Christopher his heir, who died in 1608, leaving his son Anthony, on whose death in 1654, Abraham his son succeeded, and in 1 610 left William Kingscote, Esq. who died 1706. William his son died in 1731, and was succeeded by Nigell, on whose death without issue in 1773, this manor and family estates devolved to his nephew, Robert Kingseote, Esq. (son of Robert Fitzharding, K, brother of the said Nigell,) who is now lord of the manor, and twenty-first possessor from the original grantee, Nigel de Kingescote. The ancient manor-house, which has been the residence of the family nearly 700 years, has been much modernized and improved. PLACES. 1. Binley. 2. Hazlecote. 3. Smith's Shop, or Hunter's Hall, which is a commodious inn on the turn- pike-road from Gloucester to Bath. This place was probably the scene of military transac- tions. Some discoveries of coins, fragments of tesselated pavement, and other antiquities are said to have been dis- 222 The History of the County of Gloucester. covered in a field called the Chcstles. but tradition gives, no account of any place where they were deposited. In this neighbourhood are quarries of stone full of pe- trifactions, and when polished, not unlike the Derbyshire marble. Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population 180 134 171. Houses inhabited, 47. The living is a portion of Beverstone rectory, to which it is annexed as a chapel, but exercising all the rights which belong to a parish. The chapel is a small building, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, having a nave only, and a low embattelled tower. The cenotaph of the Kingscote family is a triangular pyramidal structure, on the bases of which are three mar- ble tables, with momumental inscriptions. CCLVIII. NEWINGTON BAGPATH, anciently NEWENTON, Is a small parish, four miles east from Wotton-under- Edge, and seventeen south from Gloucester. The soil is stone-brash, and extends over 1600 acres, applied nearly in equal proportions to arable and pasture. Atkyns is probably mistaken in his assertion, that this manor was held of the honour of Hereford, as it was a member of the Lordship of Berkeley befpre the conquest, and has continued to be so ever since. Soon after the reign of Rich. II. it passed from the Berkeleys, as imme- diate possessors, to the Wckys, descended from an heiress of that family (256). Robert Wekys, a descendant, sold it in the reign of Elizabeth, probably to Sir Thomas Low, as he was lord of the manor in 1608. Edward Webb, Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 223 Esq. was lord of it at the beginning of last century, from whom it passed, by purchase, to Nigel Kingscote, Esq. whose nephew, Robert Kingscote, Esq. is the present pro- prietor (257). BAGPATH is a hamlet, lying half a mile from the church. It was in the family of Pointz for several genera- tions, and was sold by Nicholas Pointz. Edward Webb, Esq. was lord of it at the beginning of the last century, and it is now vested in Robert Kingcote, Esq. Culcot, or Caldfcot, is a farm, formerly the demesnes of the abbey of Kingswood. This likewise was a part of the property belonging to the Pointz fahiily, from whom it passed to the Estcourts; and Edmund Estcourt, Esq. is now lord of the manor (169). Lurgesall, formerly belonging to the abbey of Glou- cester, and granted first to Sir Walter Raleigh, and in 1606 to Peter Vanlore, merchant, and William Blake, scrivener, is now vested in the Corporation of Glou- cester. Edw. Sheppard, Esq. of Uley, is the present lessee, by assignment from Mawle. Five freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 220 354 217. Houses inhabited, 36. The benefice is a rectory in Dursley deanery, the patronage of which was in the abbey of Gloucester in 1512, and is now, by purchase, in Taylor, Esq. of Wotton-undcr-Edge. Thomas Hickes, A. M. is incum- bent. The church, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, consists of a nave only, and a low tower at the west end. In P. N. tax the church of Newenton 8/ In King's books, 4/. 22 1 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCLIX. NIMI'SFIELD, anciently NIMDESFELLE, Is four miles N. E. from Dursley, fourteen s. from Glou- cester, and contains about 1 130 acres. The soil is a light stone-brash, about half in tillage, with some woodland. The turnpike road from Bath to Gloucester leads down Nimpsfield hill, which is remarkably steep. The famous Col. Massie, who had been disgusted by the conduct of the republicans in the great rebellion, and deserted the cause, after having been taken prisoner by a party sent on purpose, and placed on horseback behind a trooper, contrived in coming down this hill, to tumble himself and guard off the horse, and by this means made his escape. The manor is a member of the Lordship of Berkeley. Robert Fitzharding gave this to his youngest son, Avho afterwards took the name of Fitz-Nicholls. Sir Thomas Fitznicholls died in 1419, leaving two daughters; Cathe- rine, married to Robert Pointz, Esq. and Eleanor to John Browning, Esq. whose moiety was soon after conveyed to Robert Pointz. It came afterwards into the family of Tame (l 25). On the death of Edmond, without issue, the family estates came to his three sisters, co-heiresses ; and in the partition, this was settled on Sir Thos. Verney, who had married Alice, the second, whose great grandson, Sir Richard, was lord of the manor in 1608. The Bridg- mans were soon after possessed of it, and John Bridgman, of Prinknash, was lord at the beginning of last century. From this family it was transferred to the noble family of Ducie; and Francis Reynolds Morton, Lord Ducie, is now lord of the manor (282), with the greatest part of the parish. HAMLETS. KYNLEY. or KINLINE. The manor an- ciently belonged to the warden and bretheren of a priory Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 225 established here, which Avas seized by William I. and res- tored by Will. II. 1099. It was dedicated to the Blessed Virgin, and became in a short time a college or free cha- pel of secular priests. Here was also a chantry chapel, dedicated to St. Anthony, whose figure was painted at the east end, with a boar by his side. After the general sup- pression the manor of Kynley was granted to William Stump, whose son, Sir James, had livery 1554. The priory, though converted to a dwelling-house, is still chargeable with tenths. The chantrv lands wer .; for a long time the subject of dispute between Thos. Throck- morton, of Tortworth, and Sir Henry Winston, of Stan- dish, but now are vested in Lord Ducie. Tinkley is another hamlet, consisting of two farms. Some property in this parish belongs to the family of Est- court Six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 250 497 523. Houses inhabited, 93. The benefice is a rectory in Stonehouse deanery, in the patronage of the King, and George Hay ward, the young- er, A. M. is the present incumbent. The inhabitants bap- tized and buried at Frocester, which was the mother church in 1185. The chapel of Nympsfield and the ad- Vowson of Frocester were given to the abbey of Glouces- ter by William de Blois, Bishop of Worcester, in 1225. The church, dedicated to St. Margaret, consists of a nave, with a handsome embatteled and pinnacled tower at the west end. In P. N. tax. the church of Nymedesfeld, 5/. 6s. 8d. In the King's books (discharged) 1 1/. 5s. Od. VOL. II. 226 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCLX. NORTH. NIBLKY, Is two miles N. w. from Wotton-under-edge, and eigh- teen s. from Gloucester, situated partly on the hill and. partly in the vale, and the soil, extending over 3000 acres, varies accordingly. On the former the land is light and strong, and chiefly in tillage, but in the latter are found very rich pasture and dairy farms, on which cheese of prime quality is made. The acclivities are covered with beech, but in the lowlands the elm and the oak thrive with luxuriance. Some parts of this parish lie three miles from the church. The prefix of North is used to distinguish it from a hamlet of the same name in the parish of Wester- Jeigh(296). Domesday takes no notice of this place, and it was pro- bably included in the accounts of the manors of Wotton and Dursley. Part of the parish is now within the ma- nor of Woodmancote, in the parsh of Dursley. Robert Fitzharding received this manor from Hen. II. and the no- ble family of which he was the ancestor have retained it ever since, excepting an interruption of 192 years, dur- ing which it was in litigation, and violently detained bv Lord Lisle. It was determined in 1610 in favour of the noble famil} of Berkeley, who still continue lords of the manor. During the pendency of the suit Thomas Talbot, Viscount Lisle, sent a challenge to William, sixth Lord Berkeley, to decide the quarrel by the sword. Nibley Green was the place appointed, where, on the 20th of March, 1470, both parties met, with their respective fol- lowers to the amount of nearly 1000, of whom 150 fell, and amongst them Lord Lisle, who was shot in the mouth with an arrow by one James Hiatte of the Forest of Dean. The victory was thus decided, and Lord Berkeley hastened Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. -Upper Part. 227 immediately to Wotton, the residence of Lisle, and seiz- ed all the papers and writings, some relating to Lord Lisle's own estate, which are still preserved in Berkeley castle. Lady Lisle, who was then pregnant with her first child, miscarried through the fright. Some lands in this parish anciently belonged to the reli- gious houses of Lanthony and Kingswood, and the Knights Hospitallers of Jerusalem. George Smyth, Esq. father of Nicholas Smyth, Esq. built a very good house in 1163, upon the scite of an old mansion, which had long been in the family. It has lately been sold, with a considerable estate, to John Jor- tin, Esq. of Bloomsbury-square, London. John Smyth, of Nibley, ancestor of the family, made very accurate collections rela ing to the history of this county, and committed to writing a very minute account of the customs of the several manors within the hundred of Berkeley, and the pedigrees of their respective lords, which cost him the labour of forty years' compilation. HAMLETS and PLACES. l. CHURCHEND, in which is situate the mansion house; which, with 2. GREAT and LITTLE GREEN ; and 3. SOUTHEND, are the property of John Jortin, Esq. 4. MFLL-END ; with 5. SMART'S GREEN ; 6. WOODER- LEN, or WOODLANE'S-END ; and 7. WATERLEICH, are the property of the Earl of Berkeley. 8. SWINNY, belongs to Mr. Clere. 9. WHOREND. The principal estate is vested in Wil- liam Purnell, Esq. by purchase (256). It was a parcel of the great estate, late Smyth's. 10. FORTOY. The principal estate here belongs to Thomos Robinson, Gent. 11. REDEMISSE, is chiefly in wood. Q 2 228 The History of the County of Gloucester. 12. ISLE OF RHEA, is the property of Mr. Cornelius Harris. Thirty-one freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 1000 1700 1211. Houses inhab. 225. The benefice is a curacy in Drfrsley deanery, endowed with 20/. a year from the impropriation, and twice aug- mented. It was formerly a chapel to Wotton-undcr- edge, and belonged to the abbey of Tewkesbury. The patronage and impropriation belong to Christ Church Coll. Oxford, and John Jortin, Esq. is lessee. Thomas Jones, clerk, is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Martin, consists of a nave and south isle, with a low embatteled tower at the west end, and a small turret for a Saint's bell at the junction of the nave and chancel. CCLXI. OLEPEN, OLDPEN, anciently OLEPENNE, Is a small parish, three miles E. from Dursley, and fif- teen s. from Gloucester. The soil is in general strong, adapted to pasture, and full of springs. It contains about 1100 acres. The name seems to be made up of ole, or idle, corrupted from ulty, and pen, which signifies the head or top of any thing ; that is, the top of uley, which is exactly descriptive of its situation. This is more probable than that the pa- rish received its name from the proprietor, as Sir Robert supposes. The place does not occur in ancient records till 1311, when John de Olepenne, is mentioned in the Escheator's Inquisition, as having granted one messuage and a half to Edmond Basset, and again in 1325, the same person oo- Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. '2W curs as a benefactor. to St. Bartholomew's hospital in Glou- cester, and a Bartholomew de Qlepeniie as a benefactor to the abbey of Gloucester. These were, at that t.mc, lords of the manor, and their descendants continued so till it passed bv marriage \vflh the b.eiress o f Robert Olepenne into the family of Daunt. He died 1522, and Thomas Daunt, Esq. was lord of the manor in 1608, and another of the same name in 1112. Thomas Daunt, Esq. is also the present proprietor of nearly all the parish. This ancient family trace their pedigree as far back as the reign of Hen. VI. in an uninterrupted line. The mansion-house adjoins the chapel-yard, and u built in the style of Eliz. with pointed pediments, and the windows projecting, and finished at top with battlements. The mayor and corporation of Gloucester, as trustees for St. Bartholomew's hospital, are possessed of the estate called Schescombe, which was given by Henry de Ole- penne to the brethren of the said hospital, in the reign of Hen. IIL Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 140 196 188. Houses, 35. The benefice is a chapel annexed to Newington Bag- path. The chapel is very small, and has a low wooden turret at the west end. CCLXII. OZLEWORTH, anciently OSLEUUORDE, Is a small parish, generally called Ozerley, two miles east from Wotton-under-edge, and eighteen south from Gloucester. It is situated on the verge of the hill district, chiefly in tillage, and environed with woods. It contains 1100 acres, of which half is in pasture. 230 Tlie History of the County of Gloucester. Word, or Worth, as was before observed (225), implies the mansion or estate of some early Saxon proprietor. This place was a berewick or member of the Lordship of Berkeley, at the time of the general survey. The manor was afterwards granted by th^feerkeley family to the abbey at Bristol; but in 1411, it had been granted again to the abbey of Kingswood, which was possessed of it till the dissolution. The family of Pointz had before been mesne lords under the last-mentioned abbey, and ob- tained the grant of it from Hen. VIII. Nicholas Pointz sold it about the beginning of the reign of Eliz. to Sir Thomas Rivet, alderman of London, of whom it was pur- chased by Sir Gabriel Lowe, an alderman also of the same city. It continued in the Lowes till the middle of the last century, when it was purchased by James Clutter- buck, Esq. who died in 1176; and Lewis Clutterbuck, clerk, is lord of the manor, and proprietor of more than half of the parish. In P. N. tax. " Abbas de Kyngeswood, habet apud Grang. qua vocat. Ozleworth, septem caruc. terr. et valet caruc. duodecim solid" Newark-house was originally built by Sir Nicholas Pointz, out of the ruins of Kingswood abbey, but has been considerably improved by its successive proprietors, and is now the family residence of the Clutterbucks. George Millar, Esq. has a good house, near the church, very finely situated, with a park, and considerable estate. Nash Croft is the property of the heirs of the late T. Chandler, Gent. Five freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 70 80 133. Houses inhabited, 22. The benefice is a rectory in Dursley deanery, in the patronage of the lord of the manor, and Lewis Clutter- Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 23 1 buck, M. A. is patron and incumbent. The advowson of this church was anciently given by Roger Lord Berke- ley to the priory of Stanley St. Leonard ; and when that became a cell to the abbey of Gloucester, the advowson came to the same abbey. The church, dedicated to St. Nicholas, consists of a nave and chancel. In the centre rises an octagon tower, (with small Saxon windows, divided into two compart- ments,) terminating in a pointed roof. The west side of the tower rests on a very singular Saxon arch, with chevron mouldings. The whole bears the marks of great antiquity, and may be ranked among the earliest speci- mens of church architecture in the county. In P. N. tax. the portion of the priory of Stanley in the church of Osle worth, 6s. 8d. In King's books (discharged) 6/. 10s. 5d. CCLXIII. SLIMBRIDGE, anciently HISLINBRUGE, Is a parish containing 4000 acres, five miles from Berke- ley, and eleven s. from Gloucester. It is bounded N. w. by the Severn, and consists of good pasture and meadow land, with some arable. A thousand acres, which are called the Dumballs, or more usually the New Grounds, were gained from the Severn some ages since, and were added to the Berkeley estates, on the plea that the Earl's manor extended to the middle of the river. To break the violence of the waves, and preserve the land from being washed away by floods and high tides, one of the Earls built a wall of large stones, firmly cramped together, and projecting a hundred yards into the river, in the parish of Frethern(ne) \ yet strong as it appears to be, it has not been able altogether to withstand the amazing pressure of a 4 232 The History of the County of Gloucester. the water when the spring tides run in, but is in many places ruinous. It is called the Hock Crib. Slimbridge Wharf c, or Warthe, is a piece of rich pasture ground, lately inclosed, adjoining to the river, affording excellent food for sheep, but s%t>ject to the inundation of the tides, and now again wearing away with rapidity. Slimbridge was, at the time of the survey, a member of the manor of Berkeley. It continued with the Berkeley* till, by marriage with Elizabeth, the only child of Thomas Lord Berkeley, it passed to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, who died possessed of it 17 Hen. VI. His daughter, Margaret, Countess of Shrewsbury, died seized of this, and some other estates in the neighbourhood, 1 Edw. IV. By a fine levied of this manor, with others, to the use of Hen. VII. it came to the crown, and so conti- nued till the death of Edward VI. when they reverted to Henry Lord Berkeley, the fifth in lineal descent from Maurice, brother to William Lord Berkeley, who had livery granted him 1 Mary; and from him the manor of Slimbridge descended to the presentEarl of Berkeley (25 1 ). Most of the estates in this parish belong to the Earl, either directly in possession or in lease. CAMBRIDGE is a hamlet in this parish, and receives its name from its situ.ition on the Cam, which falls a little be- low into the Severn 64 . RoWs-court is an estate held by lease under the Earl of Berkeley, late the property of Mrs. Davies, now of the Rev. Mr. Davies, of Eastington. Gossing ton-hall belonged to Capt. Jones, was sold by his co-heiresses to Mr. Pick, and from him passed, by pur- chase, to W. Cornock, Gent. Hurst, Sages, Churchend, Moorend t Kingston, are name* of places and farms. Berkeley Division, Berkeley Hundred, Upper Part. 23S Thirty-six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 560800770. Houses inhabited, 117. The church, dedicated to St. John the Evangelist, is neat and well pewed, consisting of a nave and two side aisles, with a gallery, and, a lofty well-proportioned spire at the west end. The Berkeley arms are painted in the window of the chancel and south aisle. The patronage of this church was originally in the Berkeley family, and was granted to the priory of Stanley Saint Leonards. Thomas de Bredon, Abbot of Gloucester, released the ad- vowson to Thomas Lord Berkeley, in consideration of lands, called Lorlyrge, or Lorrenge, near Cam. It now belongs to Magdalen College, in Oxford, and the rector pays 10/. a year to the college, to support a peculiar cus- tom of having choir music every year on the top of Mag- dalen tower. Three rectors have been removed from this parish to bishoprics. The last, Owen Oglcthorpe, was made Bishop of Carlisle, by Queen Mary, and was the only one that could be prevailed upon to crown Queen Elizabeth, Jan. 15, 1559. Charles Walker, A. M. is in- cumbent. In P. N. tax. the church of Slymbrugg, 28/. 13s. 4d. In King's books, 28/. 2-y. 1 id. CCLXIV. STINCHCOMB, Is a parish, two miles from Dursley, fifteen south from Gloucester, and contains 1 208 acres, chiefly in pasture, with some tillage. It is said to have been formerly a part of Cam. Stinchcomb is not mentioned in Domesday ; the family of Braddeston were early proprietors, and continued so 23* The History of the County oj Gloucester. till the reign of Hen. IV. Elizabeth, the heiress, carried it by marriage to Walter de la Pool, about 1434: and Sir Edward Ingoldsthorp was seized of this, and other estates, which had belonged to the Bradstones, 1457. It came afterwards to Lord Wentworth, who, in the reign of Elizabeth, sold it among several proprietors. Mr. John Hollister was lord of tue manor in 1608, after whom it came to the family of Pinfold. John Pinfold, Esq. died in 1119, and left it to Edward Hoskins, Esq. from whom it passed, by purchase, with the mansion-house and a good estate, to John Wellington, Esq. Peers Court, the residence of J. Wallington, Esq. is si- tuated on a commanding spot, overlooking, on the west side, the fine rich vale of Berkeley, and the distant cliffs which overhang the Severn. A good house and estate belong to John Mabbett, Gent, and a considerable estate to Thomas Morse, Esq. STANCOMB is a hamlet, in which Stancomb-house, with a considerable estate, is the property of William Purnell, Esq. (256) CLINGER, is partly in this parish (253). Abundance of fossils of different kinds are found in the quarries in this neighbourhood. Stinchcomb-hUl shelters the village on the east : on the summit of it is an extensive plain, the scene of many rustic diversions. The prospects from this elevated spot are peculiarly beautiful, as far as bird's-eye views will admit. The extent of rich country which lies within its command is very great ; and one of its principal beauties is the wide estuary of the Severn, which is here displayed in its grandest features. Sixteen freeholders voted in 1776. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. Population, 500 450419. Houses inhabited, 74. The benefice is a perpetual curacy in Dursley deanery, augmented by a benefaction of Mr. Pinfold and Queen Anne's bounty. The impropriate tythes did belong to the Bishop of Gloucester, till they were sold under the late act for the redemption of the land-tax, to John Walling- ton, Esq. William Purnell, Esq. Tho. Morse, Esq. and John Mabbett, Gent, with a reservation of twenty pounds a year to the curate, and patronage to the bishop. Rev. William Fryer is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Cyril, consists of a nave and chancel, with a steeple of moderate height, restin<* on a tower battlemented and pinnacled. On the north side is a handsome porch, with ribbed vaulted cieling. On all the upper windows of the tower are the figures, ' 1632, 1 in open work, probably the date of its erection. The church is of an earlier period, about the latter end of the fourteenth century. No church was standing at the time of P. N. tax. CCLXV. STONE, Is a small parish eighteen miles s. from Gloucester, and ^ixteen N. from Bristol. It is in general considered only as a tything of Berkeley The soil is nearly the same. The turnpike road from Gloucester to Bristol passes through it, crossing a large brook, which forms the Avon and joins the Severn below Berkeley. It contains about 300 acres. The manor is not mentioned in Domesday, but unques- tionably included in the lordship of Berkeley. Some per- sons occur in ancient records as possessors of the manor, 36 The History of the County of Gloucettcr. but they were probably mesne lords, or the manor soon reverted to the Berkeleys, and now belongs to the same noble family, withjio property attached. The principal estate belongs to the Rev. Stiverd Jen- kins, who has a good house in the village. Considerable property is vested in the family of Cox. In Lower-stone, John Hooper Bromedge, Esq. has an estate and house, in which he resides. Seven freeholders voted in me. Population, 200 200242. Houses inhabited, 39. The benefice is a curacy in Dursley deanery, annexed to Berkeley, the vicar of which pays 8/. a year to the cu- rate. Mr. Morse left 300/. to purchase lands, and directed that 10/. a year should be paid to the curate, on condition of his residing there. To this has been added Queen Anne's bounty. The tythes of this place belonged to the priory of Bra- denstoke, co. Wilts, and were granted to the chapter of Bristol. Edward Lloyd, Esq. is lessee. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a handsome building, consisting of a nave and tower, with a neat spire. The whole is adorned with battlements and pin- nacles. CCLXVI. ULEY, anciently EUUELEGE, Is two miles N. E. from Dursley, and fourteen s. from Gloucester. The soil in the lower parts is deep and in pasture, with some orcharding, intermixed with arable and wood land. The name seems to owe its origin to the springy nature of the land, as the word, like Dursley, sig- nifies a wateiy place. Berkeley Division, Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 237 The clothing manufacture flourishes here to a consider- able extent, and the poorer classes are entirely employed in it. A fine stream runs through the village, most con- veniently adapted and applied to the Various machinery of modern introduction. EUUELEGE was anciently a member of the great lord- ship of Berkeley. This estate was held by the elder branch of the family, till it was settled upon Maurice Berkeley, second son of Maurice Lord B. some time in the re ; gn of Edw. Hf. This Maurice was the ancestor of the Stoke Giffkrd family, and his descendants held this manor without interruption till the reign of Richard III. when joining with the Duke of Buckingham against the King, he was forced to fly into Britaigne, and his estate given to Jasper, Duke of Bedford, uncle to Hen. VII. but in 1489, it was again re-granted to the family, and has descended to the present Earl of Berkeley. Bassets-court, an ancient seat of the Basset's, is a re- puted manor. It came into this family by marriage of Sir Anselm Basset, with Margaret, daughter of Thomas Lord Berkeley, and continued in their descendants till about the middle of last century, when it was parcelled out and sold to different proprietors. A small part only of the old manor is now remaining. The principal part belongs toG. Millar, Esq. (262) The White-Court is another reputed manor, and is said formerly to have had two parks. The manor house has been demolished time immemorial, but the name is still retained, and the premises are covered with the buildings of various proprietors. Stoufs-hill, is an elegant building, ornamented in the Gothic style, situated on an eminence, Avith the village in 238 The History of the County of Gloucester. front. It was the property of Timothy Cycle, Esq. and was purchased by Lloyd Baker, Clerk, who resides in it. Beticombe, is a good house with a considerable estate attached to it, the property of the same gentleman. Thirty-seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 900 1310 1724. Houses inhabited, 312. The Berry is the scite of an oblong encampment, cer- tainly Roman, inclosing a space of nearly forty acres, and fortified with double entrenchments round the edge of the hill. Some coins of Antoninus and Constantino have been found here. The benefice is a rectory in Dursley deanery. Roger Lord Berkeley gave the advowson to the priory of Stanley St. Leonard's, and thirty acres in this parish now pay tvthes to Stanle} T . The patronage is now in the King, and Thomas Esbury Partridge, A. B. is incumbent. Sir Herbert Croftes, Bart, was promoted to the see of Worcester from this church, in 1677. The church, dedicated to St. Giles, consists of a nave and south aisle, with a low embatteled tower on the north side. There is a sepulchral chapel belonging to the Bas- set's family on the N. side of the chancel. In P. N. tax. the church of Iweleye, 1l. 6s. Sd. In King's books, 12/. 3s. 4d. CCLXVII. WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE, olim UUTUNE, Is four miles s. from Dursley, and nineteen from Glou- cester in the same direction. The soil, extending over 3500 acres, is in general of stone-brash, and in tillage, ex- cept immediately in the vicinity of the town, where it is deeper, and affords excellent parture and meadow. The situation of this place near the foot of a ridge of hills. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. L'pper Part. 23i? seems easily to lead to the etymology 'of the name, which, when resolved into its component parts, is Wood town under ridge. It is a market town and borough, but sends no mem- bers to Parliament. In 1253 Muurice Lord Berkeley caused a leet, consisting of the resiants within the borough, to be taken out of the great hundred of Berkeley, and granted to the inhabitants of the borough the same usages, liberties, and customs which were enjoyed by Tetbury ; and in the following year obtained a grant of a weekly market on Friday, and a fair on the eve, day, and morrow of the Exaltation of the Cross, which is now kept on the 25th of September. In 1272, the jury at the leet holden at Michaelmas, were authorised to chuse one person out of the burgesses, under the title of mayor, which they have continued to do till the present time. The right of imposing a fine on the mayor elect for refus- ing to take the office, was confirmed by a verdict at the Lent assizes in 1695. This town gave name to an usurped jurisdiction called the hundred of Wotton, set up by the descendants of Richard de Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, during the long dispute between that family and the Ber- keley s, but no such independent jurisdiction was ever le- gally obtained. Thomas Talbot, Viscount Lisle, grand- son of Richard de Beauchamp, by Elizabeth, the heiress of William Lord Berkeley, resided in this borough, and tf ** O * there are some remains of the house in arched door-ways^ Sfc. still distinguishable at the lower part of the town (260). Wotton was burnt down in the reign of John, and a place called the Brands, is supposed to mark its ancient scite. The modern town consists of several streets, and stands on sixty acres of ground. The buildings in gene- ral are good, and some belonging to particular families of fl 10 T7f History of tlie County of Glovfuter. property are modern and elegant. The clothing manu- facture furnishes employment for the poor. New Mill, belonging to Messrs. Austin, about a mile and a half from the town, is a complete establishment of the clothing ma- nufacture, and employs under its roof about 200 men, women, and children. Spanish wool alone is manufactured at this work, and prepared for the weaver of broadcloth and kerseymere. The process is as follows 65 : the wool in its rough state is first pidktd or freed from its tags and other impurities, then oiled on a tin floor to soften it for working; after this it goes into the first scribbling machine, where the locks are loosened, detached and divided, from thence into a second similar machine, where the wool is reduced to a still finer consistence ; it is then thrown into another machine of similar construction, and experiences the same process, except that passing under a fluted cy- lindrical roller, it is discharged from it in long and thin masses, as a preparation for spinning. These are car- ried by children to the Spinning Billy, by the curious and rapid operation of which they are lengthened, twisted into coarse threads, and wound up into cones; the Spin- ning Jenn its then receive them, which first untwisting thorn, twist them again in a contrary direction into finer and tighter threads, and' form them into cones as before. These are sent to the neighbouring weavers and manufac- tured into cloth, which is rowed, or smoothed and cleansed from ends and knots, by being passed under a cylinder revolving with a rapid motion, and armed with teazle heads. After frequent repetitions it is carried to the ful- ling mill, and then completed by the dyer. The men and women work by the piece, and earn from one to two gui- neas per week, and children of six years old are enabled to earn each eighteen-pence at least (25,6). Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Upper Part. 2-ti This manor was a member of the lordship of Berkeley. Thomas Berkeley, the fourth of that name, married Mar- garet, daughter of Gerrard Warren, Lord Lisle, and on his death in 1418, left an only daughter, Elizabeth, mar- ried to Richard Beauchamp, Earl of Warwick, and heir general to the whole estate of the Berkeley family. From this marriage arose the great dispute before referred to, and which was at last settled in favour of the Berkeley family, against the family of Talbot, Lord Lisle, whose claim was founded on -the marriage of his father, John, the great Earl of Shrewsbury, with Margaret, the eldest daughter of the before-mentioned Earl of Warwick. The title on the side of the Berkeley s was derived by an estate faille limited to the heirs male, and James, Lord Berke- ley, the brother of Thomas, the father of Elizabeth, Countess of Warwick, set up his claim under it, but Richard Beauchamp being in possession of he castle, had possession also of the papers and writings, which pre- vented the regular evidences being brought forward. The Earl of Berkeley is now lord of the manor of Wotton bo- lough and Wotton foreign. TYTHINGSand HAMLETS. 1. SINWELL and BRAD- LEY make one ty thing. The parish church stands within the hamlet of Sinwell. Bradley gave name to a family who were proprietors of it in the reign of Rich. I. Thomas Lord Berkeley gave many lands in this place to the abbey of Bristol, which, after the dissolution, were granted to the dean and chap- ter of Bristol, under whom they are now held by lease, Thomas Dawes, Esq. was lessee, from whom the house called Cannons House, with a good estate, descended to his great niece, Mrs. Smart. It 4* aw the property ef VOL. n. R 212 The History of the Comity of Gloucester. Richard Nelnies, Esq. son of the late Thomas Nelmes, Esq. of the same place. Other proprietors in these hamlets are, George Austin, Henry Austin, and Goodson Vines, Esqrs. 2. SYMONDSH ALL and COMBE constitute another tything. Svmondshall is said to be one of the most elevated spots- in the county, extending over a large plain, on which is a house, which has been the residence of the Veels for many generations. This family derive their origin from Elias, a younger brother or Robert Fitzharding, the ancestor of the Berkek vs, to whom the manor and estate belong. " A church or chapel formerly stood here, as is evident from a writing belonging to St. Bartho. Hospital, Gloc. which mentions a fardel of land lying between the land of Adam deTedepen and the church of Symondeshall on the south. Combe lies E. of the church, in which a good estate be- longed to the Rev. Mr. Somerville(iai), lately dead, which came to him in right of his mother, who was daugh- ter of Mr. Hicks, a former proprietor. William Moore Adey, Esq. has a very good house and estate here. The Rudge is sometimes called a manor in ancient re- cords. It belonged to the abbey of Kingswood, and with those religious societies it was not unusual to give the name of a manor to all their property, and in most case* to gain manerial rights. At the dissolution it was granted to the Poyntz family, and from them probably passed to Nathaniel Ridler, Esq. and from him to the late Rev. Ri- chard Brereton, Clerk, in right of his wife, youngest daughter of the said N. Ridler, Esq.(159) and is now the property of his son and heir, Thomas Westfaling, Esq. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. -Clipper Part. 2-ft In P. N. tax. Abbas de Kyngeswod habet apud Grang. qua vocat. Egge, (res caruc. terr. tt valet caruc. decem solid. WORTLEY is another tything, and very populous, where was formerly a chapel dedicated to St. John, ana founded by Thomas Lord Berkeley. This was part of the manor of Wotton, and was sold by George Lord Berkeley and his mother, 1632, to Richard Poole, Gent, and was en- rolled in chancery by the name of a manor. It afterwards passed into the family of the Hales, of Alderley, and has descended to John Blagdon Hale, Esq. of Alderley (273). HUNTINGFORD tything formerly belonged to the same proprietors as Symondshall, and passed into the family of Wogan by marriage with an heiress. At this time the manor was held of the King as of the hundred of Grum- baldsash. The Earl of Berkeley is now lord paramount, but WilliamMoore Adey, Esq. of Combe, has a good estate .here, . and exercises manerial rights. In Church-lane is an alms-house for the support of 30 uged women, at 3s. each per week. The following in- scription is over the door: GLORIA DEO, GRATIA FUNDATORI. Which Founder was Hugh Perrie, Esq. and Alderman of the city of London, who was borne in this -town, and besides this guift gave many other good guifts for the good of this towne. Anno Domini, 1638. H. P. Fifty-seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 3500 4000 3393. Houses inhabited, 638. The benefice is styled a vicarage in Durstey deanery, but is endowed with no tythes, only with a stipend of 43/. 6s. 8d. from the impropriation. It has been augmented by a donation from the late Ed. Colston, Esq. by another from the feoflees of thxj market, and Queen Anne's bounty R 2 2 14 The History of the County (# Gloucesur. The advowson anciently belonged to the nunnery of Berke. lev, and was treacherously obtained from 'them by Kri Godwin. It was afterwards in the crown, then in the Berkeley family, and next in the abbey of Bristol. It was again restored to the Berkeleys, and by them given to the abbey of Tewkesbury in the reign of Hen. VII. After die dissoluton the rectory and advowson were granted to Christ Church Coll. Ox. the dean and chapter of which cathedral are now patrons, and William De- chair Tattersal, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a large and handsome structure, consisting of a nave and two aisles, with a loftv embatteled and pinnacled tower at the west end. The arms of Berkeley are in many windows of the church. There were several chantries in it, and a hous* founded for Friars of the Holy Cross in the town. In P. N. tax. the church of VVotton, 3S/. 6s. *d. The vicar's portion, 5/. 135. 4d. In the King's books, 13/. 10$. Lowt?- Paj't. CCLXVIII. ALMONDSBURY, anciently ALMODESBURY, Is seven miles N. from Bristol, and about twenty-seven s. from Gloucester. Th parish, containing 6000 acres, affords a great variety of soil. On the higher lands it covers a bed of limestone, and is light and chiefly in til- lage. In the lower parts, it is a deep loam, and princi- p. II v in pasture, meadow, and orcharding. Those lauds which lie near to the Severn are liable to inundations, and though every posgiWe precaution is taken by the OMB- Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Lower Part. 245 rnissioncrs of Sewers, yet great damage is often done; particularly in 1786, very considerable mischief happened on both sides of the river. From a return made by the proprietors of lands, it appeared, that 1342 acres in this parish were liable to be overflowed. The name was probably derived from Alcmond, a West Saxon Prince, fattier of Egbert, who was supposed to have been buried here, and previous to his death to have had a burgh or bury, that is, an encampment or fortiiie.i- tion here, the remains of which, or some other, are visi- ble, both on the top of the hill, near to the windmill, auU also at Knole, where is a rampire and double ditch. Whether this was the w % ork of the Saxons or the British, must remain a doubt; but if credit is to be given to Wantner's Papers, now preserved iu the Bodleian, (which however is not allowed by some,) the skeletons of two men were found in 1650, with two coins of doubtful authority, no inscription being legible, but one of them bore the im- pression of a falcon, and the other was a head, with the appearance of Claudius Caesar. If the hecid be allowed to be Roman, the eagle might easily be mistaken for a fal- con, and the person buried will then be a IlomaM, which certainly is not improbable ; but the same author adds, that the skeleton exceeded the usual heighth of a man by three feet, and was buried sitting, which, according to Drexelius, was the customary manner of burying kings and princes. . One circumstance militates against the sup- position of their being Roman, which is that of being co- vered with a tumulus, which was not the practice of that people, but more common with the British. This manor belonged to Robert Fitzharding, who gave it, among other manors, to the abbey of Bristol. At the R 3 2*6 The History of the County of Gloucester. dissolution 1545, it was granted toMiles Partridge. Henrv D'Arcy, who had livcrv of it in 1553, sold it to Thomas Chester. William Chester his father, was a younger branch of the Chesters, co. Huntingdon. Thomas, the purchaser of this manor, was high sheriff of the county 1577, and mayor of Bristol in 1569. William, his son, was succeeded by Thomas, high sheriff in 1617, whose son, Thomas, died 1686, leaving Thomas, high sheriff 1699, and lord of the manor at the beginning of last cen- tury. Thonrvas, his son, died without issue in 1763, and bequeathed his property to Elizabeth Lucy Chester, the daughter and only child of his brother, Richard Howe Chester. She was married to William Bromley, of War- wickshire, (who assumed the name and arms of Chester.) He was elected Member in Parliament for this county in 1776, but dying soon after, left his widow in possession of this and other estates, and on her death about 1800, the family property descended to Thomas Masters, Esq. of Cirencester. Knolc-house t the family mansion of the Chesters, is si- tuated on a high point, and commands a view of the Bris- tol channel, with the distant hills of South Wales. Of the old manor house, which was in a bottom, only a barn remains. TYTHINGS. 1. HEMPTON and PATCHWAY, alias Pittishaw, is in the loAver division of the hundred of Lang- ley and Swineshead, a mile from the church. The manor belonged to the Rev. John Sedgewick Whallev, in right of his wife, the daughter and heiress of Edward Jones, of Langford-court, co. Somerset, who sold it to Edmund Probyn, Esq. of Winterbourn, from whom it again passed by purchase to Edmund Brice, the younger, Esq. and Jos. Mason Cox, M. D. (305). Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. loiter Part . 247 The principal estates in Hampton arc the property of Ed. Sacheverell Sitwell, Esq. (298) Those in Patchway of Ti:oma< Ma ters, Esq. (99) WOODLAND is a hamlet, in which Sydenham Tcast, Esq. was principal proprietor; but now, by purchase, Ady, Esq. The other estates are vested in the fa- milies of Marsh and Cox. 2. OVER, in the same hundred, has had a variety of proprietors since the general survey. Maurice dc Gaunt held it 1230. From him it passed to the Gourneys, and by marriage to the Ap Adams, from whom it came, by purchase, to Thomas Lord Berkeley. On the attainder of Sir William Berkeley, the manor was granted to Thos. Brian, 1485, who sold it to John Poyntz ; and by mar- riage of his daughter Alice with Sir Edward Berkeley, it reverted to that family, and continued there till John Berkeley, about 1570, sold it to John Dowell, of Bristol, from whom it passed in lineal descent to John Bridges Baker Dowell, Esq. who dying unmarried, 1743, be- queathed all his property to his tutor and friend, the Rev. Mr. Degge, on whose death, in 1776, this manor, with se- veral other large estates, devolved to his sister, Mrs. Wil- mot. By marriage with her daughter, they came into the. family of Sitwell (298). The manor house is delightfully situated within a park of considerable extent, and commands all the advantages of prospect which nature has allowed to this picturesque district of the county. EASTER COMPTON, that is Eastward, three miles from the church, is a hamlet in this tything, and principally be- longs to Thomas Masters, Esq. by heirship from die Chesters. R 4 248 The History of the Cdwtty of Gloucester. 3 GAUNT'S URCOTT, so called from an ancient pro- prietor, alias Earthcote, lying in the lower division of '1 hornbury hundred, nearly three miles from the church. Richard de Gourney before mentioned founded a hos- pital in his manor house, called Bilswick, and endowed it with this manor. At the dissolution, Hen. ViII. granted it to the corporation of Bristol, who are no\v lords of the manor. The hospital was re-founded in the reign of Queen Elizabeth, and is no\v called Gaunt's hospital. It stands within the liberties of Bristol, and is now applied to the use of the blue-coat boys. Within this manor is a moated farm, belonging to the corporation of Bristol, called St Swithin's chapel, the body of which and the chancel were standing at the begin- ning of last century ; and in the present house is a room now called the chapel. BROKENBOROW is a reputed manor, wherein a chantry was founded in the same year with the abbey of Bristol. After the dissolution, it belonged to the Berkeleys, and from Henry Lord Berkeley a fourth part passed by pur- chase to John Hollister and others, in 156G. The house was called Standshall-court, and the lands are known by the same name. In the MSS. of John Smith, dated 1639, it is remarked, that *' lead hath byn digged in the hilly part of this parish, and that the fay re castle of Berkeley, for part of her co- veringe, doth acknowledge herself beholdinge to it.*' Seventeen freeholders voted in 1176. Population, 530 , 851. Houses inhabited, 112. The benefice is a vicarage, in the deanery and diocese of Bristol, but archdeaconry of Gloucester. Before the reformation, the advowson was in the abbey, and was af- Berkeley Division. ^Berkeley Hundred. Lo^fr Pare. 24-9 terwards granted to the new see of Bristol ; the Bishop of which 13 now patron, and Thomas Hunter, clerk, is in- cumbent. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is large, and handsomely pcwed with Dutch oak. It consists of a nave and two aisles, a well proportioned spire in the middle, with eight bells, and cross aisles on each side. The whole is covered with lead. In the chancel is an altar- piece of Dutch oak, of the Corinthian order, with a neat pavement before it, and a table of grey marble. The whole building and ornaments are in a style of elegance, chastened by simplicity, worthy of its sacred destination. In P. N. tax. the church of Almoudsbury, 20/. 1 3s. Qtd. In King's books, 20/. CCLXIX. ELBERTON, anciently ELDBERTON, Is eleven miles N. from Bristol, and twenty-eight s. w. from Gloucester. The soil is a strong red loam, anf Gfouccstfr. Six messuages in this parish were given by Rob. Fitz- harding to the abbey of Bristol, whose claim to them as part of the manor of Horfield was allowed 15 Ed. I. Af- ter the dissolution they were granted to the see of Bristol, and are still part of its possessions. The principal estate was* transferred to John Brickdale, Esq. and, with another, the property of the family of Gayner, is held under the manor by Matthew Brickdale, Esq. who resides at Monkshorton, co. Somerset. HAY, is a hamlet and manor, formerly belonging to the family of Mallet. The principal proprietors are Sir Cecil Bishop, James Fowler, Esq. Kc. In this and some of the adjoining parishes great quanti- ties of Woodwaxen {genista linctoria) are collected in the summer and carried into Bristol; from which by boil- ing and other processes, a fine yellow colouring matter ii, produced, and being mixed up with whiting is sold under the name of yellow-pink. One freeholder voted in 1776. Population, 80 125 115. Houses inhabited, 18. The benefice is a rectory in the deanery and diocese of Bristol, originally appropriated to the abbey of that place, but the advowson was once annexed to the manor. In the sale of episcopal estates, made in 1649, the manors and impropriations of Horfield and Filton were purchased by- Thomas Andrews for 1256^. 14s. but this can refer only to the six messuages before mentioned as far as relates to this parish. Matthew Brickdale, Esq. is patron, and ncumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a small and iov, building, consisting of a nave and semitransept with a Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred, Lower Part, '2^3 law tow r and five bells at the west end. Atkyns uien- tu)i)s the spire as having been blown down by the wind. In P. N. tax. the chapel of Filton, 5l. In the King's books, ""d, CCLXXI. HILL, or HULL, Is situate between Berkeley and Thornbury, three miles 3. w. from the former, four N. from the latter, and twenty- two s. w. from Gloucester. It seems to have been so named from its elevation towards the east, particularly that part on which the seat of the Fust family is built. The lands after shelving from the hill extend in a level di- rection for about two miles to the Severn, divided into spacious meadows, of a deep soil, very fertile, but front the nature of the situation, subject to frequent inunda- tions. The parish contains about 2000 acres. The manor is mentioned in Domesday as a member of the groat lordship of Berkeley. It was granted by Hen. I!, to Robert Fitzharding, to hold by knight's service; by him it was given to Nicholas his second son, and his heirs ; he died 119o, and left it to his son Roger, who on his death, in 1231, was succeeded by his son Nicholas; he died in 1262, and left issue Ralph, who died in 1291, and left Nicholas, who was succeeded by his son John 1333, who died in 1316, leaving Thomas his grandson and heir, son of Reginald, who died in his father's life time. Thos usually written Thomas Fitz-NicholJ, had two daughters, one of whom, Catherine, was married to Robert Poyntz, and by this marriage the manor of Hill canie to the family of Poyntz, in which it continued till the reign of Queea Elizabeth, when it was sold by Sir John Poyntz to Nich. Dimery, who sold it to Henry Fleetwood, and from bin 254 The History of the County qf Gloucester. it soon passed by purchase to Richard Fust, of London. From Sir Kdward Fust his son, who was created Baronet in 1662, it descended to Sir John Fust, the fifth Baronet, who dying without issue male, in 1779, bequeathed his manerial estate to dame Phillippa his relict, with remain- der to Miss Langley, of Thornbury, co. Clone, his sister's daughter. The greatest part of the rjarish is attacbeJ to the manor. The family of Fust came from Switzerland, and about 1420 had considerable property in Sussex. Thomas Fust, of Ware, co. Herts, suffered death for the protestant re- ligion in 1555 ; and Edward Fust was an eminent loyalist during the civil war, and his zealous services procured him the dignity of Baronet on the restoration of Charles the second. The ancient manor-house, of which a view is given in Atkyns, is now demolished, and in the place of it was built by Sir Edward Fust, the fourth Baronet, the present house. It consists of one side of an intended square, and is very extensive. The centre is occupied by the hall, 80 feet long, and in good proportion. From the sci'e of this house the prospect opens on the west to a very fine reach of the Severn, and beyond it the. cliffs of Monmouthshire, and the distant mountains of Wales, with the high lands and pendant woods of the fo- rest of Dean, on the right, compose the landscape. The great sewer at Hill Pill, called thelmpt rial Draught^ ind the two others above it, were planned, built, and erected in 1750, by Sir Francis Fust, Bart, at his own expence, and have been productive of great benefit to the inhabitants. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 2OO 146 220. Houses inhab. 35. Berkeley Division. Berkeley Hundred. Lower Part. 255 The benefice is a donative or free chapel, in the deanery of Dursley, having been with the whole tythes, parcel of the abbey of St. Augustine's, in Bristol. It was granted to the chapter of Bristol on the establishment of the new see, and is no\v in lease to the family of Fust^ who have likewise the nomination of the curate. William Lle\\ ellin, clerk, is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, has a nave only and low obtuse spire. It was completely repaired at tho expence of Sir Francis Fust, Bart, in 1759. CCLXXII. HORFIELD, anciently HORFELLE, Is a small parish two miles N. from Bristol, and thirty- two s. from Gloucester, intersected by the turnpike road between these two cities. The soil is a strong and fertile clay, chiefly in pasture, and extends over 1 100 acres. One of the heads of the Trin, or Trim, rises in this pa- rish. At the time of the Domesday survey this was part of the great manor of Berkeley; but being given by Robert Fitzharding to the abbey of St. Augustine, it continued a parcel of its possessions till the dissolution, when it was granted to the new see of Bristol, which has held it ever since. The lease of the manor was long held by the ancestors f Thos. Michell, Esq. barrister-at-la\v, whose sole daugh- ter and heir was Isabella, the Avife of John Shadwell, Esq. of Cork, in Ireland; and John Shadwell, M. D. is now lessee of the manor, with more than half the parish. Lady Jane Cave is proprietor of a considerable freehold estate. One freeholder voted in 1776. &56 'lite History of the Coutuy oj' Gloucester, Population, 100 125 119. Houses inhabited, 19. The benefice is a curacy, in the diocese and deanery of Bristol, of small value, but was augmented, in 11 IS, by Queen, Anne's bounty, and the benefactions of Edward Colston and Thomas Edwards, Esqrs. The impropriation formerly belonged to the abbey, and does now to the Bi- shop of Bristol, is incumbent. The church is a small building, with a nave only, and low pinnacled tower at the west end. In P. N. tax. the chapel of Hgrefeld, 3/. C*. 8tcr. whom it has descended to Richard Huntley, clerk, A. M, with the estates in Boxwell. An ancient manorial house near the church, now mo- dernized and elegantly improved, has been the residence of the family from the original purchase at the beginning of the nth century. In the dining parlour, the present proprietor has judi- ciously preserved a handsome chimney-piece, erected probably by his ancestor when it first came into the fa- mily, and finished with Corinthian columns in the best stile of workmanship. The arms of the family are among the ornaments with which it is embellished. Leland retains a tradition of a nunnery in this place, which was destroyed by the Danes. Foundation-stones which have been discovered, fix the sciteof the building in a most romantic valley between the church and the hill. Near the road from Gloucester to Bath, on the west side is a tumulus, called West Barrow, of considerable dimensions. On its being opened, more than a century since, three small vaults were discovered, in which were urns filled with ashes, some bones, but no coins or other Roman antiquities. Barrows, it has been before observed, were, with very few exceptions, British; and if any Ro- man coins happen to be found in them, it can only be in- ferred that they were the burial places of some British of- ficers who served in the Roman army. In the. warren were lately discovered a small quantity of Roman coins, some human bones, and stones discoloured as by fire. The deadly night-shade (solatium dulcamara), hen- bane (hyoscamus nigcrj, hemlock (conium maculalum). wild thyme (i hymns s-rpyl/umj, marjoram (origanum y and some other plants, grow in the Barren. Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsasft Hundred. Upper 1'art. i>65 LEIGHTERTON, is a hamlet about a mile distant from the church. The manor formerly belonged to Humphry de Bohun, Earl of Hereford and Essex, 1313, and to Robert Stanshaw, 1473. It is now in the same proprietor as Boxwell, but the lands are much divided. This hamlet has separate parochial officers imd rates. Six freeholders voted from this parish in 1776. Population, 104 175 217. Houses inhabited, 44. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, in the patronage of the lord of the manor, who also is the incumbent. The advowson formerly belonged to the prjory of Walsingham, in Norfolk. After the dissolu- tion it was granted to William Grew and Anthony Forster, J564. The abbey of Gloucester presented in 1541. The church, dedicated to St. Andrew, is a low struc- ture, consisting of a nave, one small aisle on the north side, and an octangular turret, terminating in a point, in the middle. The whole building bears marks of great an- tiquity, but the turret is probably the only part of the original building. The chapel of Leighterton is a small structure, neatly* fitted up in the interior, and has a low embatteled tower at the west end. In P. N. tax. the church of Boxwell, 5/. In the King's books, 23/. 4s. 9{d. CCLXXVII. CHARFIELD, anciently CIRVELDE, Is a parish, four miles w. from Wotton-under-edge, twenty-three s. w. from Gloucester, and containing about 1800 acres. The greater part of the parish lies on the vast bed of lime-stone rock which is the basis of a considerable }ine of country in tfiis district. The soil in general is of 266 Tlic History of the County of Gloucester. sufficient depth to be applied to pasture, with only a small portion of arable. The stream which rises in Box- well wood, here forms a boundary between this parish and Kingswood, having received another rivulet from Alderley a little higher up. Tafarn Bach, now corrupted into Tavern Bath, is a small inn, at the crossing of the two roads on the borders of the pariah, and is worthy of notice on account of its having been a house of entertainment in very early times ; the derivation being purely British, Tafarn Bach, signify- ing in that language a little alehouse. The manor was held at the time of the general survey by Gozelinur Brito, and is described in Bachestanes hun- dred. It was in the family of Mayseys or Masseys, and the Veels, by intermarriages, from Hen. III. till 1458; and during this interval, it was once in the Berkeleys by mar- riage. The family of Stanshaw were seized of it from 1473 to 1497. The manor, in 1608, was in the Throck- mortons, of Tortworth; and afterwards in the family of Hickes, about the beginning of the 17th century, who were the proprietors of it till the death of Richard Hickes, when it came to his nephew, Joseph Walton, Esq. and it is now the property of Charles Brome Walton, Esq. with some estate. Lord Ducie has the most considerable estates in the parish. Other proprietors are, Richard Haynes, Esq. (297) W T m. Pullin, Wm. Cullimore, 5Cc. Eleven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 145 200 247. Houses inhabited, 40. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, en- dowed with 20/. a year out of Micklewood chace, in lieu of tythes. The advowson was for several years in the Berkeley Division. Grumbuldsaslt Hundred. Upper Part. 207 family of Tyndale, but is now, by purchase, in William Jolliffe, Esq. of Bristol ; and Richard Jones, A. M. is in- cumbent. The church, dedicated to St. James, consists of a nave and south aisle, with a low tower at the west end. Some fragments of painted glass are in the windows, but nothing perfect except the holy rood. In P. N. tax. the church of Charefeld, 5/. In the King's books, 10/. 1*. 3rf. CCLXXVIII. DIDMARTON, anciently DEDMERTONE, Is six miles w. from Tetbury, and twenty- three s. from Gloucester, situate on the lower extremity of the Cotes- wold, and bounded by Wiltshire. The soil, extending over fOO acres, is, with a small exception, under tillage. The latter part of the name signifies, in Saxon, a' bound- ary town (mere town}. The turnpike road from Oxford, through Cirencester, to Bath, leads through the village. The manor anciently belonged to Durand, of Glouces- ter, and passed from him through the Sy wards, Wroston, and Wroughtons, and from the last to the Seacoles. By marriage with Anne, the younger daughter and co-heiress of Richard Seacole, Esq. in the reign of Elizabeth, the manor came into the name and family of Codrington ; and of the lineal descendants of this family it was purchased by the late Duke of Beaufort, and the present Duke is Jord of the manor, and proprietor of the whole parish. The old manerial house, built by the Codringtons, is now nearly in ruins. Several tumuli are existing in different parts of the parish. 268 lite History of the County nf Gloucester. No freeholder voted from this parish in 1716. Population, 56 72 74. Houses inhabited, 20. The benefice is a rectory in Hawkesbury deanerv, in the patronage of the Duke of Beaufort, and George Cook, D. D. is incumbent. In 1735, it was united to Oldbury-on-the-hill. Fifty- two acres belong to the glebe. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, is small, con- sisting of a nave and aisle projecting from the end of it. The form is therefore that of L, intended, as it is thought, to answer the initial of the tutelar Saint's name. The tur- ret is of wood. In the King's books (discharged) 8/. CCLXXIX. HAWKESBURY, ancitntly HAVOCHESBERIE,. Is a large parish, lying chiefly on the edge of the Lower Coteswolds, containing 6400 acres, distant four miles N. E. from Sodbury, and twenty- five s. from Gloucester. The soil on the hills partakes of the nature of the Coteswolds, and is chiefly in tillage; but the lower parts are deep, and afford rich pasture, which is about four parts in five of the whole, excepting some hundred of a'cres of wood land. The latter part of the name implies a camp or military station ; but who Havoche was, history does not inform us. Two small brooks rise here, and join the Berkeley Avon near Falfield. The manor anciently belonged to the. church of Saint Mary, Pershore. A grant of markets, fairs, free warren, and court leet, was given in 1253, and allowed 1287. At the dissolution, the manor was granted to John Butler, or Boteler, of Badminton, upon whose death, in 1552, he left it in dower to his relict Sylvestra, daughter of John Guise, Berkeley Division. Grunibaldsash Hundred. Upper Part. 269 Esq. of Elmore, who was succeeded by John Boteler, in 1565. In 1608, the manor, with the hamlets of Hillsley, Kilcot, Tresham, Seddewood, Upton, and Guston, was held by Nicholas Boteler, Esq. and in 1612, was transfer- red to Arthur Crewc, Esq. of Alderlev, from whose execu- tors it passed by purchase to Sir Robert Jenkinson, Knt. of Walcot, co. Oxford, who was created Baronet in 1661. On the decease of Sir Banks Jenkinson, the sixth Baronet, the title and property devolved to the next heir male, the Right Hon. Charles Jenkins^n, Chancellor of the dutchy of Lancaster, who was created Baron of Hawkesbury in 1786, and Earl of Liverpool in 1796, and is now lord of the manor. The manorial house, which was for some years the resi- dence of the family of Jenkinson, is now reduced to ruins. In P. N. tax. Abbas de Persor. habet apud Haukesbar. septem came. terr. et valet caruc. tresdecem solid. TYTHINGS. 1. HILSLEY, anciently HILDESLEI, is a large village, and has a distinct tythingman. One mes- suage, a small wood, and certain lands at Brodecroft, be- longed to the abbey of Pershore 1316 ; and other tenants are mentioned. In 1623, Francis Thynne, of the Kemps- ford family, held this manor. It afterwards passed to the Symonds's, of Dorsetshire, and was purchased of Edw. Cosyn, Esq. of Great Stoughton, co. Huntingdon, and passed, in marriage with his daughter Eliza, to George Tipping, Esq. It has since passed from the families of Hale and Springett, of Alderley, to Matthew A' Dearie, Esq. by marriage with a daughter of the last. The principal property is in the Duke of Beaufort. Hilsley had a chapel, which is now totally delapidated. 2. TRESHAM, belonged to Thomas Kennett in 1348. John Blagdon Hale, Esq. is lord of the manor, with cousi- 270 The UiiUorjf of the County of Gloucester. dcrabie property (97 3). The principal proprietors are tlifc Duke of Beaufort, L>. Hunt, Esq. (43), Daniel Adey, Esq. Matthew A'Deane, Esq. Kc. In this hamlet is a small chapel, annexed to Hawkesbury. Population, 125, included in total at the end. 3. KILLCOTT. The manor with free warren in Killcott was confirmed to Matilda de Every 1287. It afterwards passed to the families of Bodisant and Stanshawe. Rob. Poyntz, Esq. of Alderley, sold it to Samuel Barker, Esq. of Fairford, who resold it to William Springett, Esq. from whom it descended to Matthew A'Deane, Esq. of Alder- ley, in right of marriage with his daughter, and he is now lord of the manor. 4. SEDDLEWOOD, is a manor, and belonged for many generations to the family of Workman. Some years since it was sold by Timothy Thomas, gent, to Daniel Adey, Esq. who is succeeded by his nephew, Daniel Adey, Esq. The three last compose one tything. 5. UPTON, is a very extensive tything, situate on the hill. An estate belonged to the Codringtons in 1459, and w;is by their descendants sold to Sir Robert Jenkinson, and is now part of the possessions of that noble familv. An estate, belonging formerly to Robert Wicksey, gent, of Sherstone, co. Wilts, descended to the late Richard Wood, Esq. of Gloucester, who sold it to Nathaniel Watts, Gent, the present possessor. 6. WASTE, or LE WASTE, was transferred from the ab- bey of Pershore to that of Gloucester, with the advowson of the chapel, by deed executed at Standish in 1 377. The chapel of Le Wast, with all tythes and appurtenances, were granted to Francis Marcs and Michael Cole, 1615. The manor afterwards belonged to the Codringtons, and by them was sold to the noble family of Beaufort. Berkeley Division. Grumluldsush Hundred. Upper Part. 27 I 7. BADMINTON PARVA (275). 8. CHALKELEY, belonged to Sir Abraham Elton, Bart, in 1780, and is now vested in his son, of the same name. Forty-four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 5988961301. Houses inhab. 224. The berrefice is a vicarage, in the deanery to which it gives name. It was formerly impropriate, and annexed to the abbey of Pershore, and the advowson is now in the manor. At the suppression, 1546, the great tythes were granted to John Boteler, and have since been divided into several parcels, and attached to particular estates. Potter Cole, M. A. the last incumbent, was resident sixty-three years on his benefice; and, until the last year of his life, 1.801, never was absent from a visitation. Christopher Swainson, M. A. is now incumbent. The church, dedicated to St, Mary, is a large building, with a nave, two aisles, and a heavy embatteled tower at the west end. The original building was erected, prob- ably, by the abbey of Pershore, but from the arms of Boteler, carved in stone, and the square windows, which bep-an to be introduced on the decline of the Gothic, .in o ' the sixteenth century, it is likely, that the whole was re- cvected or repaired by the Botelers. The chancel bears the marks of greater antiquity. In the south chancel was a chantry, established in 1452, to which belonged a geld, or fraternity, endowed with lands at Chalkeley, in this parish, which are still subject to the repairs. CCLXXX. HORTON, anciently HOREDONE, Is a parish of 2800 acres, two miles N. E. from Chipping Sodbury, and twenty-eight s. from Gloucester. It is di- vided nearly equally between hill and vale, and the soiJ 272 The History of the County of Gloucester. varies accordingly from stone-brash to clay, the former being principally in tillage, and the latter in pasture. Domesday records this manor us hold by Robert de To- deni, and taxed at ten hides. From the families of De Abbington and Kay le way, it was traii'-lerred to the Brad- stones, in the reign of Ed\v. III. and continued with them for many generations. It was afterwards in the Baxtons,. and again in Win. Knight, Esq. in the reign of Hen. VIII. from whom it passed to Edward Paston, Esq. of Appleton, co. Norfolk, who died in 1630. William Paston, Esq. was succeeded by his brother Clement Paston ; on whose death without issue, in 1739, the manor and estates, including the greater part of the parish, were bequeathed to his third wife, Mary Isabella, daughter of John Kempson, Esq. of Sandon, co. Stafford; and are now, by devise, vested in Thomas Brooke, of Chipping Sodbury, Esq. The Court-house is said to have been built by W. Knight. The chapel, used in the time of the Paston s for the Romish service, has door-cases with Saxon mouldings, over which is an escutcheon, bearing a saltire, charged in the centre with two annulets braced. Another door-case, of the principal entrance, exhibits the kind of sculpture which appeared in England in the reign of Henry VIII. under the protection of Holbein, on the disappearance of the Gothic. The device of a spread eagle, ensigned with a cardinal's hat, is repeated on the chimney-pieces. The late proprietors of this house came first to reside in it in 1710, in consequence of their mansion at Appleton be- ing burnt down in. 1708. Another reputed manor, called Horewood, was given by Agnes widow of Henry de Ria and her son, to the church of Salisbury, and was annexed to a prebend there : the claim was allowed in 1287. After the dissolution, it was Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred. Upper Part. 273 granted to the Protector, Somerset, and on his attainder, re-granted, in 1554, to Clement Paston, Esq. father of Edward Paston, whose descendants enjoyed it till it came, with the manerial property, to Thomas Brooke, Esq. as before. The preceptory of Knights Hospitallers at Quennington were seized of lands, called Frayers Hay, which, at the suppression, were granted to John Bellow, 1647. The only estate independent of the manor was held by the late George Hardwicke, M. D. of Chipping Sodbury, and is now vested in his son, James Hardwicke, clerk, LL. D. Three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 120 332 366. Houses inhabited, 65. The benefice is rectorial, in Hawkesbury deanery, with thirty acres of glebe. The advowson is annexed to the manor, but the late Mr. Paston sold the right of presenta- ion, some years since, for three lives, to John Unwin, of Took's Court, London. John Thornhill, A. M. is incum- bent. Horwood Estate, called the demesnes, claims an exemption in lieu of tythes on payment of 0.1. I3s.4d. Potter Cole, clerk (279), was rector of this parish during sixty-six years. The church, dedicated to St. James, consists of a nave, north aisle, and chancel, with an embatteled tower at the west end, of uniform construction, and in the style which prevailed about the close of the fourteenth century. The sepulchral chapel of the Pastons is separated by an arch, and has a timber roof, beautifully carved. In P. N. tax. the church of Heorton, 5/. Portion of the prebend of Sarum, in tythes, 4l. s. 8rf. In the King's books, J 6l. VOL. II. T 274- The History of the County of Gloucester. CCLXXXI. OLDBURY-ON-THE-HILL, ancietitly ALDEBERIE, Is a parish six miles s.w. from Tetbury, twenty-three s. from Gloucester, containing 1600 acres, and intersected by the turnpike road leading from Cirencester through Tetbury to Bristol. The soil is stone brash, and princi- pally in tillage. The additional name was given to distinguish it from another Oldbury, on the Severn. Hernulf de Herding was proprietor at the time of the survey, and taxed at five hides. Till the 7th Hen. IV. the family of Burdon, and after them of Thorp, were posses- sors till 1465, when, by marriage with Thomasin Thorp, sister to William, the manor passed to Thomas Clifford, whose great-grandson, William, sold it and the advowson to Henry Dennis 1562, whose descendants continued pro- prietors and patrons till they passed to the noble family of Beaufort, in whom nearly all the parish is vested. Some barrows remain to shew that this place has been formerly the scene of military transactions. The bistort or snake-weed (polygonum bistorta) is found in this parish. Five freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 80 232 239. Houses inhabited, 54. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, iii the patronage of the Duke of Beaufort, and George Cooke, D. D. is incumbent. It was united to Didmarton 1735. The church, dedicated to Auld the Virgin, has only a nave and chancel, with a low embatteled tower at the west end. The interior is decent, and neatly pewed. In P. N. tax. the portion of the church of Great Bad. mynton, in the chapel of Odebur. in money, Ss. 6d. Berkeley Division. Grumbuldsash Hundred. Upper Part. 275 CCLXXXII. TORTWORTH, anciently TORTEWORDE, Is four miles s. from Berkeley, twenty-one s. from Gloucester, and contains 1600 acres. The soil is a red rich loam, producing pasture of an excellent quality, particularly for the dairy, with a small portion of arable, and some wood-land. This manor was held by Turstin, the son of Rolf, and described as in Bachestane hundred. Nicholas de Kyne- stone was lord of Tortworth in 1 28 1 , probably by mar- riage with a co-heiress, as Sir W. Mansell released all his right in the manor and advowson in exchange for other lands, to Sir Nicholas. He purchased privilege of mar- kets and free-warren in 1359. By marriage with his only daughter, the property passed into the family of Veel, whose descendants were lords, till by marriage with Alice, the heiress of the family, Sir David Matthews, of Gla- morganshire, became proprietor in the reign of Hen. VII. William Throckmorton, descended from an ancient family of that name at Fladbury, co. Worcester, married Mar- garet, the eldest of five daughters of Sir David, and was succeeded by his son, Sir Thomas, in 1567; whose son, Sir William, sold this manor to Webb, of whom it was afterwards purchased by Sir Robert Ducie, alderman of London, descended from the Ducies in Staffordshire. His son, Sir Richard, dying unmarried, was succeeded by his next brother, Sir William, who was first made Knight of the Bath, and afterwards ci-eated Viscount Down in the kingdom of Ireland, by Cha. II. On his death without issue, the manor descended to Elizabeth, only daughter of Robert Ducie, Esq. his younger brother, who by marriage carried it into the present noble fa- T 2 276 The History of the County of Gloucester. mily(n5), and Francis, Lord Ducie, is now lord of the manor, and proprietor of the whole parish. There was another manor in this parish, which was held of the king as of the hundred of Grumbaldsash. Avening-House has been sold by Mr. Matthews to Lord Ducie. Tortworth-House is the residence of Lord Ducie, and has been for some years of the family. The present noble proprietor has made great improvements, both in the house and pleasure-grounds. The situation is near the church, and though locv r , commands some beautiful views. The large chesnut-tree is still living ; and measured in 1791 forty-four feet and four inches in circumference in the largest part of the trunk 67 . Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 240 241 269. Houses inhabited, 52. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery. The advowson was for many years in the manor, but is now vested, by purchase, in the Society of Oriel Coll. Oxford, and George Cook, D. D. is incumbent, who has a good parsonage-house, and sixty acres of glebe around it. The church, dedicated to St. Leonard, has a nave and south aisle, with an embatteled tower at the Avest end. In P. N. tax. the church of Tortworth, 7/. 1 3s. 4d. In the King's books, 16/. 3s. 9d. CCLXXXIIL WICKWAR, anciently WICHEN, Is a market town, six miles s. w. from Wotton-under- edge, and twenty-six s. from Gloucester. It is situated at the western base of the Lower Cotes wold, and consists of Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred. Upper Part. 277 a rich soil, varying in its qualities from stone-brash to clay. The greater part, of 2000 acres, is in pasture, with some arable, and several acres of common. The place received the name of War from a family of that name, who were lords of the manor for several gene- rations. Nearly in the centre of the parish stands the town, consisting of one long street. The privileges of a weekly market on Monday, and a yearly fair, were first granted in the reign of Edw. I.; and the same, with the addition of another fair, were confirmed to Thomas West, Lord La Warr, by Henry VIII. The fair days are Lady-day and July 4. The same grant received a further confirma- tion from Charles I. in 1629, in the charter by which it was constituted a borough town, with a mayor and twelve aldermen. Two courts are held ; one for the borough, and another for the ty thing or foreign, and they have se- parate constables. The clothing manufacture, which once flourished here, has long been on the decline, but the lower classes are still employed in spinning for the clothiers of other places. The old market house has been lately taken down, and rebuilt in a more convenient situation, Humphry the chamberlain held Wichen at the time of the general survey. John Earl of Gloucester, brother to Richard I. gave the manor to John La Warr, and con- firmed it to him, on his coming to the throne. In this fa- mily it continued till the year 1618, more than four cen- turies. Thomas, Lord de la Warr, the last of the familv, and the eleventh Baron, died on his return from Viroinia. * O 7 at sea, in 1618. The manor was afterwards purchased T 3 27 8 The History of the County of Gloucester. by Sir Robert Ducie, from whom it has descended in the same way as Tortworth(232). More than a third of the whole parish is appendant to the manor. BAGSTONE, supposed to have given name to the hun- dred, as it is mentioned in Domesday, under the appella- tion of Bachestane , but now comprized in the hundreds of Thornbury and Grumbaldsash, is a hamlet, and was once a manor belonging to Kingswood abbey. Matthew Hale, Esq. was lord of it at the beginning of the last century. WESTEND is situate on the west side of the parish. Matthew ATJeane has a good house here, which was the property and residence of William Springett, Esq. de- ceased (273). The Pool-house, late the property of Mr. Jobbins, now of Mrs. Haynes, wife of Richard Haynes, Esq. of Wick (291), was built in 1496, by Richard Woolworth, a clo- thier, since which time it has not undergone any external alteration. At the east end, within a plain square Gothic niche, is a rude figure of John the Baptist, according to some 68 , carved in stone, holding a book in his left hand. Over him is an inscription, in black letter, " SCTE. JOHES. BAPTISTA OR**;" and under, " IN YE YEAR OF OURE LORDE GOD Mccccun :" score, and," xvi. TRENITE MONDAY, xxn DAY OF MAY." There is also a figure of an angel, holding a shield, whereon are the initials of the owner's name, " R. W." and his cloth-mark In an upper chamber is a window, with painted glass, and a rebus of his name, formed by the last syllable joined to a fleece of wool. Others have the names of the months, in black letter. This passage of country, beginning at Cromhall, and extending to Sodbury, lies on a basis of ponderous stone, Berkeley Division. Gnunbaldsash Hundred. Upper Part. 27 y which, from its colour, lias usually been called White Lays. It calcines to a fine white lime. Calamine stone and lead-ore have also been found here. Alexander Hosea established a free grammar school here in 1684, and endowed it with a house in Gray's Inn lane, Holborn, London. He gave 600/. for building a house for the master, in which he lives, and receives 28/. per annum. There is another free school for teaching to read, with a salary of 10/. per annum, and a house for the master. The founder was originally apprenticed to a weaver, and acquired a large fortune in London. The corporation are trustees to both schools, and ap- point the masters, with the approbation of the burgesses. Twenty-seven freeholders voted in 1116. Population, 1000 850 764. Houses inhab. 157. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery. Thorn, s Cook, L L. B. is patron and incumbent. The advowson formerly belonged to the manor, but Avas sold from it by one of the Ducie family, and passed through Springett and Chester to the present proprietor. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is a handsome building, situate on an eminence, and consists of a nave and north aisle, and well proportioned tower at the west end ; Woolworth, before mentioned, is said to have built the church. In P. N. tax. the church of Wykewar, 8/. 6*. 8d, In the King's books, 1 8tf. o T 4 280 The History qf the County of Gloucester. Lower Part. CCLXXXIV. ACTON TURVILLE, anciently ACHETONE. Is'a small parish on the confines of Wiltshire, five miles E. from Ch. Sodbury, and twenty-eight from Gloucester, s. The soil in general is a light stone-brash, and about two-thirds of it are in arable. In some parts it is a deep clay. The whole parish contains 700 acres. The name of Turville was added to distinguish it from Iron Acton, and is a contraction of Turberville, an early proprietor. In the middle of the village stands a small antique stone building, which was formerly a sanctuary , dedicated to St. Margaret, and supposed to have been built by one of our Saxon kings. It is now converted into a dwel- ling-house. Domesday records this manor as held by Ernulphus, and soon after the conquest it came to the Turvilles or Turbervilles. From Richard Earl of Arundel, 1302 ; John delaRivere, 1315; Sir John Drayton, 1418; and Wil- liam St. Loe, 1560; it came to the Earl of Shrewsbury, 1608 ; afterwards to Henry Cavendish, Duke of Newcas- tle, who granted it to Sir John Top, from whom it des- cended to Sir John Top, late of Tormarton, and after- wards came to Hungerford, Esq. by marriage with one of his daughters, from whose son, John Peach Hun- gerford, Esq. it has lately been transferred to the Duke of Beaufort, who is now lord of the manor, with nearly the property of the whole parish. A fair is annually kept here on the first Friday in Aug. Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred. Lower Part. Six freeholders voted in 1116. Population, 80 90 156. Houses inhabited, 33. The benefice is a vicarage, in Hawkesbury deanery, united to Tormarton in 1344, and was formerly in the pa- tronage of the rector of Tormarton, but Nathaniel Cas- tleton, Esq. presented the Rev. Newdigate Pointz, LL. B. the present incumbent. The church, dedicated to Sf. Mary, is small, consist- ing of one aisle, and a low spire in the middle. Service is performed in it once a month, and marriages are cele- brated at Tormarton. In P. N. tax. the church of Acton Turbervell, 4/. 6s. 8d. In the King's books (discharged) <5/. 1 35. 4d. CCLXXXV. DODINGTON, anciently DODINTONE, Is three miles s. E. from Sodbury, and twenty- eight from Gloucester s. The soil in the lower parts is clayey, but becomes lighter on the more elevated lands. Sixty acres only of 1200 are under tillage in the parish. The manor was given by the Conqueror to the Bishop of Constance, under whom Roger de Berkeley, of Dursley, and his descendants, held it for many years. In 1403, it passed by marriage into the family of De Cantilupe ; and in 1473, by similar means, to Thomas Wekys, whose de- scendants had the possession of it till about the reign of Elizabeth, when it was sold to Giles Codrington, who was great grandson of Thomas, a younger son of Robert Cod- rington, of Didmarton. Samuel, the great great grand- son of Giles, re-sold the manor to his kinsman, Christopher, son of the celebrated Christopher Codrington, Governor of the Leeward Islands. On his death, in 1702, he left it 282 The History of the County of Gloucester. by will to his relative, William Codrington, who was ere, ated a Baronet in 1721. He was succeeded in title and estate by the late Sir W. Codrington, and on his death, about 1790, the title descended to his son; but the manor and estates at Dpdington, with other property, came by virtue of his will to Christopher Codrington, Esq. his ne- phew, the present lord of the manor. One estate, belonging to Walter Long, Esq. which was formerly a parcel of the possessions of Keynsham abbey, is independent of the demesnes. The ancient manor house, the residence of the family, was built by Robert Wekys, in 1557. The front was added in the reign of James I. A new house, near the old one, is now building, on a very spacious and elegant plan. The park and grounds are extensive, and judici- ously disposed. The whole is seen from the great turn- pike road leading down to Bath. On the tops of the adjoining hills are the traces of a chain of castra exploratoria ; and it is recorded by Leland, that bones were found inclosed in glass, near Dodington church, and pots finely embellished dug in the neighbour- ing fields. These posts were afterwards occupied by the Saxons, when they repelled the Danes landing at Bristol. Edw. IV. rested his army here some days, when on his march towards Tewkesbury, where he totally destroyed the forces of the Lancastrian party. The bee orchis (orchis apif era), and enchanter's night- shade (circaa), grow here. This parish is in the jurisdiction of the honour of Glou- cester. No freeholder voted in 1776. Population, 56 98 P5. Houses inhabited, 12. Berkeley Division. Gnimbaldsush Hundred. Lower Part. 283 The benefice is rectorial, in Hawkesbury deanery, in the patronage of the lord of the manor, and Rich. Jones, A.M. is incumbent. The old church, which was of small dimensions, and had a low tower at the west end, was taken down in 1801, and a new one, on modern principles, is nearly finished. In P. N. tax. the church of Dodinton, 6l. In the King's books, 5/. 6s. 1 \d. CCLXXXVI. DURHAM, DYRHAM, anciently DIRHAM, Is five miles s. from Sodbury, and thirty-one nearly in the same direction from Gloucester, situated at the base of surrounding acclivities, from which issue the springs, the source of the Boyd. The parish includes 2400 acres, the greatest proportion of which is in pasture. In some records the name is Deorham, Saxon for Deershome, as it is explained in Lye's Saxon Dictionary 70 . Soon after the conquest the manor was transferred from William the son of Widen to the barons of Newmareh, (de novo Mercatu) a family that came in with the Conque- ror. On the death of James, baron of Newmarch and Deerham in 1199, the manor came by his will to Isabel, a coheir, wife of Ralph de Russel. In this knightly family (the ancestors of the Duke of Bedford, and Gorges of So- mersetshire and Herefordshire) it descended to Sir Mau- rice Russel, who dying in 1401 left the manor in moiety to his two daughters, Margaret, wife of Sir Gilbert Den- nis, and Isabel, of Sir John Drayton ; the former pur- chased the whole, and his descendants enjoyed it till Sir Walter Dennis joining with his eldest son, Richard, sold the manor in 1571 to George Winter, Esq. brother of Sir 28+ The History of the Counfy qf Gloucester. W. Winter, of Lydney(224). Here they resided in splen- dor till the death of John Winter in 1668, when William Blathwayte, Esq. descended from a family in Cumberland, came to the possession of the manor and estates in right of his wife, daughter of John Winter. His grandson, William BUthwayte, Esq. is now lord of the manor ot Durham and Hinton. The manorial house was built by William Blathwayte, Esq. Secretary at War and of State in the reign of Will. III. on the scite of the old house belonging to the Dennis's; it was completed in 1693, from a design of William Tolman, who conducted the whole at an im- mense expence. It consists of two fronts, the principal of which extends 130 feet. The base is rustic, the win- dows are decorated with alternate pediments, and the cornice finished with trophies, urns, and other ornaments in profusion. The gardens were formerly laid out agree- ably to the taste which was brought in with William at the revolution, but have since been altered in the modern style. The park, including 500 acres, was first inclosed by Sir William Dennis, one of the Esquires of the Body to Hen. VIII. by licence of that King, and is well planted. HINTON is a hamlet about a mile from the church. This manor anciently belonged to the family of De la Riviere, or De Ripariis, of whom it was purchased by the Russels, and annexed to the demesnes. The co-heirs of Sir Maurice Russel sold a principal estate to Nicholas Stanshaw, whose heir re-sold it to Thomas White, Esq. who was mayor of Bristol in 1530. He gave it, at that time producing 22/. 1 2s. a year, to exempt Severn vessels from the customs of the port of Bristol, and other chari- table purposes. Berkeley Division. Grumbuldsash Hundred, Lower Part. 285 A bloody battle was fought in this parish between the Britons and Saxons in 599, in which the Britons were vanquished, and the cities of Gloucester, Cirencester, arid Bath surrendered to the conquerors, with the country about them. On Hinton-hitl is an encampment inclosing at least twenty acres of ground, supposed to have been occupied by the Saxons at the time of this engagement. Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 270350 437. Houses inhabited, 82. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, the patronage of which has always been attached to the ma- nor ; George William Blathwayte, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is said to have been built by Sir Maurice Russel, before 1401 . The style of architecture favours the tradition. It consists of a nave two aisles, and an embattelecl tower of regular Gothic. In 1520, Sir William Dennis and Anne his wife founded a chantry gild, and erected and prepared the south aisle for the reception of its service. The method of its foun- dation, and the statutes are still extant. In P. N. lax. in the deanery of Button, the church of Derhm, 10/. 6,y. Scl. In the King's books, 14/. 12s. 6d. CCLXXXVII. SODBURY (CHIPPING), anciently SOPEBERIE, Is a small parish, containing only 90 acres, and market town, twelve miles N. from Bristol, and thirty s. from Gloucester, situate at the foot of the great Howby hill, a continuation of that chain which extends from north to south through the county. The basis of this district is 286 The History of the County of Gloucester. lime-stone, and the soil is therefore in general shallow, and in many parts the rocks are bare. It is, however, productive of good pasture, which generally prevails. This, and the two adjoining parishes of the same name, were so called from the berie or camp, which is found on the summit of the hill above Old Sodbury. Chipping dis- tinguishes it as a market town (3), and was first used in the reign of Hen. III. on the establishment of its market. The town consists of one long street, has a few good houses, and is the great thoroughfare between the eastern part of the island and Bristol. It has a market on Thurs- day, and two yearly fairs, on Holy Thursday and the 24th of June. King Cha. II. granted to the inhabitants a charter of incorporation in 1681, whereby the govern- ment of the borough was lodged in a mayor, six alder- men, and twelve burgesses, with a high-steward, recor- der, and town-clerk, and at the same time was granted the privilege of holding pleas of all manner of personal suits and debts under five pounds, arising within the bo- rough. But in 1688, at the recjuest of the inhabitants, from what cause is not now remembered, the charter was annulled by proclamation, and from that period the an- cient government by a bailiff was revived, Avho is annually chosen by the lord of the manor out of three persons re- turned to him at the court-leet. Two estates, called the Stub Ridings and Meadow Rid- ing, were anciently granted by two lords of the manor, in the reigns of Hen. II. and John, to the. bailiffs and bailiff- burgesses, for the following purposes : The former, consisting of about 100 acres, is granted for summer- pasture, under certain regulations, for sixty-eight cow beasts, to as many persons as have been inhabitants of the town for fourteen years. The latter is divided into Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred. Lower Part. 287 eighty-one lots, besides two others, called the Bailiff's and Hayward's piece. Each of these, containing rather more than a statute acre, is held by a lessee for his own life and the life of his widow. Out of these estates the lord of the manor receives an annual payment of 5l. and the vicar of Old Sodbury I/. 135. 4d. in lieu of tythes. The bailiff is entitled to 505. yearly, for which, by ancient custom, he provides an ox and two barrels of ale, on St. Stephen's clay, for the inhabitants. In the sanguinary reign of Mary, John Pigott was burnt here, for his adherence to the Protestant religion. And it is recorded in Fox's Book of Martyrs, that while Doctor Whittington, the vicar-general of this part of the diocese, was attending the execution of a woman whom he had himself condemned for heresy, a bull, that had broken out of the town, rushed into the midst of the surrounding multitude, and, without attempting to injure any other person, ran furiously at the doctor, and having torn out his entrails, carried them off on his horns. The manor was granted by the Conqueror to Odo, Earl of Champagne, whose grandson, William, granted the privilege of pasture-common in the Ridings before- mentioned, the original of which is now in existence. About, the same time William Green, of Sodbury, gave Gaunt's Fields to the burgesses ; and Jurdan Bishop, who was lord of Little Sodbury, granted them common of pas- ture for cattle in Dymershed and Norwood ; which, in consequence of a dispute with the lord of the manor of Little Sodbury, in the reign of Edw. VI. was confirmed to them, on appeal to the Council of the Marshes. The manor, after having been held, in successive reigns, by the Earl of Albermarle, 1226 ; by the family of Weyland, in the reign of Edw. I.; by the Burnells, in Edw. III.; and 288 The History of the County of Gloucester* the Despencers, in the same reign ; passed into the family ofStanshaw, and continued with them during the reigns of Hen. IV. Hen. VI. and Edward IV. The family of Walsh was possessed of it in the time of Hen. VII. and from them it passed by purchase, in the reign of James I. to Thomas Stephens, Esq. Attorney General to Prince Henry and Charles (163). By marriage with Eliz. daugh- ter and co-heiress of J. Stone, Esq. of London, he had three sons, the eldest of whom, Edward, succeeded in the manors of Sodbury, on the death of his father in 1 6 1 3. He married Anne, daughter of Crew, and left Sir Thomas, his son and heir, who married Catherine, daughter of Combs, and was succeeded by his son Thomas, who married Anne, daughter of Neale. From him the manor and estate descended to Edward Stephens, and at his death 1728 to Rob. Packer, Esq. as heir at law, through his mother, who was daughter of Richard Stephens, Esq. of Eastington. Robt. Packer married Mary, one of the daugh- ters, and at length sole heiress of Sir Hen. Winchcombe, of Bucklebury, co. Berks, Bart, by whom he had four sons, who died without issue, and one daughter, Eliza- beth, who, by marriage carried the manor and estates to David Hartley, M. D. From this marriage sprung two sons, Winchcombe Henry, and David, and one daugh- ter. Winchcombe Henry Hartley, Esq. the eldest, suc- ceeded, and dying a few years since, left a son and heir, now a minor, by Anne Blackwell, daugh- ter of Samuel Blackwell, Esq. of Williamstrip (122). Anne Hartley, widow, David Hartley, Thos. Wm. Coke, Esq. and the Rev. Rich. Coxe, as trustees by the will of Winchcombe H. Hartley, Esq. are now lords of the manor. A gild was founded in this borough, dedicated to St. Mary, in the reign of Hen. VI. of which John Glover was Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred.' Lower Part. 289 the last incumbent. The lands belonging to it were granted to Miles Patrick 1549, by him to Richard Pate the same year, and 1558 to the burghers of Sodbury, part for a town-hall, and part for an alms-house. In the rocks of limestone adjoining the town on the w. some veins of sulphate of strontian have been disco- vered (314). There is probably as great a variety of fossils within the compass of four miles as can be found any where. On the descent of the hill from Cross Hands, the banks on each side are full of belemnites, nautilites of the ribbed sort, $c. At the entrance of the town, a little s. of the road, is a quarry of blue stone, composed of masses of bivalve shells. Forty-five freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 650 800 1090. Houses inhabited, 217. A free school is supported in this parish by the profits of lands lying in different parishes. To this 10/. annually was added by Mr. Robert Davis, of Little Sodbury, in 1680; and the late Dr. Hardwicke, of this town, and others, natives of it, were considerable benefactors to- wards providing a house for the master. The benefice is a chapelry to Old Sodbury. The church consists of a nave and two aisles of the same length. The tower which rises at the west end, is orna- mented with pinnacles and battlements, and furnished with a clock and chimes and six bells. The battlements were taken down and rebuilt in 1795, at the expence of 200/. In a window in the north aisle is the figure of St. George conquering the dragon. In P. N. tax. the church of Great Sodbury, 10/. The vicar's portion, 5/. 6s. 8d. VOL. ii. u 290 The History of the County of Gloucester. CCLXXXVIII. LITTLE SOBBURY, Is a small parish adjoining to the former, situate on the side of a hill, and extending to the summit of it. The soil is in general deep, extending over 900 acres, and the greater proportion in pasture. On the edge of the hill is a very strong camp, in the form of an oblong square. The area is from E. to w. 200 yards, and in breadth from N. to s. 300 yards. On three sides it was defended by a double ditch, and double vallum, through which were three portee or entrances. On the north side, a precipitous declivity formed a sufficient bar- rier, without artificial vallations. The interval or ditch between the elevations is twenty-two yards. With little difficulty, from the form, it may be ascertained to be Ro- man. Leland mentions it as having been "occupied by Edward the Fourth's army a little before the battle of Tewkesbury. The manor at the time of the survey was held by Hugo Maminot, under the bishop of Lisaux, in Normandy. Jurdan Bishop was proprietor in the reign of Hen. III. The Despencers in the reigns of Edw. II. and III. Rich, de Alerdine in 1388, from whom it passed to the family of Stanshawe, who held it to the time of Edw. IV. In the reign of Hen. VII. it was the property of Richard Forster, and then passed into the family of Walsh 1486, who con- tinued the possession of it through several descents to the reign of Elizabeth, From the heir of this family it passed by purchase to Thomas Stephens, Esq. and descended in the same manner as Chipping Sodbury. On the side of the hill, situate on a most commanding spot, is the manerial house, formerly the seat of the Ste- phens's, and prior to that of the Walsh's. In 1556, while Berkeley Division. Gntmbiildsash Hundred. Lower Part. 2J1 Mr. Walsh and his family were sitting at dinner, a dread- ful storm came on, and the lightning- entering in at tin; parlour door, instantly killed one of the children, and so much injured six others, with the unfortunate father, that they all died within two months after. William Tyndale lived in this house with Sir John Walsh, as tutor to his children^ in the time of Hen. VJII. Two freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 90115 89. Houses inhabited, 22. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, in the patronage of the lord of the manor ; and Richard Coxe, Clerk, is now incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Adeline, is a low build- ing, with an aisle at the north-east side, belonging to the lord of the manor. There is no chancel, and the inhabi- tants bury at Old Sodbury, for which privilege ten shil- lings are paid to the vicar of that parish. In the King's books, 7/. CCLXXXIX. OLD SODBURY Adjoins to Chipping Sodbury on the N. E. and lies partly on the hill, and partly in the vale. It contains 3000 acres, the greater part of which is in pasture. This manor anciently belonged to the Earls of Glouces- ter and Hertford, and continued by descent in that family till the reign of Hen. VII. During this long succession, it passed by female heirs into the great families of Despencer and Beauchamp ; and in the same way, and by the same arts as Kemmerton(67) and others, came at last to Hen. VII. By Hen. VIII. it was given to Sir John Walsh, and descended from him to the present family of the Hartleys, through the same proprietors as the two last manors. u 2 292 The History of the County qf Gloucester. Hampsteed, an estate in this parish, formerly belonged to the monastery of Bradenstoke, in Wiltshire. In P. N. tax. it is measured at one carucate, and valued at twelve shillings. After the suppression it was granted as the ma- nor, grange, or farm of Hampsteed, to Sir Adrian For- tescue, 1558, and was sold by that family to Ed. Ste- phens, Esq. 1634. From Sir Thomas Stephens it passed to William Clutterbuck, 1615, by purchase, and in the same way to Okey, then to the trustees of Henry Woolnough, Esq. from whom it passed, by marriage with his daughter and heiress, to John, afterwards Sir John Hugh Smith, Bart, of lx>ng Ashton, co. Somerset. He died in 1802, and left this, with other estates, to his widow (294). Ly grove is a considerable estate in this parish, incorpo- rated now with the manerial property, but anciently dis- tinct. A good old house, now in ruins, formerly stood in the midst of a park, and was the residence of Edward Stevens, Esq. at the beginning of last century. It is now vested in the Hartley family, as before. Considerable estates belong to C. Codrington, Esq. Miss Dorney, Edmund Chapp, Esq. &c. Eleven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 200 200 687. Houses inhabited, 92. The benefice is a vicarage, in Hawkesbury deanery, in the patronage of the chapter of Worcester, and Charles Neve, B. D. is incumbent. The rectory was given in 1218 to the Benedictine monks of Worcester, by the bishop, and at the dissolution was granted to the chapter 1542, and confirmed to them 1609. The church, dedicated to St. John the Baptist, consists of a nave and transept, with a low turret at the west end. In the King's books, 14/. 5$. lOd. Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred. Lower Part. 293 CCXC. TORMARTON, anciently TORMENTONE, Is three miles from Marshfield N. and thirty-two s. from Gloucester. It is situated on high ground, but the soil is in general rather inclined to loam, and of 2400 acres, about 1390 are in pasture. The common lands were inclosed, by act of parliament, in 1760. Three turnpike roads lead through the parish: one from Gloucester and Cirencester to Bath, a second to Sod- bury and Bristol, and the third from Christian Malford, co. Wilts, through Pucklechurch to Bristol. There are found in the north fields stones about the size of pistol bullets, which being broken, look rusty like iron ore. It is thought by some that they are real bullets, which is not unlikely, as this was the scene of much fighting during the rebellion. Richard Legate held the manor of Tormarton in the time of the Conqueror. In the reign of Ed. III. it belonged, with other manors in the county, to the Willingtons, un- der whom as chief lords, the family of de la Riviere, or de Ripariis were proprietors from the reign of Hen. III. to Hen. VI. when by marriage of Isabel, the heiress ge- neral, the manors and estates passed to the family of St. Loe, by whom they were held till Elizabeth, daughter, and at length heiress of John Hardwicke, of Hardwicke, co. Derby, by marriage with Sir W. St. Loe, took it out of that family, and by second marriage with Sir William Cavendish, of Chatsworth, in the same county, had the inheritance of this estate settled upon her, which on her fourth marriage passed to George Earl of Shrewsbury, whose son Gilbert was lord of the manor in 1608. The Marquis of Newcastle afterwards purchased this manor, u 3 294 Vie History qf the County of Gloucester. and resold it to Sir Francis Top, Bart, an ancient Wilt- shire family, whose son, Sir John, resided here in an old mansion-house near the church, a great part of which was destroyed in the civil wars, but the ruins of a stately porter's lodge were to be seen the beginning of last cen- tury. Sir John Top left two daughters, and by marriage, with one of them the manor and estates came to Hun- gerford, Esq. whose son, John Peach Hungerford, Esq. of Dingley hall, in the county of Northampton, has lately transferred them by purchase to the Duke of Beaufort, who is lord of the manor, and proprietor of nearly the whole parish. In P. N. tax. the prior of Bradenstoke, in Wiltshire, is taxed for two carucates of land, value twenty shillings, which at the suppression were granted to John Pope. The record of Atkyns relative to the property which he supposes the priory of Bonhommes, at Eddington, co. Wilts, to have had in this manor, probably belongs to Farmington, which retained the name of Tormentone for some time after the period of the foundation of that priory (135). Three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 130 207 225. Houses inhab. 43. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, in the patronage of Nath. Castleton, Esq. and Newdigate Poyntz, M. A. is incumbent. The advowson was in very early times appropriated to the abbey of Malmsbury, by the Bishop of Winchester. Ninety-five acres belong to the glebe. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, has an aisle on the south, and a low embatteled tower on the west end. Sir John de ] a Riviere is supposed to have been the founder of Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsash Hundred. Lower Part. 295 fche church about the 14th century, and the style of archi- tecture is of that age. In Atkyns's time there was an ef- figy of him in the chancel, with the model of the church in his hand, but the brass plates are now lost. In P. N. tax. the church of Tormacton, in the deanery of Button, IQl. 13s. 4d. In the King's books, 27/. CCXCL WAPLEY, anciently WAPELIE, with CODRINGTON, Is three miles s. w. from Sodbury, and thirty-two s. from Gloucester. The soil is generally of clay, and ap- plied to pasture. It contains 2000 acres. Wapelie is described in Domesday as a member of the manor of Betune, in Swinheve hundred, and parcel of the king's demesnes. Two estates are also recorded: one be- longing to the Bishop of St. Laud, in Constance, con- taining one hide; another held by Radulph, brother of Roger de Berchelai, of one hide ; both in Polerecerce hundred. Hen. II. granted the manors of Wapley and Codrington to Radulph, son of Stephen, who immediately gave them to the abbey of Stanley, in the diocese of Salisbury. In P. N. tax. 1292, the same abbey is taxed at seven carucates, value 20s. in Cuderington, with other revenues there, to the annual amount of 13/. 11$. 8d. In 1455, the Abbot, by licence of the crown, alienated the manor, with the reserved yearly rent of 111. to John de Codrington, which rent is now paid to the crown. The manor continued in the same name and family till it passed, by marriage with Jane, daughter and heiress of Col. John Codrington, of Wraxall, co. Somerset, to Sir Richard Bamfylde, Bart. He died in 1776; and Sir u 4 296 The History of the County of Glouceiter. Charles Bamfylde, his son and heir, is now lord of thfc manor, with a large property. CODRINGTON is a hamlet of considerable extent, and ' gave name to the family, who were resident here many years. In P. N. tax. 1292, the abbey of Stanley, co. of Wilts, was taxed for seven carucates of land in Cudering- ton, and the Abbot of St. Augustine's, in Bristol, for one. After some dispute between these two abbies, about 1 290, or perhaps later, the former had permission to build a chapel in this hamlet, for the sole use of the Grange at Cotherington. The chapel is now standing at Codring- ton-court, but converted to other uses. In the E. window is a good deal of stained glass, and on one pane are the letters "DUS III." which seem to refer to the reign of Edw. III. The cieling is curiously formed, and in good pre- servation. A bell was hanging over the part where the nave and chancel seem to have been separated, in the memory of an old man, who has not long been dead. Under the E. window is a stone table, which has the ap - pearance of a tomb, but evidently a table which served for the altar. The window is painted, and in the style of the fourteenth century. John Sloper was lord of the manor, and dying in 1550, left an only daughter, who, by marriage with Simon Codrington, ancestor to Robert Codrington, of Didmar- ton, carried it into that family, and from them to the Bam- fyldes as before. Mousfwell. Sir F. Roe charged an estate which he held here, with 25/. per annum, to Cirencester, for apprenticing out poor boys. The property not attached to the manor is much sub- divided, but the principal estates belong to Moses Higgs, Gent. John Parker, Mrs. Oseland, Kc. Berkeley Division. Grumbaldsush Hundred. Lower Part. 297 Two freeholders polled in [116. Population, 180 200 258. Houses inhabited, 3y. The benefice is a vicarage, in Hawkesbury deanery. The advowson originally belonged to St. Augustine's ab- bey, and at the dissolution was granted to the chapter of Bristol. This, together with the impropriation, is in lease to the Bamfylde family. Edmund Willes, clerk, is incum- bent. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, is a small building, with an aisle on the s. side, anciently the dormitory of the Codringtons. Of whom John Codrington, Esq. is re- corded on a monumental tablet against the wall to have died at the age of 1 1 1, A. D. 1475. In P. N. tax. in the deanery of Button, the church of Wappeleye, ll. 6s. In the King's books (discharged) ll. 19s. 6d. CCXCII. WEST LITTLETON, Is a small parish, two miles N. w. from Marshfield, and thirty-one s. from Gloucester. It was formerly a tything in the adjacent parish of Torrnarton, nor is it exactly known when it first was invested with parochial rights. The soil is generally of a light stone-brash, and applied to tillage. The whole does not exceed 1800 acres. The additional name was given it by way of distinction from Littleton near it, in Wiltsliire, and another on the Severn. The manor was included in Tormarton at the general survey, and is first mentioned as distinct from it in J263, when Richard de Clare, Earl of Gloucester held it. The family of De la Riviere, Willingtons, and St. Loes, suc- cessively were proprietors. Geo. Talbot, Earl of Shrews- 29 S The History of the County of (Gloucester. bury, was seized of it, in right of his \vife Elizabeth, widow of Sir William St. Loe, in 160S 71 . They having no issue, joined in conveying this manor to William Ca- vendish, Earl of Newcastle, who sold it to the families of Francombe, Fisher, and Osborn. The Duke of Beaufort is lord of the manor, with some property. The principal estates are vested in William Blathwayte, Esq. Mr. West, Mr. W. Osborn, Kc. Six freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 44 67 100. Houses inhabited, 17. The benefice is a chapelry, in Tormarton, in Hawkes- bury deanery. The church is a small building, consisting of a nave and low spire in the middle, of octangular form. IX. PUCKLECHURCH HUNDRED. CCXCIII. ASTON, or COLD ASHTON, anciently ESCETONE, Is three miles w. from Marshfield, and thirty-four s. from Gloucester. The soil, extending over 2016 acres, is various ; in some parts clay, in others sand, and in others stony ; and is nearly equally divided between pasture and tillage. There seems little doubt concerning the etymology of this place. Easton evidently implies an easterly situation, but whether it referred to its being the most easterly Berkeley Division. Pucldcchitrch Hundred. 299 town in the hundred, or merely east of the fortified post ut Deinton, must be left to conjecture. The higlj and exposed situation of the village, no doubt, suggested the additional name. Five springs, viz. Hameswell, Bridewell, Romewell, Clintonswell, and another large one rising in 7 s CD O Monkwood, empty their united streams into the Lower Avon. In the fields are found stones resembling the bill of a duck, something rounder than muscle-shells, and others of a serpentine form. The subterraneous cavity men- tioned by Atkyns, with tunnels ascending to the surface of the earth, and extending a mile in length, and to a breadth not ascertained, has now no entrance, nor any mode of access, by which either the measurement or de- sign of it might be discovered. Sir Eevil Granville, who was mortally wounded at the battle of Landsdown, was brought to the parsonage-house of this parish, and there died. This manor belonged to the church of Bath prior to the general survey, and continued with it until the dissolu- tion ; after which, both the manor and several woods in it, were granted to Sir Walter Dennis, 1541. The family of Stratford conveyed it, in the reign of Elizabeth, to Pip- well, alderman of Bristol, whose grandson, John, son of Michael, sold it to Mr. Gunning, mayor and alderman of Bristol. Sir Robert, his son, dying without issue, his daughter carried it by marriage to Sir T. Langton, and Wm. Gore Langton, Esq. is now lord of the manor(300). Lilliput, near Landsdown Monument, is the property of Bush, Esq. HAMLET. HAMESWELL is a hamlet formerly belong- ing to the priory of Bath, afterwards the property of the Pipwells, and now of Thomas Whittington, Esq. whose 300 'Hit History of the County of Gloucester. ancestors have been in possession of it more than a cen- tury. They were originally descended from the Whit- tingtons of Pauntley. The mansion house is large and handsome 72 . Turner s Court is an old house, anciently belonging to the family of Stroud, but now to John Gunning, Esq. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 142 213 224. Houses inhabited, 39. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, formerly in Bitton deanery, in the patronage of Thomas Whittington, Esq. of Hameswell, and John Whittington, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to the Holy Trinity, is spacious and handsome, consisting of a nave and south aisle, with an embatteled tower, ornamented with pinnacles, at the west end : the roof is flat. This church and parsonage- house were built in 1509, by Thomas Key, rector of the parish, as appears from the images of two angels carved in stone, from whose breasts hangs a label of 4 stone ; on ne, " x MARTII," on the other, " 1509." CCXCIV: PUCKLECHURCH, anciently PULCRECERCE, Is seven miles w. from Marsfield, and thirty-four s. w. from Gloucester. '1 he soil is chiefly a stiff clay, and ap- plied to pasture, in the proportion of 1300 acres out of 1 400, which the parish contains. The name is said to be taken from the fair church, which stood here, but of that no vestiges now remain ; the present church being probably the third that has been built here since it became a parish. Camden calls this village Villa Regia, because it had been the residence of some of the Saxon kings, and a Berkeley Division. Pucklechurch Hundred. 301 house on a rising ground, in the way to Durham, is said to be built on the very scite of the ancient palace. The ruins of great buildings were to be seen in the time of Atkyns, and there are now appearances of heaps of stones and rubbish, just covered, under the surface of the ground. History records the death of King .Edmund here in 946, by the hand of one Leolf, a notorious robber, who had been banished for his villainies, and had the as- surance to seat himself at one of the tables in the hall where the king was at dinner. In a scuffle with Leon, the king's sewer, who made an attempt to apprehend him, the king interposed, and received a stab in his breast with a dagger from the hand of Leolf, who is said to have made his escape. A market was formerly held here, but has long since been disused. A great abundance of coal is dug here, and the poor have some employment in the manufacture of felt hats. A blue clay stone is also dug here, which takes a good polish, but has nothing unusual to distinguish it from others of the same nature. King Edmund was buried at Glastonbury, and the ma- nor was immediately given to that abbey, which at this time included Westerleigh, and Abson and Wick. In 1205 the monks of Glastonbury quitted their right to these ma- nors to the bishopric of Bath and Wells, on condition that Joceline the bishop would restore to them the election of their own abbot. They remained with the see of Bath and Wells, till Edw. VI. took them, with W r esterleigh and others, in exchange, and granted the management of them to Sir Nicholas Poyntz. They were afterwards, in 1554, granted to William, Earl of Pembroke, with an ex- ception of the lands only, called Pucklechurch Park ; from whom they passed, by sale, to Sir Maurice Dennys, knt. 302 lite History of the County of Gloucester. and from him to the family of Codrington, who afterwards sold them to another branch of the Dennys's. From them they went, by sale, to Mr. W. Halliday, and by marn;ipf with his daughter, to Edward Hungerford, Esq. From this family they passed, by marriage with an heiress, to Robert Sutton, Lord Lexington, whose only daughter was married to John Manners, Duke of Rutland ; from whom, in 1717, they were transferred, by purchase, to Sir Kdw. Bouverie, of Longford Castle, co. Wilts; and from him, by will, to his brother Jacob, Viscount Folkstone, grand- father of Jacob Pleydell Bouverie, Earl of Radnor, the present lord of the hundred and manor of Pucklechurch. Park Manor , was excepted out of the exchange made in 1554, as before observed. It was first granted to Sir W. Herbert, afterwards to Sir Nicholas Poyntz in 1560, and finally came into the family of the Whitmores, of Slaughter, in whose possession it still continues ; and (96) Geo. Whitmore, Esq. is proprietor of the manor. The old house and estate formerly belonging to William Dennis, Esq. was sold by his daughter and coheir, Mrs. Mary Butler, to Henry Woolnowgh, Esq. whose sole daughter by marriage carried it to John Hugh Smyth, Esq. late Sir John, eldest son of Sir Jarrit Smyth, Bart, to whose title and estates he succeeded, and dying in April, 1802, left his lady in possession of the family property in this parish (3 19). Teriy Estate, belonged to the late Thomas Hathway, Esq. and is now vested in his widow. It is held on lives under the manor. Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 250 460 542. Houses inhabited, 121. The benefice is a vicarage, in Hawkesbury deanery, to which Westerleigh and Abston are annexed. Berkeley Division. Pucklcchurch Hundred. 303 The chapter of Wells have held the advo\vsori and im- propriation since the grant of Ralph Ergam, Bishop of Bath, in 1388. Walter S\vayne, M. A. is incumbent. Fifty acres belong to the glebe. The chnrch, dedicated to St. Thomas a Becket, is a large structure, consisting of a nave and north aisle, with an embatteled and pinnacled tower at the "west end. The separating arches are pointed, and resting on plain octa- gon pillars. The tower is remarkably plain and unomiu mented; except the north door, which is early Norman, the whole structure may be referred to the latter end of the 14th century. In P. N. tax. the Bishop of Bath holds at Pokelchurcli of penny rent ten pounds, and three carucates of land, each carucate worth twenty-four shillings. In the deanery of Button, the church of Pokelchurch, S3/. 6s. 8d. The portion of the sacrist of Glastonb. 2/. 10.?. Qd, In the King's books, 14/. 13s. 4d. CCXCV. SYSTON, anciently SISTONE, Is seven miles N. E. from Bristol, and thirty-six s. from Gloucester. The soil, extending over 1700 acres, is ge- nerally a deep loam or clay, and chiefly in pasture. The manor originally belonged to Roger de Berkeley, and passed through the families of Serlo, Waleran, and Corbet; by marriage with a coheiress of Sir Peter Corbet, it came into the family of Dennis, in the reign of Ed. III. who held till the reign of Elizabeth. Henry Billingsley, Esq. was lord of the manor in 1608. It was vested in Sa- muel Trotman, Esq. at the beginning of last century, from whom it descended to Thomas Trotman, Esq. whose 301 The History of the County of Gloucester. son> Trotman, (iying, the manor came to Fiennes Trotman, Esq. a collateral branch of the family. He is now lord of the manor, and proprietor of large estates. Syston House, the old mansion of the Dennis's, and now the residence of the Trotman family, is a very fine unal- tered specimen of the style of architecture in the time of Elizabeth. Moon's Court, or Mound's Court, was an ancient seat be- longing to the Stranges, who resided there several centu- ries. At this place Catherine Parr, Queen of Hen. VIII. kept her court for many days on her return from Bath and Bristol. It is now demolished, but the estate belongs to the manor. This parish was within the forest of Kingswood , and abounds with coal. Dr. Parsons in his MSS. mentions, that at a place called Berry, there had been discovered a vein of tin ore, intermixed with grains of silver, but no memory of the circumstance remains among the inhabi- tants. HAMLETS. 1. WARMLEY. At this place are carried on brass-works on an extensive scale. 2. BREACH YATE lies partly in this, and partly in Ab- son and Wick. Twelve freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 450 , 856. Houses inhabited, 159. The benefice is a rectory, in Hawkesbury deanery, for- merly in Bitton deanery, in the patronage of the lord of the manor, and Christopher Haynes, M. A. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Anne, the mother of th Blessed Virgin, is small, and had a low flat tower, which was taken down and rebuilt by the present Fiennes Trot- man, Esq. a few years since, in a neat style, with open parapets, and plain pinnacles. Berkeley Division. Pucklechurch Hundred. 305 There were formerly two other churches in this parish: one dedicated to St. Bartholomew, the other to St. Cuth- bert, and the feast days of all the tutelary saints are ob- served by the inhabitants. In P. N. tax. the church of Siston, 4/. Gs. Sd. In the King's books, 5/. 145. 4| Is a large parish, three miles s. from Chipping Sodbury, and ten N. E. from Bristol. The soil is generally of a deep clay, in some parts of a red colour, and chiefly in pasture. A large tract of waste common remains uninclosed. The whole parish contains 4100 acres, and the greater oart is in pasture. The name signifies the ley, or up-hill pasture, west of the principal place, which was Pucklechurch. Westerleigh was anciently a member of the extensive manor of Pucklechurch; as a part of which it Avas given to the church of Glastonbury, and passed through the same revolutions, till it was sold by Nicholas Poyntz to John Roberts, alderman of Bristol, who was lord of the manor in 1608, as was Thomas Roberts, Esq. at the time of his death, 1673. Sir Samuel Astry, knt. died possessed of it in 1104, and on the death of his widow, the manor descended to his three daughters, co-heiresses; Elizabeth, wife of Sir John Smyth, of Long Ashton, co. Somerset, Bart.; Diana, wife of Richard Orlebar, E~q. and Ara- bella, afterwards married to Charles William, Earl of Suffolk, whom she survived, and bequeathed her share to her elder sister. Sir John Smyth, her nephew, sold a, moiety of that share to the heirs of Edward Colston, Esq. who had before purchased Orlebar's partition. A moiety VOL. II. X 30d 77r History of the County of Gloucester. was then jr. Sir John Smyth, whose three sisters and co- heirs sold it to Sir Jurrit Smyth, Bart, who married Flo- rence, one of the co-heirs ; and the other moiety descen- ded to the two daughters and co-heirs of Thos. Edwards, Esq. of Filk'ns, co. Oxf. one of whom was married to Lord Middleton, the other to Alexander Ready, Esq. who afterwards took the name of Colston, and died 1775. Sir Hugh Smyth, son of the late Thomas Smyth, Esq. of Sta- pleton, is now owner of one moiety, and the other be- longs to Henry Lord MiddJeton, and Edward F. Colston, Esq. son of Alexander Colston, Esq. grandson of the former. Very extensive coalworks are carried on, under the di- rection of the lords of the manor, in various places, but particularly at Coalpit-Heath. The coal in some pits lies near the surface. At Ser- ridge it is within 12 fathom, or 60 feet. The strata dip to the east, and generally one foot in twenty-five. The deepest pits are 60 fathoms ; the average is from 30 to 40. The veins vary in depth ; some are five feet thick : on these 80 bushels are a man's labour per day ; but on the shallower veins, which are from two to three feet thick, ;oid are called the holly-bush, 60 bushels, or 30 heaves. The coal is generally small, and in burning has very much the property of the Newcastle. It entirely wastes, and leaves no cinder. A quarter, or eight bushels, weigh- ing seven cwt. is sold at the pit's mouth for 2s. 6d. HAMLETS, l. NIBLEY; 2. MAYSHILL; 3. HENVILD; 4. WOTTON'S-END ; 5. COALPIT-HEATH ; 6. KENDAL- SH1RE. The whole, or nearly so, of the parish, is either in im- mediate possession of, or held by lease under, the lords of the manor. Berkeley Division. PucMechurch Hundred. 307 The turnpike road from Sodbury to Bristol passes through Nibley, Mayshill, Coalpit-Heath, and Kendal- shire. On Westerleigh Heath is found the flowering fern (os- munda regalis.) Four freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 400 930 1582. Houses inhabited, 235. The benefice is annexed to Pucklechurch, to the vicar of which a mortuary of 10s. is due from the executors of all householders who die in this parish worth 40/. The church is spacious, and consists of a nave and s. aisle, with a lofty tower at the w. end, ornamented with handsome battlements of open lace-work, and ten pinna- cles, not finished. Grotesque figures are placed for spouts ; and at the end of the nave is a turret for a saint's bell. The pulpit is of stone, elegantly supported on a single pillar. In the chancel is a recess, of tabernacle- work, where was probably placed the image of St. James, the patron saint. The separating arches are pointed, and the pillars plain octagon. The church exhibits the archi- tecture of the early part of the Tudor aera ; the windows being, with few exceptions, finished in the square Gothic style. Westerleigh was not a separate parish, nor had it any church, till the fourteenth century, as it does not occur in P. N. tax. CCXCVII. WICK AND ABSTON, Is seven miles E. from Bristol, and thirty-four s. from Gloucester. The soil is principally red loam, and in some- places inclining to sand. Pasture and meadow are in greater proportion than arable x 2 'JOS J lie History of the County of Gloucester. Ahston is probably a contraction of Abbot's Town, anct //Vc/.' signifies a hamlet. The turnpike road from London to Bristol leads through Wick, and a portion of the London road over Lundsdown to Bath. This manor \vas included in Pucklechurch, and was in the hands of the same proprietors, till it passed to Sir Ed. Wintour, who was lord of it in 1603; and by his son Sir John, it was conveyed to Mr. Thomas Hay nes, in 1665. Richard Hayncs, his Tson, succeeded, from whom it de- scended to Thomas, the father of Richard Haynes, Esq. the present proprietor. The ancestors of this family were for many generations possessed of Southmcad, in the parish of Westbury-upon-Trim ; but since the purchase of this manor, they have resided in a large mansion house in Wick. Three distinct streams, one rising at Pucklechurch, another at Dyrham, and the third at Toghill, fall into the Boyd here, which, by this union, furnishes water suffi- cient for six different mills in the course of two miles, a rolling or splitting, a paper, an iron, a cotton, and two grist mills. The first is worked under the direction, and is the property, of Richard Haynes, Esq. This parish is the most remarkable of any in this county for antique remains and natural curiosities. The cliffs rise perpendicularly to the height of two hundred feet and upwards, and consist of a series of beds of lime-stone and petrosilex, alternating with each other, exhibiting towards the w. a vein of coal of fourteen inches thick, and another of lead, both formerly worked, with a mass of petrosilex on each side. In the centre of the glen is a bed of lime-stone, nearly six hundred yards broad, lying between two beds of petrosilex, of nearly the same Berkeley Division. Puckkcltiirch Hundred. 30 dimensions, all dipping to the N. w. in an angle of sixty feet with the k plane of the horizon. In this are embedded lead ore, spathous iron ore, caulk or barytes, and that large species of anomia which abounds in the rocks of the Hotwells and Mendip. The division of petrosilex adjoin- ing to this bed on the E. combines again with the lime rock on the road to Deynton, and at this union becomes a mill stone or pudding stone. By the side of the road nearer to Bristol, under the surface of the red soil,, are sometimes found a great abundance of geodes or nodules, containing within them beautiful quartz ohrystal, with cal- careous dog-tooth spar. Belemnites, astroites, and ser- pentine stones, are frequent ; and coal dug in great abundance. In a field, called the Ckestles or Castles, there were for- merly three large stones, placed near together in a trian- gular form, and probably designed as memorials for some British chief : only one now remains. Not far from this spot various Roman coins have been dug up, and in an adjacent field several bricks undoubt- edly Roman ; and from the urns, bricks, Kc. this place has the appearance of having been a Roman pottery. On the summit of the northern cliff is a camp, from its oblong form, decidedly Roman ; it is defended on three sides by a broad ditch and double vallum, and contains more than twelve acres. There are five hamlets in this parish. 1. BERDWICK, now written WICK, in which is the manor house. 2. HOLY BROOK, so called from a brook dedicated to the Holy Virgin. 3. CHURCHLEY, or Churchaight, so named from an an- cient chapel, dedicated to St. Bartholomew, now in ruins. x 3 310 'Hie History of the Comity of Gloucester. 4. BRIDGE YATE, or Breach Yale, adjoining to Siston parish. 5. TOG-HILL. Near to this are the remains of an old fortification and entrenchments. Here was fought one of the most memorable battles between the king and parlia- ment during the civil war. The army of the king was drawn up under the command of Sir Ralph Hopton and Prince Maurice ; the forces of the other party under Sir William Waller. The engagement was long and bloody, but terminated in favour of the royalists, with the loss, however, among others, of the brave Sir Beville Gran- viilej who, on the falling of his horse, in addition to many wounds, received a mortal one from a pole axe (293). The titles of Earl of Bath and Viscount Lansdown were conferred on his son by Charles II. in compliment to the father ; and in commemoration of the action, a handsome freestone monument was erected near the place where the event happened, with an appropriate inscription, re- corded in Clarendon's history, where a full account is given of the battle. Twenty-three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 230 400 571. Houses inhab. 111. The benefice is annexed to Pucklechurch. The church, dedicated to St. James, consists of one aisle, with a handsome pinnacled tower, and stands in Abston. This district had neither church nor parochial privileges till the fourteenth century, as it is not taken notice of in P. N. tax. The images and niches round the battle- ments, tabernacle work of the west door, #c. are the work of that period. The plain Saxon arch of the north door seems to be remains of a chapel of earlier date. Berkeley Division. Langlej/ and Swlneshead Hundred. 3 1 1 X. LANGLEY Sf SWINESHEAD HUNDRED. CCXCVIII. ALVESTON, anciently ALVESTONE, or ALWESTAN, Is situated on an eminence, eight miles and a half from Bristol, and twenty-six from Gloucester. The soil on the low grounds is mostly clay, but on the higher parts light and sandy. Pasture land prevails, but good crops of corn, particularly barley, are raised by tillage. The turnpike-road between Gloucester and Bristol inter- sects this parish, over a limestone rock, which descends westerly towards the Severn, and another road, in a cross direction, to the Old Passage. Domesday records Earl Harold as the ancient possessor of part of Alwestan, and the abbey of Bath of the other. When it was transferred from the abbey does not appear ; but it seems to have been in the crown in the reisfii of O Hen. III. who reserved the park here, when Kingswood was disafforested. The manor was soon after granted to O the Fitzwarrens, and from them by marriage came to the family of Corbet, and in the same way to the Dennis's. Richard Dennis, a lineal descendant, sold it to Maurice Shephard 1577. From Richard Haughton, who had mar- ried a daughter of the last, it passed by sale to Robert Webb 1580, and then to Nicholas Veel, whose grandson Nicholas sold it to Edward Hill, Esq. from whom it passed in the same way to John Pinfold, Esq. who left it by will to Edward Hoskins, Esq. by whose son Lewis it was sold to x 4 31 '2 The History oj ihe Cuunty of Gloucester. Samuel Peach Peach, Esq. but without landed pro- perty (303). HAMLETS. 1. ALVESTON VILLAGE, in which the church stands, and near to this the remains of a large handsome house, with lofty and spacious rooms. The style of building is that of Elizabeth's reign. Annexed to this is a good estate, formerly the manorial, and at the beginning of the last century, belonging to Edward Hill, Esq. from whom it passed by purchase into the family of Sitwell, and Edward Sacheverell Sitwell, Esq. is the pre- sent proprietor (303) (268). 2. GROVESEND, is two miles from the church. Near to this are the remains of a large round encampment on the brow of the hill, called the Old Abbey, but it is not clear that any abbey ever stood near it, unless it be sup- posed that this portion of the parish was what belonged to the abbey of Bath at the time of the general survey. Upon opening a barrow near to this place in 1670, several stone coffins containing human bones were found. Each coffin seemed to consist of one solid stone, no appearance of ce- ment being discoverable. From the form of the encamp- ment it may be presumed to be of British origin. A very old mansion in this hamlet, with a good estate, belonged to the family of Stephens, of Chevenage, but lias latejy passed by purchase to Rolph, Esq. Henry King, Esq. has a good modern house and estate here, well planted with fruit trees. James Lackington, Esq. late an eminent bookseller in London, has a house here, in which he resides. Philip Prothero, Esq. is a considerable proprietor. 3. ROW-URCOTE, or EARTHCOTE, or HERDICOT, lie* about a mile w. from the church. Berkeley Division. Langiey and Swineshead Hundred. 3 1 3 Ten freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 240 198 412. Houses inhabited, 71. The benefice is annexed to Olveston. The church, dedicated to St. Helen, is small, arid neatly fitted up within, consisting of one aisle and a low tower, with battlements. The latter have been lately repaired. A turret for a saint's bell stands on the extremity of the nave next the chancel. CCXCIX. BITTON, anciently BET UN E, Lies at the southern extremity of the county, separated from Somersetshire by the Avon, six miles E. from Bristol, and thirty-eight s. w. from Gloucester. The soil in ge- neral consists of loam and strong clay, principally in pas- ture. The whole parish contains not less than 5500 acres, and the greater part lies in the old forest of Kingswood, which was disafforested in the reign of Hen. III. The river Boyd intersects this parish, and falls into the Avon. Hence the name is supposed to be, as it were, Boyd town. Coal and iron-ore are found here in great abundance, and the pits for the former are sunk to a great depth. At Conham, near the river, was lately established a manufactory called Gibbesium, from Dr. Gibbes, a re- spectable physician of Bath, for the speedy conversion of animal matter into spermaceti, on the principle of Four- croy, the French chemist ; and from the blood, horns, hoofs, and other parts of the animals which are not converti- ble, were made Prussian-blue, hartshorn, Kc. but the design, from some causes, did not answer the necessary expences, and is now laid aside. At Warmley is an extensive manufacture of pins, be- longing to Messrs. Barratts and Co. 3 1 4- The History qf the County qf Gloucester. Atkyns mentions a kind of fierce vipers, about eigh- teen inches long, with great heads, large mouths, and copper-coloured backs, with yellow and dark spots, and their bellies of a bright yellow, marked with red and brown spots, being frequently seen on the bunks of the Boyd. Whatever foundation there might have been for such persuasion at that time, it is certain that no animals of the viper kind are now to be found there in greater plenty, or of a fiercer nature, than in other places. This manor, including Wapelie and Wintrebornc, was part of the royal demesnes in the time of Edward the Con- fessor. Domesday records Dons, one of the King's thanes, as the possessor of Betone. The family of d'Amavil held it by grant of Hen. II. till !5 Edw. I. when by marriage it passed to the Blounts, and continued in different branches till 1483, when an heiress carried it to Sir John Barr, and his daughter to Sir Thomas Newton. This family derive their pedigree from Howel ap Grono, Lord of Newton in Rouse. The family name was Cradock for many genera- tions, till Sir Richard Cradock, Lord Chief Justice of England, on his marriage with Emma, daughter and co-heiress of Sir T. Ferret, of Islington, changed his name to Newton. According to Leland, " he dwelled, or was born at Tre-neivrth, (New-town,) in Powisland, and so was called (Newton) after that place." Sir John Newton, the last of this line, was buried in Bristol cathe- dral, among his ancestors. He entailed the manor and a large estate on Sir John Newton, co. Lincoln, with tht- baronetage. Michael Newton, Esq. is now lord of the manor. Hit/grove, is the property of Mr. Thos. Smallcome. Berkeley Division. Lungley and Swinesheud Hundred. 3 1 5 Barr's Court, the ancient manerial house, mentioned by Camden, has long since been in ruins. Highjield, is the seat of Archibald Drummond, Esq. with a good estate. TYTHINGS AND HAMLETS. 1. HANHAM. The manor of Hanham Abbotts belonged to the abbey of Keynsham, and was granted in 1555 to Rowland Hay- ward; but Hanclif wood, and the lands belonging to it, were granted to John Fernham, 1577. The former, with a large estate, is now the property of Henry Cresuicke. Esq. Hanfiam-hall ', is the property of James Emerson, F.sq. The Grange, once held by the priory of Farley, Co. Wilts, and granted to Roger Langsford and Christopher Martin, in 1567, was the property of Chalres Bragge, Esq. but now of John Whittock, Esq. Among the other proprietors are the names of Rock, Batty, and Cocking. John Henderson, a young man of extraordinary abili- ties, was born here in 1757, died at Oxford Nov. 2, 1783, and was buried in St. George's church-yard (3 18). Dr. Tucker, the late very worthy dean of Gloucester, patro- nised him early in life. In this hamlet is a small chapel, which is divided by low arches. The Roman road from Bath is supposed by some to have passed here. 2. OLDLAND, is a large tything, mentioned in Domes- day as belonging to the Bishop of Excestre, on whose death it seems to have reverted to the crown, and to have been regranted to the Amavils, and by marriage with one of the co-heiresses to have passed to Richard dc la More, in whose descendants it continued till 1350; afterwards 3 1 6 The History qf the County of Gloucester. it passed through several possessors to the family of Wikes. Westoifs Court, so called from its ancient possessors, in- the reign of Hen. VI. was lately the estate ot" Mrs. Blake, afterwards of Dr. John Warren, Lord Bishop of Bangor; now of his representatives. Oldland has a small chapel appendant on Bitton, with a right of sepulture. 3. UPTON, or UPTON CHEYNEY, and 4. BEACH and SWINFORD, are hamlets. Beach-farm, is the property and residence of John Bush Beach, Esq. Ban's Court, Hanham, Oldland, Upton Cheney, and Beach, are within the jurisdiction of the honour of Glou- cester. Eighty freeholders voted in me. Population, 1150 46344994. Houses inhab. 1053. The benefice is a vicarage, in Hawkesbury deanery, annexed to the prebend of Bitton, in the collegiate church of Salisbury, and the prebendary is patron. The impropriation, which is part of its endowment, is in lease to Thomas Edwards Freeman, Esq. of Batsford. John Adey Curtis, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, consists of a long spacious nave, probably as old as the conquest. Lys. E.t. and a north aisle or chantry chapel, built by Sir John Barr, for many generations the dormitory of that and the Newton family. The tower is of light Gothic, erected in the 15th century, ornamented with battlements and pin- nacles, and containing six bells. In the north chapel are three stone stalls, with the pis- cina or drain, formerly used by the priest in celebrating mass. The rich oak foliage and other ornaments with Berkeley Division. Langlty and Swineshead Hundred. 3 i 7 which they were decorated, were very prevalent at the latter end of the twelfth century and beginning of the thirteenth. The columns and other parts of these stalls correspond with the architecture of that age. Lys. Etch. In P. N. tax. the church of Button, 26 1. 13s. 4d. In the King's books, 18/. 14s. 10 Esq. ; 9. W. Southwell, Esq. The late incumbent, Philip Bliss, M. A. was presented by John Jacob, Esq. It is now vacant. The church, dedicated to St. Peter, consists of a nave and south aisle, with a tower, embatteled and pinnacled, in which are niches for the effigies of saints. The whole is of the style of the middle centuries. The high altar was dedicated, in 1315, by William Maydenstone, Bi- shop of Worcester. The family of Acton, whose arms formerly were in the windows, were possessed of a mill VOL. ii. y 3-22 The History of the County vf Gloucester. and eighty acres of land in tlib parish, and were proba- bly contributors to this building. In P. N. tax. the church of Frompton Cotele, 6/. 1 3.?. 4rf. In the King's books, ill. \6s.0kd. CCCII. LI TTLETON-UPON-SEVERN, amiently LlTELTONE, Is a parish containing about 1000 acres, three miles w. from Thornbury, and twenty-six s. w. from Gloucester. It is bounded on the west by the Severn, in which the se- veral proprietors of estates claim the right of fishery. The soil is generally marie, but in some places clay, and is employed principally in pasture. Some arable in com- mon fields. The manor anciently belonged to St. Mary of Malms- bury, and at the dissolution was granted, with the tythes of the demesnes, to Sir Richard Long, with reservation of a rent to the crown. It passed afterwards to Richard Hampden and his descendant. In 1608 it was the pro- perty of Ed. Felton, Esq. ; and of William Hopton, Esq. of Cam and Berkeley, at the beginning of the last cen- tury. Sir Robert Cann, Bart, afterwards possessed it ; it passed as parcel of his estates to Dame Catherine, on the death of Sir Henry Lippincott, Bart, of Stoke Bishop, her husband, during the minority of Sir Henry Cann Lip- pincott, Bart, who is now lord of the manor, with a con- siderable estate (303). Other estates did belong to Thomas Prichard, late of Ross, but now sold out to different persons in small lots. William Taylor, Gent, of Cote in Olveston parish, has a considerable estate. Berkeley Division. Langley and Swinesliead Hundred. 323 STOCK, anciently ESTOCK, is a hamlet in this parish, particularly mentioned in Domesday , hut a part of the abstract which Atkyns has given as belonging to the Bi- shop of St. Laud, will probably apply better to Stoke Bi- shop, a hamlet in Westbury-upon-Trim. Seven freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 80 84 136. Houses inhabited, 21. The benefice is a rectory in Bristol deanery and dio- cese, but archdeaconry of Gloucester The abbey of Malmsbury had the advowson. From the family of Hawksworth, of Thornbury, it descended to Christopher Willoughby, Esq. by whom the present rector, William Trueman, clerk, was presented. The church is a small building- with a nave, south aisle, and slated tower. In P. N. tax. the chapel of Littleton, 5l. 6s. Sd. The abbot of Malmesbur. holds two caruc. and each caruc. is worth 40,?. In the King's books (discharged) III. 4-s. 9%d. CCCIII. OLVESTON, Is ten miles N. of Bristol, and twenty-five s. w. of Gloucester. The soil, extending over 6300 acres^ is a rich loamy clay, chiefly in pasture and meadow, with some orcharding, but on the elevated parts it inclines to a red grit, covering rocks of lime-stone, which, running in a south-w r est direction over Old-down, terminate here. The vewain, or herba sacra, celebrated in a pam- phlet by John Morley, Esq. as a specific for the King's evil, grows in the meadows. This place and Alveston were probably one in ancient times, and as such are recorded in Domesday. Y 2 The History of the County of Gloucester. The manor of Olveston, with the rectory were parcel of the possessions of the abbey of Bath, and continued so till the dissolution. It was then granted to Sir Ralph Sadleyr, 1547, and came by purchase to Sir Robert Cann, who was succeeded by his younger son Sir T. Cann, whose eldest son, Robert, came to the title of Ba- ronet, but dying unmarried was succeeded by his brother William, town clerk of Bristol; his only son, Robert, dying without issue in 1765, the title became extinct, but the manor came to his nephew, Cann Jefferies, Esq. son of his daughter Elizabeth, married to Mr. Jeflferies, of Bristol ; he also dying without issue, the manor came to Henry, afterwards Sir Henry Lippincott, Bart, and is now the property of his son, Sir Henry Cann Lippincott, Bart. (302), with little landed property. In P. N. tax. the prior of Bath holds at Olweston two caruc. of land, and each caruc. is worth 205. There was another estate which claimed manerial rights, called Alveston and Berwick, held by Roger Crook in 1327, and by Robert Green 1354. Another manor was held by Edward Lord Stafford, Duke of Buckingham, which by his attainder coming to the crown, was granted to Thomas Henage, 1532, and afterwards to Sir John Walsh in 1547, whose grandson, Henry, was possessed of it in 1578. TOCKINGTON is a large hamlet in this parish ; in the ge- neral survey it is taxed under the name of Tochintune, at five hides, and in the reign of Hen. III. belonged to Sir Nicholas Poyntz, and continued in that family till Alice, the heir general, by marriage with Sir Edward Berkeley, carried it into that family, 1509. John Lawford, Esq. was lord at the beginning of last century. By marriage with a daughter of the Lawford's, (a widow of Mr. Goodyer), Mr. Berkeley Division. Langley and Swineshead Hundred. 325 Rayner became possessed of it, and sold it to the Rev. Mr. Degge, whose sister, Mrs. Wilmott, continued lady of the manor till her death, when her son, Edward Sa- cheverell Sitwell, Esq. succeeded. Tockington has the privilege of two annual fairs, on the 9th of May, and 6th of December. Samuel Peach Peach, Esq. has an estate in this hamlet, and a good house, where he resides. The manor of Tockington Park belongs to Richard Lle- wellin, Esq. Ingst and Upper Hazdl are the property of Richard Ward, Gent. Walning belongs to Mr. W. Osborn. Gredige and Aukeley are vested in Thomas Salmon, Esq. Cote is a very considerable estate attached to the manor, and is assessed to to the land-tax in aid of Thornbury. In Lower Tockington a large property belongs to Thos. Masters, Esq. (268) The Court-House, with a competent estate, was the pro- perty of Mr. Pardoe, who is lately dead. The pointed arch of the gateway, and battlemented wall in good pre- servation, refer the date of this building to a remote period. Old-down is a beautiful and extensive down, whence the Severn is seen with peculiar advantage, and on a very ex- tensive scale. Haw belongs to the family of Turton. There was formerly a church in Tockington, as appears from the following account in P. N. tax. " Portia abbis Scti. Augustin. in Ecclia. de Tokinton" Fifty-three freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 240 588 1117. Houses inhabited, 202. Y 3 326 The History of the County of Gloucester. The benefice is annexed to Alveston ; and the impropri- ation belongs to the chapter of Bristol. The church, dedicated to Si. Mary, has a low pinna- cled tower, on which a spire once stood, but was thrown down by lightning 1603. The chancel is wainscotted with oak, and the altar-piece and table are inclosed with neat circular rails. In P. N. tax. the church of Olweston, 22/. The portion of the prior of Bath, 2/. 6s. In the King's books, 24/. CCCIV. ROCKHAMPTON, anciently ROCHEMTUNE, Is two miles N. from Thornbury, and twenty-two s. \v. from Gloucester, bounded on the west by the Severn. The soil is deep and rich, chiefly in pasture and meadow ; the latter of which being within reach of the water, is sub- ject to inundations : the whole contains 1400 acres. Osborn Giflfard had the grant of Rockemptune manor, among others, from the Conqueror, for his services (148). Maurice, second son of Maurice Lord Berkeley, 1338, had the grant of it, and his family continued the proprie- tors, with a little interruption, till the reign of James I. Afterwards the Wilioughbys were possessed of it, and Edward Hill, of Alveston, at the beginning of last centu- ry ; from whom it passed to Pinfold and Hoskins, and by the last was sold to S. P. Peach, Esq. without landed property. The principal proprietors are Matthew A'Deane, Esq. (273), John Cox, gent. Rev. Mr. Jones, Kc. NEWTON is a hamlet in this parish. SHEPHARDINE is another hamlet, distant three miles w. Berkeley Division. Langley and Swineshead Hundred. 327 from the church. Here was formerly a chapel, but it has long since been converted to other uses, still, however, retaining the name of Shephardine Chapel. At this place was formerly a passage over the Severn, but long since disused. The properry is in Lady Fust(271). Seventeen freeholders voted in 1116. Population, 120 122 160. Houses inhabited, 26. The benefice is a rectory, in Dursley deanery, in the patronage of William Davies, A. M. who is also incum- bent. The church, dedicated to St. Oswald, is small, consist- ing of a nave, with a tower pinnacled and embatteled at the west end. A staircase leads up to the rood-loft near the chancel. In P. N. tax. the church of Rochmton. 6/. In the King's books, 15/, CCCV. WINTERBOURN, anciently WINTREBORNE, Is a large parish, six miles distant from Bristol, and thirty s. from Gloucester. The soil is a reddish loam, and Tincommonly productive both in pasture and tillage, but of the latter the proportion is 2970 of 4000 acres. Two annual fairs, on the 29th of June and 1 8th of Oc- tober, are held here. The village is intersected by the turnpike road that leads to Bristol from Wotton-under- edge, at a considerable distance from the church. In Domesday this manor is joined with Wapelie, as members of the manor of Betune,and the whole constituted a part of the ancient demesnes of the crown before and after the general survey. Philip de Albeniaco died seized of this manor in 1216. Ralph de Wales in 1246. Jeffrey de Wrokshall and Ralph de Hadele, in right of their wives Y 4 32S Tlie History of the County of Gloucester. co-heiresses, J287. Thomas Lord Bradeston, of Brades- ton, in the parish of Berkeley, in 1631 ; and the manor continued in that family and name till the reign of Eli/.a- beth, when James Buck purchased it; and after four de- scents, it passed to the Browns, the last of whom died seized of it 1691. John Jones, Esq. was lord of the manor at the beginning of last century, from whom it descended to his son, Edward Jones. Upon his decease without issue male, it passed by marriage with his daughter to Thomas Sedgwick Whalley, clerk ; and from him was purchased, in 1792, by Edmund Probyn, Esq. late of Newland (218), with the manors of Hambrook, Hampton, and Patchway (268), but with very little landed property. On his death, in 1801, the house and small property ad- joining descended by will to William Perry, Esq. of Bris- tol, but the manors were sold to Edward Brice, Esq. of Frenchay, and Joseph Mason Cox, M. D. (319), who are now joint lords of the manor. The greatest part of the parish was attached to the manor when first in possession of Mr. Whalley, which by him has been sold to different purchasers. TYTHINGS or HAMLETS, l. WINTERBOURN, in which the church stands. iVinterboum-court, adjoining the church, is the ancient manorial house. With a large estate, it was purchased of Mr. Whalley, by Thos. Smith, Esq. (319), and is now the property of Sir Hugh Smith, Bart. (312). Crossley-house is the property and residence of Robert Tucker, Esq. (301 ), whose family have been seated here more than 300 years. Warnage is an estate of considerable value, belonging to the same proprietor. Stourden manor, within the manor of Winterbourn, Berkeley Bivi&ion.~-~Langlcy and Swineshead Hundred. 329 lately belonged to Sir Jarrit Smith, Bart, of Long Ashton, co. Som. by purchase of the co-heirs of Sir John Smith, Bart, of the same place; came, on his death, to John Smith, Esq. of Stapleton (319), arid is now vested in Sir Hugh Smith, Bart. (312). Stern-court , an old ruined building, belonged formerly to the family of Stern, or Hicinstern, or Sterten, as it is found on a tomb in the manorial chancel ; one of whom is said, by tradition, to have been a great robber 73 . The estate now belongs to Sir H. Smith as bef6re. 2. HAMBROOK, anciently Hanbroc, belonged to the Bishop of Laud. The estates are now very much divided. A good house, with considerable property, lately be- longed to Richard Bayley, Esq. and descended to John Bayley, Esq. the present proprietor. FRENCH AY, or more properly FROOMSHAW?*, belongs to numerous proprietors, who reside here in modern elegant houses. The situation is most desirable and healthy; and its easy distance of four miles from Bristol, renders it a convenient and agreeable retreat from the busy scenes of commercial life. Winterbourn has a distinct constable, but Hambrook and Frenchay are in one tything. Twenty-two freeholders voted from this parish in 1776. Population, 500 567 1592. Houses inhab. 246. The church is a rectory, in the deanery and diocese of Bristol, but in the archdeaconry of Gloucester. The so- ciety of St. John's college, Oxford, are patrons. Rev. Parker, A. M. is incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Mary,, consists of a nave and north aisle, and is handsomely pewed. On the tower, at the west end, a well-proportioned steeple is built. There is an orator}* against the north wall of the church. 330 The History qfthe County qf Gloucester. The general style of architecture is of the 1 4th century. The chancel is ornamented with a modern altar-piece of the Ionic order. In P. N. tax. the church of Winterbourn, 20/. 13s. 4d. In the King's books, 21l. Is. 6d. XI. THORNBURY HUNDRED, Upper Part. CCCVI. MARSHFIELD, anciently MERESFIELD, Is a parish and market town, seven miles N. E. from Bath, thirteen E. from Bristol, and thirty-five s. from Gloucester, on the borders of Wiltshire. It is about five miles long, by about three in the narrowest part; and the soil varies from stone-brash to the richer kinds, nearly in equal proportions of pasture and tillage, with a large com- mon, and considerable tracts of wood land, of oak and ash. The town of Marshfield stands in the centre of the parish, consisting of one street of a mile in length, through which the great road leads from London to Bristol. Some years since, the principal trade of the inhabitants was malt making, which is still carried on to some consi- derable extent. The reputed borough is within the jurisdiction of the honour of Gloucester, and is governed by a bailiff, an- nually elected at a court baron, whose power, however, though he is attended by a serjeant at mace, extends little Berkeley Division. Tlwrnbury Hundred. Upper Part. 331 further than the examination of weights and measures. The market on Thursday, and two fairs, on the. 24th of May, and the same day in October, were first granted to* the abbot of Keynsham in 1262, renewed at various times, and finally confirmed by James T. This place was anciently part of the demesnes of the crown, but soon after the conquest, the manor, consisting of fourteen hides, was given to the see of Wells, to be holden as of the honour of Gloucester. In 1106, John, Bishop of Wells, who first assumed the title of Bishop of Bath, gave the manor to the monastery of Bath. It af- terwards came to the Earls of Gloucester. William, the second Earl, gave it, with the hundred, to the abbey of Keynsham, co. Somerset, which he had founded for black canons in the reign of Hen. II. In which abbey the ma- nor continued till the dissolution, when Hen. VIII. granted a lease to Sir Anthony Kingston for six years, at 80/. rent, and Thomas Lord Willoughby and Sir T. Heneage, Knt. had a grant of the inheritance in 1549, in exchange for lands in Lincolnshire. It was purchased by Edward, Duke of Somerset, and on his attainder came to the crown. Sir Henry Sidney held it for his life, after which Elizabeth gave it to Thomas RatclifFe, Earl of Sussex, for his mili- tary services; by him the greater share was sold to Tho- mas Gorslet, jointly with John Chambers, Nicholas Rich- mond, alias Webb, and Thomas Crispe, which last died in 1660, seized of many estates in this parish. William Gorslett left a daughter and sole heir, who by marriage carried a share to John Harrington, Esq. of Kelwcston, co. Somerset, by whose descendant it was transferred by purchase to Sir William Codrington, Bart, under whose will it passed to Christopher Codrington, Esq. the prcr 332 Tim History of the County of Gloucester. sent lord of the manor, with a large property in the pa- rish (285). TYTHINGS. There are three besides the borough, with their proper officers. HAMLETS. 1. WESTONTON, formerly called Old or Little Marshfield. 2. OKEFORD is a reputed manor, of which John Jacob, Esq. descended from the family of the Nortons, co. Wilts, was lord at the beginning of last century, from whom it descended to Miss Jacob ; upon whose demise, as the last heir female of the family, it passed to Isaac Webb Hor- Jock, Esq. the present proprietor. The mansion-house is called The Rocks. 3. AYFORD or EYEFORD is annexed to the manerial property. 4. ASHWICK. Mr. William Webb was lord of the ma- nor at the beginning of last century, with an old mansion and competent estate, from which family it has passed by inheritance to Isaac Webb Horlock, Esq. 5. BICKS formerly belonged to the family of Crispe, afterwards to Sir William Deans; at the beginning of last century was the property of Miss Gland, afterwards of John Vickers Dickenson, Esq. and now, by heirship, of William Dickenson, Esq. Besides these was the manor of Meers, attached to the honour of Thornbury, which was forfeited by the attainder of Edward, Duke of Buckingham, but afterwards granted to Henry, Lord Stafford. Henry Howard, Esq. (309) now receives the chief rents of this demesne. Upon the great common called the Downs, are the evi- dent remains of ancient intrenchments. Of five tumuli or barrows near them, the largest is called Oswald's tomb. Berkeley Division. Thornbury Hundred. Upper Purl. 333 The traditional account of this being the grave of Oswald, the king of the Northumbrians, is not supported by his- tory. The battle in whicn that prince lost his life was fought at Oswestry, in Shropshire, then called Maserfield, about 640. From the similarity of names the mistake pro- bably arose 75 . Near the rocks are three stones, set up to mark the li- mits of the three counties of Gloucester, Wilts, and So- merset, which meet here in a point. Rudder thinks that to this circumstance we are indebted for the name of the parish, meare being an Anglo-Saxon word for limit or boundary. Thomas Gawen, a celebrated writer, was born in this parish. He turned Papist, and died in 1633. Forty freeholders voted in 1776. Population, 800 1237 1246. Houses inhabited, 262. The benefice is a vicarage, in Hawkesbury deanery, which has been several times augmented by Queen Anne's bounty and private donations. The impropriation, in the reign of Richard II. belonged to the abbey of Keynsham, afterwards to the abbey of Tewkesbury, and after the dissolution, being in the crown, was given by Queen Mary in exchange for Steepinglee and other manors iu Bedfordshire and Essex, to the society of New College, Oxon, who are now patrons. John Byrkin Watkins, A. M. is incumbent. The family of Mereweather have long been lessees of the tythes. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is large and hand- some. It consists of a lofty nave, two aisles, and a well finished tower, with pinnacles, at the west end. The whole building being in the style of the age of Hen. IV. was probably built by the abbey of Tewkesbury, assisted by the contributions of the inhabitants. On the left hand 334 The History of the County oj Gloucester. of the high altar are three subsdlia, or stone stalls, with light canopies and finials, where the officiating priests used to be seated. In 1529 Thomas Parker, chancellor to the Bishop of Worcester, at the request of John Gosselas, the bailiff and lord of the ville of Marysficld, as it was called at that time, established a gild in this church, with rules for the conduct of the fraternity. The parsonage-house, which was built by Tho. Parker, was taken down and rebuilt by John Carey, M. A. the vicar, about 1734. In P. N. tax. the church of Maresfield, in the deanery of Button, III. The vicar's portion, 5/. In the King's books (discharged) 29/. 4s. 9i5. 8ut on the next Sunday they re-assemble, and finish the reliques of the first entertainment. Another custom is still observed by some in this neighbourhood: Upon the eve of old twelfth-day, a cake is made for each of the inah- servants, and a large one besides, which is cut into pieces, and being soaked in drink, is distributed among them. Another is provided, with a hole in the middle, which is put on the horn of the best o\. If the ox throw it behind him, it belongs to the female servant ; if into the fodder stall, to the servant who has the care of the oxen ; if into the boossey(tht place out of which the beast eats), to the boy. After this, they make themselves merry round the cake; and before they drink, eacli repeats the following lines: Here is to you, Champion, with thy while horn, God send our master a i-ood crop of corn, Both wheat, rye, and barley, and all sorts of grain ; If we meet this time twelvemonth we'll drink to thee again : Thee eat thy pouse, and I will drink my beer, And tjie Lord send us all a happy new year. 15. p. 44. Hud ford does not appear among the temporal estates of the abbot of Gloucester, in P. N. tax. unless it is included in the fol- lowing entry: "Idem h't apud Hyneh'm, cum Ilymeleden, septem caruc. t're." .16. p. 46. This was called an antbre, or almorij. It was generally on the right side of the altar, and contained the sacrament of the Lord's body, the holy oil for the sick and Christmatorie. 17. p. 46. No traces nor traditional account of the chapel of Witle- dene are now existing. 18. p. 49. When we recollect the temper of the times, we are not surprized at any instance of puritanical contradiction ; but in a matter, confessedly of mere indifference, it is easy .to see the absurdity of devi- ating from established customs, without the probability of some benefi- cial end to be answered by it. 19. p. 59. Plolt, in his History of Oxfordshire, and Nash, in that of Worcestershire, give the name of Pride, to the small fish generally called Ninc-ltoles, and never found but in brooks. At Monmouth, how- ever, the LoHipern is still known by that name. 20. p. 60. Ham might signify Home, meaning the Home-twin. 21. p. 64. In this calculation, the value of the trees is certainly taken too low, according to the price at which the timber, when saweJ, was sold. The profit was considerable enough to encourage more fre- quent plantations on lands, otherwise of little use, and not well calcu- lated tor other productions ; but the coarseness of the grain, the fre- quency of knots, and quick tendency to decay on exposure to the ex- ternal air, make it very much inferior to foreign fir. c c 2 385 NOTES, 22. p. 68. The royal army narrowly escaped a plot which was laid for their destruction, while they lay in this neighbourhood. Some com- munications had been held between them and a Captain Bakehouse, re- lative to the betraying of Gloucester into their hands. On the night of its intended execution (Feb. 15), the governor ordered four stout men to lie in a boat under the main arch of Over's bridge, with direction, that upon the firing of the first ordnance, they should cut a cable rope ; which being done, the bridge would fall into the river: by which means the ar- my would have been all killed, drowned, or taken. But a fortunate delay occasioned them to be too late at their station (it being open day before they arrived within a mile and a half of the city), and they retreated to Newent. 23. p. 70. During the last year the channel has changed its direc- tion, and removed the bed of sand which communicated from the rock to the shore. 24. p. 70. The mention of the fort in these deeds, seems to shew that some remains of the castle were then existing ; but the situation could not be on the mount, because that is separately taken notice of. C5. p. 70. This and other quotations from Corbet are to be received with all the jealousy due to an author, who was an enthusiast in the cause of the parliamentary party which he had espoused. 26. p. 71. See note on Framilode passage (184). 27. p. 73. If the history of the old church be well founded, it is pos- sible that the Norman arch'leading to the chancel of the present building might have been preserved at the demolition of the h'rst, and re-erected in the second. 28. p. 8 1 . Rudder observes, that Sir R. Atkyns, in his account of the manor of Kodley/has confounded it with Ruddle, in Newnham, which was given to the abbey of Gloucester. He adds, " The manor of Rodele, in Westbury, was never any part of the possessions of that mo- nastery : \ et, in his list of donations to the monastery, p. 150, he first re- cites Rodele (in Newnham) as the donation of Radulph Bluet, which was confirmed by Will. II. in the time of abbot Serlo; and then mentions Rodele (in IPestbimj), with a wood and fishery, as the gift of Hen. I. to the same monastery, to find a light at the high altar, to be continually burning, for the so'ul of Robert Curtoise, his brother, who was buried there." The record in P. N. tax. mentions " three carucates of land, in Rodele, as belonging to the abbot and his sacrist, besides a mill and fishery." 29. p. 83. In many other places, bones of the same kind have been found. In 1730, or 1731, in digging the great sewer in Pall-Mall, Lon- don, at the depth of 28 feet, in a oed of sand, were found several very large bones, which were pronounced to be the remains of an elephant. The particulars were the acetabulum, or upper bone of the neck ; the scapula, or shoulder blade ; and several of the vertebra: of the back bone, with the bones of the two fore logs and feet. About eighteen years be* NOTES. 389 fore, similar bones had been dug up in St. James's-square ; and about fourteen years before that, some in St. James's-place ; all at the same depth. Gent. Mag. 1758, p. 166. 30. p. 87. The legend, in Bigland's collections, is S. D. II. B. sigillum domini Henrici regis; but on the seal, the letters are evidently H. R. D. G. Henricus Rex Dei Gratia. And on the coins of Hen. IV. particularly the farthings, the same letters occur. Besides that, the mar- ginal inscription having described it as the seal of Greyndour, it is not Sobable that it would have been again described as the seal of king enry. 31. p. 89. George Wyrhale, Esq. the present possessor, is the seven- teenth in succession from Matthew, who was high sheriff in 1259. Du- ring so long a period, the male line was never interrupted till 1726, when, by the death of George, unmarried, the present representative of the family came in. He is a son of Barbara, youngest daughter of Jepthah Wyrhale, and wife of Richard Davis, of the \Vigmorefamily, co. Hereford. He assumed the family name, and, by marriage with Sarah, daughter of John Blunt, had one son, Jenkin, who died 1801, without issue; and two daughters, Martha and Mary, now living. 32. p. 9 1 . The tier of windows, which overlook the aisles of a church, is called the clerestory; probably from the apparent intention and real effect of throwing light into the nave. 33. p. 1 11. See Buckstone in index, vol. 1. 34. p. 117. In this tything was first produced the Haglae crab, so much esteemed for the richness and flavour of its liquor. The original tree is still standing. From this, and tret-s which have been grafted from it, this variety of apple has been dispersed through this county and He- refordshire. 35. p. 120. See Abone, in index of vol. 1. 36. p. 122. See tesstlated pa-cement, in index of vol. 1. 37. p. 122.~See Abone, in index of vol. 1. 38. p. 125. See note 42. 39. p. 126. See Asteria, in index of vol. 1. 40. p. 127. In the church-yard is a female figure cumbent, with hands uplifted, as in the act of praying, without inscription, but only the date 1680. It was probably brought out of the church. 41. p. 130. In all the deeds of conveyance relative to this estate, it is described as a manor, and parsonage or rectory ; as also in the Auditor's receipt for the annual rent-charge of 3?. 10d due for each moiety to the crown, which has lately been sold to Baron d'Aguilar; and the proprietors of the glebe-lands still keep up their claim. 42. p. 138. Sir Robert Atkyns has applied some records to Pyrton in Lidney, which belong to Churchdown. No lands in Lidney belonged c c 3 3fO NOTES. to St. Oswald's monastery; the records therefore that mention 1'iirtoii, or ;mv part of it, as parcel of the possessions oi that monastery, are to be referred to Churcluiown. 43. p. 14-4. KINGESHAM or K.rNGSHOMi>.-tiret oceiirs in ancient re- cords, 1273. Kingsltolm therefore, now altered in its modi: of spelling, may mean nothing more than the Kings home staid, and adds strength to the traditional account of a Saxon king having resided there. 44. p. \ 49. borne historians mention the actual combat of the princes, with some additional circumstances not recorded by authentic authors. According to William of Malmesbury, Edmund challenged Canute to single combat; which he refused, with this answer, " that though he was superior to him (Edmund) in powers of mind, yet districted his own little body against a man ol so great bulk, (animo ,se quidem exccllerc, sed contra tarn ittgentis molis homiitetn corpuscuto dijjidere.)" Rapin, anno 1016. William of Malmesbury, p. 40. iloveden Annal. p. 250. Huntingdon. Hist, in the year 1016. 45. p. 150. See Castle of Gloucester in index of vol. I. 46. p. 135. Another etymology of Ablode may be given. AB in an- cient British signifies Furca unda; that is, the place where the river sepa- rates into two streams, which answers to the situation of this place, and would apply to the passages here and at Maisemore, before any bridge was built. In the reign of Hen. 1. Maisemore had the name of Abloae, and is so recited in the charter of the following reign. 47. p. 157. It is not said what kind of figures were found on this se- pulchral stone, but it may not be improper hereto remark, that the pre- sent numerals, called Arabic, were not known in England before 1 130. Philos. Trans. No. 439. 48. p. 164. Sir R. Atkyns explains this name from the circumstance of eels being caught in great abundance in the moors; which does not seem so improbable as Rudder supposes : for as the place had not been known by its present name earlier than the latter part of Hen. 111. there is certainly no necessity of referring its etymon to a British origin altoge- ther. Mor, British for moor, had already been adopted into the popular language, and the Saxons might add, El or .-KL for eel. These moors in the rude and unimproved state of those times, may well be supposed to have abounded in that kind of rish, and circumstances of less conse- quence have often given names to places. 4P.p. 166. Though the priory of Lanthony had t he great tythes, and Sir Owen the vicarial tythes, as appears from Dug. Mon. Vol. IF. p. 70, yet no mention is mad'j of either in P. N. tax. nor does the name of. Elmore appear; so that the present church must have been built subse- quent to that period. 50. p. 171. Some account is given of Robin Hood in note to Der- hurst (51). See also Steevens's note to a passage in Shakespeare's Hen. IV. NOTES. 3Di ol.p. 176. -Micks in his Saxon Grammar, observes, that the English of the South call an island formed by the separation of the channel of a river, "en eight" (romiggath, Saxon lor an island. 52. p. 176. King John confirmed this priory as a cell to the more an- cient one in Monmouthshire; but Edw. IV 7 . in MSI united them by charter, making this the principal or superior, obliging the members to maintain only a residentiary prior and four canons in the old house, to say masses, which prior was removable at will: thus circumstances were so completely altered, that the former became a cell to the latter. While, however, the demolition of this at the'suppression was so unmercifully perfect, as not to leave a vestige of any part but the outbuildings, the other in Monmouthshire has still very rich and beautiful remains to ex- hibit of its former grandeur; but these also are fast hastening to decay from the mouldering hand of time. 53. p. 177. Several coins also of the later empire were found. 54. p. 180. As this church is not mentioned in P. N. tax. it is not easy to account for the Saxon and early Norman appearances, without admitting the traditional account, that the north chancel was, in early times, the chapel to Prinknash. 55. p. 187. By the charter of foundation, Hen. VIII. a moiety or half part of the wood called le Perche, is given to the Dean and Chapter. 56. p. 187. FEASTS or WAKES, when first instituted in this coun- try, -were established upon religious principles, and greatly resembled the Ac APJE. or tore-feasts of the early Christians. These festivals were primitively held upon the day of the dedication of the church in each district, or the birth-day of the saint whose relicjues were t herein depo- sited, or to whose honour it was consecrated. In process of time, the people assembled on the vigil or evening preceding the saint's day, and came, says an old author, to church with canddlys burnyug, and would wake, andcome towards night to their devotion. Abuses were introduced us early as the tenth century, and the fathers of the church were obliged to order the people to leave off waking. The original design was at length totally abolished; and a promiscuous crowd from all the neigh- bouring parishes attended. Pedlars and hawkers likewise came to sell their wares, and so by degrees the religious wake was turned into a secu- lar fair. Kiots and debaucheries, which eventually took place at these nocturnal meetings, became so offensive, that at length they were sup- pressed, and regular fairs established. At many places iliese Sunday fairs, but still called wakes, are kq>t up, and celebrated jn manner often- times disgraceful to religion and morality, seldom without improper and indecorous excesses. CHURCH ALES, or, as they are more commonly called, /f'hitsun Ak-s, originated from wakes. The chief parish officers observing the latter to be more popular than any other holidays, conceived that by establishing other institutions something similar to them, they might draw together a large company, and annually rolkvt from them such c c 4 392 NOTES. sums of money as would considerably ease the parish rates. By wav <>' enticement to the populace, they brewed a certain portion of strong'ale, which was sold on terms advantageous to the seller. Philip Stnbbs, in his Anatomic of Abuses, 1595, severely censures the disorderly conduct of these popular meetings; and it must be confessed, that wakes and fairs are often conducted in a manner not at all advantageous to sobriety and good morals. In some places they are dwindled into mere markets for petty traffic, or confined to the purposes of drinking, or the display of vulgar pastimes. Chaucer, in the Ploughman's'! ale, charges the priest? with being expert At the w restl ynge anil at the wake, And chefc chauntours at the nale, Markcttc heaters, and medlyng make, Hoppen and lioutcrs with hcvc and hale. In the Spectator, No. 161, is given a pretty correct description of a country wake, as it is celebrated^ in many parishes at this day ; where- wrestling, cudgel-playing, sack-running, smock-running, and other di- versions are in use on the Sunday, but generally deferred to the following dav. In this parish, Sunday is the principal day, and to the contiguity of it to Gloucester, is probably owing the numerous concourse of people which assemble there on the feast day, and the consequent deviations from decorum and sobriety. In the more southern parts of the county, these meetings have, probably from the abuse of them, received the ap- propriate name of REVELS. 57. p. 195. The monks affected to call their estates by the names of manors. 58. p. 200.' The Berkeley family were at this time possessed of the following manors and estates in this county ; ChedwortH, Lydney, Awre, Etloe, Blakeney, hundred of Bledisloe, 1'ockenhall, Cowley, Coven's Court, Wickwar, Cambridge, Rodley, Wike, Ham, Lockingtons' Court, Setiloe, Cromhall, Acton Ilgar, Kingscot, Alkington, Holts, Saul-Mary's Court, Woodford, Newport, Hinton, Pockamore, Durs- ley, Wotton, Cam, Slimbridge, Kingstone, Gossington, Hurst, Hor- ton in Horwood, Nibley, Bornfield, South Cernev, Certiey \Vike, Bradley, Bradston, Berkeley hundred, Erlingham, Mercote, SimonV hall, JVampton-upon-Severn, Wortley, Berkeley, &c. Atkyns. 59. p. 205. The management of a decoy-pool is very curious and in- teresting. The wild-ducks are enticed into it by means of decoy- ducks, bred up for the purpose. At certain times of the year they fly abroad into foreign countries, it is supposed, and return, after an ab- sence of several weeks, with a vast flight of fowls along with them. When their return is known, the decoy-men go secretly to the side of the pond, and from a covered place, throw over the reeds handfuls of com, in the shallow places, where the decoy-ducks are usually fed, and where they are generally followed by their new companions. This is continued for some days, and they are progressively enticed from the wider parts, till at last they come to a narrow channel, over which the boughs are brought U> meet like an arbour, and the nets are laid over so artfully a-> NOTES. 393 not tol>e seen. By continual feeding, they are at length all enticed un- der the sweep of the nels; and now the arched way gradually lowers In height, and diminishes in width, till it terminate-; in a point like a purse; but the furthest end is kept out of sight. When the strangers are follow- ing the decoys, and unwarily feeding on the corn, and have proceeded too far to retreat, on a sudden a dog rushes from behind the trees, jumps into the water, and swimming directly after the ducks, forces them on by barking. The frighted ducks immediately attempt to take wing, but are beaten down by the nets, and are thus obliged to swim before tlit} dog, to the end of the net, where the decoy-man stands ready to receive them, and takes them alive with his hands. The deco)s either escape back into the pond, or are taken up by the decoy-aim, to whom they go without fear, and are caressed and well-fed for their services. This parish has the honour of being the birth-place of Dr. Jermer, so well known for the introduction of Vaccine Inoculation. 60. p. 214. Robert Webb, Gent, lived in the house at Woodend, and from him it passed by descent to Thomas Day, Esq. who sold it to Daniel Lapley, from whom it passed to Matthews, Esq. by mar- riage with Roach, a sister and heiress, and from him descended to Joseph Daniel Matthews, Esq. who sold this and Avening estate to Lord Ducie. 61. /;. 215. The vine plantation was discontinued or destroyed, in consequence of a dispute with the rector, on a claim of the tythes. This subject is discussed more fully in the General History. See index of vol. 1. 62. p. 218. See Biographical Account in the General Historv, vol. 1. Fuller, in his Worthies, p. 353, remarking on the proverb, " You are n man of Dursley," observes, " Thus sure I am, that there was a man of Dursley, a man of men, Edward Fox by name, a right godly and gra- cious p'relate." Jt may be remarked, by the way, that the proverb here referred to, has been" usually applied to a person possessed of more understanding iu worldly concerns than his neighbour; but it is not within the knowledge of the writer of this, that it has been at all understood in a bad sense. 63. p. 219. Very ill-founded objections have been raised against the use of machinery in the manufacturing of cloth: the most material is, tire probability of a deficiency of work for the great numbers of people depending for employment and support on this trade: but one reason i* sufficient to outweigh every objection, which is, NECESSITY. If the clothiers here are not enabled to undersell, or at least to sell as low a* other markets, the trade must be entirely lost. The consequence then which is merely suspected from the use of machinery, v ill inevitably fol- low: but the fact is, that at present, notwithstanding all the advantages derived from the machines, every hand finds employment. 64. p. 232. Camden, who has been followed by Atkyns and Rudder, seems to have fallen into a strange error, in supposing that Edward the Elder in 911, obtained at this place a great victory, and slew many thousands of the Danes, with their princes, Ilealfden, Cinvil, and In- 391 NOTES. guer. The truth is, that the first battle was fought at Wednesfield, ia S1J, and the second at Theolenhall, co. Staff, the next year. In the Annals of Roger de Uoveden, p. '242, is to be found the only passage which could have led to the mistake: " In occidental ripu Subruuz flu- wiiris, in loco qui dici.tur, BKIGK, tinrin nutnitum constraint :" but this referring to the western bank of the Severn, could have had no connec- tion with Cambrige. And the whole narration of Henry of Huntingdon confines the battles to the same places in Staffordshire. See Hen. Hunt. p. 203; Rapin, vol. 1, p. 341, 8\o. ed. Plott's Hist, of Staflordsh. p! 414. It is remarkable that Camden himself mentions the same battle in his account of Staffordshire, as fought at Theoten-hall, (a house qfPagaivs), now called Tettenliatl, where he says many of the Danes were cut oil ia i*l I, by Edward the Elder. 65. p. 240. This account is taken from Warner's Excursions from Bath. 66. p. 251. Burnet in his life of Sir Matthew Hale, says, that con- scientious Judge would be interred in the church-yard of Alderlev, ob- serving that churches were for the living, and churchyards for the" dead. The old Roman laws forbad a corpse to be buried or burnt within th- city; and of the same opinion were the primitive Christians in England- Lanfranc, Archbishop of Canterbury, is said to have been the first who brought up the practice of vaults in chancels, and under the very altar, about 1075. Kennels par. antiq. and Soinner's Kent, p. 232. 67. p. 27fi. This tree was measured in 1791, and found (o be forty-four feet and four inches in circumference. Different conjecture* have been formed about its age; some suppose it to have been growing ever since the time of Egbert, which would make it 970 years old at least ; and others speak of it as a boundary tree of the manor "in the reign of John ; this conjecture is not altogether improbable, because, long after this period there were two distinct manors in Torlworih, though now, from length of time, and unity of possession, the exact division .- not known. That it is very old there can be no doubt, but it is im- possible, perhaps, to ascertain the true age of it. It is now fast hasten- ing to decay. On a copper-plate affixed to the tree is engraved, " 1 V* tree supposed to be 600 years old, Jan. 1, 1800. " May man still guard thy venerable form " From the rude blast, and the tempestuous storm : " Still maj'stthou flourish through succeeding time, " And last, long last, the wonder of the clime." Two accurate views are given in Lysons' etchings of the antiq. of the county of Gloucester, No. 3. 68. p . 27S. The figure at the east end of the Pool-house is more likely to represent the builder than the saint, according to Rudder ; since it has no emblematic attendant, usually found with him, and the costume is of the same age with the former. 69. p. 280. A sanctuary was a place priveleged by the Prince for the safeguard of men's lives, that are offenders, being* founded on the NOTES. 59; Jaw <}f mercy, and the great reverence, honour, and devotion, which the prince beareth to the place, whereto he granted such privilege. The ancient Kings of England permitted those who had committed both felonies and treasons to shelter themselves in them, so that within forty da\s they acknowledged their fault, and submitted themselves to banish- ment ; during which time, if any layman expelled them, he was ex- communicated ; if any clerk, he was made irregular; but after forty da\ s no man might relieve them. Of these there were many in England, but one more famous than the rest at St. John's, of Beverley, which the proTeniens, omnimodo nauet secuntatern. By 21 Jac. I. the privilege of sanctuary was taken away. See Cunningham's law die. abjuration and sanctuary. 70. p. 283. Rudder gives a British derivation of this name; Dzur, water, and ham, a village ; but as this was long the residence of the Saxons (291), a Saxon etymology is most probable, especially as the more ancient name \sDeorbam: which signifies Damarum damns or Deer's home. See Hicks's Sax. diet. sub. Deorham ; and Henry's hist, of Eng. 71. p. 298. In Bigland's coll. it is remarked, that Collins in his peerage, disproves the account given by Atkyns and followed by Rud- der, of this estate having come by marriage with the widow of Sir \V. St. Loe. 72. p. 300. Atkyns has brought down the descent of the manor of Cold Aston through a great many names as a lay possession, but men- tions another manor as belonging to the abbey of Bath. Rudder makes only one manor, and Bigland takes no notice of the descent. In Domes- day record, under the title, Terra Eccle de Bade, Escetone is mentioned as containing five hides ; but in P. N. tax. Hamesziell only is mentioned among the temporal possessions of the prior of Bath. 73. p. 329. The tomb ofSterten is within the wall in the north chan- nel, with an arch of Gothic, ornamented with cinquefoils, and crocket pinnacles. A dog is placed at the feet of this effigy, which is cumbenU A legendary tale is preserved, thai this man had sold himself to the devil; and it was among the articles of the contract, that he was to be carried to the church after his death, neither with his feet or head fore- most, nor to be buried in the church or churchyard: to evade this part of the agreement, or cheat the deiit of his due, he directed that his body should be carried sideways to burial, and that it should be buried in the wall of the church. A similar account is mentioned in Cox's Mon- mouthsh. Vol. ii. p. 337, of John of Kent, a supposed wizard, who according to the legend, would have been the property of the devil, if he had been buried within or out of the church. Jlis tombstone is close to the east wall of the chancel in Grosmont, co. Montn. Jl was not unusual for the founders of churches, or tiie builders of hancels or aisles, to preserve a niche in the wall for their own tombs. 74. p. 329. This village is supposed by son>e to have received the 356 NOTES. name of Frcnchay, as having been the place where suintfoin or French grass was first introduced into the system of cultivation; ljut if Froom- yhaw be the riglit name, another etymology mav be adopted: Froont gives the name of the river which inns by it, and Haugh or Haw, sig- nifies green land or meadow on the banks (75). 75. p. 333. The place is called Mesnfdd by Henry of Huntingdon. William of Malmesbury relates that a lew years afterwards the bones of Oswald were removed to Gloucester, lib. J. page 10. Oswald was also King of Northumberland, and therefore' not likely to be at Marshfield, the extremity of the kingdom of Aiercia, which belonged to Fenda; especially as it is recorded that Penda was the first to disturb the har- mony of the kingdoms ; and it appeal's likewise, that the battle in which he fell, was the first that was fought between them. Rapin, sub anno 634. 76. p. 337. On the subject of crosses much has been written by the antiquaries. In Stowe's annals, it is said, that crosses were erected by Edward I. in 1290, for the loss of his Queen, in every place where the corpse stopped in its way to London. Some of these crosses are now remaining, ana it is probable that in other parts of the kingdom the royal example was followed ; but these crosses were in the highways, and there are at this day few parishes, where they are, either not entire, or some fragments remaining ; but crosses in churchyards seem to have bad other uses: for in the earlier ages, in some places, where they had no church built, divine service was performed under a cross in some open and convenient place. The superstition of ancient times seems to have led to another use of these crosses. In the copy of an original in- strument, dated 25th Nov. 1449, concerning the churchyard of St. .Mary Magdalen, in Milk Street, London, exhibited to the society of antiquaries by Thomas Loggen, Esq. and read March 23, 1797, is the following obbservation, " that there stode a crosse in and uppon the same voide grounde, of the height of a man, or more; and that the same crosse ~cas uorshipped fa/ the parishens there, as crosses be commonly worshipped in clturc/t-yardes." 77. p. 343. Ewery was an office (room) in the King's household, where they took care of the linen for the King's table, laid the cloth, atid served up water in silver evers after dinner. Johnson's dictionary. 78. p. 345. See Abonein index of vol. 1. 79. p. 357. Sulphate of strontian is found at Red land, Sodbury,. and Ham-green. The fibrous variety in 200 parts, contains of strontiau 1 16. 5. of acid 83. 5. with a small proportion of iron. See contribu- tions to Physical, &c. Knowledge, by Dr. Beddoes. 80. p. 363. See Abone in index of vol. 1. 81. p. 365. This gentleman is celebrated for his many discoveries of new species of earthen ware and porcelains, his studied forms and chaste style of decoration, and the correctness of judgment with which all his works were executed under his own eye. He was founder and chief NOTES. 397 an association of manufacturers in London, which he deno- minated " the general chamber of the manufacturers of Great Britain." 82. p. 366. In this church is the representation of a skeleton figure, on a table tomb, supposed to be that ot Bishop Carpenter. Mr. Gougli, in his Sepul. Mon. p. 1 10, remarks, that he has observed one of these, but scarcely ever more than one, in almost all the conventual and ca- thedral churches through England. He mentions one at York, as old as 1241 ; and another in Bristol, as late as 1558, for Paul Bush, Carpenter died 1476. 83. p. 379. In the church-yard is a plain tomb stone, to the memory of John Henderson (299), with the following inscription : John Henderson, B. A. died Nov. 2, 1788, at Oxford, aged 31 years. Withhold thy hand, nor seek the chisel's aid, To add a mole-hill to a mount of fame : Tell, humble stone, here Henderson is laid, And bear the best of epitaphs, his name. He was a person of uncommon abilities, but eccentric in his manners. Seepage 315. 84. p. 384. The following lines are inscribed on a neat marble monu- ment in the church, to the memory of an excellent woman, Mary, the wife of Charles Joseph Harford, Esq. who died 1798: Cara vale, ingenio prsestans, pietate, pudore, Et plus quam sponsx nomine cara vale ! Cara Maria -vale ! et veniet felicius xvutn, Quando iterurn tecum, sim. tnodo dignus, ere. TYTHINGS, HAMLETS, AND PLACES, fag* ABLODE's Court . 1 55 Abbot's Wood . . 5, 96 AbVon ... .308 Acton Ilgar . ... . 336 Acton Manor-house . . 336 Adset ..... 83 Ailberton .... 125 AJkington . . . . 201 Alliston 126 Alney, Isle of . . . 14-8 Alvington Court . . 121 Anchorite's Hill . . 214- Ashmead's . . . . 211 Ashwick . . . . . 332 Athelard's Place ... 36 Aukley 325 Aust 356 Avening House . . . 276 Avon River .... 256 Ayford 332 Aylesmore House . . 109 Aylminton .... 356 Backhouse . . . . 167 Badminton House . . 260 Bagpath 223 Bagstone 27 S Barr's Court . . , . 3 Iff Barton Abbots . . . Ig] Barton King's . . . 160 Basset's Court . . . 237 Beach . . . . , 316 Beachley .... 77 Bencombe .... 237 Bentham 13i Bengrove . . . . 15g Berry 238 Bevvy's Cross . . . 354 Bibstone House . . . 2H Bicknor Court ... 89 Bicks 332 Bickwear . . . . 109 Binley 221 Bishton 77 Blackwell End . 185 Blacksworth . Blaise Castle . Blakeney Blaze Bailey . Bledisloe Court Blythe's Court Botloe . . Bosclcy . ' , 377 352 117 73 116 73 82 83 INDEX. Boulesdon Bower Lye . Page 37 . 211 30 Clinger . Coal-pit Heath Cockshoot Pan . . 210, 23* . . . 305 7'] Boy field .... 60 Codrington 29S . 239 Cold Comfort 67 Breach-Yate . . . . 304- Colfbrd- . . 103 Bread stone ... 204 Cornbe . . ' 249 Bream . . . * . 104 Gompton 16 Bream's Lodge . . 101- Conham . . Calcot . . . 223 Drews <o Drummond . . 315,381 Dyer 21-t Easson 355 Eaton 121 Edwards . . . 355. 366 Elliott, Lord . . .121 Ellis . . . . 61, 1 14 Elton 53,63, 188, 271,375 Emerson . . . .315 Estcourt . . . 223,225 Fendall . . . . . 173 Foley ... 37, 39, 49 Fow'ke 37 Fowler .... 252 Freeman .... 364 Fust .... 254,327 Gage, Lord . . 88, 102, 110 Gawen 333 Gee 204 Gloucest. Chapter . . 175 Goldney . . . 25,0,371 Gordon . . . 65, 375 Greme .... 380 Greyndour .... 87 Griffiths . . .110,320 Grosvenor .... 37 Guise, Sir 44,68, 135, 142, 165 Gunning .... 300 Gvvinnett . . . 139, 158 Hale 210,243,257,278,383 Hankins . . . 31,36 Hardwicke . . . 273,349 Harmar . . . . . 137,364 Harris 228 Hartland .... 37 Hartley . . . . 228 Hathway , . . . 302 INDEX. 405 Pmt . . 60, 185, 187 . . , . 65 266,278,308 138, 140, 14-5, 153, Hawkins Hayle Haynes Hayward 161 Herbert HO Hewett . ... 167 Hicks . . 159,204,205 Higford . . . . 120 Higgs 296 Hill ....... 30 Hilhnan . . . . 318 Hodges .... 197 Holcomb . . . . 139 Hollings . . . . 175 Holford ..... 345 Hope 169 Hopkins . . . . 116 Hopkinson . . . . 147 Hoskins 110 Howard . . . 72,332,342 Ho well . . 173,180,181 Hughes . . . . 110 Hulbert .... 33 Hunt . . 130,131,270 Huntley .... 264 Hyett . 82,130,179,187 Jackson .... 162 James . . . 78,85,99 Jeffries 179 Jenkins . . .77, 121,204 Jenner 204 Jones 36. 37, 70, 1 16, 127, 1 35, 140, 326,364,378 Johnstone, Sir . . ' . 362 Jordon -131 Jortin 227 Joyner ... . . : 204 Kemberry . . . . 167 King 312,335 Kingscote . . . 221,223 Lackington . . . . 312 Lambert .... 31 Lane 89 Langton . . . 299,317 Larton 257 Lawrence . . 83, 130, 158 Lawson 36 Lewis . . .77, 355, 364 Lippincott, Sir 250, 322, 324, 351,355,361 Liverpool, Earl . . 269, 346 Llewellin .... 325 Lloyd 87 Long 335 Lysons 82, 83, 1 56, 1 69, 1 7 8, 205 Maitland . . . . 167 Marsh 247 Masters 246, 247, 325, 368, 377 Matthews 1 02, 2 10, 2 1 2, 2 1 4 Mee . . . 140, 173,178 Middlelon 306, 352, 361, 375 Mill, Dame . ^ . . 196 Millar .... 230,237 Moggridge . . 29, 30, 36 Morris 346 Morse . 37,38,55,210,234 Muthway . . . . 109 Neale . . . . 53, 1 67 Nelmes .... 204,242 Newburgh, Earl . . 83 Newman . . . . 169 Newton . . . . 314 Norfolk, Duke . . 153, 176 Olive . . . . 146, 156 Osborn . . 2198, 325, 355 Oseland . . . .- . 296 Packer lot Palmer 158 Palling 175 Pardoe .... 121,325 Parker 296 Parsons 121 Partridge .... 104 Pauncetbte, Sir . . . 36 Paytherus . . . . 153 Prjelps 338 Phillpotts . . . . 156 Pitt . . 144, 145. 163, 187" Pocklington .... 63 40G INDEX. Pa K e Powell . . . .102, 355 Probyn . 47, 5.5, 57, 87, 102 Protheroe . . . . 312 Pullin .... 266, 319 Purnell .... .210,234 Pyrke . . 72, 87, 91, 93 Radnor, Earl ... 302 Raikes .... 173, 179 Richardson . 336 Robinson ... 227 Roberts 61 Rogers ..... 138 Rolph ..... 312 Rxwke . . .99, 109, 365 Rudge . 57, 144, 146, 187 Russel .... 349, 368 Salcomb . ... 156 Salmon . * . . . 325 Sampson 355 Sargeant 57 Saunders .... 345 Scudamore ... 42, 363 Seymour 363 Shadwell 255 Sheldon ..... 78 Sheppard .... 223 Sitwell . 247, 312, 324, 355 Skey 346 Skip ...... 93, 96 Smallcomb . . . . 314 Smyth 163, 167, 183, 187,292, 302, 306, 328, 329, 357 Snell 179 Somers, Lord ... 26 Somerville .... 242 Southwell, Lord . . 44, 1 85 Stephens .... 290, 292 Stone 26 Sutton 140 Sydney, Lord . 155, 172, 175 Syms 67' Talbot, Sir . . . . 1 49 Taylor .... 320, 322 Teague 102 Teast 355 / Tempest, Sir . 30, 32, 36 Thackwcll . . . 30, .SI Theache 147 Thomas 117 Tracy . . . . 130 Trotman 304 Tucker . . 319, 320, 32 S Turner . . . . 99, 149 Turton 325 Tyler 210 Tyndale 291 Vallander . . . . 187 Veele . . . . 197, 363 Vernon . ... 156 Viner ..... 130 Vines 240 Viney . . . . 45, 155 Wade He Wallington . . . 210, 234 Walton 266 Wathen . . . . 175, 197 Watts 270 Webb . 26, 152,214, 346 Wedge wood .... 355 Weight 216 West f 298 Westfaling ... 1 47, 242 Whatley 135 White . . .50, 175, 187 Whitmore .... 302 Whittington .... 300 Whittock . . . . 315 Wicks 140 Wikes 316 Wilbraham . . . . 178 Wilkins . . . . 138, 156 Williams . . . . 79, 85 Wilton 14-4 Winstone . . . . 193 Wood . . 36, 37, 53, 162 Woodward .... 37 Wyndham . . 37, 103, 109 Wynniatt . . . 30, 3 1 Wyrhale 89 Yate .... 26, 30, 31 INBEX REMARKABLE PERSONS, THINGS, 8V. ABBEY, Flaxley - . . 95 Abbey, Kingswood . . 383 Abone .' . . . 120, 363 Age, great .... 56 Ammonoidae . . . . 217 Ancient House . . . 278 Anthony's Well ... 97 Antiquities, Roman . . 125 Army of Ed ward IV. . 282 Asparagus Officinalis . 357 Asteria . . 126,141,218 Barrows . 157,264,267,274, 312 Barton Fair . . . . 161 Battle .... 226, 285 Beltein, Scotch ... 42 Bier 100 Bistort 274 Blomaries . . . 13,205 Box Wood .... 263 Bristol Stones ... 37 1 Bullet Stones . . .261,293 Burgh 80 Burhill, Dr 31 Burials in Churches . . 257 Bury-hill Camp ... 375 Calcareous Spar . . . 366 Calamine Stone 279, 286, 366, 388 Camps 239, 250, 282, 285, 290, 309, 310, 345, 347,375 Page Castles 108, 167, 203, 208, 342, 368 Channel of Severn . . 122 Chesnut-tree .... 276 Chestles 309 Churchcroft, ruins . . 118 Church removed . . . 1 37 Cinders . . . 12,108,346 Cliff, Wick .... 308 Cliff, Newnham ... 71 Cliff, Westbury . . .83 Clothing Manufacture 237, 257 384 Clothing Machines . . 210 Coal Pits 37, 122, 301, 306, 313, 335, 377 Cochleae 217 Coffins found . '. 96, 3 tS Gotham Stone . . . 366' Cotton Mill .... 308 Crowstone . . . . 1 37 Customs of Longhope . 57 Customs of Dimock . . 29 Customs, old . . . 109 Cyder .... 101, 198 Decoy Pool .... 205 Don John's Cross . . 378 Dutchy of Lancaster . 51 Echini 131 Edmund, King . . . 301 Edmund and Canute . 149 408 INDEX. Page Edward, King, murdered 203 Elephant's Bone ... 83 Elm 32, 39 Entrochus . . . .357 Fir Trees .... 64- Flood high .... 1 94- Forest, Account of . . 4, fyc. Forest of Dean, present state 9 Ditto Timber ... 8 Ditto Rights .... 10 Ditto Deer .... 10 Ditto Coal .... 11 Ditto Courts .... 11 Ditto Iron .... 24 Ditto Officers ... 21 Forgii 16 Fossils . 83,261,289,309 Furnaces 17 Forges, Iron .... 49 Fruit Trees .... 27 Gaunt's Hospital . . 248 Giant's Hole. ... 371 Gibbesium . . . . 313 Gild 288 Gypsum 357 Hat Manufacture . 318 Henderson . . . . 315 Hermitage . 214,217,371 Hock Crib .... 231 Honour of Glouc. Court 339 Home, burnt ... 37 Hotwells 37 1 House of Correction . . 92, 382 Jealousy of Abbots . . 177 Inundation .... 245 Iron Ore, Reduction of . 19 Iron Furnace ... 40, 96 Iter Antonini . . . 214 Kingswood Forest . . 384 Kymin 112 Lansdown Battle . 299, 310 Lead Ore 215, 248, 279, 309, 317, 366, 369 Leolf, Robber ... 301 T ,- Lepidmm petreum . . 357 Lightfoot, Rev. ... 38 Lightning, effects of . . 291 Lime. . . 215,279,286 Mad-house, private . . 381 Man of Ross .... 30 Manufactories . . . 382 Mylili . . . ' . . 218 Nautili 217 New Grounds . . . 122 New Passage . . . 355 Noose 114 Oak 32, 39 Ochreous Water . . . 171 Offa's Dyke .... 7 > Osmunda regalis ... 307 Ostracites . . . . 218 Osvvestry, Battle at . . 333 Palace of Saxon Kings . 1 44 Paper Mill . . .87, 308 Parr, Catherine . . . 304 Passage, Newnham . . 69 Passage, Purton - . . . 1 26 Passage, subterraneous . 91 Pavement, tesselated . 347 Pen-park Hole ... 365 Perry, Squash . . 46, 49 Perry's Alms-house . . 243 Petro silex .... 308 Pigot burnt .... 287 Pillar of Memorial . . 110 Pinnae Marinas . . . 218 Polygonum minus . . 357 Pridgavel, custom . . 59 Priory, Alien ... 35 Priory, Lanthony . . 176 Prospects extensive, &c. 234, 242, 246, 247, 254, 325 Puddling Iron Works . 1 22 Pufistone 217 Quarries . . 20,321,375 Road, Roman . . 111,313 Robins Wood Hill . . 171 Roofs petrified . . . J64 Ro\vnham Passage . . 377 IND Sanctuary .... Scowls Cavern . Seal, Greyndour's Sheep, Ryland Sheep-skin Rugs Shire stones .... 333 Skeleton, large . . . 157 Smut in wheat, custom . 42 Spinning Billy . . . 240 Spinning Jenny . . . 240 SplfTling mill . . . 308 Stern, the robber . . 329 Sternhold .. . . . 116 Strontian . 215,289,357 )EX., Temple, Naval . Thornbury Manor, cust. Thorpe's Tower Tide Toadstone . Towfestone . Trajectus Verbena .... Vines, planted Vipers fierce White Lays . Winter's leap Woodwaxen Yew tree 409 Page 112 340 205 71 345 217 345 323 215 314 279 78 252 55 Glocester, printed by G. F. HARRIS, Herald Newspaper Office. [A LIBRARY University of California SOUTHERN REGIONAL LIBRARY FACILITY 405 Hilgard Avenue, Los Angeles. CA 90024-1388 tamped below. Return this material to the library from which It was borrowed. f \ r-\ 1 \r- IB B/ffi Bid . APR Qjfuw: 7 1997 "$5 SH LF QUARTE RLOAN REC'D YRL ..212003 VBH^M i: "0 f PLEA* DO NOT REMOVE THIS BOOK CARD o o University Research Library M I Uni