Gloucestershire is an inland shire, bounded on the east by Oxfordshire and the lower part of Warwickshire, on the north by Warwickshire and Worcestershire, on the west by the counties of Hereford and Monmouth, and on the south by Somersetshire and Wiltshire. The greatest length from north-east to south-west is 60 miles, and the greatest breadth from east to west is 43 miles. The area is now 802,875 acres, it being increased in 1897 by the addition of 6,144 acres from Wiltshire under the provisions of the “Local Government Act, 1894” by an order of the Local Government Board dated 30 April, 1896, and taking effect April 1, 1897. The population in 1801 was 250,723; in 1811, 285,955; in 1821, 336,190; in 1831, 387,398; in 1841, 431,495; in 1851, 458,805; in 1861, 485,770; in 1871, 534,640; in 1881, 572,433; and in 1891, 654,574; viz.: Males, 303,271; females, 342,303. The number of houses in 1891 was, inhabited, 124,222; uninhabited, 8,840; building, 909.

Gloucestershire was first occupied by the Iberians, and they long lingered here; their last chief tribe, the Silures, although it gave way before the Belgic invasion, seems to have held out against the Celts until it was overcome by the Roman power. The Thames, the Severn, the Wye, the Avon, as well as the towns of Glevum and Corinium, indicate an Euskaldune etymology. With regard to the Celts, unless they occupied a portion of North Gloucestershire, it does not appear that they held this county until after the downfall of the Roman power.

At Beachley, at the mouth of the Wye, are extensive earthworks, supposed to be British. Of barrows, lows, buries and places of uncertain antiquity, the following are names:-Bromsberrow, Showbarrow near Twining, Tarbarrow near Cirencester, Burbarrow near Westerleigh, Broadbarrow near Harescombe, Farbarrow near Oldbury, Barrow near Boddington, Brightwells Barrow, Henbarrows near Preston, Barrow Hill near Fretherne, another near Almondsbury, and another near Ashleworth, Barrow Elm near Hatherop, Bledisloe, Hagloe, Etloe, Bullo, Botloe, Marslow near Ruerdean, Putlow near Morton Valence, Hawklow near Elmore, Callow near Pauntley; Thornbury, Tetbury, Bury House near Wick, Tewkesbury, Almondsbury, Henbury, Sodbury, Westbury-on-Trym, Westbury-on-Severn, Gumbury near Northwick, Rombury near Ampney, Bilbury, Overbury, Saintbury, Oldbury, Maugersbury, Prestbury, Kimsbury near Cranham, Southbury near Coleborne, Norbury near Farmington, Tilbury Hollow near Chipping Campden, Stony Crockbury near Winchcomb, Towbury near Twining, Trewsbury near Coates, Pinbury near Sapperton, Bury near Cirencester, Sidbury near Tidenham, Wilsbury near St. Briavels, Stonebury near Lydney, Blisbury near Hill, Ashbury near Westerleigh, Milbury near Titherington, Elbury near Wotton, Bucklesbury near Hawkesbury, Welshbury near Abbinghall, Cinderbury near Ashleworth, Bostenbury near Clearwell, Winberry near Coleford, Hangerbury near Bicknor, Highbury near Newland, Bury Hill near Winterbourn, one near Wotton, one near Chipping Sodbury, one near Christchurch and one near Weston-under-Penyard.

About the year 44 this county was overcome by the Romans, who founded the Colonia Glevum (Gloucester). Cirencester was, however, the chief Roman town. They had other settlements, as Frocester, Woodchester, Bristol, Fairford, Chesterton, Lasborough, Longborough, Littleborough, Ladborough, Shenborough, Shagborough, Scarborough, Ganborough, Oldborough, Rottenborough, Redborough, Bransborough, Benborough, Wagborough, Bourton-on-the-Water, Bourton-on-the-Hill, Borough’s Court near Nibley, Burton Field at Wotton, Burtons near Dymock, Wickwar, Warepool near Stapleton, Bicknor, Stapleton, Staple near Colesbourne, Beckford, Kempsford, Whelford, Eyford, Harford, Ditchford, Cockleford, Syreford, Longford, Stanford, Sandford, Matford, Cinderford, Rhydlesford, Langford near Kingswood, Ketford near Dymock, Coleford, Woodford near Berkeley, Huntingford, Rudford, Longford near Minchinhampton, Chalford, Fairford near Wotton, Andoversford, Ford near Guyting, Widford, Welford, Batsford, Blackford, Malford near Berkeley, Merryford near Wotton, and Joyford near Christchurch, Overton near Cranham, Overton near Fretheme, Over near Harford, Over near Churcham, Over near Almondsbury, Buckover near Thornbury, and Overley near Duntsborne.

The names of the Roman roads are the Fossway, Akeman Street, Ermine Street, Iknield Street, Ridgeway, Patchway, Stanway, Greenway, Saltway, Whiteway, Woodway, Churchway, Northway, Calfway near Miserden, Daneway near Sapperton, Hathway near St. Briavels, Perryway near Eastington,Lorridge near Stinchcomb, Merryway near Blakeney, Roadway near Randwick, Sandyway near Newent, Tandways and Colways near Hatfield, and Millway near Bicknor; Latteridge near Iron Acton, Brockridge near Twining, Broadbridge near Harescomb, Wolfridge near Alvaston, Wickridge and Longridge near Ashleworth, Hastridge near Newland, Oakridge, Longridge near Painswick, Litteridge near Bisley, Chelridge near Bream, Mapleridge near Wickwar, Serridge near Ruardean, Lintridge near Depnock, Harridge near Pamsley, Harridge near Corse and Bagpath.

Places taking their names from their situation near Roman roads are:-Stanley, Stone Hill, Stanley near Blaisden Stanton, Staunton, Stone, Stancomb near Painswick, Stratton Oakle Street, and Pilning Street.

There is a Coneygore at Filton, Wotton, Alvaston, Newent, Bibury, and Bromsberry, North Cerney and Berkeley. The termination gore is to be found in Leygore near Turkdean, Sanagar near Berkeley, and Hinnegar near Didmarton.

There is a Cold Harbour or Roman military station at Kingscot, at Wick, at St. Briavels, and at Oxenhall. The prefix Cold, the meaning of which is not known, and which is frequently applied to Roman places, is found in Cold Ashton, Cold Bagpath, Cold Change near Hawkesbury, Cold Poole near Bagworth, Cold Elm near Norton, Cold Elm near Forthampton.

Topographical indications of Roman military occupation are denoted, besides the Cold Harbours and Boroughs, in Haresdown and Haregrove near Rodmaston, Harclay near Hawkesbury, Haresfield, Harescomb, Harford, Hare Street near Hill, and Harcomb near Side; at Clifton near Bristol, and at Ellerton, are Roman camps.

Near Lydney Park are the remains of a Roman Bath.

Gloucestershire was first included in the part on the hither side of the Severn, in Britannia Prima, and in the part on the further side of the Severn, in Britannia Secunda. After the time of Constantine it was in the province of Flavia Caesariensis. After the downfall of the Romans, the county was held by the Celtic Britons until the English invasion: it was seized by the Middle English, and became part of the great commonwealth of Mercia. Glevum was named Gloucester and gave name to the shire, now commonly shortened to Glo’ster and Glo’stershire. The new settlers consisted chiefly of English, Warings, Saxons, Frizians and Jutes, belonging to the clans who occupied the rest of England. Gloucestershire does not in its topography show so many clan names as is common in the eastern shires, where the invaders came direct from Jutland and Friesland. The names of places in Gloucestershire are chiefly from topographical features. The clan names recognisable are those of the Dodding, Quening, Barring, Whitting, Easting, Newing, Donning, Dorring or Dorsing, Tibbing, Arling, Cherring, Bodding, Tedding, Butting, Todding and Ocking.

The topographical nomenclature of Gloucestershire, as established by the old English settlers, presents many peculiar and interesting features. A large class of names of places are derived from the Roman sites, marked by the words chester, borough, over, staple, ford, ware, way, path, street, ridge, hedge, stone, and hart or here. There is no wich.

The borrows, buries, and lows give another series.

The names, however, are chiefly derived from English settlers. Of the Danes there are no tokens, no by, hough, thwaite, toft, or with. The nomenclature is likewise free from Welsh, and very pure. There are many indications of the later English invaders, who, perhaps, included more Warings and Frizians than the earlier invasions commonly known as Saxon. Thus the terminations ton, thorpe, hope, horn, wick, moor, wold, dumble, holm, grove, croft, pen, scar are in fair proportions. The southern terminations, as worth, worthy, stow, stead, stoke, ham, knoll, hanger, hotlow, bottom, dean, hurst, holt, frith, ley, acre, cliff, combe, hyde, and dingle have like wise their share.

Among the peculiar terms are the substitutions of pill for feet, as the name of the small creeks of the Severn; yate for gate, meend for a meens, or large open common; beacon for a hill; the words, trump, barton, leazow, shippen, slade, linch, swash. Starveall is the name of half a score farms. There is a place called Hungerbury. There are four Long Furlongs or Bee Furlongs, and a Compass Furlong. Cockshute is the name of two or three places. There are several Follys. Nastend is near Eastington.

The term Winterbourne, for a stream running only in winter, is used here as in the South of England; but the word dryhrook is sometimes used for it. The term Swallowholes is found here.

Aston seems to be used for Easton, as in some other shires.

Bilsum, Asnum, Lutsum, Allum, Winson, Matson, Ingst, Standish, Callip, Birdlip, Postlip, Downrip and Westrip seem to be Frizian.

Wanswell is the only indication of the worship of Weden or Woden, but there is none of Thor.

Before the Norman invasion Gloucestershire was the scene of conflicts between the Middle English and the West Saxons with the Welsh and the Danes. Offa's Dyke ends here. The Gloucestershire people had a great share in the conquest of Wales and Ireland. In the middle ages the monasteries of Gloucester, Bristol, Cirencester and Tewkesbury had great power. Edward II. was murdered in Berkeley Castle. In the Yorkist war Queen Margaret and her son were taken prisoners at the battle of Tewkesbury on May 14, 1471. During the great civil was many battles and sieges took place at Bristol, Gloucester and Cirencester.

Gloucestershire belongs chiefly to the basin of the Severn, including the tributaries of its estuary-the Avon and the Wye. The south-east of Gloucestershire includes several heads and feeders of the Thames.

The Cotswold or hill district forms a high land, running through Gloucestershire from north-east to south-west as far south as Wotton Edge, and dividing the basin of the Thames from those of the Avon and Severn, and coming within a few mites of the latter rivers; the Forest of Dean district is another high district to the west of the Severn. Between these uplands lies the vale of the Severn and Avon.

This county is a seat of iron manufacture, and the collieries are largely worked. In 1895, according to the “Mineral Statistics,” 29,772 tons of iron ore were raised in the Forest of Dean district, of which 16,198 were produced from the Crown mines; total estimated value at the mines, £7,544; the ore is that known as brown haematite. In 1895, from the Forest of Dean, 925,657 tons of coal were raised, valued at the mines at £339,408, and from the Bristol district 337,423 tons, valued at £123,722: a small quantity of freestone is raised: 5,532 tons of fireclay were raised in 1895 from coal mines, and 3,500 from metalliferous mines: 439 tons Of ochre were raised in 1895, and the two counties of Goucester and Somerset furnished 12,273 tons of strontium sulphate. Cheltenham is famed for its medicinal springs; and there are salt springs at Gloucester and Tewkesbury, used for medicinal purposes, and hot wells at Clifton.

The vale at Gloucester is the chief seat of tillage; the land is well sheltered, the air is mild, and the soil rich. The Forest of Dean is cold, and much of it barren, but elsewhere woods and coppice; 1,500 acres of timber and plantations belong to the Crown. The Cotswold hills are covered with a thin soil of calcareous sand, derived from the oolite rocks on which it rests. Some of it makes good sheep downs, and when carefully tilled it bears oats, turnips and barley. In the valleys are patches of rich land. Dairy husbandry is of great importance; the dairy cows and other cattle include the Gloucestershire breed; the local breeds of sheep are the Cotswold, the Ryeland or Herefordshire, and the Forest of Dean. The produce of Gloucestershire is wheat, barley, oats, rye, beans, peas, potatoes, turnips, clover, vetches, sainfoin, flax, teasels; butter, cheese, wool and timber; and its rich orchards produce fruit in great quantities, including apples and pears for cider and perry. At Cirencester there is an Agricultural College for training young men for agricultural employment.

This is likewise a manufacturing shire: the woollen manufacture is the staple, and is carried on at Stroud, Wotton-under-Edge, Minchinhampton, Bisley, Nailsworth, North Nibley, Ebley, Stonehouse, Eastington, Dursley, Cam, Painswick, Rodborough, King’s Stanley and Woodchester; it employs as many as Wiltshire, more than Somersetshire, but only half the number of Lancashire, and about one fifteenth of the number of Yorkshire. The Stroud valley is celebrated for producing first-class broadcloths, also for scarlet dyeing, the water being very suitable for that purpose. The silk manufacture is carried on at Brimscombe, near Stroud and Brisetol. Hosiery is made at Tewkesbury; edge tools, for curriers, at Cirencester; pins at Stroud; flock and shoddy at Nailsworth; chemicals are also made to some extent.

The estuary of the Severn has two considerable ports, Bristol and Gloucester; and some smaller ports and fishing towns, including Newnham, Lydney, and Berkeley. Bristol is concerned in the West Indian and African trade, and the export trade of Somersetshire, Wiltshire, and the West Midlands; it is a great seat of the Irish trade, and of the coasting trade with South Wales. Gloucester carries on a large corn and timber trade, and part of the export trade of the West Midlands, including salt.

The Severn is navigable throughout, and for large ships up to Gloucester. The Lower Avon is navigable to Bath, and will bear large ships to Bristol. There are docks at Bristol, and at the mouth of the Avon, about 7 miles from Bristol, and on the Severn at Gloucester and at Sharpness, 15 miles from Gloucester, for the larger ships. The Gloucester and Berkeley canal is a great ship canal 16 ½ miles long, without a lock. The rivers are connected with the Thames by the Thames and Severn canal. The Thames rises in this county, and becomes navigable from Lechlade. Various canals connect the Severn with the Trent and the rivers of the north. The Stroudwater canal runs from the Severn, near Framilode, to the Thames and Severn canal at Wallbridge; the Hereford and Gloucester canal connects those cities.

There are several ancient roads, formerly high roads to the West of England and Wales.

The two railway systems which control the traffic in this county are the Great Western and the Midland, the former entering the county in four places on the eastern border, viz. from Oxford at Lechlade on the Fairford branch, and at Chipping Norton, where after sending a branch southwest to Bourton and Cheltenham the main line continues its way through Moreton to Evesham, and from Swindon at Bristol, and at Tetbury Road, south of Cirencester, on the Stroud and Gloucester line, while the Midland railway enters from Bath near Mangotsfield, and running north by north-east proceeds by Chipping Sodbury (where a branch goes east to Thornbury) through Standish to Gloucester, Cheltenham, and Ashchurch to Worcester. This railway also comes into the county from Andover Junction, via Swindon, running to Cirencester and Cheltenham, where it joins the line from Mangotsfield, and from Ashchurch there is a branch to Tewkesbury and Malvern. The other branches of the Great Western are those from Bristol to Avonmouth, from Bristol to the Severn tunnel, from Standish to Nailsworth, from Kemble Junction to Cirencester, from Gloucester to Ledbury, via Newent, from Lydney Junction to Sharpness, and thence across the Severn bridge to connect with the network of small lines which pervade the Forest of Dean, and with the line which, skirting the right bank of the Severn, runs from Gloucester to Chepstow on the Wye.

The county is within the Oxford circuit, and has one court of quarter sessions. The assizes are held at Gloucester, and it is divided into 24 petty sessional divisions.

Gloucestershire includes the county of the city of Bristol, which extends into Somersetshire, and the county of the city of Gloucester. These cities have separate jurisdiction, and do not contribute to the county rates, and have separate assizes. The borough of Tewkesbury has separate jurisdiction; the other boroughs have not. The hundred or soke of the Duchy of Lancaster is within the jurisdiction of the Duchy of Lancaster for some purposes. The Forest of Dean is, for forest and mining purposes, under the jurisdiction of the Crown, exercised by the constable of St. Briavels Castle, as Lord Warden; he is assisted by six deputy wardens, four verderers chosen by the freeholders, a conservator, seven woodwards, a chief forester in fee, a bow-bearer, eight foresters in fee, and a steward of the swainmote. There is a peculiar maning code. The mayor of Bristol has still considerable powers; and there is a local court with a special power of attachment. Lord Berkeley has still some ancient powers over the dependencies of the Honor of Berkeley.

The number of civil parishes in Gloucestershire is 376, with parts of 11 others; these further include 215 liberties, tithings, and hamlets, which have separate organizations for poor administrations or for highways.

The municipal boroughs are: Bristol, with 221 578 inhabitants in 1891; Cheltenham, 42,914; Gloucester, 39,444; and Tewkesbury, 5,269: other towns are Stroud, 9,818; Stonehouse, 4,352; Dursley, 2,269; Tetbury, 2,173; Coleford, 2,450; Wotton-utider-Edge, 3,276; Fairford, 1,463; Thornbury, 3,918; Lechlade, 1,266; Newnham, 1,401; Lydney, 2,944.

The County is in the province of Canterbury, and diocese of Gloucester, divided into the archdeaconries of Gloucester and Cirencester. Cirencester archdeaconry is sub-divided into the rural deaneries of Campden, Cirencester, Fairford, Northleach and Stow. Gloucester archdeaconry is subdivided into the rural deaneries of Bisley, Cheltenham, Dursley, North Forest, South Forest, Gloucester, Stonehouse and Winchcomb; a few parishes of the County are included in the newly arranged diocese of Bristol and archdeaconry of same name, and 4 are in Worcester diocese and 1 in Oxford.

The Cathedral is at Gloucester, and Bristol Cathedral is attached to the new See.

The Catholics have a Bishop of Clifton.

The Superintendent Registrar’s Districts are:

The Old County and City Lunatic Asylum, opened July 21, 1823, is at Wotton, on rising ground, about half a mile from the City of Gloucester, in its own grounds of 45 acres, and affords extensive views of the surrounding country: the centre of the building is in form of a semi-circle, which, with the wings, originally extended 250 feet, but additional buildings, including a chapel, have since been erected; there is accommodation for 640 patients, and the average number of yearly admissions for the past nine years is 283. The New County Asylum at Barnwood, opened in 1883, occupies a charming situation at the foot of some outlying spurs of the Cotswolds, and is built on the block system: it is intended to hold from 1,000 to 1,200 patients, but the blocks at present erected will hold only about 400. Fredk. Hurst Craddock M.A., M.R.C.S.Eng, medical superintendent; Rev. William George Box B.A. chaplain; (1st asylum), William Tinker L.R.C.P.Lond, senior assistant medical officer; R. Brice Smith M.A. junior assistant medical officer; Fred Renshaw, steward; William Jordan, head male attendant; Miss Annie Garry, head female attendant; (2nd asylum), Edward Whishaw Henley L.R.C.P.Lond, medical officer in charge; Miss Mary Ann Walker, chief female officer; James Thompson, clerk of the asylums and clerk to the visitors; J. E. Tucker, financial auditor; Henry P. Pike, stores auditor.

Her Majesty’s Prison, built in 1791, at a cost of £35,000, stands in the North Hamlet, Gloucester, on the site of the old castle: it was constructed on a plan suggested by John Howard, for the separation of hardened criminals and juvenile offenders; it has since been enlarged, and there are now 300 separate cells for males and 50 for females, exclusive of rooms for debtors of both sexes. James Keech, chief warder in charge; Rev. James Hughes Owen B.A. chaplain; Oscar William Clark M.A., M.B. surgeon; Frank Walter Gibson, clerk and storekeeper; Miss Kater T. Curtin, matron.

The General Infirmary at Gloucester (which now includes the Gloucestershire Eye Institution), is a structure of brick, the central portion of which was erected in 1755 from designs by Mr. L. Singleton: the south wing, erected in 1827, is assigned to the treatment of medical cases only, and the north wing, opened in 1871, to surgical cases, accidents and out-patients, the original block being reserved for miscellaneous patients: there are beds for 150 patients, besides some additional private wards, surgery, dispensary and medical officers’ rooms; the institution is mainly supported by voluntary subscriptions; the annual number of in-patients admitted is about 1,430, and of out-patients about 7,580. George Pike, treasurer; Rayner Winterbotham Batten M.D. and Oscar William Clark M.A., M.B. physicians; Walter Brown M.B. assistant physician; John Pleydell Wilton and Thomas Smith Ellis, consulting surgeons; Hen. Edward Waddy L.R.C.P.Lond. Richard Mount Cole L.R.C.P, Lond. and Ernest Dykes Bower, surgeons; William Washbourne M.R.C.S.Eng. L.R.C.P.Lond, assistant surgeon; Frederick William Lewis M.R.C.S.Eng, house surgeon; Rev. A. E. Fleming, chaplain; Henry Pike, sec.; Samuel Herbert, dispenser; Miss E. Yeats, matron.

Hardwicke Reformatory School for juvenile offenders is at Hardwicke, near Gloucester, and is conducted at the expense of the Government; it was instituted by the late T. B. L. Baker esq. of Hardwicke Court, and was the first county reformatory in the kingdom for the purpose of reducing juvenile crime; it was certified October 4, 1854; it is now under the management of G. E. L. Baker esq. and is available for 80 boys; Thomas Gee, superintendent.

Kingswood Reformatory for boys, at Kingswood, near Bristol, was certified October 4, 1854; it was greatly improved in 1891, and will now hold 120 boys; George Whitwell, superintendent.

Arno’s Court (Catholic) Reformatory for girls, near Bristol, was certified April 22, 1856.

Parliamentary Representation of Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire has hitherto returned four members to parliament in two divisions, but under the provisions of the “Redistribution of Seats Act, 1885,” the county now returns five members in five divisions; and also under the above act, the representation of the boroughs of Cirencester, Stroud and Tewkesbury was merged into that of the county, the borough of Gloucester lost one member, and the boundary of the borough of Cheltenham was enlarged so as to take in part of the parish of Charlton Kings.

Military

The troops in this county are under the Western District Command.

Bristol is the depot of Regimental District No. 28, Territorial Regiment, the Gloucestershire Regiment, comprising 1st Battalion (28th foot), 2nd Battalion (61st foot), 3rd Battalion (Royal South Gloucester Militia), & 4th Battalion (Royal North Gloucester Militia): the headquarters of the 3rd Battalion is at Bristol.

Yeomanry

3rd Yeomanry Brigade.

Formed of the Royal Wiltshire Yeomanry Cavalry & the Gloucestershire (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) Yeomanry Cavalry Gloucestershire (Royal Gloucestershire Hussars) Yeomanry Cavalry (formed in 1834 from the independent troops of Yeomanry then existing in the county & having as its first Colonel the then Marquis of Worcester, an old Peninsular staff officer).-Hon. Col. The Marquess of Worcester.

Fairs And Markets

Berkeley, May 14, second Mon. in December, for cattle & pigs; markets, first Wed. in each month, excepting May & December.

Blakeney, May 12 & November 12, for cattle & sheep.

Chalford, Mon. after August 12, for pleasure.

Cheltenham, second thurs. in April, August 5, second Thur. in September & third Thur. in December, for cattle & cheese & first & second Thur. after Michaelmas day for hiring servants; market day, Thur. & a cattle market every alternate Thur.

Chipping Campden, cattle sale last Wed. in every month; market day, Wed.

Chipping Sodbury, the Fri. preceding Lady day & Michaelmas day for hiring servants; market day, first and third Tues. for cattle, sheep, pigs & cheese.

Cirencester, Mon. before & Mon. following Old Michaelmas day, for hiring servants, & one in November called Holland fair; market day, Mon.; market for live stock the first & third Mon. in every month.

Coleford, June 20 & last Fri. in August for wool, cattle & cheese; market day, Fri. & a cattle market third Tues. in every month.

Little Dean, Whit Mon. & November 26, for cattle, sheep & pigs.

Dursley, May 6 & December 4, for cattle & horses; market day, Thur. & a monthly cattle market the second Tues. in every month.

Fairford, May 14, & November 12, & second Tues. in each month for cattle.

Gloucester, the first Sat. in April & July, last Sat. in November & (Barton fair) September 28; market days, Mon. & Sat.; stock markets, first Sat. in April & July, third Mon. in each month for cheese.

Hawkesbury, last Fri. in August, for cattle & sheep.

Iron Acton, April 25 & September 13, for cattle, horses sheep & pigs; when these dates fall on a Sat. the fairs are held on the following Mon.

Lechlade, monthly market, last Tues. in each month, for sheep & cattle & an annual fair September 9.

Lydney, May 4 & November 8, & a general wool &; stock fair June 25; cattle market first Tues. in every month.

Marshfield, May 24 & October 24, for horses, sheep, cattle & cheese; market day, Tues.

Moreton-in-Marsh, second Tues. in every month, for cattle; market day, Tues. & a corn market held weekly.

Nailsworth, market day, Sat. & cattle & sheep market last Tues. in every month.

Newent, Fri. after September 19, for onions; stock market first Tues. in each month.

Newnham, June 11 & October 18, for cattle.

Northleach, Wed. before & Wed. after October 11, for hiring servants; market day, Wed.

Stonehouse, May 1 & October 11, for cattle & pleasure.

Stroud, market day, Fri. & a monthly market the third Tues, in every month.

Tetbury, Ash Wed. & third Wed. in July, for cattle & sheep & Wed. before or after November 10, for cattle; Wed. before & after April 5, Wed. before & after October 11, for hiring servants; market day, Wed. & a cattle market on the second Wed. in each month.

Tewkesbury, second & fourth Wed. in every month except October, for cattle, & a pleasure fair October 10. Wed. before & Wed. after October 10, for hiring servants; market day, Wed.

Tockington (Olveston), May 9 & December 6 for cattle.

Uley, feast, beginning with the first Sun. in September, September 1st being St. Giles’ day.

Wickwar, market day, Mon.

Winchcomb, last sat. in March & July 28, for horses; Sat before & Sat. after Old Michaelmas day, for hiring servants market day, Sat.

Winterbourne, June 29 & October 18, for cattle.

Wotton-under-Edge, September 25, for cattle & cheese.

Gloucestershire County Council

Under the above Act Gloucestershire, except certain boroughs, for which see below (a), after the 1st April, 1889, became, for the purposes of the Act, an administrative county (sec. 46), governed by a County Council, consisting of chairman, aldermen and councillors, elected in manner prescribed by the Act (sec. 2).

The chairman, by virtue of his office, is a justice of the peace for the county, without qualification (sec. 46).

The police for the county is under the control of a standing joint committee of the Quarter Sessions and the County Council, appointed as therein mentioned (sec. 9).

The coroners for the county are elected by the County Council, and the clerk of the peace also appointed by such joint committee, and may be removed by them (sec. 83-2).

The clerk of the peace of the county is also the clerk of the County Council (sec. 83-1).

The administrative business of the entire County (which, if this Act had not been passed, would have been transacted by the justices) is now transacted by the County Council.

(a) Each of the following largo boroughs, for the purpose of this Act, became an administrative county in itself, called a County Borough (sec. 30), of which the municipal corporation has the power of a County Council (sec. 31)-Bristol, Gloucester.

The following table shows the acreage under each kind of crop, and the number of horses, cattle, sheep and pigs in the County of Gloucester, as taken from the Agricultural Returns, 1896:

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NAME, AND ANCIENT HISTORY

The county derives its name from its principal city Gloucester, and previous to the arrival of the Romans, the inhabitants were called Dobuni, and the place, Caer Gloew. Camden thinks they were so named from the British word Dwfn, because for the most part they occupied places that lay low, and sunk under hills. Of these Dobuni, or as Dio calls them, Boduni, we have very little account in ancient history, except what Dio relates of them, viz. that A. Plautius, sent by Claudius into Britain, received the submission of the greatest part of the people, who had before been subject to the Catuellani, who occupied the neighbouring country.

When the Saxons became masters of Britain, the Dobuni were lost, and part of this people, with their neighbours, had the name of Wicei given them, and their territory formed a part of the kingdom of Mercia, and was called by the Saxons Gleaucestershire.

ROMAN ROADS

The Ikenild Street, the Erming Street, the Fosse Way, and the Via Julia, are the principal Roman roads passing through this county. The Ikenild, after crossing Oxford, enters Gloucestershire at East Leach, and joins the Fosse about a mile north-east of Cirencester. The Erming Street leads from Caerleon in Monmouthshire, and passing through Gloucestershire and Cirencester, pursues its course to Cricklade, and from thence to Southampton. The Fosse Way enters the county from Warwickshire, at Leamington, passes through Morton, Henmarsh, and Stow, by Bourton-on-the-Water, and Northleach, and crossing the river Coln at Fosse Bridge, leads directly to Cirencester. The Via Julia led from Bath, across the Severn, into Monmouthshire, and is to be traced by Weston-lane to the present horse-road to North Stoke. Then, ascending the hill, it passes under the British post, or North Stoke Brow, and enters the village of North Stoke. It soon after reaches Bitton, and from thence continues with the present turnpike-road as far as St. George’s Church. From thence, after passing Redland-court, it ascends Durdham Downs, and crosses the turnpike from Shirehampton at the very spot where it is joined by the road from the Hot Wells. It at length enters “the great station of Sea Miles, or Abone. From Abone, paved remains of the road still exist, where it passes a farm-house of Lord de Clifford’s; it then runs through some enclosures, enters the Shirehampton road near the end of Lord de Clifford’s grounds, and continuing between King’s Weston Inn and the mansion-house, descends between that and the stables, and passes straight by Madan farm, till it joins the banks of the Severn. Here was a ford into Wales; and part of the road on the opposite side of the river to Caerwent existed, still paved, a few years ago.“

BOUNDARIES, SITUATION, AND EXTENT

Gloucestershire is bounded on the north-east by Worcestershire and Warwickshire; on the east by Oxfordshire; on the south-east by part of Berkshire and Wiltshire; on the south and south-west by Somersetshire and the Bristol Channel, and on the west and north-west by the counties of Monmouth and Hereford. The greatest length of the county, in a north-east direction, from Bristol to the extreme part of Clifford-chambers, near Stratford-upon-Avon, is about fifty-four miles in a straight line; and by the nearest turnpike-road, nearly seventy. In the widest part, from Down Ampney on the east to Preston, in the Forest district, on the west at right angles with the former line, it is more than thirty-three miles.

CLIMATE AND SOIL

The unsheltered state of the Cotswolds exposes them to the full effects of bleak winds. In the dens and small rallies, a milder air is felt; though the cultivation of the higher lands has evidently produced a hardier race of men. In the Vale, the air is comparatively mild in very severe weather: the snow lies in considerable depth upon the hills here, when the lower grounds exhibit no appearance of the kind.

The climate of the Forest is usually considered as equally temperate with the Vale. The high and exposed parts are so much sheltered by thick woods, that neither northerly or easterly winds can affect them to any great degree. At Churcham, and in the Ryelands, the harvest is generally a fortnight earlier than in any part of the Vale, except perhaps the higher parts of the Vale of Avon. The soil and mode of cultivation is different in the different districts. Upon the Cotswold Hills, which extend in length from Broadway-hill to near Tetbury, thirty miles, and in breadth from Birdlip-hill to Benford, about seventy miles, including an area of nearly 200,000 acres, the greater part of the soil is what is here termed stone-brash, a loam intermixed with stones, on a subsoil of calcareous rubble or rock: the average depth of ploughing not much exceeding four inches: there is however, some quantity of stiff sour land interspersed on those hills; many farms and one or two parishes are chiefly of that nature. Near Fairford and Cirencester the soil is richer and deeper; particularly about the former a deep and sandy loam prevails, producing great crops in a favourable time, but apt to burn and parch up in dry seasons; at which times they likewise labour under much inconvenience for want of water, with which the greater part of these hills is abundantly supplied.

RIVERS

The principal are the Severn, the his, or Thames, Upper Avon, and Lower Avon. The Severn has its source in Plinlimmon-hill, Montgomeryshire, there called Haffren, as it flows towards Llanidloes. At Newtown it takes the name of Severn, and continues a northerly course to Landrino, at which place it turns to the east, and proceeds to Shrewsbury, which it flows nearly round, and then descends in a south-east direction to Colebrook Dale, and afterwards more southerly to Bridgenorth, Bewdley, Worcester, Tewkesbury and Gloucester. Here is the last bridge over it, and the width begins to increase considerably as it passes Framilode, Newnham and Thornbury, soon after which it takes the name of the Bristol Channel, and forms a grand estuary not less than ten miles wide, and still increasing until it is incorporated with the Atlantic Ocean. This course is nearly 300 miles, and in this great extent it is increased by the following tributary streams.

The Upper Avon, the highest in the county, falls into it at Tewkesbury.

The Chelt, which rises at Dowdeswell, and runs by Cheltenham, empties itself near Wainlode-hill.

The Leden, which rising some miles above Ledbury in Herefordshire, enters Gloucestershire at Preston, and falls into the western channel of the Severn below Overs-bridge.

The Upper Frome rises at Brimpsfield, in Rapsgate hundred, passes Stroud, where it is called the Stroud river, intersects the turnpike-road leading from Gloucester to Bristol, near the eight-mile stone, and joins the Severn at Framilode Passage.

Another stream called Avon, which rises at Avening, and is joined by a rivulet from Horsley at Nailsworth, falls into the Frome at Dudbridge, a mile below Stroud.

The Ewelm rises at Owlpen, passes Uley, and at Dursley is increased by the waters of Broadwell. At Cam, it gives the name of Cambridge to the hamlet a little below, and falls into the Severn at Frampton Pill.

The Middle Avon rises at two heads; one in Newington Bagpath, which passes through Lasborough-park to Boxwell; the other in Hawkesbury, which passes by Wickware, and both streams uniting below Kingwood, in the county of Wilts, intersect the Bristol-road at Stone, and having washed the walls of Berkeley Castle, join the Severn about a mile below the town.

The Lower Avon rises among the hills of North Wiltshire, and passing by Chippenham, enters this county near Bath, where it is first navigable. At Bitton, in its course to Bristol, it receives the Boyd and other small streams.

A branch of the Avon rises in the parish of Tetbury, where becoming a rivulet, it forms the boundary between the counties of Gloucester and Wilts for about three miles; it then crosses the Akerman-street, and below Malmsbury joins the other branch before mentioned.

At Bristol, the Lower Frome, rising in Dodington-park, and having received the Leden at Frampton Cotterel, forms part of the harbour, before it unites its waters with the Avon, which then flows on about five miles, and joins the Severn at Kingroad.

The tide, well known in the Severn for its boisterous and impetuous roar, comes up to Gloucester with great rapidity and violence, and turns the stream as high as Tewkesbury. The tide generally rises seven feet and a half at Gloucester. At Framilode Passage the saline impregnation of the water begins to be lost.

The produce of the Severn, is roach, dace, bleak, flounders, eels, elvers, chub, carp, trout and perch. These are properly salt-water fish, and the three last, though often found here, do not naturally belong to it, but come in with the tributary streams, or accidentally from ponds. Salmon, lampreys, lamperns, shad, soles, shrimps, cod, plaice, conger eel, porpoise and sturgeon, with some others belonging to the sea, are found within the limits of the county; though some of these are seldom caught higher than Berkeley Pill.

The Upper Avon rises on the borders of Leicestershire, enters Warwickshire at Colthrop; passes Rugby, Warwick, and Stratford, where it becomes navigable. A little below, it receives the Stour; and having been a boundary to the county of Gloucester two or three miles, pursues its slow course to Evesham and Pershore, and after having flowed about three miles in this county, unites its waters with the Severn at Tewkesbury.

The produce of this river is roach, dace, bleak, carp, bream and eels. It is remarkable, that the bream never leaves the quiet waters of the Avon for the more rapid stream of the Severn; nor does the salmon at the conflux of the two rivers, ever leave the Severn for the Avon.

The Isis, or Thames, is generally reputed to rise at a spring called Thames Head, in the parish of Cotes, in this county: near Cricklade in Wiltshire, it receives the Churn, (a small river rising at the Seven Springs in Cubberly, and passes by Cirencester) enters Gloucestershire again at Kempsford, continues the southern boundary of it to Lechlade, and there entering Oxfordshire, pursues its course to the metropolis.

The Winrush, though not navigable, is famous for its trout and cray-fish: this river rises at Upper Guiting, and passes through Bourton-on-the-Water, to Barrington, where it leaves this county, and flowing by Burford, falls into the Thames at Newbridge in the county of Oxford. In its course it receives several small streams, as the Coln, rising at Sevenhampton, the Lech, near Sherborne Lodge, and the Dickler, commencing at Springhill, a seat of Lord Coventry, in the county of Worcester. All the last mentioned streams abound with trout.

CANALS AND PONDS

The Canals which pass through Gloucestershire are distinguished by the names of the Thames and Severn, the Stroudwater, the Gloucester and Berkeley, and the Hereford and Gloucester.

The junction of the Thames and the Severn begins at Walbridge, near Stroud (at the place where the Stroud navigation ends) and proceeds to very near Lechlade, where it joins the river Thames, which, including the branch to Cirencester, is a distance of thirty miles, seven and a half chains. —The general breadth of the canal is forty-two feet at the top, and thirty feet at the bottom. In many places, where the ground is a dead level, it is considerably wider; the banks and towing paths being made entirely with the soil dug from the canal. The tunnel at Sapperton is nearly two miles and a half in length, being lined with masonry, and arched over at top, with an inverted arch at the bottom, except at some few places, where the solid rock being scooped out, rendered it unnecessary; the expence of this was about eight guineas per cubic yard. The boats are twelve feet wide, and eighty feet long; when loaded, they draw four feet water; and will carry seventy tons. —The union of the Thames and Severn by this canal, opens a communication between the Capital and the ports of Wales, Bristol, and the manufacturing towns in Gloucestershire, Worcestershire, Warwickshire, and with the internal parts of the kingdom by means of the Oxford and Coventry canals.

The Stroud Water Canal commences its course at “Badbrook, at the edge of the town of Stroud, passes on to Cain’s Cross by Ebley, and across the main road at Stone Cross, and by Stone House near Rycott Mill, and to Lockham Bridge; then across the river near Whitminster Mill, and goes into the Severn at Framilode; its length being something more than eight miles, and its fall one hundred and two feet.“

The Gloucester and Berkeley Canal joins the Severn at Shrapness Point, near the town of Berkeley; from whence, in a straight course, it passes Slimbridge, Frampton, Wheatenhurst (where it intersects the Stroud Canal), Hardwick, Quedgeley, and terminates on the south side of the city of Gloucester, making a line of eighteen miles and a quarter. This great work, formed upon a scale to admit vessels of 400 tons burthen, with their full cargoes, being brought up to Gloucester, although many years in projection, is not yet completed, owing to the immense sum required for that purpose. It is finished, however, and open into the Stroud Water Canal; and a great deal of the cutting is done along the whole line. The most expensive part of the work is the massive pile of building necessary at the entrance into the Severn at Shrapness Point: but even a considerable portion of this has been accomplished; and, from the progress of the whole, hopes are still entertained of this important undertaking being brought to a close.

The Hereford and Gloucester Canal commences from the Severn near Gloucester Bridge, and pursues its course over Alney Island, over a branch of the Severn to Vineyard Hill, where it crosses the river Leden, by an aqueduct, and running at the base of Lassington-hill, passes on to Rudford, and enters a tunnel at Oxenhall, 2170 yards long. It emerges at Boyce, and again crossing the Leden, it soon afterwards enters Herefordshire, and is carried on to Ledbury, (only one half the distance originally intended), without the smallest prospect of its being carried further; the work having been at a stand many years, That portion which is completed, is navigable for small canal-boats during a part of the year; but it is in some places nearly dry in the summer season.

On the stone-brash soils of the Cotswolds, ponds are made, either square or circular, and generally so situated, as to supply four fields with water. The depth, when fourteen yards over, is five feet; when twenty, eight.

In the Vale, little pains are taken in the formation of drinking pools. In a part of the field most convenient on account of its easy communication with a rill or running stream, an oblong square excavation is made, shallow at the entrance, and sloping down to the depth of six or seven feet. The size is determined by the quantity of water supposed to be wanted, and the probability of replenishing it. The entrance is guarded for seven or eight feet with stone pitching, and the sides are usually raised with the soil thrown out. As springs seldom occur in these clays, serious inconveniences are sometimes experienced from a long continuance of dry weather in the summer season; it is therefore an object of great attention to make the pools large at first, and to keep them well cleansed afterwards.

The salmon, which has ever been reckoned the pride of the Severn, in former times caught in great abundance, has of late years become comparatively a scarce fish. The price in high season, is often three shillings a pound, and seldom lower than eighteen pence.

The proprietors of the Berkeley Canal lately announced their intentions of finishing the work as far as the Stroud canal; by which a direct communication will be opened with the metropolis, and other districts. And this being once completed, there can be little doubt of the commencement of the extended line to the river Severn.

RENT, AND SIZE OF FARMS

Rents in Gloucestershire have been universally paid in money, and in point of value, vary with the nature of the soil, situation, convenience, and other circumstances. Near cities and other market-towns, detached parcels of pasture-ground have been rented from 5l. to 8l. per acre, and arable from 2l. to 3l. The average rents have been as follow: on the Cotswolds 15s. to 25s. per acre; in the Vale 20s. to 30s.; in the Forest district 20 to 25s. Farms differ much in extent and annual value; few have exceeded 1000l. per annum, or less than 50l.; but the average has been from 150 to 300l. A single farmer has occupied 3, 4, or 500 acres, but seldom under the same landlord, or even in the same parish.

ENCLOSURES

These have been found so advantageous, that in the late reign of George III. upwards of seventy acts were passed, for enclosing and laying divers commons, &c. into severalty. Hence on the Cotswolds many thousands of acres brought into cultivation, were before productive of little more than furze and a few scanty blades of grass. New enclosures are fenced round with a double range of post and rail; adjoining, but within the outside range, a ditch is made, and the soil thrown on the interior bank, on which are planted, quicksets of white-thorn, in a single or a double row.

Wall fencing is strong; but applicable only to the Cotswolds, and a few places in the Vale. Fences for farm-yards, where stone for brick and walls are scarce and expensive, are made with sawed oak-posts and elm rails; in other places stone walls are erected. The five-bar gate is in general use through the county. On the Cotswolds these are little better than strong hurdles made of split ash or willow, with little workmanship or skill.

WASTES

About 10,000 acres lately remained in a state of waste in this county, a small part of which was in sheep-downs on the Cotswolds. Some waste lands employed as warrens for rabbits, are not thought capable of being converted to tillage with any great prospect of advantage; but several thousand acres of the Forest of Dean, have been granted away by different sovereigns, and disafforested, and the mining business here has decreased considerably within a few years past.

COTTAGES

Though these are equally necessary with mansions and farm-houses, the popular complaint about their dilapidation has been but too well-founded, in the Vale as in other parts of the county. Landlords have generally deemed building cottages an unprofitable way of spending money; and overseers not being often aware of the power the law gives them, of erecting cottages on the wastes, it follows that more families are crowded together, than is either consistent with comfort, health, or decency. A remedy worse than the disease is often applied, by building a workhouse, into which every person wantimg relief is crammed, without distinction of age, sex, or cause of distress.

Mr. Rudge recommends an acre of land to form the garden to each cottage, with a pig to the occupier; the aspect south, with a spring conveniently situated. The cottages to be let under prime cost. On the enclosure of Eastington, in the parish of Northleach, Lord Sherborne had 20 cottages erected, with a rood of land to each for a garden, at the yearly rent of thirty shillings.

CATTLE

Notwithstanding the introduction of several varieties, yet in some old dairies, the Gloucestershire cows are much valued. This breed differs little in general appearances from the Glamorganshire, except in colour. In the higher Vale, the long-horned cows are mostly esteemed; such as have been chiefly bred from the improved stock of Bakewell and Fowler.-On the Cotswolds the same breed has been encouraged by the principal owners. The Devonshire also has its admirers. Some of the Suffolk duns are to be found upon a few estates. —The principal breed of sheep, is the Cotswold, the pure breed of which, however, is become scarce, in consequence of the introduction of the New Leicester, and those of the South Downs.-Gloucestershire is not distinguished by any particular breed of horses, though the natives are strong and honey. —The true Gloucestershire breed of hogs grow to a great size; they are the tall long white kind. The Berkshire breed has been introduced with much success. The swine-market at Gloucester has been looked upon as the largest in the kingdom.

IMPLEMENTS

Waggons used in husbandry are chiefly with narrow wheels drawn by four or five horses, and carrying from two to three tons. They are either full bedded, or with three-quarter beds; the latter, though diminished in size, has the convenience of locking the fore wheels, and turning in almost as narrow a compass as a chaise. For carrying hay or straw, their length and width are increased by light “ladders” before and behind, and a similar contrivance of rathes the whole length of the sides; the latter are generally fixed.

There is nothing particular in the form of the carts, except the occasional addition of ladders and rathes. In the lower part of the Vale, these carts are called “dung pots,” and wains in the Forest districts, when drawn by oxen.

The dray is useful on pasture grounds, for carrying thorns, &c. and is so contrived, as to slide over the pasture lands, without injuring or making any material indenting in the turf. —The ploughs in this county are of various kinds; and drilling machines of different descriptions are used, but not so much in the Vale as in other parts.

The ell-rake, used in the Cotswolds, has some advantages over that of the common form. It carries from 18 to 26 teeth; full twenty inches long, sharpened at the points. This instrument is dragged by women and children after them, by a long handle with little difficulty, and takes a sweep of more than four feet. The thistle-drawer is a very useful instrument for the extirpation of the serratula arvensis. The cradle scythe is used in the Vale for cutting beans. Threshing-machines have hitherto been found in few places, on account of their expence, which is too great for middling farmers. The old wooden rollers were in common use till those of cast-iron were introduced. Rad way’s chaff-cutter with two knives, is a powerful machine. Three women are employed, one to keep it in motion, and two others to feed it. Working by turns at the different branches, they are able to cut chaff sufficient for eighty oxen a day.

TITHES

Within the last century, more than ninety acts of parliament have been passed for the enclosure of waste and common lands, by which a considerable part has been exonerated from tithes, besides demesne lands, glebe, and others which have been discharged by private agreement between the impropriator and the land-owner, or under the act for the redemption of the land-tax.

In this county instances of tithe taken in kind are not numerous, at least among the clergy; and compositions are moderate. The demand seldom exceeds 6 or 7s. per acre for the produce of arable land, or half a crown in the pound, on the rack-rent of pasture and meadow. Where, however, the tithes are taken in kind, a different conduct often prevails.

LEASES AND TENURES

The greater part of the property in this county is freehold; some is copyhold, and about a fortieth part of the whole is held under corporations, ecclesiastical or temporal. Estates under the see of Gloucester are leased out upon lives, and the usual method has been, to renew on the falling of a life at a year and a half improved annual value of the estate. Three lives in possession, and three in reversion, are upon copyholds. Under the Dean and Chapter, estates are held by leases of twenty-one years, renewable every seven, on a fine of one year and a half improved value. Under proprietors not corporate, the renewal of a single life is usually made at two years' annual value.

From the inconveniency attending some of the Michaelmas takings, and other ancient usages, it is still to be wished that a general rule could be adopted for the commencement and end of tenures, which would be highly advantageous both to landlords and tenants.

It is the practice of the county to let on leases, varied according to the will of the landlord. Since long leases of twenty-one years have been out of vogue, a three years’ taking has not been uncommon; seven years most frequent, and fourteen most rare in the Vale at least, except under peculiar circumstances. In fact, the terms of leases are adapted to the agricultural arrangements of the respective parishes in which they are granted. The covenants are generally the same as in other counties.

On a general view of the county, there are few acres that might not be made productive of corn, by draining and cultivation. The Forest of Dean alone, would supply more than 23,000 acres, which would add to the common stock 230,150 bushels of wheat, or other species of food equal to it. The use of this Forest to the Navy, is supposed to have operated against its enclosure.

MINERALS

Iron ore in abundance is found in the Forest of Dean, but only a small quantity is raised. Coke made from the Forest coal answers the purpose for cast-iron, and that which is rolled into plates, for tinning. Coal abounds almost in every part of the Forest and its neighbourhood, and probably within a small distance of Gloucester. At present the nearest pits to that city, are at Newent and Pauntley, nine miles distant from it. In all the coal raised from these pits, there is much sulphur, which in burning, emits unpleasant if not unwholesome vapours, and from its known property of dissolving iron, makes a rapid waste in the bars of the grates where it is burnt. The coal brought from Shropshire or Staffordshire, is much superior to any produced in the county of Gloucester, and is perfectly discharged from noxious or disagreeable vapours. The Forest of Dean, Long hope, and adjoining places, furnish a good limestone of the compact kind, for building and agriculture. Blue claystone, found at different depths in beds in layers, is also useful for building, and convertible into lime for manure, &c. Freestone is to be had from the Cotswold quarries, and paving-stones are dug up from those of Frampton-Cotterel, Winterbourn, Iron Acton, &c. Stone tiles are raised on the Cotswolds, at Miserdine, Bisley, Beverstone, &c. Aust Cliff, in the parish of Henbury, has a fine bed of alabaster, or gypsum, used in stuccoing.

The furnaces employed in the “reduction of the ore, are between twenty and thirty feet high; they are built of a gritty stone found in the Forest, capable of enduring a fire intense enough to melt and break down almost any other material. The shape is that of an inverted cone, 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 argillaceous stones, sometimes quartz and flints. These materials are thrown in alternately, and the whole covered with 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 an opening, occasionally closed with a plug, through which the metal is let upon a bed of sand, to the length of thirty feet, every twenty-four hours. A large groove is formed in the sand, 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 the finery and chafery. On the hearth of the finery is a large charcoal fire, excited by bellows somewhat smaller than those used at the furnaces. The ends of two or three pigs or sows are put into the finery together, where softening gradually, the metal is stirred and worked till it runs into one mass, or lump, which is called half bloom. This is taken out (while glowing with heat), it is first submitted to the strokes of sledges, and afterwards of a large weighty hammer, moved by a water-wheel. By these operations the iron is beaten into a thick, short, square form; it is then again put into the finery, and worked to the shape of a bar, with a square nob at each end. In the chafery it is reduced into bars of the required shape and size.”

ROADS

The badness of the roads, was for many years a great check to the farmer’s industry in this county.

The grit or sandstone in the Cotswolds is so soft, that the frost alone will break it; and is at other times soon reduced to powder by the pressure of carriages. Good materials are also scarce in the greater part of the Vale; but the stone that will bear the most heavy pressure, is a hard compact limestone got from St. Vincent’s rocks, at Clifton, and cannot be landed at Gloucester under 5s. a ton.

The roads about Berkeley, are mended with a species of iron-stone, but not equal to the former in durability. In the vicinity of Frampton-upon-Severn, the roads are much improved, by giving them a good surface coat of gravel on the fresh laid materials. Scraping is much used on the turnpike roads. In the Forest district, the roads are much improved in many places where a few years since they were all but impassable. Three new roads were made through the Forest by virtue of an act of the 36th of George III.

WEIGHTS AND MEASURES

In weights, the difference is trifling; but the inequality of measures is a kind of anomaly which produces great inconvenience. In Gloucester market the bushel varies from nine to ten gallons.

The bushel of the Forest district, and on the borders of Herefordshire, contains nearly ten gallons; on the Cotswolds about nine; in the Vale, nine and a half; in the lower Vale and at Cirencester, nine and a quart, of all kinds of grain, though malt is said to be universally measured to nine. In a large portion of the county, each farmer has his own measure, and his price fixed accordingly.

Below Gloucester, especially in the neighbourhood of Bristol, potatoes, green peas, and some other articles, are sold by the double peck; that is to say, a peck contains two common pecks, “struck,” or measured level with the top. But at Gloucester, and higher up the Vale, by a peck is to be understood a common peck heaped up as long as the measure will hold.

Wool is weighed by the stone of 12 ½lb. or todd of 28 ½lb. generally through the county. Eighteen ounces of butter, with many dairy-women, still make a pound, though by many others reduced to sixteen. In the higher extremity of the Vale, as at Welford, butter is sold by the quart, which is supposed to contain three pounds.

LEARNED MEN AND LITERATURE

Richard Coriensis, or Richard of Cirencester, was born in this place, in 1335: he wrote the history of Roman Britain. Robert of Gloucester, one of the oldest of our English poets, lived in the time of Henry III. he wrote a Chronicle of Britain in verse. Sir Matthew Hale, a pious and learned judge, was born at Aldersley in 1600, and died in 1675. Dr. Edward Jenner, who discovered the vaccine inoculation, was born at Berkeley; and Pope’s celebrated Man of Ross, whose real name was John Kyrle, was born in Dymock parish, and died at Ross in Herefordshire, in 1724. John Taylor, the Water-Poet, who died in 1654, was born at Gloucester; as was also the eccentric preacher, the late Rev. George Whitfield, in the year 1714. The late Richard Graves, an ingenious divine and miscellaneous writer, author of the Spiritual Quixote, the Invalid, &c. was born at Micleton, in 1715, and died in 1804.

Here Mr. Raikes, the founder of the Sunday Schools, deserves particular notice. Mr. Robert Raikes was of a very respectable family, and was born at Gloucester in the year 1735. His father was of the same business as himself, a printer, and conducted for many years, with much approbation, the Gloucester Journal. The education Mr. Raikes received was liberal, and calculated for his future designation in life. At a proper season he was initiated into his father’s business, which he has since conducted with punctuality, diligence, and care. When the declining state of printing, as now conducted in the metropolis, is considered, the productions of Mr. Raikes’s press will do him no discredit. Several pieces, among which may be pointed out the works of the Dean of Gloucester, are such as will suffer nothing by any comparison with the productions of modern typography.

The incidents of Mr. Raikes’s life are very few, and those not enough distinguished from the rest of the world, to admit of a particular detail. It is sufficient to say, that in his business he has been prosperous, and that his attention has not been so wholly confined to it, but that he has found time to turn his thoughts to subjects connected with the great interests of mankind and the welfare of society. By his means some consolation has been afforded to sorrow and imprudence; some knowledge, and consequently happiness, to youth and inexperience. The first object which demanded his notice was the miserable state of the County Bridewell within the city of Gloucester, which being part of the county gaol, the persons committed by the magistrate out of sessions, for petty offences, associated through necessity with felons of the worst description, with little or no means of subsistence from labour; with little, if any allowance from the county; without either meat, drink, or clothing; dependent chiefly on the precarious charity of such as visited the prison, whether brought thither by business, curiosity, or compassion. To relieve these miserable and forlorn wretches, and to render their situation supportable at least, Mr. Raikes employed both his pen, his influence, and his property, to procure them the necessaries of life; and finding that ignorance was generally the principal cause of those enormities which brought them to become objects of his notice, he determined if possible, to procure them some moral and religious instruction. In this he succeeded, by means of bounties and encouragement given to such of the prisoners who were able to read; and these, by being directed to proper books, improved both themselves and their fellow-prisonere, and afforded great encouragement to persevere in the benevolent design. He then procured for them a supply of work, to preclude every excuse and temptation to idleness.

Successful in this effort, he formed a more extensive plan of usefulness to society, which promises to transmit his name to posterity with those honours which are due to the great benefactors of mankind. This was the institution of Sunday Schools, a plan which has been attended with the happiest effects. The thought was suggested by accident. “Some business,” says Mr. Raikes, “leading me one morning into the suburbs of the city, where the lowest of the people (who are principally employed in the pin manufactory) chiefly reside, I was struck with concern on seeing a groupe of children, wretchedly ragged, at play in the street. An enquiry of a neighbour produced an account of the miserable state and deplorable profligacy of these infants, more especially on a Sunday, when left to their own direction.” This information suggested an idea, “that it would be at least a harmless attempt, if it should be productive of no good, should some little plan be formed to check this deplorable profanation of the Sabbath.” An agreement was soon after made with proper persons, to receive as many children on Sundays as should be sent, who were to be instructed in reading and in the church catechism, at a certain rate. The clergyman who was curate of the parish at the same time, undertook to superintend the Schools, and examine the progress made.

This happened about the year 1781, and the good consequences have evidently appeared in the reformation and orderly behaviour of those who before were in every respect the opposite of decency or regularity.

The following newspapers are printed in this county: Gloucester Journal, Gloucester Herald, Cheltenham Chronicle, &c.

AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES

So much benefit has been derived from the Agricultural Society at Bath, near the borders of Gloucestershire, and so many gentlemen of the county have been members of it, that it has almost been considered as a Gloucestershire Society.

In the course of the year 1821, the measures adopted for the establishment of a new Agricultural Society, by which the Forest of Dean is to be materially benefited, were agreed upon, and put into a train for speedy execution.

THE GLOUCESTERSHIRE SOCIETY

was instituted in London, in 1767, for the purpose of apprenticing the children of the deserving poor of the county, who might otherwise be destitute of the means of acquiring a comfortable subsistence through life.

The object of this benevolent institution, was to call forth the liberal contributions of the natives of the county of Gloucester, towards an annual subscription of one guinea from each governor, and of twelve shillings from each member of the society. A subscription of ten or twenty guineas at once, constitutes a governor for life. The premiums, which were originally 10l. have been raised to 15l. —A collection is also made by the stewards at each anniversary.

CIVIL AND ECCLESIASTICAL DIVISIONS

The principal of the former are four; called the Kniftsgate, the Seven Hundreds, the Forest, and the Berkeley divisions; twenty-eight hundreds included in the above, one city, twenty-eight market-towns, and 320 parishes. The Ecclesiastical division is that of parishes just named. Gloucestershire, with the exception of the Chapelries of Icomb and Cow-honyborn, comprehends one archdeaconry and ten deaneries, lies in the province of Canterbury, and is a diocese of itself.