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'Topographical Dictionary of England – 1831.

In four volumes
Bensley Printer, Andover. 

Westbury upon Severn. Read text below first!

The compilers of the Rowe n Hall Family History, Brian Rowe (1) and C. Raeleen J. Rowe, nee Hall (2) would like to bring to you, the reader’s attention the following important copyright � information.
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PREFACE.

In TOWNSHIPS, CHAPELRIES, HAMLETS, and TYTHINGS, forming civil divisions of parishes, the same arrangement of subjects has been observed as in the parishes themselves: these, though enumerated under the head of the parishes to which they belong, and with which their population is collectively returned, are also separately inserted in the work, and their respective population given under their several heads. But, with regard to the great number of villages and hamlets which are not recognized divisions, it has, from their general want of importance, been thought unnecessary to notice them, with the exception of such as may possess some historical interest, or geological features, in which case they are described under the heads of their respective parishes.

It has been found difficult to determine precisely by what title to designate those places which, though formerly only chapelries, have, by virtue of their endowment by the Governors of Queen Anne’s bounty, for the augmentation of the maintenance of the clergy, become perpetual curacies, and in a great measure independent of the incumbents of the parishes to which they belonged. Though, from some partial dependence on the mother church, arising either from the right of appointing the curate, or from a reservation either of the whole, or a portion, of the tithes, and in some instances of the surplice fees, they may be still considered chapelries ; yet for all civil purposes they possess full parochial rights, and are consequently, in many instances, described as parishes.

It has also, in many instances, been difficult to obtain correct information respecting the patronage of the livings, many of the incumbents having been appointed by the purchaser of a next presentation only ; and, in some cases, where the living has been held for a long term, the advowson has passed into other hands: the information obtained on the spot has therefore, frequently differed from that communicated by the registrars of the several dioceses, who have kindly afforded considerable assistance on all ecclesiastical affairs.

The augmentations have been taken from a work recently published by Mr. Hodgson, Secretary to the Governors of the bounty of Queen Anne, but they do not afford any just criterion of the present value of the living, the money having been, in many instances, vested in land and other property, and in some, either the whole, or a considerable portion, having been expended

Page xv. (10 of 490, disk 1

Page xix PREFACE.

on the repair of the glebe house. The amount of the revenues of tile several monastic establishments, at the time of their dissolution, has been adopted from the valuation published by Mr. Speed, from a catalogue of religious houses drawn up by Mr. Burton.

Respecting scholastic foundations and endowments, and other charitable institutions, great facility has been afforded by the reports of Commissioners appointed by act of parliament to enquire concerning charities; yet, with regard to such as were not included in those already published, much difficulty was experienced, as it became necessary depend almost exclusively upon the information obtained from the parties by whom they were immediately superintended.

The distances of the several places have been measured by a chartometer on the most recent maps;- the market towns from the county town and from London, and the parishes and townships from the nearest market or post town: so that by adding, or deducting, the distance of any parish or township from the market town, according to its bearing, which may be seen by a reference to the county map, its distance from London may be easily ascertained. The admeasurement has generally been made from the respective churches: but in in townships or other places having no church, it has been taken from the centre of the village.

In describing the various specimens of ecclesiastical architecture, it has been thought advisable to lay aside the terms of designation which, till within a recent period, have been almost universally adopted. The term "Saxon" has hitherto been improperly applied to a numerous class of buildings, of which scarcely any specimens existed in this county till long after the Saxon period; and the term "Gothic," whatever may have been its origin, has neither reference to date, nor to distinct character. Of truly Saxon architecture there are few, if any, well-authenticated examples; and consequently, with reference to buildings supposed to be of this class, a decided opinion has not be expressed. For the sake of distinctness and classification, these interesting structures have been respectively to the Norman, the early English, the decorated English, and the later English, styles of architecture. The first of these three styles is appropriately designated Norman, as having been generally adopted by these people; and the three last

Page xix (11 of 490

PREFACE.

mark distinctly the successive periods of that style which is called English, not only as having been brought to its highest state of perfection in this country, but as displaying characteristics which distinguish it from that of any other. The Norman style, though some few specimens previously existed, was more extensively brought into practice subsequently to the Conquest, and continued till the end of the reign of Henry II.; the most ancient part of Winchester cathedral is a fine specimen. The early English style, which originated in the former, and in its earliest period is scarcely to be distinguished from it, was introduced in the beginning of the reign of Richard I.; and prevailed till the end of that of Edward I.; in its progress it assumed a character peculiarly its own, by which it is easily distinguished from the later Norman: the purest specimen is Salisbury cathedral. The decorated English style was introduced at the beginning of the reign of Edward II., and continued till the end of that of Edward III.; the chapter-house at York is, perhaps, the richest and the purest specimen. The later English style was introduced in the reign of Richard II., attained its highest degree of perfection in that of Henry VII., and continued in considerable purity till the end of the reign of Henry VIII., since which period there is scarcely any building entirely of that character ; the finest specimen is Henry the Seventh’s chapel at Westminster.

The Maps accompanying the work are engraved on steel plates, from drawings made from the best authorities, and corrected up to the present time. The Seals of the several cities, boroughs, corporate towns, bishopricks, universities, colleges, &c., are engraved from drawings made from impressions in wax, furnished by the respective corporate bodies; and, notwithstanding they have generally been either enlarged or reduced to one scale, for the sake of uniformity, great care has been taken to preserve, in every instance, an exact fac-simile of the original. The mutilated state of many of the seals rendered it almost impossible to decypher the legends ; but this difficulty has been kindly removed by Sir George Nayler, and other gentlemen at the Heralds’ College, who have also furnished the Arms of several of the towns.

The Proprietors cannot indulge the hope that, in a work of such magnitude, compiled from such a variety of sources, and containing notices so numerous and diversified, some errors have not occurred : indeed, the information collected upon the spot, even from the most intelligent persons, has

Page xxi [page 13 of 490].

PREFACE.

frequently been so contradictory, as to require much labour and perseverance to reconcile and verify it. They have, however regardless of expense used the most indefatigable exertions to attain correctness, and to render the work as complete as possible ; and they, therefore, trust that the inaccuracies will receive the indulgence of the Subscribers, who both in number and respectability are greater than have hitherto support of any similar undertaking.

In conclusion, they beg respectfully to inform those gentlemen who have also subscribed for the Dictionaries of the remaining portion of the United Kingdom, that the Survey of Wales is nearly completed, and the survey of Scotland and Ireland are also in progress; and that they will thankfully acknowledge the receipt of any original information respecting any town or district in those countries.

[Preface end].
Please read the copyright notice above

County of Gloucester. 1831

Westbury upon Severn a parish in the hundred of WESTBURY, county of GLOUCESTER, 24 miles (N-E- by E.) from Newnham, containing, with the township of Rodley, which is locally in the duchy of Lancaster, 1889 inhabitants. The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry of Hereford, and diocese of Gloucester, rated in the king’s books at 20 pounds 2 shillings 8 and a half pence and in the patronage of the Custos of the College of Vicars-Choral in the Cathedral Church of Hereford. The church is dedicated to St. Peter and St. Paul. There is a place of worship for Wesleyan Methodists.
The river Severn bounds the parish on the east and south.
The National school is partly supported by subscriptions, and partly with an annuity of 4 pounds 10 shillings, arising from two small bequests by John Young, in 1650, and Joseph Houlstead, in 1722. ['Topographical Dictionary of England - 1831. WES, pps. 428, 429. Archivedbooks disk 0100-6. pdf, p. 52. reader Brian Rowe (1)].