ABINGHALL or ABENHALL, is a parish, on the road from Newnham to Mitcheldean, two-and-a-half miles south-west from Longhope station on the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester section of the Great Western railway and five north-west from Newnham, in the Forest of Dean division of the county, St. Briavels hundred, union of Westbury-on-Severn, Newnham county court district and petty sessional division, rural deanery of South Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester and diocese of Bristol. The church of St. Michael and All Angels is an ancient building of stone in the Early English and Decorated styles, consisting of chancel, nave of two bays, south aisle, south porch and a tower at the west end of the south aisle containing 3 bells; the octagonal font was given by the miners' guild in 1450: in the chancel is a brass with four effigies to Richard Pyrke, of Mitcheldean, ob. 1609. Joan (Ayleway), his wife and two children: the east window and one on the north side of the nave are stained: the church was restored and a vestry added in 1874, at a cost of £400: there are sittings for 120 persons. The register dates from the year 1596. The living is a rectory, average tithe rent-charge £110, net yearly value £145, including 26 acres of glebe, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Worcester, and held since 1890 by the Rev. Ebenezer Cargill B. A., J. P. of Holbrook House, Wincanton, who is lord of the manor, and Maynard Willoughby Colchester-Wemyss esq., J. P. of Westbury Court, Westbury-on-Severn, are chief landowners. The soil is sabdy; subsoil, red sandstone. The chief crops are wheat, barley and roots. The area is 691 acres; rateable value, £1,433; the population in 1891 was 231.

Parish Clerk, Edwin Stiddler.

Letters received through Gloucester, via Mitcheldean R. S. O. arrive at 7 & 11.30 a.m. The nearest post, money order & telegraph office is at Mitcheldean.

School (mixed), for 50 children; average attendance, 31: & supported in part by the Barton family; Mrs. Ann Jenkins, mistress.

 

PRIVATE RESIDENTS:-

CARGILL Rev. Ebenezer, B. A., Rectory

HIGGINS Mrs., Ferny field

PROBYN John W., Abenhall lodge

ROBINSON John, Abenhall house

YEARSLEY Edwin Evans

 

COMMERCIAL:-

GARDINER Edward, grocer & baker

GRIFFITHS John, nail maker

GRIFFITHS Thomas, nail maker

HILL George, wheelwright

ROBINSON John, solicitor

ROSERVEIR ______., farmer, Church farm

SAVIDGE Charles, farmer, Shapridge

SIMMONDS Daniel, Lamb P. H.

VAUGHAN Sidney, farmer, Folly farm

WILLIAMS Thomas, blacksmith & ironmonger

WINTLE William, haulier

 

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