ABSON and WICK are two villages, forming a parish in Chipping Sodbury union, containing by the census of 1861, 833, and in 1871, 838 inhabitants, and 2315 acres, in the deanery of Hawkesbury, archdeaconry of Bristol, diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, hundred of Pucklechurch, West Gloucestershire; 8 miles south-east from Mangotsfield Station on the Bristol and Birmingham Railway, 7 east from Bristol, 7 north-west from Bath, 7 south-west from Chipping Sodbury, and 118 from London; on the old road from Bath to Bristol, and on the river Boyd. The living is a chapelty, with that of Westerleigh annexed to the vicarage of Pucklechurch, in the incumbency of the Rev. Thomas Boucher Coney, M.A., honorary canon of Bristol and rural dean, and in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Wells; joint annual value of £750. The church, dedicated to St. James, is an ancient edifice in the Early English style, consisting of nave, chancel, and porch, with tower containing a peal of six bells. There is a National School for children of both sexes, with residence for the master. The Independents and Wesleyans have places of worship here. Lead, tin, and coal, have been dug in the parish. Mr. James Tolman is lord of the manor.

WICK is a village about 1 and a half miles south, situate in the midst of a beautiful romantic valley, through which the river Boyd passes, and for three-quarters of a mile runs between rocks, which rise in some places above 200 feet from the level. At the northern extremity of these hills are the remains of a Roman camp, which extend over about 12 acres, and contains several cottages; it is oblong, and was defended on three sides by a double vallum and broad ditch. Some Druidical stones, about 5 feet high, exist in a field near Tracey Park. The rocks produce the sparry substance known as the "Bristol diamonds." A new church, dedicated to St. Bartholmew, capable of seating 400 persons, was consecrated in April, 1850.

BRIDGEYATE, or BRIDGATE, and HOLYBROOK, are hamlets of the above parish, the former being a polling-place for the Western Division of Gloucestershire. The rateable value of this parish if £4205.

 

ABSON

SOMMERVILLE Mrs. Ann, Bridgeyate house

Trades and Professions

ANSTEE Edward, farmer

BRYANT Henry, shopkeeper

HARRINGTON Thomas, gardener and parish clerk

JEFFERIS Leonard and Thomas, builders, timber merchants, and carriage builders, Bridgeyate

MARSHALL Henry, farmer

PERRY John, limeburner and farmer

PERRY Mark, farmer

PERRY Matthew, farmer, Highfield

PERRY Richard, farmer

PERRY William, farmer

POW William, Jun., "White Hart" inn, Bridgeyate

WATTS Worthy, farmer, Bridgeyate

WILLSHIRE, Charles, farmer

YOUNG Nathaniel, "Griffin" hotel (good stabling), Bridgeyate

 

WICK

Gentry

ASHLEY Jacob, Esq., The Lawn

CHITT Miss Sarah

Trades and Professions

AMOS Samuel, tailor

AMER Mrs. Sarah, farmer and limeburner, Bury house

AMOS Henry, farmer, Lime Brook farm

AMOS Samuel, tailor

ASHLEY Jacob, surgeon, The Lawn

BATTERBURY J. H., "Crown"

BEDFORD William, farmer and cattle dealer, Bridgeyate

BOUGHTON Henry, shopkeeper, Bridgeyate

BRYAN George, carpenter and wheelwright

BRYANT Henry, shopkeeper

DARE Frederick, miller and farmer

DAVIS John, farmer

DOWNS Thomas Beames, miller

ENGLAND Job, farmer

FUSSELL James, farmer

GUNNING John, farmer, Holybrook

GUNNING William, mason

HEMING William, wheelwright, carpenter and builder

JONES F. F., commission agent, Wick court

LYLE Samuel, mason and shopkeeper

LYLE Miss, dressmaker

MATTHEWS Henry, farmer, Cold Harbor farm

MILLS Joseph, miller, Wick New mills

MIZEN Reuben, farmer

NELMS Guy, farmer

NOWELL Charles, shopkeeper and sub-postmaster

PACKER James, blacksmith

PRITCHARD Charles, farmer

MATTHEWS Robert, farmer, Earthcott farm

RUGMAN Frederick, farmer

SAVERY John, agricultural implement manufacturer

SMITH Robert Hobbs, farmer

STINCHCOMBE William, carpenter and wheelwright

YOUNG Thomas and Jacob, farmers, Earthcott green

 

RIDGEWAY

CHARLWOOD Major John, J. P., The Elms

Trades and Professions

ANGEL George, farmer and beer retailer

ANN Mrs. Charlotte, dressmaker

BIDDLE Edward, timber merchant and sub-postmaster

CUMMINS Thomas, butcher

SAVERY Jacob, implement maker and artificial manure dealer

SAXTON George, baker and grocer

SMITH George, shopkeeper

 

Post Office - Edwd. Biddle, sub-postmaster. Mails arrive at 7.20 a.m. and 8.20 p.m.; dispatched at 9 a.m. and 4.45 p.m., and 6 p.m. Thornbury is the nearest money order office.

Conveyances - Putley's omnibus from Thornbury to Bristol passes through daily (Sundays excepted); Morgan's omnibus from Thornbury to Patchway Station passes through twice daily (Sundays included).

Bristol - Davis passes through from Thornbury daily.

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