TAYNTON (variously spelt Tainton, Teynton, and Teinton), is a parish and village in Newent union, containing, by the census of 1861, 689, and in 1871, 635 inhabitants, and 2501 acres; in the northern division of the deanery of the Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester, diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, hundred of Botloe, West Gloucestershire; 8 miles south from Newent, 6 north-west from Gloucester, 8 north-east from Newnham, and 11 north-east from Lydney. The rectory, in the incumbency of the Rev. Charles Yonge Crawley, is valued at £444 per annum, with residence and several acres of glebe land, and is in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester. The church, dedicated to St. Lawrence, consists of nave and gallery, with porch at the north end, and contrary to the usual custom stands north and south; it was erected about the year 1650 by M. Thomas Pury, as a Presbyterian place of worship, he belonging to that denomination, but at the restoration it was consecrated and made over to the establishment, the school adjoins the church at the south end. The turret, which was of wood, was destroyed by lightening on the 9th June, 1875, and a new stone one has been erected containing one bell. The former church, which stood in another part of this parish, was destroyed by fire, as will be seen by the following curious document, copied from the Journals of the House of Lords, 23 Car., 1 A., 1647. "Die Lunaw, 17 die Januarii. Whereas it appears by information of the minister, churchwardens, and other inhabitants of the parish of Taynton, in the County of Gloucester, as also by an order and certificate, made at the General Quarter Sessions of the peace holden for the County of Gloucester, upon Tuesday next, after the Feast of the Epiphany, 22 Carol Regis, that the Parish Church and Chancel of Taynton aforesaid, with the ministers dwelling-house, and all outhouses thereunto belonging, were most barbarously, maliciously, and totally burned down to the ground, by one Captain Wiffin and his soldiers, enemies to the Parliament, within few days after raising the siege of Gloucester, whereby the said minister of God's word and the said inhabitants have no place of resort to partake of God's ordinances; and the said minister is deprived of house and harbour for himself, his wife, and children, the whole maintenance for a preaching minister there being with but about sixty pounds per annum; and whereas the former church was inconveniently built at the remotest end of the said parish, distant from the greatest part of the said parishoners, at least a mile or two; the Lords and Commons taking the premises into consideration, do hereby order and declare, that according to the desire and petition of the said parishoners of Taynton aforesaid, it shall and may be lawful for them, or any of them, to build and erect, or cause to be built and erected, a church with the appurtenances, and a dwelling-house for the minister and his family, and to place and build the said church upon parcel of glebe land lying near about the nighest of the said parish, bounded on the east and south sides with the lands of Thomas Pury, Esquire, and upon the north side with the lands of Alexander Westerdaile, gentleman, and on the west side with the highway leading to the City of Gloucester, and to set out and enclose such a competent proportion of the said parcel of glebe land for a burial place and churchyard, as to the said minister and churchwardens of the said parish of Taynton, for the time being, shall seem most requisite and convenient." There is a National School for children of both sexes. The poor have charitable bequests, producing about £24 per annum. This place produces superior cider and perry. The rateable value of this parish is £4024.

 

Clergy and Gentry

ATHERTON Charles Bernard, Esq., Taynton house

CADLE Samuel, Esq., Longcroft cottage

CRAWLEY Rev. Charles Yonge, rector, The Rectory

HOWARD Edward C., Esq., The Ryelands

 

Trades and Professions

BILLINGHAM Job, carrier and shopkeeper

BROWN Thomas, farmer, New house

FISHPOOL Robert, carpenter and wheelwright

FORD Mrs. Ann, farmer, Green farm

FORD Daniel John, farmer, Taynton court

FLUCK Joseph, builder, grocer, and carrier

HAIL John, beer retailer, Glasshouse green

HAWKINS Henry, painter

HOOKE Samuel, farmer and grocer

JENNINGS Edward, shoemaker

JONES Edward, farmer, Five Elms farm

LOVERIDGE Robert, farmer, Glasshouse hill

MORRIS William, cooper

PETERS William, farmer, Stone House farm, Kent's green

PHILLIPS Edwin, farmer, and brick and tile maker, Clcroft

PONTING Mrs. Sarah, farmer, Lines place

PONTING Thomas, farmer, Kent's Green house

POYNER John, farmer, Moorends green

PROSSER Charles, farmer, Moorfields

SMITH Mrs. Ann, farmer, Haynes

SMITH James, farmer, Grove

SMITH James, parish clerk, Brick house

SMITH James, Jun., blacksmith

SMITH William, farmer, assistant overseer and collector of poor rates, Brick house

TEAGUE Mrs. Rose, farmer, Tuns and Byfords

THOMSON Frederick, farmer, Hownhall farm

WINTLE Thomas, farmer, Drew's farm

Letters through Gloucester - Wall Letter Box, Kent's Green - Cleared at 3 p.m.

Wall Letter Box, Hownhall - Cleared at 4 p.m. Newent is the nearest money order and telegraph office.

Assistant Overseer and Collector of Poor Rates - William Smith.

National School - Miss Emily Clutterbuck, mistress.

Carriers - Gloucester - Job Billingham, Mon, Wed, and Sat; Joseph Fluck, Sat.

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