TIDENHAM is a village and parish in Chepstow union, containing, by the census of 1861, 1661, and in 1871, 1508 inhabitants, and 6217 acres; in the southern division of the deanery of the Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester, diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, hundred of Westbury, West Gloucestershire; 2 and a half miles north-east from Chepstow, and 14 south-west from Newnham. The Wye Valley Railway, now in formation between Chepstow and Monmouth, will pass through this parish and have a station here. The vicarage, in the incumbency of the Rev. Percy Burd, B.A., is valued at £359 per annum, with residence and 108 acres of glebe land, of which 100 acres are common woodland, and is in the patronage of D. Higford Burr, Esq. The church is an ancient edifice, dedicated to St. Peter, in the Middle Pointed style, consisting of nave, chancel, north aisles, and south porch, with tower containing a peal of six bells and a clock. There is a handsome stained glass window at the east end to the memory of Dr. Armstrong, Bishop of Grahamstown, and some time vicar of this parish; it consists of three lights, with illustrations from the life of Our Saviour. The font is a very ancient Norman one, with curious carvings upon it. The Wesleyans have a place of worship here. There are three National Schools for children of both sexes. The poor have charitable bequests producing about £22 per annum. The Duke of Beaufort is lord of the manor. The rateable value of this parish is £9813.

BEACHLEY is a hamlet of this parish, which was formed into a separate Ecclesiastical district by an Order in Council in 1850, containing, by the census of 1861, 188, and in 1871, 132 inhabitants, and 325 acres; 3 and a half miles south from Tidenham, picturesquely situated at the extreme point of a penisular only a furlong in width at the narrowest, and a quarter-of-a-mile at the widest part, formed by the rivers Severn and Wye, which here join and fall into the Bristol Channel. It was formerly of considerable importance, being the main passage across the Severn from North and South Wales to Bristol, and having twelve coaches running to it daily, but the traffic is now diverted by the South Wales Railway. There is excellent salmon fishing here. The vicarage, in the incumbency of the Rev. John George Hele Ash, is valued at £61 per annum, with residence, and is in the patronage of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol. The church dedicated to St. John, is a small cruciform edifice, consisting of nave, chancel, and north and south transepts, with turret and one bell. There is a National School for children of both sexes. There are the ruins of an old chapel or hermitage, situate on an island in the Severn, which is mentioned in an ancient document of the time of King John.

BISHTON and CHURCH END are hamlets one mile distant; STROAT and WIBDON, 2 miles distant.

TUTSHILL is a hamlet, 1 and a quarter mile from Tidenham, containing a chapel-of-ease, dedicated to St. Luke, and consisting of nave, chancel, south porch, and turret containing three bells. There are several stained glass windows. There is a National School for children of both sexes.

TIDENHAM CHASE is also a hamlet, in which there is a National School.

 

TIDENHAM

Clergy, Gentry and Private Residents

BURD Rev. Percy, B.A., vicar, The Vicarage

COWBURN Capt. Thomas B., Denhill hill

COWBURN The Misses, Bowspring

MACHEN Arthur, Esq., Pill house

MORGAN Thomas Henry, Esq., Tidenham house

POYNTZ Rev. Newdegate, M.A., Caerwood house

RYMER Mrs. Charlotte, Church cottage

WILLIAMS Mrs. Caroline, Ivy Rock cottage

WOOD Mrs. Alice, Ashbury

 

Trades and Professions

COLLIER John, fruit dealer, Sugar loaf

DOWARD Alfred, farmer, Day house

HUNT James, farmer, Wallop farm

JOYCE William, farmer, Hanley farm

LONG George Frederick, National schoolmaster

PRIOR John, farmer, Keynsham Elm farm

WHIMHURST Charles, day school and sub-postmaster, Post Office

Post Office - Charles Whimhurst, sub-postmaster. Letters through Chepstow delivered at 8 a.m.; dispatched at 6 p.m. Chepstow is the nearest money order and telegraph office.

National School - George Frederick Long, master; Miss Harriet Whimhurst, sewing mistress.

 

BEACHLEY:-

Clergy and Gentry

ASH Rev. John George Hele, vicar, The Vicarage

JENKINS Robert Castle, Esq., J.P., Beachley lodge

MORGAN Mrs. Rachel, Woodbine cottage

 

Trades and Professions

CUMPER Charles, pilot

CUMPER James, pilot

DOWLE Henry, pilot

MILLER David, lessee of Salmon Fisheries

MILLS Elias, pilot

SAUNDERS Philip, "Three Salmons" inn

TRAYHERN James, shopkeeper

WILLIAMS Miss Ann, "Ferry" inn and refreshment rooms

WILLIAMS Thomas P., farmer, Beachley farm

Letters through Chepstow. Wall Letter Box cleared at 6 p.m. on week-days, and 9.30 a.m. on Sudnays.

National School - Miss Jane Farr, mistress.

 

BISHTON:-

Gentry

BARROW Miss Emma, Springfield cottage

FRYER Mr. William Andrew Cunningham, Penmoyle lodge

 

Trades and Professions

BRETTELL Jeremiah, farmer, Wirewood Green farm

GLYNN Thomas, farmer, Old Bishton

RYMER John, farmer, Bishton farm

 

SEDBURY:-

Gentry

BROOKES Mr. James, Sedbury villa

JAYNE William Edward, Esq., The Mead

MADDY Mr. Walter George

 

Trades and Professions

EVANS William, blacksmith

PREWETT Thomas, farmer, Sedbury farm

PROSSER John, farmer, Pennyslvania

RUGMAN John, farmer, Tump farm

RUGMAN Samuel, farmer, Badams court

 

STROAT:-

Gentry

BUTLER Mr. William

READ Mr. John, Stroat house

 

Trades and Professions

MESSENGER John, blacksmith

PRIDHAM Reuben, bootmaker

RICHARDS Wm., carpenter and wheelwright

RYMER John Pullen, farmer, Stroat farm

TURNER Abraham, "George and Dragon" inn

 

TIDENHAM CHASE:-

Gentry

CHURCHYARD Henry, Esq., Chase farm

PARKER Miss Rebecca

 

Trades and Professions

ADAMS Thomas, farmer, Shipscot farm

GILES John, farmer

RAVENHILL George, farm bailiff, Chase house

WHITE James, shopkeeper

WILLIAMS James, shopkeeper

 

TUTSHILL:-

Clergy and Gentry

CHAPMAN Mrs. Mary, Elm villa

DAVIES Mr. Thomas, Bridge cottages

EVANS Thomas, Esq., Tutshill lodge

HODGSON The Misses, Bridge cottages

HUGHES Henry, Esq., Castleford

JENKINS Colonel Richard

JONES Thomas Edwards, Edq., Bridge house

KING Mr. Charles, Gloucester cottage

PALMER Rev. Fielding, M.A., Eastcliff

PHILIPS The Misses, Penmoyle

PRIOR Mrs. Susannah

SEYS William Aeneas, Esq., J.P., Tutshill house

WAGLAND Mr. Samuel, Gloucester house

WATKINS Mrs. Anna, Rose villa

 

Trades and Professions

ALLEN Mrs. Martha, "Hope and Anchor" inn

BAYLIS John, farmer, Oakfield

COPE James, gardener

DAVIS Mrs. Esther, laundress

EDWARDS John, haulier and fruit dealer

EVANS John, lodginghouse-keeper

HILL Rowland, shopkeeper, "Cross Keys" inn

HORT Abraham, farmer, Tutshill farm

IVINS John, butcher

MORRIS Mrs. Martha, laundress

MORRIS Thomas, carpenter and wheelwright

PITT Frederick, blacksmith

PRICHARD Mrs. Jane, beer retailer

PRICHARD John, wheelwright and carpenter

PRIOR George, gardener and lodginghouse-keeper, Penrose cottage

PULLEN Lawford, nurseryman, Albert cottage

STOKES Miss Marian, National schoolmistress, Alma cottage

THOMAS Mrs. Mary, sub-postmistress

WILSON Jabex, grocer

WOOD Edmund F., land agent, Tutshill villa

Post Office - Mrs. Mary Thomas, sub-postmistress. Letters through Chepstow delivered at 6.45 a.m.; dispatched at 7 p.m. On Sundays delivered at 6.45 a.m. and dispatched at 12 noon. Chepstow is the nearest money order and telegraph office.

National School - Miss Marian Stokes, mistress.

 

WIBDON:-

HALL Mr. Charles Mayor, Rose cottage

Trades and Professions

RIDDLE Hugh, farmer, High Hall farm

BROWN Miss Maria, draper

MANDER Henry, baker and shopkeeper

RYMER James, farmer, Wibdon farm

TURNER George, drillowner and farmer, Wibdon cottage

WELLINGTON Richard, farmer, Fir grove

 

WOODCROFT:-

Gentry

ARMSTRONG Mrs., Stoulgrove house

HODGSON Mr. Wm. Lewis, Woodcroft villa

JOHNSTONE Major General Robert Maxwell, Yewberry house

LINDHAM Major Charles Jas., Vale cottage

ST. JOHN Mrs., Pretty Hedge cottage

SMART Mr. John, Oakcliff

Trades and Professions

ALLWOOD Albert, butcher

CLUTTERBUCK Thomas, beer retailer

EDMONDS Henry, baker and grocer

HENTAGE William, police sergeant

OWEN Mrs. Martha, market gardener

PHILLIPS James, fruit dealer and market gardener

PRICE George, bootmaker, assistant overseer, and collector of poor rates for the parish of Tidenham, Hawthorn cottage

PRICE Miss Hannah, baker

TYLER Daniel, mason and parish clerk

YOCKNEY Saml., civil engineer, Wye cottage

Wall Letter Box - Cleared at 6.40 p.m. on week-days, and 11.40 a.m. on Sudnays.

Police Station - William Hentage, sergeant.

Back