A market town, 15 miles S.W. from Gloucester, 20 miles N. from Bristol, and 114 miles from London, is pleasantly situated on the Little Avon, in the midst of a fertile vale of Berkeley, and about one mile E. from the river Severn. The entire parish, which includes several populous townships, contained, in 1831, 3899 inhabitants, and the annual value of assessed property, in 1813, was 1600l. Berkeley is an ancient corporate town, under a mayor and twelve aldermen, and a court for the recovery of small debts is held every three weeks. The name is possibly derived from Berk, a beech, and Lea, a pasture; the adjacent country, consisting chiefly of rich meadow lands, is noted for its excellent cheese, in which, together with timber, coal, and malt, a considerable trade is carried on. The market is on Wednesday, and there is an animal fair on May 14th, for cattle and pigs. The Gloster and Berkeley canal, one of the finest in the kingdom, admits vessels of 500 tons burden, and enters the Severn near this place at Berkeley Pill, whence it passes Slimbridge, Frampton, Wheatenhurst, or Whitminster, Hardwick and Quedgley, and terminates on the south side of the city of Gloucester being 18 and 1/4 miles in length. The church dedicated to St. Mary is a large and handsome building; the living is a vicarage in the patronage of Lord Segrave.

Southward of the town is Berkeley castle, the ancient baronial residence of the Lords Berkeley; it stands on rising ground, commanding a delightful view of the surrounding country and the river Severn, and is supposed from its structure to be of Norman origin. It was granted by King Henry II to Robert Fitzhardings, with power to enlarge and strengthen it, about 1150. The ground plan of the edifice is very compact, consisting of an irregular court, having on the south and east sides an extensive range of buildings. The Donjon Keep is built on a mount, and rises above the rest of the castle; it is flanked by three semicircular towers, and a square one of later date, all embattled. Berkeley Castle is rendered memorable in history by the murder of King Edward II, in 1327.

Name, Residence, & Profession

ALLEN John, Butcher

ALPAS Thos. & Stephen, Butchers

BATEMAN Alice, Boarding School

CLARK Jas., Shopkeeper

CLARK Mrs., Butcher

COOK Henry, George

DARKE Jas., Surgeon

DAW Geo., Sculptor

DAY Susan, Coal, Salt, Brick & Tile Wharf

DOWELL Chas., Beer Retailer

DOWELL Thos., Coal & Stone Merchant

ELEY Jas., Saddler & Harness Maker

FEAR Abraham, Cooper

GABB William, Grocer

GAISFORD William, Solicitor

GHOSTLEY Edwin, Bricklayer

GHOSTLEY Jas., Builder

GOLDING Sarah & Catherine, Drapers & Grocers

HALLETT J. B., Cabinet Maker

HANDS Francis, Surgeon

HICKES John C., Surgeon

JENNER Henry, Surgeon

KING Thomas, Blacksmith

LAIT Elizabeth, White Hart &Excise Office

LATCH John, Blacksmith

LUCE Henry, Butcher

LUCE William, Butcher

MARLING Geo., Shopkeeper

MICHAEL Jas., Berkeley Arms Com. Inn

PARSLOW John, Coal Merchants & Malster

PEARCE Alfred, Auctioneer & Appraiser, & Wine & Spirit Merchant

PEARCE Rob., Brewer & Malster

PHILLIPS Jas., Plumber

POPE William, Grocer and Baker

POWELL Mary, Shopkeeper

POWELL Sarah, Berkeley heath, The Bell

REEVES Benj., Watch Maker

RUELL John, Cooper

SEABARN Geo., Shopkeeper

SHEPPARD John, Cooper

SMITH Hannah, Boot & Shoemaker

SMITH William, Butcher & Shopkeeper

SUTTON Danl., Grocer & Draper

THORN John, Ironmonger

TROTMAN Timothy, Draper & Stamp Office

WATTS Thos., Boot & Shoemaker

WEBSTER Swan, White Lion

WHITE Joseph, Mariners Arms

WILLIAMS Henry, Confectioner

WILSON Robert, Stonemason

WILSON Robert, Beer Retailer

WOOLWRIGHT Thos., Wheelwright

 

Post Office:-

DAW James, Post Master. Letters from all parts arrive at 11 a.m., and are despatched every afternoon at 3.

 

Fire & Life Assurance Agents:-

Clerical, Medical, and General Life Assurance - GAISFORD William

Protector Office - TROTMAN Timothy

 

Free School:-

SHEPPARD George, Master

 

Carrier to:-

Bristol, J. THORN from his own house, Tues and Friday; return same days.

 

NEWPORT

ANDREWS Thomas, Spread Eagle

BURLEY John, Blacksmith

BURLEY Thomas, Blacksmith

EDMONDS Charles, Saddler & Harness Maker

GILES Robert, Red Lion Inn & Posting House

LAIT Wm., Crown Inn & Posting House

ORCHARD Richard, White Hart

WORKMAN Joseph, Bell & Castle Inn

 

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