Newnham 1837
A market town and parish in the hundred of Westbury, county of Gloucester, 11 and a half miles W.S.W. from Gloucester, and 116 W. from London, containing 1012 inhabitants. This town appears to have originated in a ford over the river Severn, formed by a ridge of rocks and a sand-bank, the shifting of which latter in 1802, rendered the river no longer fordable. The town is situated on the western bank of the river, which is navigable, and across which there is a ferry to Arlingham. A harbour for vessels of 150 tons burden was constructed about 80 years ago, and some coasting trade is carried on, though the difficult navigation of the river near the town has contributed to lessen its commerce, much of which has been transferred to a port a few miles to the south, called Gatcombe. A verdigris manufactory, and ship building, afford employment to some of the inhabitants; and at Aylesford in this parish, are large forges for working iron, and making iron wire; there being in the neighbourhood extensive iron and coal mines, and the carriage of their produce being facilitated by the Bullo Pit Railway, which passes from the marble works on the Severn, southward of the town, into the Forest of Dean, through a tunnel 1060 yards in extent and also by the Berkeley Canal. The market, now very inconsiderable, is on Friday; and fairs are held on the 11th June, and 18th of October. The government was vested in a mayor and burgesses in the reign of Edward I., but there are now few relics of its former importance, except a sword of state, said to have been the gift of King John; two constables locally termed beams, are appointed, but until the beginning of the present century, the inhabitants annually celebrated the election of a mayor and six aldermen. The Lord of the Manor holds a court leet yearly, and petty sessions for the Forest of Dean are held here and at Woolaston alternately. Newnham was returned as one of the five boroughs in Gloucestershire, on a mandate from the crown, in the 9th of Edward I., and is said formerly to have sent two members to Parliament. The living is a perpetual curacy in the archdeaconry and diocese of Gloucester, and in the patronage of the mayor and corporation of that city. The church which is dedicated to St. Peter, stands on a cliff near the river.
Name, Residence, & Profession
ASHFORD Joseph, Saddler
BARNARD Mary Ann, Draper & Grocer
BIDDINGTON Edw., Tiler and Plasterer
BIDDINGTON Wm., Tiler, Plasterer & Beer Retailer
BISP Daniel, Broad Oak, Boarding School
BOWYER James, Beer retailer
BROWN William, Draper, Grocer & Cheese factor
BULLOCK Thomas, Attorney, Solicitor, Master extraordinary in Chancery, and one of the Perpetual Commissioners
CANNOCK Geo., Draper & Grocer
CLAYFIELD Elizabeth, Cooper
CLIFFORD James, Saddler & Rope Maker
COLLINS Rev. Robt., Boarding & Day School
DOBBS William, Lamb and Flag
ELTON Elijah, Boot & Shoemaker
FRYER William, Stationer & Bookseller
GLOUCESTERSHIRE BANKING COMPANY, Draw upin Jones, Lloyd & Co., S. R. Strode, Esq., Manager
GREEN James, Carpenter
GREENING William, Beer retailer
HARRISON Mary, The Union
HILL James, Butcher
HOBBS Thomas, Blacksmith
HOLDER Elizabeth, Blacksmith
HOOK John, Cabinet Maker
HOOPER Thomas, Butcher
HUNT John, Broad Oak, Ship Builder
HUNT Wm. H., Surgeon
JAMES & SON, Attorneys & Solicitors
JONES John, Anchor
KNOWLES George, Wine & Spirit merchant
KARN James, Ale & Porter stores
KING Geo., Boot & Shoe Maker
LUCAS John & Thomas, Attorneys & Solicitors
LUCAS John, Master extraordinary in Chancery
MERRICK Charles, Carpenter
MERRICK Richard, Carpenter
MORGAN John, Lower George, & Baker
MORSE Elizabeth, Beer retailer
MORSE Henry, Butcher
NEWNHAM CORN COMPANY, Messrs. Taylor, Brown, Strode, Letcher, James, & Goold
ORCHARD Wm. D., Victoria family & commercial Hotel & posting house
PARSONS Joseph, Stocking weaver
PERRIN Sarah, Shopkeeper
PHILIPS J. T., Surgeon
PHILLPOTTS Joseph, Druggist, Tea dealer & Stamp Office
PLAYSTEAD William, Watch and Clock maker
POWELL James, Book and Shoe Maker
ROBERTS Edward, Tinplate worker
ROBERTS James, Ironmonger
ROBERTS Joseph, Baker
ROBERTSON J. M., Bear family and commercial hotel & posting house & passnge house
RUSSELL Elizabeth, Shopkeeper
RUSSELL Richard, George
RYDER Wm. & Thos., Spirit merchant
SHORTMAN Samuel, Watch, Clock and Cabiner Maker
SMITH _, Chemist and druggist
STRODE S. R., Clerk to the Board of Guardians
SWAYNE AND TAYLOR, Bark merchants
TAYLOR John, Tanner
THOMSON Thomas S., Surgeon
WILLIS James, Ship and Excise Officer
WELLINGTON H., Boot and Shoemaker
WHITE Richard, Tailor
Post Office - James Powell, Post Master.
Fire and Life Assurance Agents:-
Britannia Life - Thomas Bullock
Crown - J. T. Philips
Phoenix - S. R. Strode
Sun - Thomas Lucas