NEWNHAM is a parish and small town in Westbury-on-Severn union, containing, by the census of 1861, 1325, and in 1871, 1483 inhabitants, and 1890 acres of land; in the northern division of the deaners of the Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester, diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, hundred of Westbury, West Gloucestershire, for which it is a polling place; 8 miles south-west from Westbury-on-Severn, 11 south-west from Gloucester, 16 north-east from Chepstow, on the road between those places, and 114 from London, on the South Wales section of the Great Western Railway, which has a station here. This was formerly a borough, returning one member to Parliament, but petitioned to be relieved from the privilege on account of the expense, which was granted. The Corporation was presented with a sword by King John, which is now in possession of the owners of the manorial rights, and, with the exception of the handle, which has been replaced by a wooden one, is in good preservation. The town is now under the government of a bailiff, who is appointed by the lord of the manor. This was the place of meeting between Henry II. and Strongbow Earl of Pembroke, from whence they set sail to Ireland and landed at Waterford, about the year 1171. An ancient Roman Fosse, near the church, originally constructed as a means of defence, is now converted into a pleasant promenade. The Town Hall is a neat building, which is partly used as a Savings Bank, and the County Court is held there monthly. The town is pleasantly situated on the west bank of the Severn, which is here about a mile in width, and presents that peculiar rapid rising of the tide called the Bore, Hyre, or Hager, which also exists on the Humber, the Ouse, and the Trent, the full tides of spring and autumn shewing this phenomena to the greatest advantage. An elegant clock tower has been erected by public subscription in the High Street, opposite the end of Station Road, through the exertions of Samuel Wilkinson Woods, Esq. It consists of a Bath stone shaft 4 ft. 6 in. square, raised on a weather tabled base 6 ft. square, and carries at a height of 30 ft. a corbelled and battlemented erection, enclosing a clock, by Benson, which shows the time on four dials, and strikes the hours on a bell of 1 1.2 cwt., hung in an open stone belfry above the clock. The whole is surmounted by a short stone spire, with metal vane; the total height is 60 ft. The tower was designed by Messrs. Medland and Son, architects, of Gloucester, and erected by Mr. William Fream, Jun., of the same place. On the 1st May, 1875, William Crawshay, Esq., of Riverdale, commenced running a four-horse stage coach between this place and Gloucester and Cheltenham two days each week (Wednesday and Saturday), mostly driving himself, and thus reviving the old coaching days, which have almost become obselete. The vicarage, in the incumbency of the Rev. Edwd. Cowell Brice, B.A., is valued at 140 pounds per annum, with residence, and is in the patronage of Maurice Frederick Carter, Esq. The church is an ancient edifice, in the Perpendicular style, dedicated to St. Peter, formerly consisting of nave and chancel, with small side chapel, and an embattled tower containing six bells and a clock. It has lately been thoroughly restored and enlarged, the old south wall having been removed, and an extensive south aisle added, which is separated from the old nave by four noble arches resting on pillars of polished granite, with Bath stone capitals. The nave is divided from the chancel by a lofty moulded arch, with polished granite shafts resting upon trusses and carved capitals. The chancel and vestry are quite new. The whole is paved with Maw's encaustic tiles. A new pulpit of Bath stone, and a communion table of oak, have also been added. The galleries have been removed, and the whole has been re-pewed, and with the addition of the new south aisle accommodation has been provided for nearly 600 more than the church formerly held. The tower has been raised from the old battlements 30 feet, and a turret 60 ft. high erected in close proximity thereto; the belfry has also been raised 6 ft., and a new ringing loft added. The principal entrance has been changed from the north to the new west end, and the churchyard paths have been lowered, thus precluding the necessity of continuing the steps. An addition has also been made to the burial ground, and a portion set apart for the use of Dissenters. The churchyard is entered by a new and handsome liche gate. It was reopened for divine service by the Bishop of the Diocese on the 4th October, 1875. Messrs. Waller, of Gloucester were the architects, and Messrs. King and Godwin, of the same place, the builders. The estimated expenses of the alterations was £3,600, but this will be insufficient to cover the whole of the expenses. The Congregationalists have a place of worship here, which was erected in 1864; it is a neat edifice, in the Gothic style, and will accommodate about 250 persons. There are National schools for children of both sexes, which have lately been greatly enlarged. The poor have the benefit of the following bequests:- £15 per annum, bequeather by John Matthews, an attorney of the town, and a native of Bath; £200 on Government Securities by Samuel Hawkins, Esq., late of Leman Street, London; £800 three per cent., by James Harvey Olney, Esq., late of Cheltenham; 1 pound 11 shillings per annum, by Mr. James Jocham, late of Bristol, who also gave the yearly interest of £1,000 for clothing 15 poor boys, the surplus remaining to be given to poor women in childbirth. The devisees in trust of John James, Esq., are lords of the manor of Newnham; and the manor of Rodley, of which the General Sir John Wright Guise, Bart., is lord, is partly in this parish. There are two annual cattle fairs, one on the 11th June, and the other on the 18th October. The rateable value of this parish is £10,043.

Clergy, Gentry, and Private Residents

BARNARD Mrs. Sarah Davis, Hope villa

BEILBY Rev. Samuel, curate in charge, The Cliff

BRICE Rev. Edward Cowell, M.A., vicar, The Vicarage

BURRUP John Wakefield, Esq., High street

CARTER Maurice Frederic, Esq., (Capt. 3rd. Gloucestershire Artillery Volunteers), Banksian house

CLAYFIELD Mr. Charles, Artillery place

COLLINS John Stratford, Esq., Severn bank

CRAWSHAY William, Esq., Riverdale

GOOLD Miss Maud, Merton house

GOOLD Mrs. Sarah, Claremont house

GOOLD Tom, Esq., Manor house

JORDAN Mrs. Emma, Severn terrace

KERR Russell, Esq., J.P., The Haie

KERR William Charles, Esq., M.D., The Haie

LANE Mrs. Lydia, High street

LANGDON Mrs. Anne, Mornington house

MARSHALL Mr. John, High street

MAULE Augustus Henry, Esq., The cottage

MORISON Arthur Duff, Esq., Cliff cottage

MORRIS Mrs. Ann, Artillery piece

SMITH James Knight, Esq., The Beeches

SMITH William Knight, Esq., The Beeches

STRANGER Rev. Henry Wills (Congregational), Highfield villa

TROTTER Mrs. John, High street

WINTLE James, Esq., Hill house

WOODS Samuel Wilkinson, Esq., High st

 

Trades and Professions [h. signifies private residence.]

BAILEY Charles, coal merchant, grocer, haulier, and Railway agent, High street

BAKER Mrs. Elizabeth, milliner and dressmaker, High street

BARLING William, veterinary surgeon and farmer, High street

BAYNHAM James, manager of Gas Works, Station road

BIDMEAD Miss Charlotte, ladies' day school, Mornington house

BILSON AND CRUMP MEADOW COLLIERIES CO. (Limited), colliery proprietors

BIRKS George, blacksmith, "Railway" inn, Bullo

BLANTON Albert, oil, lamp, toy, and general dealer, High street

BLANTON John, painter and china and glass dealer, High street

BLUETT Edmund, beer retailer, Little Dean road

BOUCHER Joseph, Railway carriage and wagon builder, and brass and iron founder, Bullo pill; h. Highfield villas.

BOUCHER Thomas, builder, Severn terrace

BOWYER John, beer retailer and basket dealer, High street

BRACE Thomas, tailor, High street

BROCHER John, river pilot, High street

BURRUP John Wakefield, solicitor, and notary public, commissioner in Chancery and Common Law, perpetual commissioner for taking acknowledgments of deeds by married women, and registrar of the County Court, High Street; and at Gloucester

BUTT Benjamin, tailor, Station road

CAMM William, tallow chandler and privision merchant, High street

CITY AND COUNTRY OF GLOUCESTER EQUITABLE BUILDING SOCIETY - James Carefield, agent

CAREFIELD John George, beer agent, Severn terrace

CARTER Maurice Frederic, solicitor, commissioner in Chancery and Common Law, perpetual commissioner for taking acknowledgments of deeds by married women, coroner for the Forest division of the county, clerk to the magistrates for Newnham division, to the commissioners of taxes for Newnham and Coleford divisions, to the Local Boards of Health for Awre, Newnham, and Westbury-on-Severn, to the Rural Sanitary Authority and the Board of Guardians, and vestry clerk for Westbury-on-Severn, superintendent registrar, distributor of stamps, and agent for the Mutual Assurance Society, Banksian house

CHAPPELL William, baker and confectioner, High street

CHOLDITCH John, actuary of Savings bank, High street

CLEASBY John Henry, farmer, Blythe court

CLIFFORD Miss Elizabeth, rope and twine maker, High street

COLE John, tailor, Station road

COLLINS John Stratford, M.R.C.S., surgeon, Severn bank

COPE Mrs. Elizabeth, lodginghouse-keeper, Station road

CROCKER Mrs. Elizabeth, shopkeeper, Bullo pill

CROKER Josiah, solicitor's clerk, High street

DAY Samuel, master mariner, Artillery pl

DEAKINS Francis Henry, manager of the Gentlemen's Club

ELTON Frederick, bootmaker and earthenware dealer, High street

EVANS Mrs. Ann, dressmaker, High street

EVANS John, carpenter, Skin House lane

EVANS William, coal agent, High street

FLEWETT Thomas, civil and mining engineer, architect, surveyor, valuer, and analytical chemist, High street

FOXES BRIDGE COLLIERY CO., colliery proprietors

FRYER William, printer, bookseller, stationer, and newsagent, High street

GLOUCESTERSHIRE BANKING CO. (branch of), High street - Samuel Wilkins Woods, manager

GOOLD Tom, attorney at law and solicitor, commissioner in Chancery and Common Law, and agent for the Mutual Life and the Law Fire Assurance Co's, High st

GREEN William Henry, solicitor's clerk, Marine villa

GREAT WESTERN IRON CO. (Limited), iron and steel makers, Great Western Iron Works, Soudley; and 55 St. George's square, London, S.W. - Arthur Duff Morison, managing director

GRIFFITHS William, farm bailiff, Hill farm

HAMLET Thomas Lewtas, clerk, High street

HARDEMAN BROTHERS, druggists and seedsman, High street

HARDEMAN Charles Richard (firm of Hardeman Brothers); h. High street

HARDING Thomas, stationmaster, Skin House lane

HARRIS John, carpenter and joiner, Mornington terrace

HARRIS Mrs. Mary Ann, dressmaker, Mornington terrace

HEADDON William, baker, confectioner, and farmer, High street, and Cockshoot farm

HEIRON Mrs. Martha, day school, High st

HENDERSON William, mining engineer, High street

HIGGINS John George, County Court bailiff, The Green

HOBBS Mrs. Selina, shopkeeper, High street

HOBBS William, baker, "Lower George" inn, Station road

HOOK John, cabinet maker, High street

HOOPER William, "Union" inn and posting house, High street

HOYLE John Conibear, coal agent, High st

HYETT Mrs. Mary, farmer, Tanner's farm, Ruddle

JAMES Charles, beer retailer, High street

JARRETT John York, general manager Great Westerm Iron Works, Soudley

JONES Frederick, beer retailer and master mariner, Station road

JONES John, assistant overseer, collector of poor rates, and distributor of licenses for the Severn Fishery, High street

JONES Joseph Chamberlain, hairdresser and stationer, High street

JONES William, National schoolmaster, High street

KARN James, auctioneer and general commission agent, Severn villa

KING John, shoemaker, Severn street

KING Mrs. Sarah Ann, beer retailer and shoemaker, Skinhouse lane

KING William Henry, "Victoria" family and commercial hotel and posting establishment, High Street

KNEEBONE William Phillips, solicitor's clerk, Mornington terrace

LANE George, railway inspector, High st

LLEWELLYN Thomas, clerk, Ruddle house

LONG Edwin, shopkeeper, High street

LOUDER Lot, solicitor's clerk, Mornington terrace

MAILES John, butcher, "Ship" inn, High street

MAULE Augustus Henry (firm of Wintle and Maule), solicitor, High street

MAYO Joseph, bark, timber, and slate merchant, Gloucester road

MERRICK Charles, ironmonger, High street

MILLER James, lessee of the Severn Fishery, Newnham Fisheries

MINING AND SURVEYING CONTRACT COMPANY, mine contractors, High street

MORGAN William, solicitor's clerk, Severn street

MORRIS Francis Pick, yeoman, Hyde farm

MORRIS John, draper, grocer, and agent for W. and A. Gilbey's wines and spirits, High street

MORRIS Joseph, billposter and shoemaker, Severn street

MORSE Mrs. Georgina, greengrocer and beer retailer, High street

MORSE John H., postmaster, High street

MOUNTJOY John F., solicitor's clerk

PALMER John, tailor, Little Dean road

PARKER Andrew, solicitor, Cliff cottage

PARSONS George, beer retailer, High street

PHILLIPS Thomas & Son, painters, plumbers, and glaziers, The Green

PHILLIPS John (firm of Thomas Phillips and Son), Mornington terrace

PHILPOTTS James Richard, family, dispensing, and photographic chemist (Member of the Pharmaceutical Society), High street

PLAYSTED John, draper and grocer, High street

PREECE Henry, auctioneer and draper, High Street

PRICE Edwin, butcher, High street

PROBERT Ambrose, mason

PURNELL Henry, wharfinger for the G. W. Railway Company, Bullo pill

ROBERTS Edward, tinplate-worker and parish clerk, High street

ROBERTS William George, solicitor's clerk, High street

ROBINS Edwin, saddler and harness maker, High street

ROWLES Richard, master mariner, The Quay

SHAPCOTT Henry, coal agent, Mornington terrace

SHILES John (firm of Ware and Shiles); h. Bullo villa

SHORTMAN Samuel and William, watch and clockmakers and furniture dealers, High street

SIMMONDS Mrs. Ann, builder, High street

SLADEN Jno., nailmaker & farmer, Ayleford

SMITH AND SON, solicitors, High street

SMITH James Knight (firm of Smith and Son), solicitor, commissioner in Chancery and Common Law, and perpetual commissioner for taking acknowledgments of deeds by married women, High street

SMITH William Knight (firm of Smith and Son), solicitor, High street

SMITHYMAN AND CO., wine and spirit merchants, High street

SPENCE William, inspector of nuisances, Mornington terrace

THOMAS Allen, carriage and light trap builder, Carriage Works, Station road; h. High street

TOOMER BROTHERS, coal factors, High street; and at Reading, Berkshire - William Evans, agent

WARE AND SHILES, tanners and timber and bark merchants, Newnham Tannery

WARE William Walker (firm of Ware and shiles); h. Underhill

WATTS William, master mariner, High st

WEAVING George, "Upper George" inn, High street

WELLINGTON Henry, boot and shoemaker and leather seller, High street

WINTLE AND MAULE, solicitors, High street

WINTLE James (firm of Wintle and Maule), solicitor, High street

WOOD George, police sergeant, High street

WOODS Samuel Wilkinson, manager for the Gloucestershire Banking Company, High street

WRENN Frederick, clerk

 

INFORMATION OF PUBLIC MEN AND INSTITUTIONS CONNECTED WITH THE TOWN AND COUNTY

Post Office and Postal Telegraph Office - John H. Morse, Postmaster. Letters are delivered at 7 a.m.; dispatched (North Mail) at 7 p.m. London and General at 9.40 p.m. Box closes at 9.35 p.m., can be posted with extra stamp until 9.40 p.m. On Sundays one delivery at 7 a.m., and one dispatch at 9.35 p.m. Money orders granted and paid, and savings bank, and annuity, and insurance business transacted from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays until 8 p.m.

Postal Telegraph Office - Open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m., and on Sudnays from 7 to 10 a.m.

Magistrates usually attending Petty Sessions -

Edmund Probyn, Esq., Huntley, Gloucester, chairman

Henry Crawshay, Esq., Oaklands

Sir Thomas Hyde Crawley-Boevey, Bart., Flaxley

Edwin Crawshay, Esq., Abbots Wood

Henry Montague James, Esq., Kingsland

Rev. Charles Edward Dighton, B.A., Mitcheldean

Russell Kerr, Esq., The Hale

Clerk to the Magistrates - Maurice Frederic Carter

The Magistrates meet at the Petty Sessional Court, Littledean, every other Monday.

 

LOCAL BOARD -

William Barling

Tom Goold

William Headdon

James Karn

Henry Richd. Lukes

Augustus H. Maule

Francis Pitt Morris

John Shiles

William W. Ware

James Wintle

Samuel W. Woods

Clerk - Maurice Frederic Carter

Medical Officer - Francis T. Bond

Surveyor - John C. Cadle

Sanitary Inspector - William Spence

Collector - George Thorne

The Board meets at the Victoria Hotel, on the second Friday in each month.

BANKERS -

Gloucestershire Banking Co. (branch of), High street (draw on Union Bank of London); open from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. On Saturdays to 1 p.m. - Samuel Wilkinson Woods, manager.

Savings Bank, held at the Town Hall, High street (open on Mondays from 11 to 1) - John Cholditch, actuary.

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS

County Court, Town Hall - Charles Sumner, Esq., judge; John William Burrup, registrar; John Davenport Barrett, high bailiff. The district comprises the following places: - Abbenhall, Arlingham, Awre, Blaisdon, East Dean, Flaxley, Little Dean, Longhope, Mitcheldean, Newnham, and Westbury-in-Severn.

Gas Light and Coke Co. (Limited), Station road - John Henry Morse, secretary; James Baynham, manager.

Inland Revenue Office, Victoria Hotel - Thomas Brown, officer.

Newnham Gentlemen's Club - Sir Thomas Crawley-Boevy, Bart., president; S. W. Woods, treasurer; E. Jerdein, secretary.

Police Station, High street - George Wood, sergeant.

Stamp Office - Maurice Frederic Carter, distributor.

Town Hall - P. H. Holloway, secretary.

PUBLIC OFFICERS NOT ENUMERATED WITH PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS.

Assistant Overseer and Collector of Poor Rates - John Jones

Clerk to the Board of Guardians of the Westbury-on-Severn Union and Superintendent Registrar - Maurice Frederic Carter

Clerk to the Commissioners of Taxes for Newnham and Coleford divisions - M. Frederic Carter

Clerk to the Dean Forest and the Huntley Roads Turnpike Trustees, and Steward to the Verders of Her Majesty's Forest of Dean - James Wintle

Clerk to the Westbury Union Assessments Committee - Maurice Frederic Carter

Coroner for the Forest division of the County - Maurice Frederic Carter

Registrar of Births and Deaths for Newnham District - Edward Teague

Registrar fof Marriages for Westbury-on-Severn District - F. A. Carter

Town Crier - John Clarke

National School - William Jones, master; Mrs. Mary Elizabeth Jones, infants' mistress.

Railway - Great Western Railway Station - Thomas Harding, stationmaster and goods manager.

Conveyance - Four-Horse Coach to Gloucester and Cheltenham, on Wed and Sat, leavinging the Victoria Hotel at 12 noon.

Water Carriers - A sloop to Bristol weekly.

 

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