184 
Drove afterwards on to The Green to see the beds of 
angular gravel referred to in a note in Mr Lucy’s paper on 
“The Gravels of the Severn, Avon and Evenlode, and their 
extension over the Cotteswold Hills,’—Volume V, page 105, of 
the Transactions—and which were further described to the 
Members by the Author. 
On arriving at Newent, Canon Wood was waiting at the 
Church where he gave an interesting paper, shewing that the 
.town was formerly of greater importance—a place where 
travellers proceeding from London to South Wales halted. It 
had a weekly market—now held monthly—and four fairs, of 
which one only remained called the “Feast,” held in August. 
There seemed to have been Roman Colonists about Newent, 
several coins of Vespasian and other Emperors were found in 
1812. In the reign of Queen Mary, a Martyr named Richard 
Horne was burnt here. His wife was also condemned, but she 
recanted and was afterwards married again. Near where the 
present Old Court stands was a priory or convent; and the lake 
in Mr Knowles’ ground was probably a part of the Abbot’s 
fishpond. In the sixteenth century glass was manufactured at 
the place still called the “Glass House,” at the foot of May 
Hill, and the manufacture was carried on by foreigners. Close 
to the Railway Station is a house which goes by the name of 
the “ Furnace,” and 20 tons of iron a week were at one time 
made at Newent. The Church contain some features of interest, 
and there are traces shewing that an older building preceded 
it. The Nave and Aisles were destroyed by snow in the 17th 
century, and were re-built a few years afterwards; and a 
century later the Hast window was blown in. The former Nave 
and Aisles stood apart from the tower. The present Nave is 
built up to it, and is therefore broader than the old one. The 
roof is a stupendous structure 75 feet long by 50 feet wide, 
without being supported by pillars, the timber in it which came 
from Newent Wood, then part of the Forest of Dean, weighed 
80 tons, and was given by Charles II. It was erected geometri- 
cally like the Theatre at Oxford. Sir Gilbert Scott, when he 
* examined the Church, was much interested in the peculiar style 
a 
