﻿QLOnCESTERSHniEL 



OL0VCE8TERSHIBB. 



' bone-bpdr.' Aitoric an kbundant at Pyaton in Lydoay pariah, and 

 under the adjacent o'iffa on the )Miiki> of tho river : they are alao found 

 at Laaaain^rton, Dursley, Shci'^ iii Hood's Hill. Belem- 



uitea, riblK'd nautili, liivnlv. -<, anomiic, cochlea), and 



other foaaila hare been foun<i .ii ,..^„..,~ y.,,-<n of the county. Coal- 

 beda, altematiiif; with iroiutone, occupy tho Forcdt uf Dean and the 

 neighbourhood uf Itriatol. Lead ore i< found in many parts uf the 

 county, but not in lai^ga quantities. Pyrites, or sulphuret of iron, 

 have been found in great abundance and in rarious forms of combina- 

 tion. Lapis calauiinaris, or oxide of cine, ii found at Redland, Yate, 

 and elsewhere. In the porixh of Abstone, 7 miles from Bristol, the 

 hills rise perpendicularly to the height of 200 feet and upirarda, and 

 consist of a aeries of beds of limestone and petrosilex, nltt-mating 

 with each other. Towanla the west a vein of coral occurs, 14 iiicliei* 

 thick, and another of lead (both formerly worked), with a ma^s of 

 petrosilex on each side. The centre of the glen is occupied by a bed 

 of limeatous, nearly 600 yards broad, lying between two beds of 

 petrosilex, all dipping to the north-west, at an angle of 60 feet with 

 the plane of the horizon. In this are embedded lead-ore, spathous 

 iron-ore, and barytes. A very superior limestone is obtained in great 

 abundance a few miles north of Bristol ; and the limestone rocks of 

 Clifton are capable of receiving a good polish. Pellucid quartz 

 crystals, hexagonal and terminated by detached pyramids, are found 

 in the orerioea of the strata at Clifton ; these crystals were formerly 

 in considerable request under the name of Bristol diamonds. A good 

 compact limestone is found in the Forest of Dean. Freestone of 

 exodlent qtudity ia quarried on the hills, more particularly at Pains- 

 wick. Blue day-stone for building is found at Aust Cliff, which is 

 composed of two strata of cliiy, tho upper of a blue, tho lower of a 

 red tinge, resting upon a gray-limestuno rock ; embedded in the lower 

 stratum is a bed of gypsum, which furnishes a plentiful supply for 

 stuccoing, ftc, to the masons of Bristol and Bath. Paving stones and 

 grits are obtained in the forest At Dursley a stratum of tophus 

 occurs. 



Climate, Soil, Agricnllure. — The climato of Gloucestershire varies 

 •ooording to the elevation of tho land. In the valleys, especially 

 those which are aheltered on the north and oast, the temperature is 

 mild. On the Cotswold Hills the air ia sharp and bracing, and as the 

 progress of tillage has brought higher lands into cultivation, farm- 

 housea have been built in situations which require a hardy race to 

 bear the keenness of the air. The children who can be reared there 

 are strong and healthy, but those who are bom with delicate frames 

 have little chance of life if not removed to a milder air. The Vale of 

 Uloucester^hire is noted for the early maturity of every kind of agri- 

 cultural produce, owing partly to the nature of the soil, but chirily 

 to the shelter afforded by the hills on the north and east. It is how- 

 ever occaaionally subject to very violent storms from the Atlantic. 



In an agricultural point of view Qlonoestershire may be divided 

 into the Cotswold, or hilly portion, the Vale, and the Forest including 

 the Kyelands. The first district travcrocs the whole county from 

 Chipping Campden to Bath, and is divided into the upper and lower 

 Cotswold Hills. The vale runs from Stratford-upon-Avon to Bristol, 

 and is divided into the vales of Evesham, Gloucester, and Berkeley. 

 The Avon runs along the upper part of the vale, and the Severn in 

 the lower. The Forest of Dean lies on the right bank of the Severn, 

 •ztending to the river Wye, which l>ounds the county on the north- 

 west. The Kyelands are a sandy district of tho Forest, bordering on 

 Wonastershire and Herefordshire. The soil on the Cotswolds is 

 eUsfljr a calcaraoos sand, a few inches deep, resting on oolite, a cal- 

 oareooa frecsioite commonly called stonebrosh. The poorest is only 

 fit for sheep pasture ; but the feed is very sweet, and sheep thrive 

 wrll on it. Where it has been improved by cultivation and by the 

 repeated folding of aheep, it bears tolerable crops of oata and barley, 

 and where there is an admixture of clay in the loam, even of wheat. 

 The lower parte of tho hills, and the valleys which are between thorn, 

 contain a better nnd deeper soil, evidently made by the washing down 

 of the Boil from the hills. Where the subsoil is impervious, tho water 

 is apt to accumulate ; but by judicious draining some excellent arable 

 ■od grass land is produced. The dairies in these situations are pro- 

 docUva ; and the cheese made there ia aimilar to the North Wiltshire. 

 Borne parts of the Vale contain a very deep and rich soil, as at Wolford 

 and its immediate neighbourhood. At a greater distance from the 

 rivers up to the foot of the hills, the soil is chiefly of a tenacious 

 nature, which pnxluces abundantly when well drained and cultivated. 

 Siliceous sawl and gravel are found in a few spots, but not in sufficient 

 quantity to form any considerable portion of tho soil of the county, 

 except in the forest, where the soil is chiefly a decompoaed red 

 sandstone, scarcely fitted fur the growth of anything but woods and 



COppiOG. 



The cultivation of the aoil varies according to its nature and fer- 

 tility ; and improvements have been gradually introduced of lata 

 Tcan. Wheat, rye, barley, and other ordinary crops are raised. 

 Flax is but little cultivated, it being generally prohibited in leasaa. 

 Teasels {IHptacvt fvllonum) are raised for the use of the manufao- 

 turen of woollen cloth ; but not to such an extent as they were once. 

 Potatora and turnips are raind in ronfidrrable quantities. The 

 ir.cadows on the Lcdden are particularly fertile, fioin tho rich soil 

 which thii river biingi down from Herefordshire ; but they arc also 



■ubject to sudden floods in summer, by which the whole orop is some- 

 times spoiled or swept away. The rich upliuid meadows cuutaiu the 

 best gissaes. 



Gloucaatenhire is rstentially a dairy country, and has been always 

 renowned for its butter and cheese, of which great quantitiea are 

 made, and sold in every part of the kingdom. London alone oon- 

 sumes a htrge proportion of it The Gloucester breed of cows, 

 althouig'h now eclipsed in public eatiuiation by the improved short- 

 horns and the Devon, has qualities which still render them favourites 

 with many experienced dairymen. The Durham short-homed breed 

 of cows is however gaining ground for the dairy. 



The sheep peculur to this county are the Cotswold and the Ryalaad 

 breeds. The Cotswold are large in the oarcaaa, and rather strong in 

 the bone, and the wool is coarse. This breed has been sucoeisfully 

 crossed with tho improved Leicester, and also with the South-Down, 

 in both cases with decided advantage. The liyeland or Herofordshire 

 sheep are bred in the Forest dintriot They are small in sjae, but 

 larger than the common Forest sheep. They have white faces and no 

 horns ; the wool is very fine ; and when they are fattened the flesh is 

 of a very delicate flavour. This breed has been improved in size by 

 crossing with tho Leicester and black-faced Shropshire breeds, but 

 always at the expense of fineness in the wool and Savour in the 

 muttun. When crossed with the Merino, the Ryeland sheep produce 

 a wool which bears a good price. There are not many borsos bred in 

 this county, although they are generally preferred to oxen far the 

 purposes of husbaudry. The chief supply comes from the northern 

 cuunties. 



There are fine orchards in different parts of the Vale and Forest 

 districts, aud the cider and perry made in the county are considered 

 to be of good quality. The Forest of Dean anciently contained much 

 valuable timber, chiefly chestnut, oak, and beech. It haa been gradu- 

 ally much denuded of trees, so that large tracts of land are entirely 

 bare. In the forest, and dispersed through the county, are many 

 productive coppices, which are cut every ton, twelve, or fifteen years. 

 Many wastes, commous, and common-fields have been inclosed and 

 improved. 



DivUimit, Town*, d-c. — Gloucestershire is divided into 28 hundreds, 

 containing 351 parishes, one city, and part of another, and 28 market- 

 towns. Tho hundreds are as follows : — Barton Regis, Berkeley, 

 Bisley, Bledisloe, Botloe, Bradley, St Briavel's, Brightwell's-Barrow, 

 Cheltenham, Clecve, Crowthome, Deerhurst, Dudatone and King's 

 Barton, Grimibald's Ash, Heubury, Kiftsgate, Lancaster, Langley and 

 Swiueshead, Longtr. e, Puckle Church, Kapc^te, Slaughter, Tewkes- 

 bury, Thonibury, Tibaldstoiie, Westbury, Westminster, aud Whit- 

 stone, with Bristol, Gloucester (city and county), and Tewkesbury 

 town. 



The market-towns, excluding Gloucester, are— Berkelkt, Bulky, 

 Chippmg Camp<lcii, Cim-fiNo Sodburt, Cheltenham, Cirencesteb, 

 Colelord, Dursley, Fairford, Lechlade, Marshfield, Mi.nchinhahiton, 

 Mitchelde.'in, Morcton-in-the-Morsh, Newk.nt, Newiiham, Nortu- 

 LEACU, Paiuswick, Stanley St. Leonard, Stow-o.n-the-Wold, Stroud, 

 Tbtbuby, Tewkesbdbt, Tuoknbury, Wickwnr, Winchcomue, and 

 Wottos-undeb-Edoe. Thoiio marked with small capitals are noticed 

 under their respective heads. A short account is subjoined of tho 

 less important towns : — 



St. Briarei'; 21 miles S.W. from Gloucester, population of the 

 parish 111)4, was once a borough ond ninrkct-town, the inhabitants of 

 which had many rights and exemptions. Tho castlo was erectod iu 

 the reign of Henry I. by Milo Fitx- Walter, earl of Hereford, to ourb 

 the incursions of the Welsh. The site, surrounded by a moat, 

 includes a considerable srea. The north-west front is nearly all that 

 remains entire. It is composed of two circular towers threo stories 

 high, separated by a narrow elliptical gateway ; within the towen are 

 several hexagonal t^Murtments, the walls of which are 8 feet thick. 

 One of the towera is used as a prison. The constable of tho castle 

 is a|>|>oiutcd by tho crown, and is also tho lord-warden of the forest 



Chiiiinng Vampdeu, 2» miles N.E. from Gloucester, population of 

 the |iarish 2351, near the border of Worcestershire, is a very ancient 

 market-town and borough, situated in a fertile valley. In 089 the 

 Saxon kings assembled here to consult on the mode of carrying on 

 the war with the Britons. In the 14th century this town was the 

 princi]ial mart for wool, and the residence of many opulent merchants. 

 The church stsnds on a gentle declivity above the town, in the hamlet 

 of Borrington : it is a handsome ancient structure, having an orna- 

 mented tower at the west ond, 120 feet high ; at tho east end of each 

 aisle is a chapeL Campden has an. hospital and several other institu- 

 tions fuun<led by Sir Baptiste Hicks early in the 17th centur}-. 



Colt/ord, 19 miles W.S.W. from Gloucester, population of tho 

 tithing 2310, is a small market-town, consisting principally of oiio 

 street, situated near the left bank of the river Wye : the houses are in 

 general well built The chapel, which was destroyed in the civil 

 wars, was rebuilt in the reign of Queen Anne. Tho Baptists have a 

 place of worship. Tho market-house was rebuilt iu 1679. The 

 market is held uu Friday : there are two annual fairs. 



I'aiiforil, 27 miles S.E. by K. from Gloucester, population 1869, is 

 pleasantly situated on tho banks of the C'ulne : the town consists of 

 two streets neatly and regularly built It has a Free school and 

 •averal charities. Fairford is celebrated for tb? beauty of its church , 



