Sate? 9S 
<. 
’ 
i 
ss 
3 
t 
, 
_ terials, 
GLOUCESTER. 
GLOUCESTER. Crry, is situated in Dadston and Gloucester. 
King’s Barton hundred, Gloucestershire, 105; miles west. —"Y¥—" 
the nature of the soil, and the extreme scarcity of ma-~ 
i The compact lime-stone, from St Vincent's 
rocks, makes the bests roads; but it is very expen- 
sive. é 
_ The most considerable markets are those of Glouces- 
ter, Cirencester, and Tewksbury; they are abundantly 
‘supplied with corn, meat, poultry, and the other ne- 
cessaries of life. The principal manufactures of the 
county are those of woollen broad cloths, chiefly super- 
fine, made of Spanish wool : there are also fine narrow 
goods, in the stripe and fancy way, made to a very 
great amount. The whole of these manufactures are 
carried on in that district called the Bottoms, Of this 
district, the town of Stroud may be regarded as the 
centre, all the surrounding valleys exhibiting a con- 
tinued range of houses or villages, occupied by manu- 
facturers... The, waters of this district are peculiarly 
adapted to dyeing scarlet, blue, and black. At Ciren- 
cester, thin stuffs of worsted are made : carpets are also 
made here. At Tewksbury, the stocking-frame knit- 
ting is the principal manufacture. Rugs and blankets 
are made at Dursley, &c. Felt hats, for the Bristol 
_ trade, are made in several villages. In the forest of Dean, 
there are extensive iron works: at Framilore, there is a 
manufactory of tin-plate. The other manufactures of 
the county are iron and brass wire, wire cards for the 
clothiers, pins, nails, and writing paper. The articles 
of agricultural commerce are cheese, bacon, cider, and 
. The salmon of the Severn is now become scarce, 
States it was guigh in great abundance, and sent 
to London and other places, where it always obtained 
a very high price. 
By the returns respecting the poor, presented to Par- 
liament in the year 1803, it appears, that in this coun- 
ty at that time, 33,113 persons were relieved in and 
out of workhouses, at the expence of £3:1:7} per 
head, or £102,013: 12:8 total; which, at a rental of 
£1,128,312, gives about 1s. 93d. in the pound per an- 
num. By the same return, it appears that there were, 
in 1803, 19,606 persons belonging to friendly societies. 
In the year 1810, the number of families employed in 
iculture was 20,782; and in trade, manufactures, 
&c. 29,988. In the year 1700, the population of the 
county was 128,341 ; in 1770, 161,693. In the year 
1801, 210,267 ; and in 1811, 295,100. At this last 
period, the number. of people to a square mile was 
263; and on an average of years, there had been one 
baptism to 36 persons ; one burial to 61 persons ; and 
one marriage to 120 ms. 
. The ancient Britons seem to have had no peculiar 
name for this tract of country, designating it ‘and the 
whole adjoining low lands by the name of Duffin, which 
is said to signify a vale. It was inhabited by the Cat- 
tieuchlani. en the Romans occupied England, the 
Dobuni — fs ave aap 2 Gloucestershire. ae 
coun’ ing divi ry the Severn, la: in Brit- 
tania Prima, and partly in Brittania ee that on 
the south-east side of the river being in the former, and 
governed by the president residing in London ; where- 
as that part beyond the Severn was in Brittania Secun- 
da, and governed by the president residing at Caerleon. 
The Saxons called, the inhabitants near this part of the 
Severn, Wiccii, from the Saxon Wic, a creel, because 
‘the river near its mouth is full ‘of creeks. During the 
heptarchy, it was a time subject to the West Sax- 
ons, but was afterw included in Mercia. See Ge- 
neral View of the Agriculture of the County of Gloucester, 
by Thomas Rudge, B.D. aulies of England and 
Wales, vol. v. The Rural Economy of Gloucestershire, 
by W..Marshall..(s..s.) 
$25 
from London. This city is situated in the Vale of Glou- 
cester, on a gentle eminence, rising on the east side from 
the river Severn. Its situation, however, though it af- 
fords a fine object. to the hills around, is by no means 
pleasant, the country round it partaking of little vari« 
ety ; and though its walls are a, by the Severn, 
that river loses here much of its dignity and interest, 
by being divided into two small channels, with a lon 
connecting causeway. Gloucester has lately been es | 
improved. Its four principal streets are admired for 
the regularity of their junction in the centre of the town. 
The cathedral is a fine building ; its lofty tower, and 4 Cathedral. 
transparent pinnacles, adorned with exquisite fret work, 
make a conspicuous figure. Within, the high roof and 
Gothic ornaments of the choir, form a noble contrast 
with the simple grandeur of the ponderous Saxon pil- 
lars and arches which support the aisle. Its principal 
curiosities, are the beautiful painted glass in the chapel 
of our Lady ; the whispering gallery ; the tombs of ha - 
ward II. who. was murd in Berkley Castle, and 
of Robert Duke of Normandy, eldest son of William the 
Conqueror ; and the great bell, suspended in the first 
story of the central tower.. The walls surrounding 
Gloucester, in the time of William the Conqueror, were 
completely demolished soon after the Restoration, the 
only remains being the west gate, standing on the banks 
of the Severn, at the end of a stone bri of 5 arches, 
built in the reign of Henry II. This bridge is connect- 
ed on the west with a causeway of stone, which extends 
through the low meads and isle of Alney to the distance 
of about half a mile. The castle of Gloucester, of which 
the remains were destroyed a few years ago to make 
room for the county gaol, was probably erected about 
the time of the Norman invasion, as the Domesday Book 
mentions, that 16 houses were taken down for its scite. 
Camden states, that in his time it was for the most part 
decayed. The county gaol well deserves the inspec- County 
tion of the stranger. It was commenced, from the de- gaol. 
signs and under the direction of Sir George Onesipho-~ 
rus Paul, Bart. a gentleman well known for his judici- 
ous and indefatigable exertions in the cause of the best 
interests of society, nowhere better exemplified than in 
the plan of this structure, and in the code of laws which 
he drew up for its government. The gaol consists of 3 
divisions ; the penitentiary house, the bridewell, and the 
sherift’s prison. These have all their distinct and ap- 
propriate regulations. It contains 203 separate cells ; 
164 for sleep, and 39 for employment. At stated hours 
during the day, the prisoners are permitted to enjoy 
the fresh air, in a court-yard 210 feet long and 57 broad. 
The same class of prisoners only are allowed to associ- 
ate together. The internal economy is under the ma- 
nagement of the chaplain, governor, and surgeon, who 
act according to fixed rules, and who are themselves 
subjected to the controul of the county magistrates. 
There are besides a house of industry, and acounty in- 
firmary, under excellent regulations. Gloucester re- 
ceives its supply of water from springs about two miles 
to the south ; and it 7 from ancient records, that 
an aqueduct was earried thence to the city, upwards of 
400 years 
Hereford, a musical festival, established by the 
choirs of those cities, with the assistance of the first per- 
formers in the kingdom, The profits are applied to 
relieve the widows and orphans of clergymen. The 
meetings are held yearly, alternately in each city, and 
continue for three days. 
ago. Besides the amusements common to jfusicai 
all {gers towns, there is in Gloucester, Worcester, festival. 
an 
