Marshfield

"MARSHFIELD, a parish and market town in the upper division of the hundred of Thornbury, county Gloucester, 9½ miles W. of Chippenham, its post town, and 11 E. of Bristol. It is situate under the Cotswold hills, and on the London and Bristol road. The parish comprises the hamlets of Becks, Rocks, and Weston Town. The town consists chiefly of one street nearly a mile in length, with many old houses. It is governed by a bailiff and serjeant-at-mace, annually elected at the manorial court. There are numerous maltings and a brewery. Several barrows exist in the neighbourhood. The impropriate tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £680, with 118 acres of glebe, valued at £140, and the vicarial for £321 14s., with a glebe valued at £20.

The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value £409, in the patronage of New College, Oxford. The church, dedicated to St. Mary, is an ancient structure of stone, with a square tower at the W., and containing six bells. The interior of the church contains several tablets and monuments. There are numerous charities, producing about £280 per annum, distributed in various ways. There are almshouses for 8 persons, endowed by N. Crispe in 1625, also endowed free schools for both sexes, founded in 1722. The Primitive Methodists, Unitarians, and Independents have each a chapel, and an infant school is attached to the latter.

Ashwick House and the Rocks are the principal residences. Robert Hume, Esq., is lord of the manor. Market day is Tuesday, and fairs are held on the 24th May and 24th October-the former for cattle and sheep, and the latter for horses, sheep, and cheese."

"BECKS, a hamlet in the parish of Marshfield, hundred of Upper Thornbury, in the county of Gloucester, not far from Marshfield."

"ROCKS, a hamlet in the parish of Marshfield, county Gloucester, 2 miles S. of Marshfield."

"WESTON TOWN, a hamlet in the parish of Marshfield, county Gloucester, 1 mile N.W. of Marshfield."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868)
Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]