COLESHILL - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"COLESHILL, a parish and market town in the hundred of Hemlingford, in the county of Warwick, 10 miles E. of Birmingham, and 11½ N.W. of Coventry. It has a railway station on the Midland line. It is a small market, post, and petty-sessions town, and a polling and election place for the northern parliamentary division of Warwickshire. The town, which mainly consists of one long street, running from N. to S., is pleasantly situated on an eminence near the river Cole, over which is a bridge.

It is well lighted with gas, and contains a market-house, bank, Union poorhouse, and police station, besides a handsome reading-room, built by the vicar for the use of Coleshill Institute. The inhabitants are chiefly engaged in agriculture. The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Worcester, value £718, in the patronage of G. D. W. Digby, Esq. The church, dedicated to SS. Peter and Paul, is a commodious and ancient structure in the decorated English style, with octagonal crocketed spire. It contains monuments and brasses of the Clinton and Digby families, and a beautiful Norman font. It was restored in 1858 at the cost of Mr. Digby and his brother, the vicar.

There is a free grammar school, founded by the Digby's, and National and infant schools for boys and girls. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a chapel, and there are almshouses for poor widows. This place gives the title of viscount to the Earl of Digby, who is the chief landowner. Market day is Wednesday, and there are cattle fairs held on the Monday before Shrove Tuesday, the 6th of May, and the first Monday in the months of January, July, and October."

"GILSON, a village in the parish of Coleshill, hundred of Hemlingford, county Warwick, 1 mile N.W. of Coleshill."

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