NEWENT, Gloucestershire - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"NEWENT, a parish, post, and market town in the hundred of Botloe, county Gloucester, 8 miles N.W. of Gloucester, and 111 W. by N. of London. It is situated in Dean Forest, to the westward of the river Severn, and on the Hereford and Gloucester canal, which has a very commodious wharf here. The parish, which is large, is intersected by the turnpike road leading from Gloucester to Hereford, and by the road to Ledbury. It comprises the tythings of Boulsdon, Compton, Cugley, and Malswick, and is a polling and petty session town.

A Benedictine priory was founded here by Roger Montgomery, as a cell to Cormeille, in Normandy, soon after the Norman conquest, and on the suppression of alien priories, it was given by Henry IV. to Fotheringay College. The town, which was formerly a borough, and a place of considerable importance, is said by Leland to have derived its name from a new inn, erected for the accommodation of travellers when the communication with Wales was first opened by this route. The site of the old inn is now called the Boothall.

It has one long and principal street, containing several well-built houses and shops. There are manufactories of linen, nails. &c.; also numerous maltings and flour-mills. Newent is celebrated for its cyder and perry, the produce of the orchards with which the neighbourhood abounds. Petty sessions are held at the magistrates' office every alternate Monday, and the county court at the George Hotel, on the last Tuesday of every month, for the recovery of debts not exceeding £20.

There are several mineral springs in this parish possessing similar properties to the Cheltenham waters. The chief one is but a short distance from the town. The Poor-law Union comprises 18 parishes and townships, 14 of which are in the county of Gloucester, and 2 each in the counties of Hereford and Worcester. The Ell rivulet flows through the northern part of the parish, turning several mills on its course to the Leadon. The soil is chiefly a light sand, and very productive. The greater part of the land is arable and pasture, with some extensive apple-orchards, and about 965 acres of woodland. The tithes have been commuted for a rent-charge of £1,541 15s.

The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value £1,600. The church, dedicated to the Virgin Mary, is an ancient structure, the work of different periods, with a lofty spired tower containing six bells. The spire was erected in 1679, at which period the church was thoroughly restored, and partly rebuilt. The interior has several monuments of great antiquity, and the effigies of a knight in armour.

The parochial charities produce about £49 per annum. There are almshouses for 12 poor persons, and a National school for both sexes. The Independents and Wesleyans have each a place of worship. New-Court and Pidgeon House are the principal residences. Miss Foley is lady of the manor. Market day is Friday. Fairs are held on the Wednesdays before Easter and Whit Sundays, and on the 12th August; and statute fairs on the 19th September, and two following Fridays."

"BOULSDON, a tything united with Kilcott, in the parish of Newent, hundred of Botloe, in the county of Gloucester, 9 miles to the N. W. of Gloucester. It is situated in the Forest of Dean."

"COMPTON, a tything in the parish of Newent, hundred of Botloe, in the county of Gloucester, 2 miles N.E. of Newent."

"CUGLEY, a tything in the parish of Newent, hundred of Botloe, in the county of Gloucester, 8 miles N.W. of Gloucester. It is situated on the verge of Dean Forest, near the Hereford canal."

"KILLCOTT, a tything in the parish of Newent, hundred of Botloe, county Gloucester, 1 mile from Newent, and 8 miles N.W. of Gloucester. It is joined to Boulsdon to form a township. The village, which is considerable, is situated in Dean Forest, near the Hereford canal."

"MALSWICK, a tything in the parish of Newent, hundred of Botloe, county Gloucester, near Newent."

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