Wickwar

"WICKWAR, a parish, market town, and borough by prescription, in the upper division of Grumbald's Ash hundred, county Gloucester, 4 miles N. of Chipping Sodbury, 15 N.E. of Bristol, and 20 S.W. of Gloucester. It is a station on the Midland Counties railway. This town is situated on the Cotswolds, and on the main road from Bristol to the N. The clothing trade was formerly carried on, but has for some time been discontinued. There are malthouses and a brewery, and a mechanics' institute, with library and reading-rooms.

The population in 1861 was 949. In the reign of Edward I. it received a grant of a weekly market and two annual fairs, and in that of Charles I. a charter of incorporation, under which it is governed by a mayor and an indefinite number of aldermen. A manorial court under Earl Ducie is held triennially in October, and a flower and fruit show annually at Tortworth Court, for growers among the earl's tenant farmers and allotment tenants. Coal has been discovered in the parish, which is watered by two small streams.

The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value £440. The church, dedicated to St. Thomas, or to the Holy Trinity, was repaired in 1829. There are chapels for Independents and Wesleyans, and National schools. The local charities produce about £125 per annum, besides which every labourer of this parish is allowed half an acre of land at a low rent, either under Earl Ducie or the rector. Market-day is on Monday. Fairs are held on 6th April, 2nd July, and the first Monday in November."

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