BERKELEY is a parish, comprising the corporate and market town of Berkeley, with the tithings of ALKINGTON, BREADSTONE, HAMFALLOW, HINTON and HAM, and STONE, 114 miles from London, 15 south-south-west from Gloucester, 7 from Thornbury, and 19 north from Bristol; it is a seaport and railway station and polling place for the Western division of the county. In Berkeley hundred, Thornbury union, Dursley county court district, rural deanery of Dursley, Gloucester archdeaconry, and diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. The town is situated near the navigable river Severn, about 2 ½ miles west from the Berkeley Road station on the Bristol and Birmingham railway, and 3½ south from the Gloucester and Berkeley canal. In the reign of Edward I this town was a borough, but the charter has been annulled, though there is still a corporation.

The petty sessions for the upper division of the hundred are held at the petty sessional court house. The town is lighted with gas.

The church of St. Mary is a large ancient stone edifice, in the Early English, or Pointed style; it consists of large chancel, with an ornamental stone screen dividing it from the nave and aisles, with seven pointed arches on either side, resting on clustered pillars: it was thoroughly restored and re-seated in 1866, at a cost of about £5,000, which was defrayed by the late Lord Fitshardinge, supplemented by the contributions of the parishioners; there is a large north porch with chamber over it; in the chancel is a handsome stained memorial window to Dr. Edward Jenner, which was erected by public subscription in 1873, at a cost of £500: the square tower, 90 feet high, is about 50 yards from the church, and contains 6 bells; the Berkeley family have a mausoleum on the south side of the chancel, and the organ is on the north. The register dates from the year 1664.

The living is a rectory and vicarage, the yearly value being for the rectorial £970, and the vicarial £750, in the gift of Lord Fitzhardinge, and held by the Rev/ John Seton-Karr, M.A. of Magdalen College, Oxford; the Rev Jonathon Lett Stackhouse, M.A. OF Exeter College Oxford, domestic chaplain to Lord Fitzhardinge, is curate in sole charge.

The district church of St. John, at Purton, is a stone building in the Early English style, erected in 1874, at a cost of £1,000 ; it consists of apse, nave, porch, and one bell in an open turret. There is a chapel Wick, erected by the landed proprietors in 1875, which is also used as a day school. There is an iron church (St Michael’s) at Breadstone, opened December 19^th 1878, and an iron church at Sharpness. Here are Congregational and Wesleyan chapels.

There is an endowed Free School and a National school supported solely by Lord Fitzhardinge: there is also a National school at Wick, a Church school at Sharpness supported by the Dock Company, and a Public Elementary school at Purton, maintained by George Muller, esq. of Bristol.

A Cottage Hospital, under the management of Lady Fitzhardinge, was established in 1877.

There is a reading room and library in the Town Hall.

In this town was born and buried Dr. Edward Jenner, who introduced the practice of vaccination.

There is a Burial Board, consisting of nine members: the late Lord Fitzhardinge lent the money for the purchase of a piece of ground for a cemetery, which was completed in 1865; the debt being paid off from the poor rates of the parish; the cemetery is at the north end of the town; it is 3 acres in extent, and has a lych gate and house for the sexton: the first interment was made in 1866.

The trade consists chiefly in coals, timber, malt and cheese. Fairs are held on the 14^th of May and 2^nd Monday in December, for cattle and pigs, and markets are held on the first Wednesday in each month excepting May and December.

There are numerous charities, amounting in the whole to £130 yearly.

The manor embraces nearly thirty parishes, and is one of the most extensive in the kingdom: it was granted by William the Norman to Roger de Berkeley; Henry II deprived his successor of the title and estates for espousing the cause of Stephen, and conferred them upon Robert Fitzhardinge, who assumed the title of Baron de Berkeley. In this castle, after experiencing all the indignities and cruelties that could be conceived, the unfortunate Edward II was murdered by his keepers—the Lords Gournay and Montravers; above the steps leading to the keep is a room called the Dungeon, containing the original furniture, and which is shown as having been the place where the deed was committed: the castle is the residence of Lord Fitzhardinge, and is one of the most ancient and interesting feudal fortresses yet retaining in England: it was built in the latter end of the 12^th century, by Robert Fitzhardinge, on whom the Great Manor of Berkeley had been conferred by King Henry II., and it has remained in the possession of his descendants down to the present time, the present Lord Fitzhardinge being the twenty-eighth owner in direct descent in the male line: it consists of a keep, almost circular in form, an inner courtyard, surrounded by buildings of antique castellated form, containing a noble hall, a chapel, and a great number of apartments which have undergone no more alteration than was necessary to accommodate them to modern use; the dungeon room in the keep in which King Edward II was murdered in 1327, remains in very much its original condition: the castle was besieged by the Parliamentary forces in 1645, and was surrendered upon honourable terms, but was afterwards given back to George Lord Berkley, on condition of its being rendered incapable of defence: the castle is surrounded by terraces bright with flowers, and a beautiful lawn studded with majestic Scotch fir trees and cedars.

White Cliff Park, one mile south-west of the castle is the property of Lord Fitzhardinge; it is about 330 acres in extent, and is used as a deer park.

The principal landowners are Lord Fitzhardinge, John James Croome, Thomas Breadstone Croome and William James Marsh, esqrs, and the Rev. Sir Edward Harry Vaughan Colt, bart.

The soil is various, with sand and clay; subsoil marl, clay and gravel. The area of the entire parish is 13,420 acres of land and 2,320 of water: gross estimated rentals—Berkeley, £2,681; Alkington, £11,368: Breadstone, £2,611; Ham and Stone, £9,832; Hamfallow, £5,834; Hinton £8,443;

The population in 1871 was,

Berkeley Borough 1,161

Alkington tithing, 1 mile east, 921

Breadstone tithing 2 miles north-east, 140

Ham tithing, ½ mile south, 635

Hamfallow tithing and Hanmore and Wansell hamlets, 3 miles north, 928

Hinton tithing and Purton hamlet, 3 miles north, 562

Stone chapelry, 3 miles south, 260. More details under a separate heading.

Parish Clerk, vacant.

POST, MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Savings Bank & Government Annuity & Insurance Office.—Daniel Ford, postmaster.

Letters are delivered at 6.45 a.m. and 8 p.m.; dispatched at 4.30 a.m. & 7.5 p.m.

Money order office open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

COUNTY MAGISTRATES Attending the Petty Sessions.

Lord Fitzhardinge

Herbert Jenner Fust, esq.

Samuel Long, esq.

Herbert Jenner Fust, jun. Esq.

Capt. Morse

Clerk, Charles Scott B.A.

Petty Sessions are held at the Petty Sessional Court.—Berkeley, & all the tithings therein, viz.; Alkington, Breadstons, Hamfallow, Hinton & Ham & Stone

CORPORATION

Mayor, Daniel Sutton

Sergeant-at-Mace, Frederick J. Sermon

Aldermen from the years,

1852 & 1868 David Legge

1853 & 1869 William Gaisford

1854 & 1871 John Cary

1859 Lord Fitzhardinge

1862 & 1867 James Gastrel Phillips, esq.

1863, 1864 & 1878 Daniel Sutton esq.

1866 Alexander Mackintosh, esq/

1867 Octavius Long esq.

1870 Isaac Thomas Bridgman

1872 William Sharland

1876 James Herbert Crook

INSURANCE AGENTS.—

Accident ; Clerical Medical & General Life ; Law Fire & North British Life &Fire, C Scott B.A.

Norwich British Life & Fire, W. Legge

Phoenix Fire, Mrs. S. Parslow

Provident Life, T. Edwards, The Bank

Sun Fire, T. Adams

PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS

Excise Office, ‘Berkeley Arms’

Stamp Office, Thomas Adams, distributor

Police Station, Thomas Taylor, sergeant

PUBLIC OFFICERS.—

Clerk to the Magistrates for the Upper Division of the Hundred, to Highway Board, to Burial Board, to Gas Inspectors & Sanitary Committee & Steward to Lord Fitzhardinge’s Manors in the County of Gloucester, Charles Scott, B.A.

Assistant Overseers, Thomas Greenfield, Berkeley; Thomas King, jun. Bevington; George Evans, Woodford.

Registrar of Births Deaths & Marriages, Hy Codrington

Deputy Registrar, Arthur Rodway

Relieving Officer, Henry Codrington

Harbour Master, James Calway, Sharpness

Customs (Examining Officer), Charles Cox, Sharpness

Sub-Agent & Surveyor to Lloyds, Jas. Calway, Sharpness

SCHOOLS.—

Free, Rev. John Seton-Karr, M.A. master; Noah Gilbert, deputy master

National, Amoss Moss, master; miss Sophia Ponting, mistress

National, Wick, Miss Silvia Bowkett, mistress

Church (infants’), Sharpness, Miss Mary Eleanor Burton, mistress

Public Elementary, Purton, James Winter, master

CONVEYANCE.— Omnibus from the ‘Berkeley Arms’ to meet every train at the Berkeley road, or Berkeley stations.

RAILWAY STATIONS—

Berkeley Road, William Day Chorley Station master

Berkeley, William Mabbett, station master

Sharpness, L.O. Kidd, station master

Sharpness is a seaport and terminus of the Sharpness branch of the Midland railway, in the tithing of Hinton, 3 miles north-by-west from Berkeley. Here are extensive docks which were opened November 25^th 1874, and consist of a tidal basin 545 feet in length by 250 feet in width, lock 320 feet by 60 feet, floating dock 2,200 feet in length and 24 feet in depth, and graving dock 350 feet in length by 50 feet in width, and with a depth of water of 15 feet. Ships of moderate tonnage now go direct to Gloucester by way of the Gloucester and Sharpness ship canal. A bridge is in course of construction across the river Severn, which will connect the docks with the coal fields of Wales; when completed there will be facilities for shipping coal from this port, which will then, doubtless, become a thriving place.

POST, MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE & Savings Bank.—Oliver George Marling, subpostmaster. Letters arrive from Berkeley at 8 a.m., dispatched at 6 p.m.

PRIVATE RESIDENTS

Fitzhardinge Lord, Berkeley castle

Alpass Mrs

Ayris Mrs

Bartlett Rev. Arthur Rbt. M.A. [curate]

Bridgeman Isaac Thomas

Crewe Rev. Walter Francis [curate] Sharpness

Cooke James Herbert

Croome James, Breadstone

Edwards Frederic

Evans Rev. David [Congregational]

Hadley Timothy, Purton

Hadley William Pearce

Hickes George

Hickes, The Misses

Hooper Thomas, Lion house, Newport

Jones Richard, Acton house

Long William Alkington

Marsh Miss, Breadstone

Marsh William John Lorridge farm

Matthews William, Wanswell

Palairett Captain Charles Harvey

Paradise Mrs.

Scott Charles, B.A. Actree house

Sermon Frederick Jeremiah

Stackhouse Rev. Jonathon Lett, M.A. [curate in charge]

Woolright Mrs. Salter house

COMMERCIAL

Ackland Elizabeth (Mrs.), shopkeeper

Adams Thomas, linen draper & farmer

Aldridge Edward, hairdresser

Allen Charles, farmer Heathfield

Allen Robert, farmer, Blackhall

Allen Wm., farmer & cattle dealer, Clapton

Alpass George, furniture dealer

Alpass John, beer retailer, Hamfallow

Alpass John, jun, grocer

Alpass Thomas, grocer & baker

Ashby Edwin, beer retailer, Oldminster

Ayliffe Charles & James, carpenters & wheelwrights

Ayliffe Charles, brickmaker

Bailey Robert, farmer, Abwell

Bailey Thomas Pearce, farmer, Walgaston farm, Mobley

Baker Elias, George

Baker John, shopkeeper

Ballinger George, farmer, Hogsdown

Ballinger Henry, farmer, Newport

Barber Henry, farmer, Blisbury

Barber John, farmer, Woodland farm

Barrett Elizabeth (Mrs.), beer retailer, Halmore

Barter James, farmer, Wick

Barton Elias, farmer, Oakleys farm

Barton Richard, farmer, Goldwick

Barton Susanna (Mrs.), farmer, Bevington

Bell Edward Collinson, chemist

Bell Jemima (Mrs.), milliner

Bennett Elizabeth (Mrs.), Boar’s Head

Booth & Co. Timber merchants. Sharpness

Bragg Elias, White Hart, Newport

Bridgeman Isaac Thomas, surgeon

Brown Gopsill & Son, sack contractors

Calway James, harbourmaster, & sub-agent & surveyor to Lloyd’s Agency, Sharpness

Carrington William, butcher

Cary John, farmer, Hamfield

Chard John, Old Bell, Alkington

Churchill John, baker

Clark Daniel, fancy repository

Clark Peter, smith & ironmonger

Clark Thomas, brickmaker, Oakhanger

Clark Thomas, park keeper to Lord Fitzhardinge, White Cliff park

Clutterbuck John, farmer, Buckets hill

Codrington, Eliza Ann & Anna Maria (Misses), ladies school

Codrington Henry, registrar of births, deaths & marriages & relieving officer

Cook Charles, farmer, Halmore

Cook George, beer retailer

Cook Job, Crown, Newport

Cooke James Herbert, land agent to Lord Fitzhardinge

Cooke Joseph Chamberlain, shopkeeper, Sharpness

Cope Ellen (Mrs.), Swan

Cope George, plasterer

Cope James, plasterer

Copeland Hannah (Miss), ladies’ school

Corbett Harcourt Edmund, chemist

Cornock John, jun, farmer, Blanchwrth

Cornock Mary (Mrs.), farmer, Breadstone

Cottage Hospital (J.Y. Bridgeman, medical attendant)

Cox James, farmer, Rookery farm

Cox Robert, farmer, Woodford

Creese Edmund, farmer, Halmore

Creese Henry, farmer, Halmore

Cullimore James, farmer, Swanley grn

Curtis Albert Aug. Chemist, Sharpness

Daly Robert, ship builder, Sharpness

Dauncey William, farmer, Crawless farm

Daw Hy. Farmer, Floodgate farm, Ham

Dowell Amelia (Mrs.), Coal Merchant

Edwards Frederic, manager to branch of Gloucestershire Banking Co.

Evans George, farmer, Woodford

Fear Benjamin, cooper & brewer

Ford Charles, farmer, Clapton

Fore Samuel, coal & corn merchant, Sharpness; & at Nailsworth

Fox S.H. & Co. Corn warehouse, Sharpness

Foxwell Benjamin, farmer, Breadstone

Gabb Henry, farmer, Wick

Gabb John, farrier, Woodford

Gas Works (Nathanl. Moffatt, proprtr)

Gazard James, farmer, Panthurst

Gazard Thomas, farmer, Prior’s Wood

Gazard William, farmer, Halmore

Gloucestershire Bankins Co. (Branch) Frederic Edwards, manager); draw on Union Bank of London

Glover Mry. Ann (Mrs.), wine & Spirit mer.

Graham Jas. Bluchr. Blcksmth. Sharpness

Greenfield Thomas, sergeant-major of Berkeley Squad of Royal Gloucestershire Hussars, & assistant overseer

Gregory & Son, saw mills, Wick

Grove Edward, saddler, Clapton

Grove Thomas, farmer, Appleridge farm

Hadley Frank & Sidney, millers, Purton

Hadley Ellis, miller, Oil mills

Hale Hannah (Mrs.), beer retailer

Harding Stephen, farmer Sanigar farm

Harding William C. Butcher, Sharpness

Harris Charles, farmer, Breadstone

Harris John, farmer, Breadstone

Hawker Sidney William, farmer, Wick

Hawker William, farmer, Hamfallow

Hodder George, Berkeley Arms, Purton

Hodder James. Shopkeeper, Sharpness

Hooper Thomas, farmer, Newport

Isaac James, grocer

James Thomas, carpenter

Jenkins Egbert, Mariners’ Arms

Johns & Son, shop chandlers, Sharpness

Jones Daniel, Passage House, Purton

Jones Robert C. Farmer, Halmore

Jones William Cox, farmer Woodford

Kerman Chas. Ship engineer, Sharpness

King John, jun. Salmon fisher, Ham

King Joseph, farmer, New park

King Samuel, boot & shoe maker

King Thomas, blacksmith

King Thos. Farmer & butcher, Bevington

King Thomas, jun. Assistant overseer for Ham & Stone, Bevington

King William, farmer, Bevington

Knight Edmund, baker, Woodford

Knight James, beer retailer, Bevington

Lane John Alfred, grocer & outfitter, Sharpness

Legge David & Son, auctioneers

Leonard Geo. Nelmes, farmer Brown’smill