HEWELSFIELD is a village and parish, 2½ miles north-west from Woolastone station, on the South Wales railway, 9 south-east from Monmouth, 6 north from Chepstow, 7 south from Coleford, and 148 from London, in the Western division of the county, hundred of St Briavels, union and county court district of Chepstow, rural deanery of South Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester and diocese of Gloucester & Bristol; it is bounded on the west by the river Wye, which here divides the county from Monmouthshire.

The church of St. Mary is an ancient stone building having chancel, transepts, nave and south aisle, separated by an arcade of Norman arches, and central tower containing 5 bells. The register dates from the year 1663. The living is a rectory, yearly value £132, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Hereford and held by the Rev. Edwin Giles, M.A. of St. John’s College, Oxford. There are charities amounting to £17 yearly value.

The principal landowners are Alexander Smith esq. who is lord of the manor, and the trustees of the late Dowager Countess of Dunraven. The soil is clayey; subsoil, limestone and sandstone. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats.

The area is 1,189 acres; rateable value £2,018.

The population in 1871 was 395.

Parish Clerk, Peter Darby.

Letters are received through Coleford. St. Briavels is the nearest money order office.

National School, Miss Ada Browning, mistress

RESIDENTS

Ennis Mrs. Common

Giles Rev. Edwin, M.A. Rectory

Lamb Franc is, Harts Hill grange

Scott John, Bellmount

Smith Mrs. Malthouse, Brockweir

Titterington Rev. W.Thomson [Moravian], Brockweir

COMMERCIAL

Bird William farmer & assistant overseer, Yew Tree cottage,

Bowen Eliza (Mrs.), shopkeeper, Brockweir

Bowen John, coal dealer & boat owner, Brockweir

Brown Charles, Ship

Brown John, shipwright, Brockweir

Brown Tomas, Royal Arms Inn, Brockweir

Bullock Fredk. Farmer, Harts Hill court

Bullock William, farmer, Poolfield

Bullock William, farmer, Brockweir

Burroughs Wm. Farmer, Cows Hill farm

Cloke Henry, farmer, Brook farm

Cockman William, farmer, Wye View

Croome Daniel, mason, The Common

Darby Thomas, farmer, The Common

Dibden Alice (Mrs.), New inn, Brockweir

Dibden H. farmer & miller, The Common

Dibden Philip. Shopkeeper, Brockweir

Herbert Philip, farmer, The Common

Howse Hy.Chas., farmer, The Common

Jones Isaac, farmer Hudnalls

Moore Mary Ann (Mrs.), shopkeeper

Morgan Walter, farmer, Pear Tree cottage

Prichard John, Carpenters’ Arms, & farmer

Prince George, butcher & farmer, Brockweir

Ravenhill Harriet (Mrs.), farmer, The Common

Selby Shadrach, mason, The Common

Smith Charles, miller, Brockweir

Smith Henry, butcher, Tumpkinhales

Spencer George, farmer

Thomas John Parrot inn, & timber merchant

Thorn John, farmer, Field gate

Townshend William Willmott, farmer, The Common

Usher George, farmer, The Common

Whittington Mary (Miss), farmer, The Common

Worgan William, timber dealer & farmer, Hart Hill cottage.