UPLEADON, anciently LEDENE, is a small parish and straggling village 2 miles north-east from Newent, 9 south-east from Ledbury, 9 south-west from Tewkesbury and 8 west-north-west from Gloucester, situated on the ancient road leading from Newent to Tewkesbury, and bounded on the east and north by the river Leadon, which here divides the county from Worcestershire, in the Western division of the county, hundred of Botloe, Newent union and county court district, rural deanery of North Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester and diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.

The church, with an interesting Saxon arch, is small and consists of a chancel, nave and high half-timbered tower containing 2 bells: on the north side is an elegant Norman arch: it is now (1879) being restored under the direction of Ewan Christian, architect, at a cost of upwards of £500: the chancel contains a good stained window and there is a handsome tomb with brasses in the graveyard. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £300, with residence and 42 acres of glebe, in the gift of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol and held by the Rev. George Nicholas Gray Lawson, M.A. of St. John’s College, Cambridge. The rectorial tithes, value £364, which have been purchased by the Ecclesiastical Commissioners from the impropriators, the Dean and Chapter of Gloucester and partly held by the vicar, value £203.

Richard H.Hodges, esq. is chief landowner and lord of the manor. The soil is a red loam, about a third of which is in pasture and meadow, situated on the banks of the Leadon, by which this parish is bounded on the east. The arable portion is planted with fruit trees of the choicest description, but at a sufficient distance from each other not to obstruct the growth of the crops; subsoil, clay and gravel. There were formerly considerable iron forges here, which have been converted into a flour mill. The area is 11,207 acres; rateable value, £2,281 the population in 1871 was 245.

Parish Clerk, George Niblett.

Letters from Gloucester via Newent, which is the nearest money order office.

National School (mixed), chiefly supported by voluntary rate & Government grant, Miss Helen Osgood, mistress

CARRIERS (passing through):-

Clint, from Corse to Gloucester, every Saturday, returning same day

Mrs. Charlotte Watkins, from Upleadon to Gloucester, every Saturday, returning same day

RESIDENTS

Lawson Rev. George Nicholas Gray, M.A. Vicarage

COMMERCIAL

Boulter Moses, farmer, Eden’s hill

Broadstock John, blacksmith

Compton George, farmer

Compton William, jun. Farmer

Fewster Anthony, miller

Hart Ansell, carpenter & wheelwright

Hart Silas, farmer, Hay farm

Hartland Wm. Farmer, Upleadon court

James Gilbert, farmer, Middletown

Merrett Albert, blacksmith & wheelwright

Merrett William blacksmith & farmer

Watkins Joseph, shopkeeper

Whittle Elizabeth (Mrs.), shopkeeper

Wood William, basket maker