Stow on the Wold

"STOW-ON-THE-WOLD, a parish, post, and market town in the upper division of Slaughter hundred, county Gloucester, 9 miles N.E. of Northleach, and 3 W. of Addlestrop. It is a station on the Bourton branch of the Oxford, Worcester, and Wolverhampton section of the Great Western railway. It is intersected by the ancient Fosse Way, and is a polling and petty sessions town, comprising the hamlets of Donnington and Mangersbury. A charter for a market was procured in the reign of Edward III. by the Abbot of Evesham, then lord of the manor. Its government is invested in two constables, which are appointed at a court leet held by the lord of the manor annually.

The houses in general are of stone, but low, irregularly built, and of ancient appearance. The petty sessions are held at the "Unicorn" hotel on alternate Thursdays, and the board of guardians meet fortnightly at the union poorhouse. The Poor-law Union comprises 25 parishes in Gloucestershire and 2 in Worcestershire. It is also the head of new County Court and superintendent registry districts. There are a bank, savings-bank, reading-room, police station, &c. Brewing and malting are carried on to some extent. The cloth trade, which once flourished here, has been long abolished. It gives name to a deanery in the archdeaconry and diocese of Gloucester.

The living is a rectory* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value £525. The church, dedicated to St. Edward, contains effigies to D. Keyt, and tombs of the Chamberlaines of Mangersbury, who held the manor. It was erected in the 14th century by Ethalmere, who also founded a hospital. The parochial charities produce about £189 per annum. There are a grammar, National, and infant schools. The Independents, Wesleyans, and Baptists have chapels. Mangersbury House is the principal residence. Market day is Thursday, chiefly for corn. Cattle fairs are held on 12th May and 24th October, also two statute fairs for the hiring of servants on the Thursday prior to the 11th October and the Thursday following."

"MANGERSBURY, a hamlet in the parish of Stow-on-the-Wold, county Gloucester, half a mile S. E. of Stow. Mangersbury House is the principal residence."

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