Westbury on Trym

"WESTBURY-UPON-TRYM, a parish, township, and village, partly in the lower division of Henbury hundred, county Gloucester, and partly in the county of the city of Bristol, 3½ miles N.W. of Bristol. It is situated on the N. bank off the Severn, and includes the hamlets of Ridland, Stoke Bishop, and Shirehampton, the last now forming a separate ecclesiastical district. Cotham stone is obtained, and limestone and lead ore abound. The population has increased from 6,728 in 1851, to 8,329 in 1861.

A monastery was founded here in the 9th century, which subsequently was refounded as a cell to Worcester Priory, and in 1289 became a college for a dean and canons. Its revenue at the Dissolution was estimated at £232 14s., and the house, which remained till the reign of Charles I., was burned by Prince Rupert to prevent its falling into the power of the parliament. The principal seats are Westbury College, including the ruins of the old monastery, and Redland Court.

The living is a perpetual curacy* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, value £630. The church is dedicated to the Holy Trinity, and was formerly collegiate; the chancel was built by Bishop Carpenter in the 15th century. There is a district church at Shirehampton, and a chapel-of-ease at Redland. The Baptists and Wesleyans have chapels, and there are National and other schools. The parochial charities produce about £200 per annum. About 1½ mile N.E. of the village is a cavern called Pen Park Hole. Wickliffe, Prebendary of Aust, and Bishop Carpenter were born here."

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