Bisley Gloucestershire Family History Guide
Bisley is an Ancient Parish in the county of Gloucestershire.
The parish includes also the tythings of Avenis, Bidfield, Oakridge, Steanbridge, Throngham, and Tunley
Parish church: All Saints
Parish registers begin: 1547
Nonconformists include: Independent/Congregational, Particular Baptist, Primitive Methodist, Society of Friends/Quaker, Swedenborgian/New Jerusalem/New Church, and Wesleyan Methodist.
Table of Contents
Adjacent Parishes
Parish History
Bisley
Beeton’s British Gazetteer 1870
Bisley, a parish, (formerly a market town), in the hundred of Bisley, county of Gloucester, 11 miles (S.E.) from Gloucester, and 97 (W.) from London, containing 5421 inhabitants.
The town is situated partly on the acclivity of a hill, and partly in the vale beneath it, which is watered by a small stream. The streets are irregularly formed, and contain few houses of respectable appearance.
The inhabitants are chiefly employed in the manufacture of broad cloth, which is carried on to a considerable extent. The Thames and Severn canal passes through the parish, and, near the extremity of it, enters a tunnel, through which it is conducted for nearly two miles and a half under Salperton hill.
A market was formerly held here, but it has been discontinued: the fairs are, May 4th and November 12th. The town is within the jurisdiction of a court of requests held at Cirencester division of the county, for the seven hundreds of Cirencester, established by an act passed in the 32nd of George III., for the recovery of debts under 40s: constables and other officers are appointed at the court leet of the lord of the manor.
The living is a vicarage, in the archdeaconry and diocese of Gloucester, rated in the king’s books at £19. 10. 5., and in the gift of the Crown. The church, dedicated to All Saints, is a spacious and handsome structure, partly in the decorated, and partly in the later style of English architecture, with a tower surmounted by a lofty spire: among other interesting monuments within it, is a statue of one of the family of Nottingham.
In the church-yard there is an octagonal cross, handsomely pannelled in trefoil, and surmounted with an ancient font, erected over a well, in which a man having been drowned, the cemetery was placed under an interdict for three years, during which time, the dead were carried to Bibury for interment.
The free school is supported by a portion of the produce of lands left for the repair of the church, the payment of the clerk, and the salary of the school master, who receives at present £13. 14, per annum. A blue coat school for clothing and instructing ten boys, endowed in 1820, by Mr. Taylor, has been incorporated with the free school, and the master receives a salary of £12. 12. per annum, for instructing the boys.
The common, then consisting of one thousand two hundred acres, was given to the poor of this parish by Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, in the reign of Edward III. ; a considerable part of it has been enclosed. At Lilly-house, a hamlet near the town, a vaulted chamber was discovered, with several adjoining apartments, having tessellated pavements, and niches in the walls ; some other relics of antiquity, supposed to be Roman, have also been found at Custom-Scrubs, another adjacent hamlet.
Source: Beeton’s British Gazetteer 1870. Ward, Lock & Tyler, Paternoster Row, London.
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
Bisley, a decayed small town, a parish, a subdistrict, and a hundred in Gloucester.
The town stands 1¾ mile N of the Cheltenham and Great Western Union railway, in the neighbourhood of the Sapperton tunnel, and 3¼ miles E of Stroud. It has a post office under Stroud; is a polling-place; and long carried on a considerable manufacture of woollens, which now is nearly extinct. A weekly market used to be held on Thursday, but now is merely nominal. Fairs are held on May 4 and 12 Nov.
The parish includes also the tythings of Avenis, Bidfield, Bussage, Chalford, Oakridge, Steanbridge, Throngham, and Tunley. Acres, 8,033. Real property, £14,277. Pop., 4,692. Houses, 1,166. The property is much subdivided.
The manor belonged anciently to the Mortimers; and was held by Edward Duke of York, afterwards Edward IV. A common of 1,200 acres was given by Roger Mortimer, Earl of March, to the poor of the parish; but has been much curtailed by enclosure. Roman remains have been found at Custom-Scrubs; and a Roman pavement and vault at Lillythorne.
The living is a vicarage, united with the p. curacy of France-Lynch, in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. Value, £527. Patron, the Lord Chancellor. The church is decorated English, of the time of Edward IV.; was recently restored; and contains an ancient Norman font, a monument of a crusader, supposed to be one of the Nottingham family, and a brass of Catherine Sewell. A stone cross, believed to be of the 13th century, octagonal and finely panelled, is in the churchyard.
The vicarages of Bussage, Chalford, and Oakridge are separate benefices.
There are four dissenting chapels, endowed schools with £56, and other charities with £242.
The subdistrict is conterminate with the parish; and is in the district of Stroud.
The hundred contains seven parishes. Acres, 27,003. Pop., 18,483. Houses, 4,163.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales 1851
Bisley, a market-town and extensive parish in the hund. of Bisley, union of Stroud, county of Gloucester , 97 miles west of London, and 3}½ east by north of Stroud, intersected by the Gloucester and Bristol railway, and the Stroudwater canal.
The parish includes the chapelry of Chalford. The market-day is Thursday, but from the difficulty of access it is little attended. Fairs are held on May 4th, and November 12th, for cattle, sheep, and horses.
The inhabitants are much employed in the manufacture of woollens. In 1838 there were 3 woollen mills here, employing 70 hands. The electors vote for the members for East Gloucester.
Living, a vicarage in the archd. of Gloucester, and dio. of Gloucester and Bristol, valued at £19 10s. 5d.; gross income £528. Patron, the Crown. The church is an elegant building, in a mixed style of architecture. In the church-yard is an octagonal cross surmounted by an ancient font.
The Independents have a chapel here. Here is a free school with an endowment of £13 14s. per annum, the master of which also receives £12 12s., for the education of ten boys, who are also clothed on an endowment given in 1820 by Mr. Taylor. There are thirteen other daily schools in this parish, two of which are partly supported by endowment, and five Sunday schools. Charities connected with the parish produce about £88 per annum.
The common was given to the poor of Bisley by Roger Mortimer, earl of March, in the reign of Edward III.; it consisted at first of 1200 acres, but has been in a great measure inclosed. Several Roman antiquities have been found in the parish. Pop., in 1801, 4,227; in 1831, 5,896. Houses 1,264. Acres 7,980. A.P. £7,683. Poor rates, in 1837, £1,911.
Source: The Parliamentary Gazetteer of England and Wales; A Fullarton & Co. Glasgow; 1851.
Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales 1850
Bisley, 97 m. W. London, and 3½ m. E. Stroud. Mrkt., Thurs. P. 5339
Source: Leonard’s Gazetteer of England and Wales; Second Edition; C. W. Leonard, London; 1850.
Avenis
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
Avenis, a tything in Bisley parish, Gloucester; 4 ½ miles E of Stroud.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Chalford
Universal British Directory 1791
Chalford is two miles from Bisley, but in the same parish: it is a narrow but pleasant vale, the Thames and Severn canal running quite through it, with a large stream of water besides, on which are erected a great many mills for dressing of cloth, as the place is very noted for making of all sorts of broad cloths. The situation of this place is singularly romantic, and uncommonly pleasing. Here is carried on the woollen manufacture in different branches, and here are eight fulling mills, with tenters, &c. Its church has been new paved. It is lofty and large, with a nave and two aisles, and a high spire; in it are some ancient monuments.
Source: Universal British Directory 1791
France Lynch
Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales Circa 1870
France-Lynch, a chapelry in Bisley parish, Gloucester; near the Cheltenham railway and the Severn and Thames canal, 3 miles NE of Minchinhampton. Post-town, Stroud, Gloucestershire. The statistics are returned with the parish. The living is a p. curacy, annexed to the vicarage of Bisley, in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol.
Source: The Imperial Gazetteer of England & Wales [Wilson, John M]. A. Fullarton & Co. N. d. c. [1870-72].
Bankrupts
Below is a list of people that were declared bankrupt between 1820 and 1843 extracted from The Bankrupt Directory; George Elwick; London; Simpkin, Marshall and Co.; 1843.
Smart Charles, Chalford, Bisley, Gloucestershire, baker, July 27, 1827.
Parish Registers
Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences 1689 to 1837
The following have been extracted from Allegations for Marriage Licences in the county of Hampshire. Parishes without a named county are parishes within the county of Hampshire.
Wright, William, of Bisley, co. Gloucester, & Barbara Davis, at Eastrop, 1 Dec., 1726.
Source: Hampshire Allegations for Marriage Licences Granted by the Bishop of Winchester. 1689 to 1837 Published 1893 Editor: William John Charles Moens
Parish Records
FamilySearch
Directories
Kellys Gloucestershire Directory 1863
BISLEY is a parish and village, with the hamlets of CHALFORD, OAKRIDGE, TUNLEY, BUSSAGE, EASTCOMBS, FRANCE LYNCH, THROUGHAM, ELCOMB, and BIDFIELD, 102 miles from London, 3½ from the Brimscombe station of the Great Western railway, and 4 east from Stroud, the seat of the union and petty sessions. It is included in the Parliamentary borough of Stroud, and is a polling place for that borough, also for the eastern division of the county, in Bisley hundred, Stroud county court district, Stonehouse deanery, Gloucester archdeaconry, and Gloucester and Bristol diocese.
There are a National school for boys and girls, an infant school, and an Endowed Bluecoat school. A fair is held on the 4th of May and 12th of November, yearly for sheep, pigs &c.
EASTCOMBS is a hamlet in the parish of Bisley, containing a considerable population; it is distant 4 miles from Stroud, 2 from the Brimiscombe railway station, and 1 mile and á half from Bisley. Here is a large and handsome Baptist chapel
BUSSAGE is an ecclesiastical district in the parish of Bisley, distant 100 miles from London, 2 from Brimscombe railway station, and 4 from Stroud, in Stroud borough and union. The church is a neat stone building. The living is a perpetual curacy, in the patronage of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, of the annual value of £60; the Rev Edward Nelson Deane MA is the incumbent. The register dates from 1848. The population in 1861 was about 200. The chief crops are wheat, turnips, and pasturage.
Bisley
Barker Rev Fredk MA Mansion ho
Bidmead Mr Samuel Daneway
Davies Mr Edward The Grove
Driver William Edward esq Watercombe house
Hancox Mr William Daneway
Keble Rev Thomas BD Vicarage
Lowder Rev William Henry BA curate
Newton Mrs The Grove
Smith Mrs Field house
COMMERCIAL
Baker Catherine Miss grocer
Baker John farmer Field house
Baker John, George & butcher
Baker John jun butcher
Blackwell William stonemason
Blanch Thomas farmer
Butt Thomas farmer Nash end
Chew Edwin blacksmith
Chew John blacksmith
Clissold Thomas farmer Staincombe
Clissold William farmer
Dowdeswell Daniel farmer Derrett’s farm
Dowdeswell Joseph farmer Sowmead’s farm
Driver Enoch farmer Hanstead farm
Driver Giles farmer Sidenham farm
Dutton John shopkeeper Water lane
Fawkes Edwin farmer Nash end
Fawkes Richard farmer Sheephouse
Fowler Joseph farmer Tunley
Gardiner Geo farmer Holdbrook farm
Gibbins Ann Mrs baker
Goddard George Red Lion & farmer
Goodfield Thomas farmer
Gregory William carpenter & farmer Hill farm
Gregory William plasterer
Hancox Henry farmer Tunley farm
Haviland John farmer Bidfield
Hazle George farmer Priest house
Hazle William brewer & maltster Cricketty mill
Holland Richard grocer & postmaster
Ireland William plasterer
James John tailor
Laurence William farmer & land owner Hazle house
Lewis John farmer Catswood farm
Lugg George shopkeeper
Lugg James King’s Head & butcher
Minchen John blacksmith
Mortimor George farmer Calfway
Nicholls William Bell
Partridge William New inn
Pegler Geo grocer baker & parish clerk
Petworth Wm Crown & shopkeeper
Pittway James relieving officer & registrar of births & deaths
Ratcliff Charles farmer Stancomb Ash farm
Restall William builder & contractor
Roe John carpenter & wheelwright
Roe Richard Bear
Rowles Marshall farmer Bourn’s grn
Shell William farmer Copse grove
Skinner Jane Mrs White Hart
Stephens Henry shoemaker
Stockham James cooper
Trinder John New inn
Watkins Thomas farmer
Whiting Stephen tailor
Whiting William tailor
Wilson John maltster
Post OPPICE – Richard Holland, receiver. Letters arrive from Stroud at 9.10 am; dispatched at 4.42 pm; on sundays dispatched at 11 am. The nearest money order office is at Stroud
INSURANCE Agent – Railway Passengers, Geo. Pegler
Police Station, Thomas White, sergeant & 1 man
Registrar of Births & Deaths & Relieving Officer, James Pittway
Free School, James David, master; Mrs Maria Gibbins, mistress
Througham
Bubb Frederick farmer Througham frm
Butcher William & Samuel farmers Slad farm
Evered John farmer
Evered Richard farmer
France Lynch
Cox Thomas stonemason
Duffort Thos Wolf veterinary
Dutton John King’s Head
Gregory William farmer
Tiffen Hannah Mrs shopkeeper
Twissell Levi farmer Avenes lane
Tyler Nathaniel Court House
Young Dinah Miss baker
Young Stephen baker
Bussage
Davis William esq
Deane Rev Edward Nelson MA incumbent
Price Mr John
Suckling Mrs Brown’s Hill house
COMMERCIAL
Arnold Robert shopkeeper
Bird Jonn shoemaker
Davis Levi shopkeeper
Eddles Mary Mrs Ram
Selwyn Thomas shopkeeper
Smith Samuel shopkeeper
Letters through Stroud which is the nearest money order office
Eastcombs
Whitlock Rev Henry Baptist
Antill Jacob shopkeeper
Collins Abel Bear
Cox Robert shopkeeper
Dutton Thomas Ridler, shopkeeper & coal merchant
Hook George baker
Hook Henry builder & contractor
Lewis John plasterer
Parker George shoemaker
Webb Elizabeth Mrs coal merchant
Whiting William shoemaker
Young William Red Lion
POST OFFICE – Mrs Ann Parker, receiver. Letters through Stroud, arrive at 9 am; dispatched at 5 pm. Infant School, Mrs Ann Parker, mistress
Source: Post Office Directory of Gloucestershire, Herefordshire, Shropshire and the City of Bristol, Printed and Published by Kelly and Co., Old Boswell Court, St. Clement’s, Strand, London. 1863.
Bisley (inc. Chalford) Universal directory 1791
Is a small inconsiderable town, but a very extensive and populous parish, in which the broad-cloth manufactory is carried on to a very considerable extent, particularly at Chalford, a village in this parish. The church is very large and spacious, and on account of its situation may be seen several miles round. Here is a free-school for boys, and a donation for clothing 6 widows yearly.
The canal, that unites the Thames with the Severn, runs through this parish; and on the verge of it commences that wonderful exertion of art and labour, a tunnel, which conveys the water of the canal 2 miles 5 furlongs under ground. Their majesties honoured this stupendous undertaking with a visit in August 1788.
Bisley is distant from London 97 miles, Gloucester 10, Painswick 4, Hampton 3, and Cheltenham 12 miles. It has no market; but two large annual fairs, chiefly for sheep, viz. May 4, and November 12. Hampton, or Minchinhampton, is the post-town. The New inn is an excellent house for accommodation.
The following are the principal inhabitants, including the parishes of Misserdine and Chalford:
Gentlemen.
Allaway John, Gent.
Aldridge Edward, Gent.
Baker Mathias, Gent. (F.)
Bidmead Samuel, Gent. (F.)
Blackwell Arthur, Gent. (F.)
Driver William, Gent. (F.)
Hancox Thomas, Gent. (F.)
Mills William Yarnton, Esq. (F.)
Partridge Harry, Gent. (F.)
Robertson William, Gent. (F.)
Rogers Nathaniel, Gent. (F.)
Selfe John, Esq. (F.)
Sevill William, Gent. (F.)
Smith William, Gent. (F.)
Turner William, Esq. (F.)
Tayloe William, Gent. (F.)
Clergy.
Hawkins Rev. Edward, (F.) Vicar
Jones Rev. – , Dissenter
Moore Rev. William, Curate
Milles Rev. Thomas, (F.) Clerk
Parry Rev. – , (F.) Clerk, Misserdine
Physic.
Cullurne Joseph, Surgeon
Traders, &c.
Bath Jacob, (F.) Draper
Ballinger Charles, (F.) Clothier
Child Charles, Cornfactor
Chew James, Musician
Clissold Mary
Drake Thomas, Draper
Jones John, sen. Clothier
Jones John, jun. Clothier
Innell John, sen. (F.) Clothier
Innell John, jun. Clothier
Innell William, (F.) Clothier
Innell James, Grocer
Matthews Thomas, (F.) Clothier
Matthews Thomas, (F.) Draper
Milles John, (F.) Soapboiler
Parker Thomas, (F.) Clothier
Phillips Catherine
Sevill William, (F.) Woolstapler
Tayloe William, (F.) Clothier
Trottman John, (F.) Clothier
Vander Perren Joseph, Innkeeper
Wynne Robert, Clothier
Chalford is two miles from Bisley, but in the same parish: it is a narrow but pleasant vale, the Thames and Severn canal running quite through it, with a large stream of water besides, on which are erected a great many mills for dressing of cloth, as the place is very noted for making of all sorts of broad cloths. The situation of this place is singularly romantic, and uncommonly pleasing. Here is carried on the woollen manufacture in different branches, and here are eight fulling mills, with tenters, &c. Its church has been new paved. It is lofty and large, with a nave and two aisles, and a high spire; in it are some ancient monuments.
Source: Universal British Directory 1791
Historical Newspapers
The following newspapers cover the area.
Gloucestershire Newspapers
Cheltenham Chronicle (The British Newspaper Archive)
Cheltenham Examiner (The British Newspaper Archive)
Cheltenham Journal and Gloucestershire Fashionable Weekly Gazette (The British Newspaper Archive)
Cheltenham Looker-On (The British Newspaper Archive)
Cheltenham Mercury (The British Newspaper Archive)
Cirencester Times and Cotswold Advertiser (The British Newspaper Archive)
Gloucester Citizen (The British Newspaper Archive)
Gloucester Journal (The British Newspaper Archive)
Gloucestershire Chronicle (The British Newspaper Archive)
Gloucestershire Echo (The British Newspaper Archive)
Stroud Journal (The British Newspaper Archive)
Stroud News and Gloucestershire Advertiser (The British Newspaper Archive)
Wilts and Gloucestershire Standard (The British Newspaper Archive)
Administration
- County: Gloucestershire
- Civil Registration District: Stroud
- Probate Court: Court of the Bishop of Gloucester (Episcopal Consistory)
- Diocese: Pre 1836 – Gloucester, Post 1835 – Gloucester and Bristol
- Rural Deanery: Stonehouse
- Poor Law Union: Stroud
- Hundred: Bisley
- Province: Canterbury