Almondsbury is a township, parish and village, with the tithings of Hempton and Patchway, Over and Tockington Lower, annexed, 8 miles west-south-west from Yate, and 8 north from the Bristol station, 4 ½ south from Thornbury, 20 north-west from Bath, and 116 from London, in Barton Regis, Berkeley, Thornbury, Lower Langley, and Swineshead Hundreds, Thornbury Union, West Gloucestershire, Bristol archdeaconry, and Gloucester and Bristol bishopric. It is situate on the Bristol and Gloucester road, or Ridgeway. The church of St. Mary is an ancient stone building, principally in the early English style; there is a handsome obituary east window, erected to Dr. Gray, late bishop of Bristol, by his family. The church consists of nave, aisles, porch, chancel, organ, tower, spire, clock and 8 bells. The living is a vicarage, value £900 yearly, with residence, in the gift of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol, who also owns the great tithes; the Rev. Henry Gray, M.A., is the incumbent; the Rev. Walter Gray, M.A., is the curate. There are two places of worship for Dissenters, and a National school for boys and girls, with master’s residence. Knole Park is the seat of Col. Master. Over Court in the seat of Robert Cann Lippincott, Esq. The population, in 1851, was 1,680, and the acreage is 6,926. The soil is mostly clay; the subsoil is limestone. Colonel Master is lord of the manor, and, with Robert Cann Lippincott, Esq., chief landowner. Here was a roman establishment. There are charities of between £200 and £300 yearly value. A chapel of ease was erected at the Cross Keys district in 1855. It is a neat stone building, in the early English style, with nave, chancel, porch, bell turret, and 2 bells.
Almondsbury tithing contains 599 inhabitants; Gaunt’s Earthcott tithing, 58; Lea tithing, 37; Hampton and Patchway tithing, 436; Over tithing, 107; Lower Tockington tithing, 443.
Woodhouse is 1 mile north-east; Sunday’s Hill, half a mile south; Hampton or Hempton, 1 mile south; Woodcock Hill, 1 mile north, Patchway, 1 ½ miles south-east; Over, 2 miles south-west; Barrow Hill, 1 mile west; Gaunt’s Earthcott, 2 ½ miles east; Horsham, 2 miles east; Ringhurst, 3 miles east; The Groves, 2 ½ miles east; Middle Hanger, 3 ½ miles north-east; Oldfields, 4 miles north-east; Bagwood, 2 miles east; Oakhill, 2 ½ miles east; Woodlands, 1 ½ miles southeast; Ellick’s Woods and Bowsland, 2 miles south-east; Halfway Bridge, 1 ½ miles south; Little Stoke, 2 miles south, Collicroft and Ramsleaze, 2 miles South; Catty Brook, or Knap House, 1 ½ miles south-west; Newman’s Hill and Bournehays, 2 miles west; Washingpool, 3 miles south-west; St. Swithin’s, 3 miles south-west; and Hayes, 3 miles south. Redriff is a farm.
There are some Roman roads; and near Knole Park is a camp, and a barrow near Over Court. To the west are marshes.
ALMONDSBURY
GENTRY
Gay Rev. Henry (vicar), Oaklands
Gray Rev. Walter (curate)
Lippincott Robert Cann, esq. Over Court
Master Col. William Chester, Knole pk.
TRADERS
Arnold Thomas, farmer, Targout fm. Lee
Barnett Sarah (Miss), dressmaker
Bennett John, farmer, Lee
Brown Jacob, farmer, Woodlands
Brown Stephen, farmer, Bagwood farm
Carter Henry, farmer
Chapman William, ‘Swan’
Collins William, blacksmith
Day George, farmer
Fisher George, farmer, Knap ho. farm
Gale Daniel, carpenter & wheelwright
Hall Hannah (Mrs.), farmer
Hall Thomas, farmer
Harcomb Thomas, tailor
Harris Thomas, farmer, Lee
Hiscox John, master mariner
Hopkins Adam, farmer, Lee
Hopkins Charles, carpenter, wheelwright & shopkeeper
Hunt Eliza & Matilda (the Misses), ladies’ school
Hunt George, baker
Hunt James, farmer, Hais farm
Huxley William, beer retailer, Lee
James John, veterinary surgeon
Lippiatt Charles, tiler & plasterer
Luce John, farmer Lee
Luton Daniel, farmer
Luton George, jun. farmer, Court farm
Luton George, sen. Farmer, Court farm
Mountstephen Thos. frmr. Woodlnds. frm.
Osbourne Daniel, farmer
Parker Jane (Mrs.), farmer
Pearce Thomas, blacksmith
Purser Danl., shopkpr. Almondsbury hl
Reynolds Geo. master of National school
Rosser Mark, blacksmith, Lee
Sarah Ann (Miss), dressmaker
Shepherd George, farmer, Lee
Smith William, carpenter
Tanner Martin, farmer Lee
Thomas Jacob, farmer, Gaunt’s Earthcott
Thomas James, farmer, Gaunt’s Earthcott
Thomas John, farmer Woodhouse farm
Tilney Joseph, shopkeeper
Watkins George, farmer, Lee
Watkins Luke, farmer, Lee
Williams Charles, stonemason
Williams Edwin, stonemason & ‘Bowl’
Williams Francis, shopkeeper
Williams Henry, farmer
Williams John, parish clerk
Williams Richard, farmer
Williams Richard, boot & shoe maker
Wither Thomas, boot & shoe maker
Wright John, schoolmaster
Young George, stonemason
Young Jacob, farmer Gaunt’s Earthcott
Young William, farmer, Collicroft farm
Young William, farmer, Hortham farm
HEMPTON
Chapman Charles, farmer
Hunt Josiah, farmer
PATCHWAY
TRADERS
Collard William, New inn
Cooper Charles, baker
George George, farmer & butcher
Jones Henry Nicholls, farmer
Pope George, farm bailiff
OVER
TRADERS
Cullimore Wm. frmr. Washingpool farm
Ford Joseph, farmer
Hiscox Joseph, cattle dealer
Hunt Charles, farmer, Redriff farm
Leigh George, auctioneer & farmer
Meredith Edwd. Frmr. St. Swithin’s frm.
Virgo Charles, farmer & stonemason
Webb William, ‘Black Horse’
TOCKINGTON LOWER
Adams James, ‘White Horse’
Dyer William, boot & shoe maker
Fisher Henry, farmer
Frankham Job, boot & shoe maker
Griffith William, tailor
Harris James, ‘Cross Hands’
Harris Samuel, boot & shoe maker
Hewitt William, farmer
Palmer Richard, farmer
Parnell William Osbourn, farmer
Pontin William, stonemason
Pope James, boot & shoe maker
Robinson Elizabeth (Mrs.), beer retailer
Rosser Enos, carpenter & wheelwright
Scriven John, farmer
Shepherd George, farmer
Tayler John, beer retailer
Thomas Timothy, tailor
Webb John, farmer
Williams Henry, farmer
Williams Mark, farmer & butcher
POST OFFICE. – Thomas Harcomb, postmaster. Letters arrive through Bristol. First arrival, 9 a.m.; second arrival ½ past 6 p.m.; first dispatch, 9 a.m.; second dispatch, 5 p.m. Letters are not delivered at the second arrival, but can be had on application at the post office. The nearest money order office is at Thornbury post office.
Tockington lower. – Mrs. Lois Codrington, postmistress. Letters arrive through Bristol at ¼ before 12 a.m.; dispatched at ½ past 5 p.m.
CARRIERS TO BRISTOL. – Baylis, Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday; Greenman, Tuesday Thursday & Saturday
OMNIBUSES pass from Thornbury to Bristol, at 9 a.m.; return at ½ past 6 p.m.
Source: Post Office Directory of Gloucestershire with Bath and Bristol. Printed and Published by Kelly and Co., 19, 20 & 21, Old Boswell Court, St. Clement’s, Strand, London. 1856.