Hewelsfield
HEWELSFIELD is a village and parish, 2½ miles north-west from Woolastone station, on the South Wales railway, 9 south-east from Monmouth, 6 north from Chepstow, 7 south from Coleford, and 148 from London, in the Western division of the county, hundred of St Briavels, union and county court district of Chepstow, rural deanery of South Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester and diocese of Gloucester & Bristol; it is bounded on the west by the river Wye, which here divides the county from Monmouthshire.
The church of St. Mary is an ancient stone building having chancel, transepts, nave and south aisle, separated by an arcade of Norman arches, and central tower containing 5 bells. The register dates from the year 1663. The living is a rectory, yearly value £132, with residence, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Hereford and held by the Rev. Edwin Giles, M.A. of St. John’s College, Oxford. There are charities amounting to £17 yearly value.
The principal landowners are Alexander Smith esq. who is lord of the manor, and the trustees of the late Dowager Countess of Dunraven. The soil is clayey; subsoil, limestone and sandstone. The chief crops are wheat, barley and oats.
The area is 1,189 acres; rateable value £2,018.
The population in 1871 was 395.
Parish Clerk, Peter Darby.
Letters are received through Coleford. St. Briavels is the nearest money order office.
National School, Miss Ada Browning, mistress
RESIDENTS
Ennis Mrs. Common
Giles Rev. Edwin, M.A. Rectory
Lamb Francis, Harts Hill grange
Scott John, Bellmount
Smith Mrs. Malthouse, Brockweir
Titterington Rev. W.Thomson [Moravian], Brockweir
COMMERCIAL
Bird William farmer & assistant overseer, Yew Tree cottage,
Bowen Eliza (Mrs.), shopkeeper, Brockweir
Bowen John, coal dealer & boat owner, Brockweir
Brown Charles, Ship
Brown John, shipwright, Brockweir
Brown Tomas, Royal Arms Inn, Brockweir
Bullock Fredk. Farmer, Harts Hill court
Bullock William, farmer, Poolfield
Bullock William, farmer, Brockweir
Burroughs Wm. Farmer, Cows Hill farm
Cloke Henry, farmer, Brook farm
Cockman William, farmer, Wye View
Croome Daniel, mason, The Common
Darby Thomas, farmer, The Common
Dibden Alice (Mrs.), New inn, Brockweir
Dibden H. farmer & miller, The Common
Dibden Philip. Shopkeeper, Brockweir
Herbert Philip, farmer, The Common
Howse Hy.Chas., farmer, The Common
Jones Isaac, farmer Hudnalls
Moore Mary Ann (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Morgan Walter, farmer, Pear Tree cottage
Prichard John, Carpenters’ Arms, & farmer
Prince George, butcher & farmer, Brockweir
Ravenhill Harriet (Mrs.), farmer, The Common
Selby Shadrach, mason, The Common
Smith Charles, miller, Brockweir
Smith Henry, butcher, Tumpkinhales
Spencer George, farmer
Thomas John Parrot inn, & timber merchant
Thorn John, farmer, Field gate
Townshend William Willmott, farmer, The Common
Usher George, farmer, The Common
Whittington Mary (Miss), farmer, The Common
Worgan William, timber dealer & farmer, Hart Hill cottage.