Mitcheldean
MICHELDEAN or MITCHELDEAN, sometimes called DEAN MAGNA, is a parish and town 2 miles south from Mitcheldean Road station on the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester railway, 6 miles north-west from Newnham, 6¼ south-east from Ross, 11 west from Gloucester and 116 from London, in the Western division of the county, hundred of St. Briavels, Westbury-on-Severn union, Newnham county court district, rural deaneary of South Forest, Gloucester archdeaconry and Gloucester and Bristol diocese, situated on the Dean Forest road from Monmouth to Gloucester, on the Herefordshire border.
The church of St. Michael is an old stone building in several styles of architecture, and has been restored: it has a chancel, nave, one south and two north aisles, porch, tower with lofty handsome spire, a peal of 8 bells, and contains a clock, an organ, five stained windows and several old monuments. The register dates from the year 1680.
The living is a rectory, yearly value £176, with residence and 4 acres of glebe, in the gift of Maynard Willoughby Wemyss-Colchester, esq. J.P. and held by the Rev. Henry Haistwell Hardy, M.A. of University College, Oxford.
Here are Congregational and Bible Christian chapels.
The charities amount to upwards of £200 a year.
Coal and iron ore are worked in the neighbourhood.
On the Micheldean and Newent road, and about one mile east from the town, is the residence of Osman Barrett, esq.; this mansion is built of red sandstone with Bath dressings, in the Gothic ctyle, and commands an extensive view of Herefordshire and the Welsh mountains from the front, which is of considerable extent; at a short distance may be see great part of the Vale of Gloucestershire, the river Severn, with Cheltenham and other towns making this a very picturesque and delightful residence.
Maynard Willoughby Wemss- Colchester, J.P. lord of the manor, and Osman Barrett, esq. are the principal landowners.
The soil is sandy and loamy; subsoil, sandstone rock. The chief crops are wheat, roots and oats.
The area is 680 acres; rateable value, £2780.12s.; the population in 1871 was 742.
Parish Clerk, Thomas Powell.
POST, MONEY ORDER & TELEGRAPH OFFICE, Savings Bank & Government Annuity & Insurance office (Railway sub-office). – John Lyne Essen, Postmaster. Letters through Ross arrive at 5 a.m.; north mail at 10 a.m.; dispatched to all parts at 8.40 p.m.
INSURANCE AGENTS
British Empire, Mutual Life & Phoenix Fire, J. Silley
Norwich Union Fire, H James & J Kathro
Norwich Union Life, J Kathro
Sun Fire & Life, Borlase & Yearsley
PUBLIC ESTABLISHMENTS
Stamp Office, John Dighton, distributor
Inland Revenue Office, Red Lion inn
Gas Co. James J.B. Meek, sec
Police Station, William Mallett, sergeant
PUBLIC OFFICERS
Perpetual Commissioners, James John Grenfel Borlase, Thomas Whatley & John Robinson
Commissioners to Administer Oaths in Supreme Court of Judicature, John Dighton & James John Grenfel Borlase
Town Crier, Joseph Mallett
Free School, Arthur Biggs, master; Mrs Maria Biggs, mistress
CARRIERS TO:-
COLEFORD-Alfred Hodges, Thursday
GLOUCESTER- Alfred Hodges & Edward Stonard, wed & sat
RESIDENTS
Abell John Robert William
Barrett Osman
Borlase James John Grenfell, Woodville
Chate George Egbert
Fraser Capt. James, Dean House
Fryer Joseph
Hardy Rev. Henry Haistwell M.A.
Holder Mrs
Jones Herbert Fitzherbert
Marfell Timothy
Robinson John, Abbenhall house
Wemyss-Colchester Maynard Willoughby, J.P. The Wilderness
Whatley Thomas
Willis Mrs
Wintle Mrs
COMMERCIAL
Abell John Robert William, surgeon
Adams John, plumber & glazier
Ambury Joseph, farmer, Court farm
Barrett Osman, coal proprietor
Barry Edward, watchmaker & printer
Borlase & Yearsley, solicitors & agents for the Sun Fire & Life Office
Bossom Lucy Julia (Miss), fancy repostry
Boughton John, seedsman
Burgum James, builder & shopkeeper
Coleman George Isaiah, farmer
Cook Thomas, blacksmith
Cooper Enoch, Jovial Colliers
Coopey Eliza (Miss), preparatory school
Dawson Joseph Richard, grocer & draper
Dighton John, solicitor
Essen John Lyne, stationer & postmaster
Evans Elizabeth (Mrs.), baker
Fuggle William Marchant, Red Lion
Green Louisa Jane (Mrs.), dress maker
Griffiths John, nail manufacturer
Hatton Phineas, grocer & draper
Hodges Alfred, shopkeeper & carrier
Humphries Henry, plumber & glazier
Hyett Richard, shopkeeper
James Henry, chemist & stationer
Jones Herbert Fitzherbert, surgeon
Kearsley [not stated], farmer Nichol’s farm
Legge George, shopkeeper
Little Henry Marsh, grocer & draper
Manning John, poulterer
Meek James John Breeze, coal, brick,lime & stone merchant
& agent to the Gloucestershire Banking Co
Mansell Joseph, butcher
Palfrey Frederick, butcher
Parkes Samuel, hair dresser
Parry Maria (Mrs.), White Horse
Pask Isaac, boot & shoe maker
Powell Thomas, mason & parish clerk
Preece Maria (Mrs.), shopkeeper & dress maker
Price Joseph, shopkeeper
Robinson John, solicitor, perpetual commissioner & commissioner to administer oaths
Rudge John George Hotel
Rudge Thomas, grocer & draper, & agent for W.A.Gilbey, wine & spirit mers.
Silley John, farmer
Smith George, saddle & harness maker
Smith Matilda (Miss), baker
Sparrow Alfred, baker
Trotter John Birt,grocer & draper
Tyler Wallace, tailor & draper
Virgo Joseph, boot & shoe maker
Virgo William, Greyhound
Whatley Thomas, solicitor
Wintle Thos. Maltster, miller & brewer
Yearsley Edwin Evans, solicitor (firm, Borlase & Yearsley)