Pauntley
PAUNTLEY is a picturesquely beautiful parish, consisting principally of scattered dwellings, 10 miles north-west from Gloucester, 6 south-east from Ledbury, and 2 north-east from Newent, in the Western division of the county, Botloe hundred, Newent union and county court district, North Forest rural deanery, Gloucester archdeaconry and Gloucester and Bristol diocese, on the river Leadon, which here separates the county from Worcestershire.
The church of St. John the Evangelist is a small but fine old building, and is supposed to have been built soon after the conquest by Walter de Pauntley: in the church are brasses to the Whittington family; it is in the Norman style, having a very perfect Norman chancel arch, and has chancel, nave, tower with 3 bells and porch; the chancel window is stained. The register dates from the year 1538. The living is a vicarage, yearly value £90, in the gift of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol and held by the Rev. Thomas Palling Little, M.A. of Trinity College, Oxford.
There are springs of water of a saline character on the banks of the Leadon, which flows through the northern boundary of the county under precipitous banks.
The manorial rights are attached to the Crown.
Osman Ricardo. Esq. is chief landowner.
The soil is in general a sandy loam, but in some parts clay; subsoil, rock. The surface is beautifully diversified and undulating. The crops are wheat, turnips and orchard produce. The area is 1,967 acres; rateable value, £2,793; the population in 1871 was 205.
POOL HILL is a hamlet, about 1½ miles west of the church, partly in Newent and Pauntley parishes: there is a lecture room at Waldron Court, conducted by the rector of Newent, assisted by Captain Frowde, licensed by the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; service every Sunday: here is a Wesleyan chapel.
Parish Clerk, Henry Davis.
Letters through Gloucester. Newent is the nearest money order office
Here is a National school, completed in 1870, which is intended to be used as a chapel of ease to the parish church.
National School (mixed), Pool hill, Miss Mary Elizabeth Cole, mistress
Griffin Mrs. White house
Townsend George, Walden villa
Butler John, farmer, Pauntley court
Chew Thomas Ridler, farm bailiff to Thomas Attwood, esq. Panthouse
Faulks William, farmer, Aylesmore
Immins James, shopkeeper
Leighton Thamas, carrier
Miller Henry, miller, Payford mill
Niblett John, farmer, Botloes
Price Charles Henry, farmer Ryle ho
Price Wm. John Biddle, farmer, Crooks
Randall Joshua, farmer Cues