HEWELSFIELD is a village and parish in Chepstow union, containing, by the census of 1861, 417, and in 1871, 395 inhabitants, and 1488 acres; in the south division of the deanery of the Forest, archdeaconry of Gloucester, diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, hundred of St. Briavels, West Gloucestershire; 2 and a half miles south-east from St. Briavels, 3 and a half miles north-west from Woolastone Station on the South Wales section of the Great Western Railway, 5 west from Lydney, 6 north from Chepstow, 7 south from Coleford, and 9 south-east from Monmouth. The rectory, in the incumbency of the Rev. Edwin Giles, M. A., is valued at £180 pounds annum, with residence, and is in the patronage of the Dean and Chapter of Hereford. The church is an ancient edifice, dedicated to St. Mary, in the Norman style, probably of the 13th century; it consists of nave, north aisle, north transept, and deep chancel, with a low central dovecot tower containing five bells rising from between the nave and chancel, and a porch on the south side; the nave is divided from the aisle by five massive Norman pillars. It was restored in 1863, and reseated with open benches. A very peculiar feature of this church is that the ridge of the roof of the nave reaches above the lower side of the tower roof and descends to within 6 feet of the ground.

BROCKWEIR is a hamlet about two miles south-west, on the banks of the Wye, partly in this parish and partly in those of St. Briavels and Woolastone. The Wesleyans have a place of worship here, which was erected in 1846. Shipbuilding was formerly carried on here, but is now entirely discontinued.

 

HEWELSFIELD

Clergy, Gentry, and Private Residents

COCKMAN Mr. William, Wye view

COMER Mr. John, Belle Vue house

GILES Rev. Edwin, M. A., The Rectory

HOWSE Mr. Henry Charles, The Common

JOHNSON Mrs. Ann, The Common

MORGAN Mr. Walter, Pear Tree cottage

SCOTT Mr. John, Belmont

TOWNSHEND Mr. William, Willmott farm

 

Trades and Professions

ADAMS Henry, farmer, Castle above

BALL Thomas, mason, The Common

BIRD William, farmer, assistant overseer, and collector of poor rates for the parish of Hempstead, Yew Tree cottage

BULLOCK Frederick, farmer, Hart Hill court

BURROUGHS William, farmer, Cows Hill farm

CLOKE Henry, farmer, Brook farm

CROOME Daniel, mason, The Common

DARBY Peter, parish clerk, The Common

DARBY Thomas, farmer, The Common

DIBDEN Henry, farmer and miller, The Common

EVILL Walter and Adolphus, farmers, Hewelsfield court

HERBERT Philip, farmer, The Common

JONES Mrs. Susan, farmer, The Common

JONES Thomas, farmer, Poolfield

LAIT Wm., farm bailiff, Belle Vue farm, The Common

MOORE Mrs. Mary Ann, shopkeeper

NORMAN - , farm bailiff, Bell Vue farm, The Common

PITCHER John, farmer, The Common

PRICE Robert C., land agent, Spring vale

PRITCHARD John, farmer, "Carpenters Arms" inn, Trumpkinhales

RAVENHILL Mrs. Harriet, farmer, The Common

SELBY Shadrach, mason, The Common

SMITH Henry, butcher, Trumpkinhales

SPENCER George, farmer, The Common

THOMAS John, timber merchant, "Parrot" inn

THORN John, farmer, Field gate

USHER Geo., farmer & carrier, The Common

WORGAN William, timber dealer and farmer, Hart Hill cottage

Letters through Coleford via St. Briavels. Wall Letter Box cleared at 4 p.m. on week-days only. St. Briavels is the nearest money order office.

Assistant Overseer and Collector of Poor Rates - William Bird

National School - Miss Mary Sims, mistress

Carrier to Chepstow - George Usher, Mon, Wed, and Sat.

 

BROCKWEIR

SMITH Mrs. Temperance, Malthouse

Trades and Professions

BOWEN Mrs. Eliza, shopkeeper

BOWEN John, coal dealer and boatowner

BROWN Charles, "Royal Arms" inn

BROWN John, shipwright

DIBDEN Henry, butcher, "New Inn"

DIBDEN John, shopkeeper

DIBDEN Philip, shopkeeper

Letters through Coleford via St. Briavels. Wall Letter Box cleared at 3 p.m. on week-days only. St. Briavels is the nearest money order office.

School Board

Rev. William Allen, St. Briavels

Rev. Edwin Giles, Hewelsfield

William Bullock, St. Briavels

Walter Evill, Hewelsfield

Joseph Kear, St. Briavels

Clerk to the Board - Thomas R. Steel

Board School for the United District of Hewelsfield and St. Briavels - Mrs. Emily Jones, mistress.

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