Abston Kellys Gloucestershire Directory 1856

Abston, with Wick, forms a township, parish and village, 4 miles east from Keynsham railway station, 7 east from Bristol, 7 north-east from Bath, 6 south-west from Chipping Sodbury, 3 south-east from Mangotsfield railway station, and 113 from London, in Pucklechurch Hundred, Chipping Sodbury Union, West Gloucestershire, Bristol archdeaconry, and Gloucester and Bristol bishopric. It is situated on the river Boyd, the old road from Bath to Bristol running through the parish. The church of St. James is an old some building, with square tower, in the early English style, and has lately been repaired; it has nave, chancel, porch, organ, font, two monuments, and 6 bells. The living is annexed to Pucklechurch, in the gift of the Dean and Chapter of Wells; the Rev. Thomas Boucher Coney, M.A., is the incumbent; the Rev. G. Butterfield is the curate. There are chapels for Independents and Wesleyans; also a small National school for boys and girls, with residence for the master. Lead, tin, and coal are found in this parish. The population, in 1851, was 826; and the acreage is 2,315 acres. The soil is loamy; the subsoil is chiefly rock. Richard Hayne, Esq., is lord of the manor; and Mr. Hayne and Miss Drumond are chief landowners.
WICK is a hamlet in the parish of Abston, from which it is distant 1 ½ miles south, on the Bath and Bristol road. It is situated in a beautiful and romantic valley, through which runs the river Boyd; but the most remarkable object of attraction is the rocks, a great natural curiosity, formed on each side of a deep glen, about three quarters of a mile in length, and rising in some places to above 200 feet in height. There is a beautiful sparry substance found on them in many places, called rock or Bristol diamonds. On the summit of the northern cliff is a fine Roman Camp; its form is oblong, and is defended an three sides by a broad ditch and double vallum; the interior contains about 12 acres of land, and several cottages. In a field near Tracey Park are several large stones, about five feet high, and said to be the remains of Druidical monuments, erected to British chiefs. A new church was finished and consecrated in April, 1850, dedicated to St. Bartholomew. It is in the early English style; the altar-rail, choir, screen, stalls and pulpit are of oak; the font is of Pennant stone. It will afford accommodation for 400 persons.
Holybrook and Bridgegate, or Bridge Yate, are villages in this township. Here are Rolling Iron Mill and Boyd Iron Mill. Cold Harbour, Lime Brook, Tog Hill, and High field, are farms. Bridge Yate is a polling place for the Western division of the county.

ABSTON.

Saunders William, esq. Bridge Yate house

TRADERS.

Bryan James, farmer
Camery Joseph, farmer & beer retailer
Harrington John, parish clerk & gardener
Hudd – , lime burner
Jefferis Leonard, carpenter, builder & timber dealer, Bridge Yate
Jefferis Thomas, carpenter & blacksmith, Bridge Yate
Marshall Henry, farmer
Perry David, farmer
Perry Henry, beer retailer, surveyor of roads & assistant overseer
Perry Matthew, farmer
Perry William, farmer & beer retailer
Saunders John, farmer, Bridge Yate
Sparrow John, farmer, Bridge Yate
Summervill Thomas, farmer
Trubody Thomas, “White Hart,’ Bridge Yate
Wakefield John, farmer
Wilmot Robert, farmer, Bridge Yate

WICK.

GENTRY.

Ashley Jacob, esq
Boulton Thomas, esq
Butterfield Rev. George, Wick court
Chitt Miss Sarah
Cole Capt. Thomas Henry
Syle Mrs. Rose Cottage, Bridge Yate
Woodward Mrs.

TRADERS.

Allen Moses, shoemaker, Holybrook
Amos Henry, farmer, Lime brook farm
Amos Samuel, tailor
Amos William, ‘Crown’
Ashley Emma (Mrs.), shopkeeper
Ashley Jacob, surgeon
Ashley Samuel, farmer & lime burner, Wick rocks
Bedford Wm. farmer & cattle dealer
Boughton Henry, shopkpr. Bridge Yate
Brain George, shoemaker
Britten William, beer retailer
Bryan Daniel, tailor
Bryan Wm. carpenter & wheelwright
Crew Henry, farmer, Toghill farm
Davis Edward, shoemaker
Downs Thomas Beams, miller
Edmonds David, iron merchant & iron forger, Iron rolling mills
Edwards George, shopkeeper
Gibbs Moses, farmer, Highfield farm
Gibbs Wm. farmer, Highfield Lodge farm
Gooderep John Michael, farmer
Gunning William, mason
Heming Elizabeth (Miss), schoolmistress
Heming William, wheelwright, carpenter & builder
Holloway James, farmer, Wilks’s farm
Hyatt Henry, miller
Kidd George Edwd. Carpenter & farmer
Knapp Richard, farmer, Wick court
Knight George Toghill, ‘Carpenters’ Arms,’ & postmaster
Lambert Emily (Miss), schoolmistress
Mathews Hy. farmer, Cold Harbour farm
Mayberry Margaret (Mrs.), iron merchant & iron works, Boyd iron forge
Mizen John, farmer, Holybrook
Mizen Reuben, farmer
Nelms Guy, farmer
Nelms John, farmer
Nowell Charles, shoemaker
Packer James, blacksmith
Packer Joseph, shoemaker
Packer Samuel, tiler & plasterer
Pritchard Isaac, farmer
Smallcombe Isaac, farmer, Holybrook
Williams John, shopkeeper, builder, plasterer, tiler & beer retlr. Holybrook

POST OFFICE. – George Toghill Knight, receiver. Letters from Bath arrive at 12 a.m.; dispatched at ½ past 2 p.m. The nearest money order office is at Keynsham.

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.