Parishmouse Free Resources For Family Historians

This parish lies in the hundred of Slaughter, and deanery of Stow, about three miles north-east from the town of Stow, and twenty-nine miles, in the same direction, from Gloucester. It consists of nearly an equal proportion of meadow, pasture, and arable land, the soil being various, in some parts clay, in others loam, and in a few places sand.

The river Evenlode runs near the western side of it, and from thence makes its way to the Isis. The village is pleasantly situated on the slope of a hill fronting the south-west.

In ancient writings this place is called Eadlesthorp, and sometimes Castlethorp: the former name it probably received from the Saxon Єbel, noble, and ðonp a village, or habitation; and the latter from its being near Castle-Barrow, a round fortification, supposed to be Danish, on Castleton-Hill, which lies not far from the verge of the parish. In the charter granted to Egwine Bishop of Worcester, who founded the Abbey of Evesham, about the year 700, the name is written Tiddlestrop.

James Henry Leigh, Esq. the lord of the manor, resides in the old family seat, which is built in the Gothic style, and has been greatly enlarged and repaired.

The living is a rectory; and the church, which is dedicated to Saint Mary Magdalen [sic], is annexed to Broadwell. The body and chancel were rebuilt in the year 1764, chiefly at the expence of the late James Leigh, Esq. but the old tower, with battlements, situated at the west end, still remains. There are two cross ailes [sic] in the church, and in the tower five bells.

The inhabitants formerly interred their dead at Broadwell; but, about the year 1590, one of the ancestors of the Leigh family gave them land for a church yard, and procured it to be consecrated. In the year 1670, Doctor Johnson, the rector, built at his own expence, a very large and handsome parsonage-house; which has been much improved by the present rector Thomas Leigh, L.L.B.

Benefactions

Mr. Thomas Barker, formerly an inhabitant of this place, gave 20 shillings a year, to the use of the poor.

Lady Turner, by her will, gave in the year 1770, 50 pounds to the poor.

- Fletcher gave 5 pounds, the interest of which is laid out every year, at Easter, in bread for the poor.

Incumbents. Patrons.

1697 Edw. Wake, M.A. Theoph Leigh, Esq.
1699 Henry Brydges, M.A. Theoph. Leigh, Esq.
1717 Theoph. Leigh, M.A. Theoph Leigh, Esq.
1763 Thomas Leigh, LL.B. James Leigh, Esq.

Present Lord of the Manor
James Henry Leigh, Esq.

The persons summoned by the Heralds, in 1682 and 1683, from this place, were,

William Leigh, Arm. Just.
Theophilus Leigh, Arm.
Madam Peniston.

At the Election in 1776, only one Freeholder polled from this parish.

Source: Extracted from Historical, Monumental and Genealogical Collections, relative to the County of Gloucester – Ralph Bigland 1786.