Painswick, Gloucestershire

Description
Painswick, a small town and a parish in Gloucestershire. The town stands on the declivity of Spoonbed Hill, adjacent to a small affluent of the river Stroud, 3 1/2 miles NNE of Stroud, and 6 SSE of Gloucester; is regularly built of a peculiar white local stone; and has a post, money order, and telegraph office under Stroud. Markets and fairs were formerly held but have been discontinued. There are large pin factories, a bank, and a convalescent and training home. The parish comprises the tithings of Edge, Sheepscombe, Spoonbed, and Stroud End. Acreage, 6104; population of the civil parish, 4134; of the ecclesiastical, 1630. For parish council purposes it has a parish council consisting of eleven members, divided into the following three wards-Painswick ward with seven members, Sheepscombe two, and Slad two. A portion of the Slad ecclesiastical parish (being also a portion of the civil parish of Painswick) has been separated into a new civil parish under the name of Uplands. The manor bore the name of Wiche at Domesday; belonged then to Roger de Lacy; and passed to Pain Fitz-John, the Kingstons, and the Jerninghams. Court House was the scene of a court by Charles I. in 1643, and is a good example of Elizabethan architecture. Painswick House, The Grove, and Paradise House are the chief residences. Spoonbed Hill commands a very extensive view of the valley of the Severn; was occupied by the troops of Charles I. after the siege of Gloucester; and is crowned by a well-preserved, double-entrenched Roman camp, where Roman coins and weapons have been found. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol; net value, £314 with residence. The church is ancient, chiefly Perpendicular, with additions in the Classic style. The " classic " S aisle was altered in 1891 into a style similar to the old part of the church, and at the same time a S aisle to the chancel and vestries were added. It was restored in 1879, It was struck by lightning in 1883, when great damage was done to the tower, &c., necessitating further restorations. It contains an altar-tomb of 1540 of Sir William Kingston, Constable of the Tower. The N chapel also contains altar-tombs and a fine modern reredos. The church is famous for its splendid peal of twelve bells. The churchyard is remarkable for the number and grouping of its yew trees, and there are some stocks still standing near the church. There is a cemetery, occupying 4 acres, on Spoonbed Hill. There are Baptist, Congregational, and Primitive Methodist chapels. The parish also contains the ecclesiastical parishes of Sheepscombe, Slad, and part of that of Painswick Edge.