STOW ON THE WOULD, (Gloucestershire) 11 m. N. E. from Cheltenham, near the r. Windrush, 65 cm. 77 mm. from London, is generally called in old records Stow St. Edward, in which Robert Chester had a grant from Hen. VI. for a corp. Its Ch. is large, has a high tower, and stands on a hill. Here is an hos. almsh. and fr. sc. all well endowed, besides other charities, the poor here being very numerous. This place stands so high, and is so exposed to the winds, that it is a common observation that they have but one element, viz. air, there being neither wood, common, field, nor water bel. to the T. The Roman fosse-way passes through it to North-Leach The p. which is governed by two bailiffs, is 12 m. in com. and has some good inns. The Mt. is on Th. the Fairs, which are May 1, and Oct. 13, have been famous for hops, cheese, and sheep, of which 'tis said 20,000 have been sold in one of its October Fairs; but the inhabitants are not suffered to let stalls before their own doors. The toll of the Mt. and Fairs is computed at 80 l. a year. The manor was the late Ed. Chamberlain's, to whose family it was granted by Q. Eliz. but it bel. anciently to the abbey of Evesham.