ELKSTONE, a parish in the hundred of RAPSGATE,
county of GLOUCESTER, 7 miles (N.N.W.) from Cirencester,
containing 296 inhabitants. The living is a rectory,
in the archdeaconry and diocese of Gloucester,
rated in the king's books at £12. 9 2., and in the patronage
of the Hon. B. Craven. The church, dedicated to
St. John the Evangelist,is an ancient, though small edifice,
affording a fine specimen of Norman architecture in the
ornamented south porch, the east window, and the interior
of the chancel; it has at the west end a square embattled
tower in the later English style, erected in the reign of
Richard II, The old Ermin-street traces the western
boundary of the parish. A kind of stone is obtained
here, which is easily cut when raised from the quarry,
but becomes exceedingly hard by exposure to the air.