STOW-on-the-WOLD, a market-town and parish in the
upper division of the hundred of SLAUGHTER, county of
GLOUCESTER, 25 miles (E. byN.) from Gloucester, and 82
(W.N.W.) from London, containing, with the hamlets of
Donnington and Mangersbury, 1731 inhabitants. This
place was the scene of a battle between the royalists and
the parliamentary forces in the great civil war, on which
occasion the former were put to flight. In old records
the town is called Stow St. Edward: it is situated on
the summit of a steep elevation; the houses in general
are of stone, but low, irregularly built, and of ancient
appearance; and it is so indifferently supplied with fuel
and water, and having no common field attached, that it is
vulgarly remarked, it has only one of the four elements,
namely air. There is little trade, except a small woollen
business; it was formerly noted for the making of shoes.
A charter for-a market "was procured, in the reign of
Edward III., by the abbot of Evesham, then lord of the
manor: it is held on Thursday; and fairs are held May
12th and October 24th, for the sale of hops, cheese,
and sheep, of which last twenty thousand are said to
have been sold at one fair. The inhabitants were incorporated
by Henry VI., but at present the town is governed
by two bailiffs, who are appointed annually at
the manorial court leet. The living is a rectory, in the
archdeaconry and diocese of Gloucester, rated in the
king's hooks at £18, and in the patronage of the Rev.
H. Hippesley. The church, dedicated to St. Edward, is
a spacious edifice, in the ancient English style, erected
at different periods in the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries.
The tower is conspicuous at a great distance.
There is a place of worship for Baptists. A National
school for children of both sexes is supported by Voluntary
contributions. An almshouse for nine poor persons,
on the south side of the churchyard,-was founded,
in the 16th of Edward IV., under the will of William
Chestre, and subsequent endowments have been given
for the maintenance of its inmates. A park, house, and
garden, named St. Margaret's chapel, at a place called
Merke in this parish, constituted-part' of the estates of
Charles' I. and his queen. The -Foss-way intersects the
town and the northern part- of the parish.