CHEW MAGNA, (Somerset) stands on the r. Chew, bet. Keynsham and Wrinton; End is called Bishop's-Chew, because it bel. once
to the Bps. of Bath and Wells; but one of them, by licence from Edw. VI. conveyed it, with other domains in the
neighbourhood, to the Protector (D. of Somerset) and his heirs, for ever. That red bolus, called Redding, which is used
for the marking of sheep &c. is dug up here. In this p. about 1 m. from Stanton-Drew, is Bow-Ditch, so called from its
circular form, which was a large camp on a hill, trebly fortified, which has a prospect of the isles of Flatholm and
Steepholm. Here is a petrifying spring; and the country adjacent abounds with coal-pits. The ground is rich, and bears
much wood; and the houses, even of the poorer sort, are remarkably neat, being generally whited over, and adorned with
pretty gardens; but the roads here are exceeding bad, consisting of steep valleys, and narrow, dark, intricate lanes. 'Tis
one of the largest ps. in the Co. and the vicarage is worth 300 l. a year,