WOODCHESTER, (Gloucestershire) on the S. side of Stroud, 2 m. from Minchinghampton, is a p. 6 m. in com. There is a tesseraick
pavement of painted beasts and flowers in its Ch.-yard, which is seen 2 or 3 feet deep in digging the graves. This, some
think, was the floor of the habitation of a Roman general, who had a castle here. 'Tis said Earl Godwin's wife built a
mon. here, with those pretty ornaments that are still to be seen. Here was once a chapel dedicated to St. Blaise, in
digging up of which, were found many modern, as well as Roman coins, and other antiquities. In a vault also many human
bodies were discovered, whose skulls were intire, and the teeth white and firm. There is a ch. sc. for girls, which one
Mrs. Seyes gave 400 l. to erect and endow; and at Seintly Farm, in the neighbourhood, there is a fr. sc. erected by Mr.
Nath. Cambridge, who gave the p. 1200 l. for this purpose. The manor bel. in the R. of Eliz. to the Huntleys, who sold it
to Sir Robert Ducy, ancestor of Ld. Ducy Moreton, who has a seat here.