Lechlade, Gloucestershire

Description
Lechlade, a small market-town and a parish in Gloucestershire. The town stands on the river Thames, and on the Thames and Severn Canal, at the boundary with Berks, and near the lower part of the river Leach at the boundary with Oxfordshire, and 5 1/4 miles NW by N of Faringdon. It has been supposed, from the discovery of a hypocaust and tessellated pavements in a meadow near it, to occupy the site of a Roman station; had a Black priory from the time of Henry III. till that of Edward IV.; enjoyed till recently important traffic on the Thames; consists chiefly of two long wide streets; and has a post, money order, and telegraph office (S.O.), a station on the East Gloucestershire branch of the G.W.R., a handsome bridge, a church, and a Baptist chapel. The church is of the time of Henry VII.; had once a chantry, and comprises nave, aisles and chancel, with tower and spire. A small market is held on Friday, a fan- for cattle, sheep, and pigs on the last Tuesday in each month, and an annual fair on 9 Sept. Coxeter the antiquary was a native. The parish includes St John's Bridge, Lemhill, Thomhill, Manor Farm, and Butler's Court. Acreage, 3870; population of the civil parish, 1266; of the ecclesiastical, 1240. The manor belonged at Domesday to Henry de Ferrars, passed to the Mortimers, Richard Earl of Cornwall, the Talbots, the Despencers, Queen Catherine of Arragon, and others. The manor house stands at the E end of the town, and is a fine modern mansion. Clayhill House is another principal residence. There is a mineral spring. The living is a vicarage in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol; net value, £450 with residence. Patron, Emmanuel College, Cambridge.