Tortworth, Gloucestershire

Description
Tortworth, a parish in Gloucestershire, 2 miles NNW of Charfield station on the M.R., and 3 1/2 W of Wotton-under-Edge. It has a post office under Falfield (R.S.O.); money order and telegraph office, Falfield. Acreage, 1577; population, 216. The manor belonged to The Throckmorton family, and passed to the Ducie family. The Earl of Ducie is lord of the manor and sole landowner. Tortworth Court was erected in 1848-53, and is in the Tudor style. It stands in an extensive park, and a beautiful sheet of water extends in front of the house. A Roman camp is in the park, and Roman relics have been found. The Tortworth Chestnut is supposed to be the oldest tree in the kingdom, and was remarkable for its size in the reign of Stephen. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol; net value, £314 with residence. Patron, the Earl of Ducie. The church, originally Perpendicular, was rebuilt in 1872, with the exception of the tower, by the Earl of Ducie. It contains an ancient font and monuments of the Throckmorton and Ducie families.