Somerford, Great (St. Peter and St. Paul)

SOMERFORD, GREAT (St. Peter and St. Paul), a parish, in the union and hundred of Malmesbury, Malmesbury and Kingswood, and N. divisions of Wilts, 7 miles (N. by E.) from Chippenham; containing 556 inhabitants. The parish comprises by computation 1630 acres, and the river Avon forms its boundary on the north and east. At the inclosure in 1806, small allotments of land were awarded to poor tenants for cultivation, through the exertions of the present incumbent, who has since let out for the same purpose about 100 acres of his glebe. Lace-making is carried on to a limited extent. The living is a rectory, valued in the king's books at £12. 14. 7., and in the gift of Exeter College, Oxford; there is a glebe-house, and the glebe contains nearly 300 acres of land, allotted in lieu of tithes, and valued at £490 per annum. A parochial school was lately built on a small estate given to the parish by Queen Elizabeth.