Stapleton (Holy Trinity)

STAPLETON (Holy Trinity), a parish, in the union of Clifton, hundred of Barton-Regis, W. division of the county of Gloucester, 2½ miles (N. E. by N.) from Bristol; containing, with the village of Fishponds, 3944 inhabitants. This parish is situated on the north-western angle of the South-Gloucester and Somerset coalfield, and is bounded on the north side by a range of hills from 150 to 200 feet in height, to which elevation the strata of the coal-measures on the south side are lifted up by a mass of millstone-grit. The road from Bristol to Wotton-under-Edge and Gloucester passes through the village of Stapleton; and another from the same city to Sodbury, Cirencester, and Oxford, through the village of Fishponds. The parish comprises by measurement 2465 acres, and is traversed by the river Frome, flowing through a richly-wooded glen occasionally interspersed with precipitous rocks; the soil is a stone brash. The district abounds with valuable Pennant stone, of which considerable quarries are wrought; and there are several coal-mines in operation: the manufacture of hats, formerly extensive, is now on a small scale. The palace of the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol is situated here. The living is a perpetual curacy, lately endowed by Sir John Smyth, Bart., who is patron and impropriator, with £2000; net income, £224: the tithes have been commuted for £298. 12. The church is a small neat edifice, with a tower crowned by pinnacles. A chapel was built at Fishponds, by subscription, in 1817: the living is a perpetual curacy, net income, £80; patron, the Rev. H. Shute. There are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyans. About half way between Stapleton and Fishponds is an extensive building which was occupied as a depôt for French prisoners of war. Mrs. Hannah More was born in a house in the parish now appropriated as a free school; and John Foster, author of the well-known Essays, resided in the village.