Fretherne (St. Mary)

FRETHERNE (St. Mary), a parish, in the union of Wheatenhurst, Upper division of the hundred of Whitstone, E. division of the county of Gloucester, 8 miles (N. N. W.) from Dursley; containing 242 inhabitants. This is supposed to be the place called in the Saxon Chronicle Fethanleage, where Ceawlin, King of Wessex, obtained a victory over the Britons in 584. The parish is situated on the road to Newnham passage, and on the river Severn, and comprises about 500 acres: the scenery is beautifully varied, and in many points strikingly romantic; the banks of the Severn are here precipitously steep, and Fretherne cliff rises to a height of 60 feet above the level of the river. Fretherne Lodge was the birthplace of the celebrated Rosamond Clifford, usually named Fair Rosamond. An act was obtained in 1839 for inclosing lands. The Berkeley and Gloucester canal passes through the parish. The living is a discharged rectory, valued in the king's books at £5. 6. 8.; patron, Sir E. Tierney, Bart.: the tithes have been commuted for £148. 14., and the glebe comprises 20 acres. The church has been just rebuilt. There is a place of worship for Wesleyans.