Horsley (St. Martin)

HORSLEY (St. Martin), a parish, in the union of Stroud, hundred of Longtree, E. division of the county of Gloucester, 5 miles (S. by W.) from Stroud; containing, with the hamlet of Down-End and a portion of the chapelry of Nailsworth, 3064 inhabitants. The parish is situated on the road from Stroud to Bristol, in a district abounding with finely-varied scenery, and the neighbouring hills are clothed with woods of stately beech. The valleys are very fertile, and watered by numerous streams forming in various parts cascades of picturesque appearance, and in their course giving motion to several mills for the manufacture of superfine broadcloth, in which at least three-fourths of the population are engaged. The petty-sessions for the district of Longtree are held at this place, in rotation with Rodborough and Tetbury; and the house of correction, a commodious building, is situated here. The living is a discharged vicarage, valued in the king's books at £7. 11. 5½.; patron, the Bishop of Gloucester and Bristol; impropriator, Col. Kingscote; net income, £150. The church has been lately rebuilt on an enlarged plan, in the later English style, at a cost of more than £3200, and contains 536 free sittings, the Incorporated Society having granted £500 in aid of the expense; the remainder of the sum was supplied by subscription, with £500 by the Gloucester and Bristol Church-building Society. There are places of worship for Baptists and Wesleyans. A national school is endowed with £54 per annum.