NEWNHAM, a small town, a parish, and a sub-district, in Westbury-on-Severn district, Gloucester. The town stands on the river Severn, adjacent to the Gloucester and South Wales railway, 11 miles S W of Gloucester. It was the place where Earl Strongbow and Henry II. met in 1171, and the place whence they set sailfor Ireland; it received from King John a sword of office, which is still kept in perfect preservation; it re-ceived also a charter from King John; it sent a memberto parliament in the time of Edward I.; it afterwardsgot exemption from sending one, on account of poverty; it was, for some time, governed by a mayor and corporation; and it afterwards became governed only by twoconstables. A castle was built at it soon after the Norman conquest; was garrisoned, by Wyntoun, for Charles I.; and was surrendered to Col. Massie. Some remains of fortification may still be traced; and a long raised ancient fosse has been converted into a pleasant promenade. The Severn here is nearly a mile wide; shows beautiful scenery; and has a ferry at high and low water. A proposal was made about 1837 to erect a suspension-bridge, 1, 125 feet long, with two main arches, each 45 feet inspan, and with side-openings; but has never been carried into effect. The town is a seat of petty sessions and county-courts, and a polling-place; and has a head post-office, ‡ a railway station with telegraph, a banking office, two good hotels, a neat town hall, a church, an Independent chapel, a national school, and charities £50. The church stands on an eminence, at the S end of the town; is an ancient building, in pointed architecture, withtraces of Norman; consists of nave, chancel, and smallside chapel, with an embattled tower; and contains a very curious carved Norman font. A weekly market is held on Friday; fairs are held on 11 June and 18 Oct.; a considerable commerce in bark, timber, slate, and coalis carried on; and there is a large tannery. A branch railway runs to a wharf at Bullo Pill; and tram railways go to collieries and iron-mines in Dean forest. The parish comprises 1,890 acres of land, and 215 of water. Real property, £6, 235; of which £42 are in fisheries. Pop.in 1851, 1, 288; in 1861, 1, 325. Houses, 251. The manor of Newnham is held by the trustees of John James, Esq.; and the manor of Rodley, part of which iswithin Newnham parish, belongs to Gen. John W. Guise, Bart. The living is a p. curacy in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol. Value, £140.* Patrons, the Charity Trustees in Gloucester.—The sub-district contains alsofive other parishes, East Dean township, and five extra-parochial tracts. Acres, 24,023. Pop., 14, 474. Houses, 2, 920.

(John Marius Wilson, Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales (1870-72))