Charities.—John Topp, by deed, dated 1716, left a yearly rent charge of £30 issuing out of certain lands in Vennington, upon trust, to dispose of the same yearly in the education of poor children of the parish of Westbury, and in putting out such children apprentices. Letitia Barnster, by indenture, dated 1726, left for the benefit of the poor of the parish a small parcel of land fourteen yards in length and six yards eight inches in breadth. On this land a school was built in 1736, and a residence for the master has since been built upon land belonging to E. W. P. S. Owen, Esq.
On the tables of benefactions in the church are noticed charities left by twenty several donors for the benefit of the poor, amounting to the sum of £153. 13s. 4d. This sum, with an additional £6. 6s. 8d., was expended in the year 1710 in the purchase of three parcels of land in the parish of Worthen, containing about 17 acres, the rent of which amounted to £43. 10s. per annum at the time the Charity Commissioners published their reports. One-fourth of these rents are distributed in bread to the poor of the parish on Good Friday, and the residue given away on St. Thomas’s day in clothing, fuel, and money, as is most advisable.
Newton is a small township in Westbury parish, one and a half mile N.E. by E. of Westbury, containing twenty inhabitants. Robert Corbet Jones, Esq., is the sole landowner. Marsh is one and a half mile N.E. by N. of Westbury. The principal landowners are Mr. William Howells, Mr. John Turner, and John Wood, Esq. Stretton and the Heath is situated two miles N.E. of Westbury, and contains 290 inhabitants. The landowners in this township are Mr. J. Cadwallader, Mr. S. Dovaston, Mr. R. James, Mr. William Millman, Mr. Timothy Oakley, Mr. Rd. Evans, Mr. Rd. Hughes, and Mr. R. H. Gwynn. Vennington is a township 1½ miles S.W. by W. of Westbury, which contains 313 persons. The Rev. Mr. Parr is the principal landowner. Wallop is a small township containing 77 inhabitants, situated two miles west of Westbury. John Michael Severne, Esq., is the sole landowner. Westley, a township two and a half miles east of Westbury, contains 88 persons. The principal landowners are Mr. R. Butler, Mr. E. Butler, Richard Gardner, Esq., Mr. John Gardner, Mr. John Smith, and Mr. Rogers. Whitton has a population of 38 persons, and Mrs. Topp is the sole landowner. Wigmore township lies two miles N.W. of Westbury, and contains 63 inhabitants. The freeholders are Mr. Edward Davies, Mr. John Davies, Mr. John Dorricott, Mr. Richard Hillhouse, and Mr. Thomas Randles. Winsley township is situated two miles from Westbury, and contains 15 inhabitants. Mr. John Blakeway Tipton and Mr. John Phillips are the principal landowners. Yockleton is a township containing 231 inhabitants, and situated two miles N.E. of Westbury. The principal landowners are Colonel Wingfield and Thomas Nichols, Esq.
Post Office.—At Thomas Clark’s. Letters arrive at 8 A.M. and are despatched at 6 P.M.
WESTBURY DIRECTORY.
Bebb Thos., farmer, Wigmore
Birch Benj., farmer, Forest of Hayes
Corfield Richard, farmer
Clarke Thos., farmer & vict., Red Lion Inn
Clemson Thomas, farmer, Perton Woods