1852 Slaters Directory

Thornbury is governed by a Mayor and 12 Aldermen, a serjeant at mace and two constables, but the power of these officers is much limited by disuse.  The Hon. Henry Howard is lord of the manor and honour, and holds an annual court leet.  A court of record for the Honour of Gloucester, which takes cognizance of pleas to any amount, is entitled to be held once every three weeks; but the county court under the act of 1846, for recovery of debts to any amount not exceeding £20, has greatly diminished the business of the record court; the new court sits monthly in the market house. 

Thornbury is a polling station at the election of members to represent West Gloucester.

The clothing business formerly flourished here, but has long been lost, and the town has now but little trade.

Apart from St Marys Church, now undergoing complete repair, there are chapels for the use of Baptists, Independents, the Society of Friends and Wesleyan Methodists.  The charities are an almshouse, founded by Sir John Stafford; two public schools for educating children of the humbled class, and a free grammar school.

The market is now held on every second Wednesday, monthly, instead of a weekly one as formerly on Saturday. Fairs, Easter Monday, August 15^th, and the Monday next before 21^st December.

Population – Thornbury parish comprises several dependent chapelries and tythings which contained 4375 inhabitants in 1831 and 4706 inhabitants in 1841 of which last number about 1400 were inhabitants of the town.

Post Office – George Shepherd, postmaster.  Letters from all parts arrive (from Bristol) every morning at a quarter past nine, and are despatched thereto at a quarter past three in the afternoon.

Poor Law Union – Thornbury Workhouse – Governor, Charles White; Matron, Ann White; Schoolmistress, Jane Crabbe; Clerk to the Board of Guardians, George Ponting; Relieving Officers, George Ponting & George Cossham.

County Court – held monthly in the Market. Judge, Arthur Palmer Esq., & Clerk, Edmund LLoyd.

Railway – the nearest stations are Charfield and Yate (each about 7 miles from Thornbury) on the Bristol and Birmingham line.

Coaches  – to Bristol the Royal Mail from the Swan, every afternoon at three and the Red Rover coach every morning at a quarter past eight.

Carriers – to Bristol, Thomas Greenman and W. Baylis, from their houses, on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.

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