From The Story of Our Museum and What it Taught Us by Rev Henry Housman published in 1881.
I was recently loaned a copy of this fascinating book and if I ever need to stuff a bird I shall now be well prepared. It describes the museum built up by Henry Housman and his brother in the 1840s. The part I found most interesting was the description of Woodchester some of which I have reproduced below.
The Bath road, leading through the vale of Rodborough, is of singular beauty. At first it winds under Rodborough Hill, crowned with its useless though picturesque fort... while to the right runs a stream, too small to be named, but large enough to be useful, as the various manufactories which have sprung up on its banks testify.....
About two miles from Stroud a side road crossing this stream by a small bridge forms the directest approach to Woodchester; and after passing a little brook which comes rushing down from the hills on the right, the visitor soon finds himself on a gentle eminence, close by the old parish church, and surrounded on all sides by enchanting views. This is classic ground, for he is now standing on the site of the famous Roman villa. .......
Leaving the old parish church, the road, bearing to the left and skirting the rectory gardens – noted for their fine ornamental trees – takes a turn to the right, and if followed straight on up the hill would lead to an extensive plain, called Shelsley Hill, noted for its large quarries of building stone.........
If, however, instead of following this road up the hill, we take the first turning to the left, after passing the cottages and schools which form a considerable part of this northern division of the village, or “Near Woodchester”, as it is called, we soon find ourselves in the fields again. Just on entering them there is a spring of clearest water, which gives the name of Frogmoor to the meadow, while on the left-hand side of the path stands the new parish church, conveniently situated midway between the divided districts of the parish. A little further on the road dips into a little valley running up into a wooded hollow on the right. At the bottom we cross a bright little trout stream, coming down from the head of the valley, and forming a fine mill-pond on the left. Immediately after crossing this stream, the path takes a steep ascent, at the top of which stands our old home, Woodchester House.....
Skirting the front lawn, we soon find ourselves in “Far Woodchester”, the southern and more populous of the two divisions of the village. Here is the post-office, the dissenting place of worship, and the big shop of the village, with its groceries, medicines and tobacco, butter, cheese and other necessaries for the inner man on the one side; and blankets, dresses, gorgeous neckties and such like comforts for the outer man on the other. Still keeping to the right, after passing this universal store, the houses become fewer and farther apart, until they cease altogether, and we come to a secluded demesne, called Atcombe lying as its name implies, in a combe, down which runs a rivulet which forms the Atcombe ponds...... The path, which passes between the head of the upper pool and the tail of the lower, joins a lane which, after wandering for a mile or two amid charming scenery of the truest rural type, leads to Woodchester Park, in our day belonging to Earl Ducie, but which has long since changed hands, and become a stronghold of the Romanists.
In case anyone is confused as to where this route is going. I believe we are leaving the A46 at Priory Lodge and following Cholmeley’s Drive, crossing what is now the cycle track at the bottom of the dip and continuing on the current footpath up the field to the corner by the Priory. Then, along Church Lane to its junction with Selsley Road, turn right and then left onto Church Road. The school was then in the village hall. Continue straight on through the kissing gate, down the hill, across the stream and up Little Hill to Woodchester House. Then on Tower Drive to the gate and along to join the High Street at the bottom of Bospin Lane. Leave the High Street on Atcombe Lane but things then become a bit confused. He may be describing a route that followed the driveway or on the footpath across the field. Either way, the path between the ponds exists and leads up to Convent Lane which continues in the direction of Woodchester Park.
I was recently loaned a copy of this fascinating book and if I ever need to stuff a bird I shall now be well prepared. It describes the museum built up by Henry Housman and his brother in the 1840s. The part I found most interesting was the description of Woodchester some of which I have reproduced below.
The Bath road, leading through the vale of Rodborough, is of singular beauty. At first it winds under Rodborough Hill, crowned with its useless though picturesque fort... while to the right runs a stream, too small to be named, but large enough to be useful, as the various manufactories which have sprung up on its banks testify.....
About two miles from Stroud a side road crossing this stream by a small bridge forms the directest approach to Woodchester; and after passing a little brook which comes rushing down from the hills on the right, the visitor soon finds himself on a gentle eminence, close by the old parish church, and surrounded on all sides by enchanting views. This is classic ground, for he is now standing on the site of the famous Roman villa. .......
Leaving the old parish church, the road, bearing to the left and skirting the rectory gardens – noted for their fine ornamental trees – takes a turn to the right, and if followed straight on up the hill would lead to an extensive plain, called Shelsley Hill, noted for its large quarries of building stone.........
If, however, instead of following this road up the hill, we take the first turning to the left, after passing the cottages and schools which form a considerable part of this northern division of the village, or “Near Woodchester”, as it is called, we soon find ourselves in the fields again. Just on entering them there is a spring of clearest water, which gives the name of Frogmoor to the meadow, while on the left-hand side of the path stands the new parish church, conveniently situated midway between the divided districts of the parish. A little further on the road dips into a little valley running up into a wooded hollow on the right. At the bottom we cross a bright little trout stream, coming down from the head of the valley, and forming a fine mill-pond on the left. Immediately after crossing this stream, the path takes a steep ascent, at the top of which stands our old home, Woodchester House.....
Skirting the front lawn, we soon find ourselves in “Far Woodchester”, the southern and more populous of the two divisions of the village. Here is the post-office, the dissenting place of worship, and the big shop of the village, with its groceries, medicines and tobacco, butter, cheese and other necessaries for the inner man on the one side; and blankets, dresses, gorgeous neckties and such like comforts for the outer man on the other. Still keeping to the right, after passing this universal store, the houses become fewer and farther apart, until they cease altogether, and we come to a secluded demesne, called Atcombe lying as its name implies, in a combe, down which runs a rivulet which forms the Atcombe ponds...... The path, which passes between the head of the upper pool and the tail of the lower, joins a lane which, after wandering for a mile or two amid charming scenery of the truest rural type, leads to Woodchester Park, in our day belonging to Earl Ducie, but which has long since changed hands, and become a stronghold of the Romanists.
In case anyone is confused as to where this route is going. I believe we are leaving the A46 at Priory Lodge and following Cholmeley’s Drive, crossing what is now the cycle track at the bottom of the dip and continuing on the current footpath up the field to the corner by the Priory. Then, along Church Lane to its junction with Selsley Road, turn right and then left onto Church Road. The school was then in the village hall. Continue straight on through the kissing gate, down the hill, across the stream and up Little Hill to Woodchester House. Then on Tower Drive to the gate and along to join the High Street at the bottom of Bospin Lane. Leave the High Street on Atcombe Lane but things then become a bit confused. He may be describing a route that followed the driveway or on the footpath across the field. Either way, the path between the ponds exists and leads up to Convent Lane which continues in the direction of Woodchester Park.