Earlswood is a rural area of scattered settlement in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, United Kingdom. It is located five miles northwest of Chepstow, within the parish of Shirenewton and immediately east of the forested area of Wentwood.
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History
Before the Norman invasion of Wales, the area was largely forested. At the time of the Domesday Book it formed part of the estates of Durand, the Sheriff of Gloucester. He and his successors began the process of woodland clearance, and established the village of "Sheriff's Newton", now Shirenewton. Later, in the 12th century, the post of Sheriff was held by Milo Fitzwalter (Miles de Gloucester), who became Earl of Hereford and Lord High Constable of England, and the hilly area north west of Shirenewton became known as the Earl's Wood.[1]
The small Earlswood Methodist Chapel was established in 1754, and is one of the earliest purpose-built chapels to survive in Monmouthshire. It was extended in 1908.[2]
A school was built in the area in 1861 for a maximum of 80 students.[3] It has since been closed down.
The Village Today
Today the village has a large community building built with public donation money, as a memorial to members of the parish lost during World War 2.[4] The Community Building hosts many events for the parish of Shirenewton.
References
- ^ History of Shirenewton Church
- ^ John Newman, The Buildings of Wales: Gwent/Monmouthshire, 2000, ISBN 0-14-071053-1
- ^ http://freepages.genealogy.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~familyalbum/ksnewton.htm
- ^ http://www.shirenewtonchurch.info/SLHS/shirenewton.htm
External links
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