Earlswood, Monmouthshire
Encyclopedia
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
.
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.
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.
A school was built in the area in 1861 for a maximum of 80 students.
It has since been closed down.
Monmouthshire
Monmouthshire is a county in south east Wales. The name derives from the historic county of Monmouthshire which covered a much larger area. The largest town is Abergavenny. There are many castles in Monmouthshire .-Historic county:...
, south east Wales
Wales
Wales is a country that is part of the United Kingdom and the island of Great Britain, bordered by England to its east and the Atlantic Ocean and Irish Sea to its west. It has a population of three million, and a total area of 20,779 km²...
, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
. It is located five miles northwest of Chepstow
Chepstow
Chepstow is a town in Monmouthshire, Wales, adjoining the border with Gloucestershire, England. It is located on the River Wye, close to its confluence with the River Severn, and close to the western end of the Severn Bridge on the M48 motorway...
, within the parish of Shirenewton
Shirenewton
Shirenewton is a village in Monmouthshire, south east Wales, UK. It is located 3 miles due west of Chepstow, 5 miles by road. The village stands around 500 feet above sea level, and has extensive views of the Severn Estuary and Bristol Channel....
and immediately east of the forested area of Wentwood
Wentwood
Wentwood is a forested area of hills, rising to 309 metres , in Monmouthshire, South Wales. It is located to the north east of, and partly within the boundaries of, the city of Newport.- Geology :...
.
History
Norman invasion of Wales
The Norman invasion of Wales began shortly after the Norman conquest of England under William the Conqueror, who believed England to be his birthright...
, the area was largely forested. At the time of the Domesday Book
Domesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
it formed part of the estates of Durand, the Sheriff of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
. 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, 1st Earl of Hereford
Miles de Gloucester, 1st Earl of Hereford, Lord of Brecknock was the son of Walter de Gloucester, who served as hereditary sheriff of that county between 1104 and 1121....
(Miles de Gloucester), who became Earl of Hereford
Earl of Hereford
The title of Earl of Hereford was created six times in the Peerage of England. See also Duke of Hereford, Viscount Hereford. Dates indicate the years the person held the title for.-Earls of Hereford, First Creation :*Swegen Godwinson...
and Lord High Constable of England
Lord High Constable of England
The Lord High Constable of England is the seventh of the Great Officers of State, ranking beneath the Lord Great Chamberlain and above the Earl Marshal. His office is now called out of abeyance only for coronations. The Lord High Constable was originally the commander of the royal armies and the...
, and the hilly area north west of Shirenewton became known as the Earl's Wood.
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.
A school was built in the area in 1861 for a maximum of 80 students.
It has since been closed down.