Eastcombe - Gloucestershire
The high ground of the southern half of the Bisley parish which was only sparsely
settled in ancient times was later rendered the most populous area by squatter
development by weavers and other cloth-workers on the fringes of Bisley and Oakridge
commons. The Cottages were usually built on the higher slopes just below the rim of
the central plateau and to several groups the name "Lynch" meaning ridge was applied.
That development produced the five substantial villages of Eastcombe, Bussage,
Chalford Hill (or Chalford Lynch) France Lynch and Oakridge Lynch, and smaller hamlets
of Brown's Hill, Bournes Green, Oakridge (or Far Oakridge) and Water Lane. The
settlement of those areas had evidently begun by C.1710 when the parish was said to
have an abundance of poor cottages and c1775 there were said to be several populous
villages on the commons, inhabited chiefly by poor people employed in the cloth trade.
Development continued into the 19th century; c1810 it was estimated that 120 cottages
had been built on the commons in the previous 17 years. Long fingers of common that
remained, snaking in between the cottages, were largely taken in as gardens at the
inclosure of 1869, leaving a network of narrow paths. The cottages, which stand at all
angles to meet the unevenness of the ground, mostly date from the 18th century, the
vernacular style with its mullioned windows evidently surviving late into that
century. There are a few cottages of the later 19th century, including two pairs of
Gothic model cottages at Eastcombe, and the villages also have some 20th century
development, particularly Eastcombe and Chalford Hill.
Bisley Parish in 1841 had 176 houses standing empty!
Between 1833-1837 Reuben and Mary Niblett.
resided with their son's Reuben and John at Eastcombe Glos. (Weaver's)
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