‘A New History of Gloucestershire’ by Samuel Rudder 1779

Samuel Rudder’s ‘A New History of Gloucestershire’ is one of the most important books ever written about the county. Begun in 1767 and completed in 1779, it is a meticulously detailed, parish-by-parish survey of Gloucestershire as it was during the second half of the eighteenth century, with additional sections on the history of the city and see of Gloucester. Originally conceived as a revised and updated version of Sir Robert Atkyns’ pioneering ‘Ancient and Present State of Glostershire’, which had become difficult to find, expensive and out-of-date by 1767, Rudder soon realised the potential to include a great deal of additional information, especially on topography, the state of trade and industry and archaeological evidence, and his revision became a new work in its own right. The ‘New History’ also included the Gloucestershire section of the Domesday Book, the first time that it had been published since 1086. Over the course of twelve years, he visited every parish in the county, interrogating the inhabitants and studying the parish registers, as well as sending out questionnaires by post. The completed work was the most comprehensive and authoritative survey of the county since the Domesday Book itself and remains to this day one of the most valuable sources for historians of Gloucestershire.

The above is the description written on the book cover.

There is an index at the back of the book, although the names of Parishes are not included as they are arranged in alphabetical order within the main body of the work.

The book & cover are in excellent condition. (Retails new at £30) Accept £10

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