RIPPLE - Extract from National Gazetteer, 1868

"RIPPLE, a parish in the lower divisions of the hundreds of Oswaldslow and Pershore, county Worcester, 3 miles N. of Tewkesbury, its post town, and 3 S.E. of Upton. It comprises the chapelry of Queenhill, and the hamlet of Holdfast. The village is situated on the road from Bristol to Birmingham, and near the river Severn, which runs through the parish. There is a considerable traffic carried on by means of the Severn. The market gardens are numerous and productive.

A monastery existed at Ripple as early as the year 770, in Bishop Mildred's time, and was granted to the church of Worcester in the 9th century by Duke Alfred, but no remains are now extant. The tithes have been commuted for land and money payments, and the glebe contains about 580 acres. The living is a rectory* [the asterisk denotes that there is a parsonage and glebe belonging to the living] with the curacy of Queenhill annexed, in the diocese of Worcester, value £1,186, in the patronage of the bishop.

The church, dedicated to St. James, or St. Mary, is an ancient stone structure with a tower containing six bells. It has lately undergone thorough restoration. The register dates from 1550. The parochial charities consist of lands now producing about £126 per annum, part of which goes towards church repairs. There is a National school for both sexes."
"HOLDFAST, a hamlet in the parish of Ripple, lower division of the hundred of Oswaldslow, county Worcester, 1 mile S.E. of Upton. Here was formerly a chapel."

[Description(s) from The National Gazetteer of Great Britain and Ireland (1868) Transcribed by Colin Hinson ©2003]