Coombes, Upper Comb, Coleford (General)

by slowhands , proud of his ancient Dean Forest roots, Wednesday, March 18, 2009, 22:05 (5801 days ago) @ alison2

Isaiah Trotter, born in 1818, became one of the most wealthy, influential, benevolent and well-known residents of Coleford throughout most of the nineteenth century. In 1857 he purchased an area of about 3 acres of land called Upper Comb in the north of Coleford alongside the road to Berry Hill. Here he built The Coombs, a mansion, and lived there by 1859 or 1860.

Isaiah was a staunch supporter of the Baptist Church, and a great benefactor to it in particular, and to Coleford in general. His wife, Jane, died in 1887 and by 1889 he was having built ten almshouses just above The Coombs at The Gorse. On 21st December 1892 he conveyed these almshouses to the Baptist Church "to provide homes for such aged or infirm poor persons… who would otherwise probably be compelled to end their days in the Union Workhouse". "Trotters Charity" still exists today.

a mile or so from Coalway Lane End

The Coombs
The Gorse
Coleford
Gloucestershire
GL16 8QE

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Ἀριστοτέλης A Gloster & Hereford Boy in the Forest of Dean ><((((*>