Winchcombe
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Winchcombe | |
  Winchcombe shown within Gloucestershire |
|
| Population | 4,379 |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | |
| District | Tewkesbury |
| Shire county | Gloucestershire |
| Region | South West |
| Constituent country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | CHELTENHAM |
| Postcode district | GL54 |
| Dialling code | 01242 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| European Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Tewkesbury |
| List of places: UK • England • Gloucestershire | |
Winchcombe is a Cotswold town in the Local Authority District of Tewkesbury, in Gloucestershire, England. Its 2001 census population was 4,379.
Contents |
[edit] Early history
The Belas Knap Neolithic long barrow on a hilltop above Winchcombe, was constructed from about 3000 BC. Later, during the Anglo-Saxon period, Winchcombe was a chief city of Mercia, favoured by Coenwulf[1] ; the others being Lichfield and Tamworth. Subsequently, during the eleventh century, the town was briefly the county town of Winchcombeshire. The Anglo-Saxon Saint St. Kenelm is believed to be buried in the town.
[edit] Notable buildings
In Winchcombe and the immediate vicinity can be found Sudeley Castle and the remains of Hailes Abbey, which was one of the main centres of pilgrimages in Britain due to a phial possessed by the monks said to contain the blood of Christ.[2] There is nothing left of the now-vanished Winchcombe Abbey. St Peter's church in the centre of the town is noted for its grotesques.
[edit] Walks
Winchcombe sits on six long-distance footpaths : The Cotswold Way, The Gloucestershire Way, The Wychavon Way, St Kenelm's Trail, St Kenelm's Way,[3] The Warden's Way and The Windrush Way.
[edit] Public transport
A bus service connects the town to Cheltenham, Broadway, Willersey and further afield on special services.
Winchcombe was once served by a railway line, a relative latecomer in British railway history, which opened in the early 1900s by the Great Western Railway. The line ran from Stratford-upon-Avon to Cheltenham and was part of a main line from Birmingham to the South West and South Wales. Winchcombe railway station, passenger services continued on this line until 1968, and freight until 1976 when a derailment at Broadway damaged the line. It was decided not to bring the section back into use and by the early 1980s it had been dismantled. The stretch between Toddington and Cheltenham Racecourse, including Winchcombe, has since been reconstructed and reopened as a heritage railway called the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway. A new station has been erected at Winchcombe, on its original site, the building being the former station at Monmouth (Troy). Nearby is the 693 yard Greet Tunnel, the second longest on any preserved line in Britain.
[edit] Schools
There are currently two schools in the town, a primary school and a secondary school. The secondary school (Winchcombe School - a Science College) is located on the east of the town on Greet Road, and has two specialities, Science and Leadership.
[edit] Community
A community radio station was launched in April 2005 which currently broadcasts for over 14 days a year (7 days every 6 months).[4]
Winchcombe Town football club currently play in the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.(ref)www.glousnsl.co.uk
[edit] References
- ^ Mercia: An Anglo-Saxon Kingdom in Europe, Michelle P. Brown , Carol A. Farr ISBN 0826477658
- ^ Sacred Destinations
- ^ Long Distance Walkers Association guide
- ^ Winchcombe Radio
[edit] External links
| Following the Cotswold Way | |
|---|---|
| Towards Bath |
Towards Chipping Campden |
| 13.5 km (8.4 mi) to Cheltenham |
19 km (12 mi) to Broadway |
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