Abbeydale and Abbeymead facts for kids
Abbeydale and Abbeymead are modern suburbs in the city of Gloucester, England. They are about 3 miles southeast of the city centre. These areas are connected to Gloucester city by special bike paths. The two suburbs are next to each other and share many things, but you can still tell where one ends and the other begins.
Contents
History of Abbeydale and Abbeymead
Building the First Homes
Most of the Abbeydale area was open fields until around 1970. That's when a company called Heron Homesteads started building the "Heron Park" development. At first, this new area was simply known as "The Land to the East."
Houses Designed for People, Not Just Cars
Many of the first homes in Heron Park were built using a special plan called the Radburn model. This design means the houses face each other across green spaces and paths. This way, people walking are mostly kept separate from cars. Cars access the back of the houses, where there are garages and parking spots. The streets in this area were named after British birds, like "Heron Way." Later parts of Heron Park, built around 1981, did not use this Radburn design.
New Schools and Shops Arrive
In 1975, work began on Heron Primary School, which opened its doors in 1977. A shopping centre called Glevum Way opened in 1981. It had a Safeway supermarket and a few smaller shops. Over the next few years, a community centre, a doctor's office, a pub called the Ridge & Furrow, and a vet clinic were built nearby.
In 1983, the Safeway store was badly damaged by a fire. In 2005, the whole shopping area was rebuilt. A new, larger Morrisons supermarket took its place. The pub, Ridge & Furrow, closed for a while but has since reopened.
More Homes and Abbeymead Begins
Around 1976, more homes were built in Abbeydale by other companies like Robert Hitchins. These houses had a more traditional layout, with homes facing the road and having front driveways. This newer part of Abbeydale is separated from the older Heron Park by a lane called The Wheatridge. A small church, Christchurch, Abbeydale, was built and opened in 1995.
From 1986, even more houses were built on farmland between Abbeydale and Barnwood. This new area became known as Abbeymead. It was connected to Abbeydale by a main road called Abbeymead Avenue. This road was designed to be a faster way into Gloucester. Abbeymead has continued to grow and is now one of the city's largest suburbs.
Things to Do and See
Shopping and Services
The main shopping area in Abbeydale is next to Heron Way. It has a Morrisons supermarket and five other shops, including an estate agent, a Chinese takeaway/fish and chip shop, a betting shop, and a charity shop. Nearby, you'll find the Ridge & Furrow Pub, a doctor's surgery, and a vet clinic. The shopping complex also has a community centre with an all-weather sports pitch. Across Abbeymead Avenue, there are more small shops.
Schools and Play Areas
Heron Primary School on Heron Way and Abbeymead Primary School on Abbeymead Avenue are the two schools in the area. Both schools are for children aged 4 to 11. Near Abbeymead School, there's a children's playground. You'll also find another pub called The Turmut Hoer, a Tesco Express, a hairdresser, and a few restaurants like Gloucester Grill and The Polash Indian restaurant.
Parks and Nature
Abbeymead has many open spaces. There's a skateboarding area at Clock Tower Park. Further away, you can visit a local nature reserve called Hucclecote Meadows. This area is so special that it has been named a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Since most of Abbeydale and Abbeymead is now built up, it's unlikely to expand much more. However, new homes are being built nearby in Brockworth, across the M5 motorway. This area is connected to Abbeymead Avenue by Lobleys Drive. There's also a large business park nearby with a big Tesco Supermarket, a pub, a hotel, and other shops.
The whole area is served by several regular bus routes, including the 2, 2A, 8, 13, and 66z, operated by Stagecoach West.
Sister cities
- Shuklaganj, India
