Churchdown facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Churchdown |
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 The Old School House building at The Green in Churchdown |
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 Churchdown
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| Population | 10,990 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST779869 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | GLOUCESTER |
| Postcode district | GL3 |
| Dialling code | 01452 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Churchdown is a large village in Gloucestershire, England. It sits between the cities of Gloucester and Cheltenham. Churchdown is part of the Tewkesbury Borough.
The village has two main areas. The older part, sometimes called "Brookfield" or "village," is near St Andrew's Church. The newer part is around St John's Church. Churchdown is quite big, with about 10,990 people living there as of 2011.
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Where is Churchdown Located?
Churchdown is in a countryside setting, even though it's close to Gloucester and Cheltenham. Open fields surround it on three sides. It is also next to Imjin Barracks and the area of Innsworth.
Exploring Churchdown Hill
A famous local spot is Churchdown Hill, also known as Chosen Hill. It rises 155 metres (510 feet) high. From the top, you can see amazing views across the Severn Vale and to the Cotswolds. You can also spot Gloucester, Cheltenham, the Malvern Hills, and parts of Worcestershire.
This hill has some cool historic places. These include Mussell Well, the "Roman" Steps, and St Bartholomew's Church. There's also a radio transmitter for BBC Radio Gloucestershire. Two reservoirs run by Severn Trent Water are also on the hill.
A local group called The Friends of Churchdown Hill helps look after the hill. They helped create the Woodland Trust's nature reserves there. They also made a guide and map for walking on the hill.
Nature Reserves on the Hill
Parts of Churchdown Hill are special nature reserves. They are looked after by the Woodland Trust and the Gloucestershire Wildlife Trust. Everyone is welcome to visit these areas for free.
How Churchdown is Governed
Churchdown is part of the North Cotswolds area for national elections. Locally, Churchdown is split into two areas, called wards. These are Churchdown Brookfield (the southern part) and Churchdown St John's (the northern part). The main road, the A40 Golden Valley Bypass, divides these two wards.
Getting Around Churchdown
Churchdown has always been in a good spot for travel between bigger towns. An old tram line once connected Cheltenham and Gloucester through the village. Later, a road was built along a similar path. This road, Cheltenham Road East, was once a main route from London to Fishguard.
Today, this road helps people get to Cheltenham and Gloucester. It also connects to the M5 via the A40 Golden Valley Bypass. There are some special paths for bikes, but they don't always connect well.
Train Travel
From 1874 to 1964, Churchdown had its own Churchdown railway station. This station was on the main train line between Birmingham and Bristol. Today, only a few parts of the old station remain near Station Close. Trains still pass through on the Cross Country Route, but they don't stop here.
Air Travel
Churchdown is right next to Gloucestershire Airport. Locals still often call it Staverton. You'll often see small planes flying over the village. Sometimes, military aircraft, old and new, fly by too. For the last ten years, the airport has been used for helicopter training for police and military.
Bus Services
Local bus services are run by Stagecoach West. Three bus routes go through Churchdown. The 94 bus runs between Cheltenham and Gloucester every 10 minutes along Cheltenham Road East. The 97 and 98 routes also go between Cheltenham and Gloucester. They take a longer way through the village. The 97 goes via Parton Road, and the 98 goes via Pirton Lane.
Local Information for Residents
Village Magazines
Residents in Churchdown get a magazine called Churchdown Magazine. It comes out every two months and is delivered free to over 5,000 homes. It has local stories, adverts, and details about events. This magazine has been printed since 1974.
Since 2010, residents also get MyChurchdown magazine. This glossy, full-colour magazine is also free and comes out every two months. It has a website and social media too. It shares news, events, adverts, and interesting articles for local people.
Schools in Churchdown
- See also List of schools in Gloucestershire
Churchdown has six schools. There are two secondary schools: Churchdown School Academy and Chosen Hill School. There are also several primary schools. These include Churchdown Parton Manor Infant and Junior Schools, St Mary's Catholic School, and Churchdown Village Infant and Junior Schools.
Sports and Fun Activities
Churchdown has an eighteen-hole golf course and a driving range at Brickhampton, just outside the village. There's also a place for inline skating and skateboarding at Churchdown Park.
The village also has many pitches for football and rugby. Both Churchdown School and Chosen Hill School have sports halls.
Youth football is popular with the Churchdown Panthers team. They mostly play in the Cheltenham FA league.
The Chosen Hill Former Pupils rugby club's first team plays in the South West League. They also have a busy youth section.
Before the First World War, there was a golf course between the railway line and Churchdown Hill. Today, this area is open farmland. Churchdown also has a bowling green, which is part of the Churchdown Club.
Churches in Churchdown
- See also List of churches in Gloucestershire
Churchdown has three Church of England churches: St John's, St Andrew's, and St Bartholomew's. There is also the Catholic Church of Our Lady of Perpetual Succour. This church is on Cheltenham Road East. The Churchdown Methodist Church is on Chapel Hay Lane. St Bartholomew's Church is special because it sits on top of Churchdown Hill. It was built on the site of a very old settlement from the Iron Age.
Historic Buildings to See
Churchdown has several interesting old buildings. The Old School House on The Green is where the first village school was held. Ye Old House on Sandfield Road is thought to be from the 16th century. Dunstan Cottage in Chapel Hay Lane and The Cottage on Oldbury Orchard are also very old.
On The Green, there's a house where the famous writer Beatrix Potter stayed in 1901. She visited Gloucester, and her time there inspired her well-known story, The Tailor of Gloucester.
Other Interesting Facts
The village has two main areas with shops. There are also two pubs: the Hare and Hounds near St John's, and the Old Elm near St Andrew's. The Churchdown Club on Church Road is a social club where people play bowls, skittles, and tennis. The Churchdown Community Centre on Parton Road also hosts events and has skittles alleys. The shops on St. John's Avenue are known locally as "The Avey."
The composer Herbert Howells wrote his Piano Quartet "to the hill at Chosen and Ivor Gurney who knows it." He was talking about Churchdown Hill. The hill also inspired his 'Chosen Tune', which he dedicated to his fiancée who lived in Churchdown.
Many people think the boundary between Churchdown and Innsworth is at the Hare and Hounds pub. However, Innsworth actually starts further down at the roundabout where Innsworth Lane and Highgrove Way branch off. This means that all the houses between Innsworth Lane and Cheltenham Road, south-west of Imjin Barracks, are still part of Churchdown.
