Dursley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Dursley |
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| Market town | |
.jpg) Dursley Town Hall and St James the Great parish church. |
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 Dursley
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| Population | 7,463 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | ST756981 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | DURSLEY |
| Postcode district | GL11 |
| Dialling code | 01453 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Dursley is a small market town in Gloucestershire, England. It's located in the Stroud District, nestled between the bigger cities of Bristol and Gloucester. Dursley sits near Stinchcombe Hill and is about 4 miles (6.4 km) southeast of the River Severn. The village of Cam is right next to Dursley. In 2021, about 7,463 people lived in Dursley.
Contents
History of Dursley
Ancient Times and Early Settlements
Long ago, people lived in the area around Dursley. There's an Iron Age hill fort called Uley Bury, which is like an old fort built on a hill around 300 BC. You can also find ancient burial mounds called long barrows, like "Hetty Pegler's Tump", which you can even go inside! Remains from the Roman Empire have also been found nearby.
Dursley even had a castle once, built by a person named Roger de Berkeley in 1153.
Becoming a Town
Dursley was given "borough" status in 1471. This meant it had special rights and its own local government. However, it lost this status in 1886. For many years, Dursley was an important administrative center for the surrounding villages. In 1974, it became part of the larger Stroud District.
Important Buildings
The parish church of St. James the Great is a very old building, dating back to the 13th century. Most of what you see today was built in the 14th and 15th centuries. You can even spot the Tudor royal family's symbol on the outside, showing they helped pay for some of its construction. The church's original spire fell down in 1699, but a new belltower was built a few years later in 1708–09.
Dursley Town Hall was built in 1738. It has a statue of Queen Anne and a bell tower. Back then, the town's markets were very busy, bringing farmers and traders from all over. Today, the Dursley Town Council takes care of the Town Hall.
Railways and Industry
In 1856, a short train line opened, connecting Dursley and Cam to a main railway line. Locals called it the "Dursley Donkey"! This line closed in 1968. However, a new station called Cam and Dursley opened on the main line in 1994, making it easier for people to travel by train again.
In the 1800s and 1900s, Dursley was a big manufacturing town. The Lister engine company, started in 1867, made engines that were used all around the world. The company's successor, Lister Petter, stayed in Dursley until 2014. Much of the old factory area is now being turned into new homes and some business units. The Lister Hall theatre in town is named after this famous company.
Other large factories in Dursley made electrical equipment and printed newspapers, but many of these have now closed or become smaller.
About Dursley Today
Location and Nature
Dursley is located where the Cotswolds hills meet the flat land of the Severn Vale near the River Severn. The town's main stream is the River Ewelme, which becomes the River Cam as it flows into Cam. Dursley is surrounded by beautiful woods and countryside. The Cotswold Way, a long walking path, even goes right through the town center.
Shops and Markets
Dursley has several supermarkets, including Sainsbury's, Lidl, Iceland, and Co-op. The town center also has many unique independent shops and cafes.
You can find different markets at the Market Place in the town center. There's a farmers' market on the second Saturday of every month, where you can buy fresh local produce. A craft market is held on the fourth Saturday of each month. There's also a group called Transition Cam and Dursley that helps look after Dursley's Secret Garden and other local projects.
Dursley has several pubs. The Old Spot pub is very popular and has even been named Gloucestershire 'Pub of the Year' many times. In 2007, it was named the CAMRA National Pub of the year.
Railways
The closest train station to Dursley is Cam and Dursley. You can catch trains there operated by Great Western Railway.
Famous People from Dursley
Many interesting people have connections to Dursley:
- William Tyndale (around 1494–1536) was an English scholar who translated the Bible. He was probably born nearby.
- Edward Foxe (around 1496–1538) was an English church leader who became the Bishop of Hereford.
- John Tippetts (1622–1692) was born and grew up in Dursley and later became an important Surveyor of the Navy.
- William Vizard (1774–1859) was an English lawyer known for his role in a famous trial involving Queen Caroline in 1820.
- Mikael Pedersen (1855–1929), a Danish inventor, created the unique Pedersen bicycle in Dursley in the 1800s.
- Peter Currell Brown (born 1936), a writer, wrote his well-known novel Smallcreep's Day while living in Dursley.
- Nicholas Wapshott (born 1952) is a journalist, broadcaster, and author.
Sport
- Arthur Winterbotham (1864–1936) was an English first-class cricketer.
- Henry Witchell (1906–1965) was also an English first-class cricketer.
- David Bruton (born 1952) is a former footballer who played over 290 games, mostly for Swansea City A.F.C..
Images for kids
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Dursley Town Hall
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Church of St James the Great
See also
In Spanish: Dursley (Gloucestershire) para niños
