Hardwicke, Stroud facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Hardwicke |
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 Saint Nicholas's Church, Hardwicke |
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 Hardwicke
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| Population | 4,395 (2021 Census) |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Gloucester |
| Postcode district | GL2 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Hardwicke is a large village in Gloucestershire, England. It's about 7 kilometers (4 miles) south of the city of Gloucester. Even though it's close to Gloucester, Hardwicke is part of the Stroud area for local government. In 2011, about 3,901 people lived here.
The name Hardwicke comes from an old English phrase, "heorde wic," which means "herd tending settlement." This shows that farming has always been a big part of the village's history. Long ago, Hardwicke was famous for its cider and cheese. Some people even think this helped the village survive during the English Civil War, as neither side wanted to damage a place that made such good food!
Hardwicke doesn't have one clear village center. You can find a traditional village green and pond on Green Lane, surrounded by some of the oldest cottages. Other parts of the village look more "Victorian" (from the time of Queen Victoria). Newer homes built in the 1970s and 1980s have also made the village connect with the nearby area of Quedgeley.
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Village Life
Hardwicke has a few places where people gather. There's a branch of The Royal British Legion, which is a charity that supports armed forces members and veterans. The village also has a community hall and a local shop.
In the middle of the village, you'll find Hardwicke Parochial School. This is a Church of England school for children aged four to eleven.
Local plans have been suggested to build about 1200 new homes on the south side of the village.
Hardwicke Court
Hardwicke Court is a very old and important house in Gloucestershire. Since the late 1700s, it has been the main home for the Lloyd-Baker family. The house you see today was designed by a famous architect named Robert Smirke between 1817 and 1819. It was built in a style called "neo-Classical," which means it looks like ancient Greek and Roman buildings. The house still has a canal feature from its gardens that dates back to the early 1700s!
Hardwicke Court and its gardens are sometimes open for visitors in the summer. It's listed as a Grade II* building, which means it's a very important historic building.
Local Government
Hardwicke is part of an "electoral ward" with the same name. An electoral ward is an area used for local elections, so people in the ward can choose their representatives. This ward starts in the northwest at Elmore, goes through Hardwicke, and ends in the southwest at Haresfield. In 2011, about 4,783 people lived in this whole ward.
Religion
Saint Nicholas Church is a very old and important church located on Church Lane. It's a Grade I listed building, meaning it's of exceptional historical interest. Records show there might have been a chapel here as early as 1092, possibly even built on top of an older Anglo-Saxon church.
The church you see today was built in the 1200s. Inside, you can find old monuments to past lords of the manor and their families, as well as ancient gravestones. The church also has a beautiful lych gate, which was built as the village's war memorial. Even though it has been restored over the years, the church still holds regular Sunday services and annual flower shows.
Sports
Hardwicke is home to several sports clubs for young people and adults.
Hardwicke Rangers FC
Hardwicke Rangers FC is a local youth football club. It was started in 1990 by parents who wanted a team for their children to play in. By 2007, the club had over 300 members, making it one of the biggest youth football clubs in Gloucestershire. There are teams for different age groups, from under 7s to under 16s. Each team plays in their age group in the Gloucester and Stroud Youth Leagues. In 2006–07, Hardwicke Rangers Youth FC even started its first girls' team!
Hardwicke Cricket Club
Hardwicke Cricket Club has several teams for older players and a successful youth section called the Hawks. The club's teams play in league and cup competitions organized by the Stroud District Cricket Association. In 2007, the club added a second senior team. A committee runs the club, meeting throughout the year.
Media
The village has its own free magazine called "Hardwicke Matters." It started in 1989 and is delivered to 2,500 homes and businesses in the area.
You can also listen to Severn FM, an internet radio station that broadcasts from Hardwicke.
Historical Facts
Hardwicke Reformatory
The Hardwicke Reformatory was a special school for boys that opened in 1852. It's thought to be one of the very first "approved schools" for boys in the world. T. B. Lloyd Baker, a local landowner, helped start it. The Reformatory became famous and attracted attention from all over Britain and other countries.
Boys who attended, often from big cities, received an education and worked in the village if they were old enough. Many of them served bravely in the First World War, and a list of their names is displayed in the church. The Reformatory closed in 1922. The building was later neglected and was eventually taken down in 2001.
Madam's End Farm
There's an interesting story about Madam's End Farm. It's said that Henry VIII, a famous English king, was traveling through the country and arrived in Hardwicke late one afternoon. His wife, Anne Boleyn, was too tired to continue their journey to Gloucester and face a big welcome ceremony. So, they decided to stay the night at the farmer's house, ending their day's travel there.
