Lechlade facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lechlade |
|
|---|---|
| Town | |
 St Lawrence's seen across the Thames |
|
 Lechlade
|
|
| Population | 3,139 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SU2199 |
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Lechlade |
| Postcode district | GL7 |
| Dialling code | 01367 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
|
| Website | Lechlade-on-Thames official website: http://www.lechladeonthames.co.uk/ |
Lechlade is a small town located in Gloucestershire, England. It sits right on the edge of the beautiful Cotswolds area. It's about 55 miles south of Birmingham and 68 miles west of London.
Lechlade is special because it's the highest point on the famous River Thames where boats can still travel. You can even go a bit further upstream to Cricklade by boat. The town gets its name from the River Leach, which flows into the Thames close to the Trout Inn and St. John's Bridge.
The land around Lechlade is mostly flat. It has many lakes that were made from old gravel pits. These lakes are now part of the Cotswold Water Park. Some of them are even protected as special nature reserves. People have lived here since the Stone Age, Iron Age, and Roman times. Lechlade grew into a busy trading spot thanks to its river, canals, roads, and even a railway. The railway station closed in 1962. After World War II, the nearby RAF Fairford and RAF Brize Norton air bases helped the town grow even more.
Contents
The Name of Lechlade
The name "Lechlade" likely means "a water-course of the Leach." This could be a different channel of the River Leach, like a stream that powered a mill.
For example, the current path of the River Leach, from north of Lechlade Mill to St John's Bridge, might be this special channel. Another smaller waterway also runs from that point to join the Thames further east. This smaller waterway actually forms the county border.
Lechlade's History
People have lived in the Lechlade area for a very long time. In 1943, a very old Stone Age "cursus" (a type of ancient monument) was found from pictures taken from the air. There are also many remains of homes from the Iron Age and Roman times. These old sites are now protected as ancient monuments.
After William the Conqueror came to England in 1066, he gave the land of Lechlade to Henry de Ferrers. The town is even mentioned in the Domesday Book, which was a big survey of England. In 1210, Lechlade was given permission to hold a market, which helped it become a trading center.
A place called Lechlade Priory (a type of religious house) was started in the early 1200s. It lasted until 1472. The town grew because it was connected by the river, canals, roads, and later, a railway. The town's railway station opened in 1873 but closed in 1962. After World War II, the air bases at RAF Fairford and RAF Brize Norton created more jobs. This led to more homes being built in Lechlade.
How Lechlade is Governed
Lechlade is part of the Kempsford–Lechlade electoral ward. This area stretches from Lechlade in the east to Kempsford in the west. In 2011, about 3,973 people lived in this ward.
Even though Lechlade is in Gloucestershire, it was once managed by a different area in Berkshire from 1894 to 1935. Then, from 1935 to 1974, it was part of Cirencester Rural District in Gloucestershire. Since 1974, it has been part of Cotswold District.
The town is also part of The Cotswolds UK Parliament constituency. This means that people in Lechlade vote for a person to represent them in the House of Commons in London. Since 1997, this person has been Sir Geoffrey Clifton-Brown, who is a member of the Conservative Party.
Lechlade's Geography and Nature
The land around Lechlade is mostly flat and low. It has different types of soil, including Alluvium and River Gravels. The area is surrounded by many lakes. These lakes were formed from old gravel pits and are now part of the Cotswold Water Park.
Many of these lakes are now protected as Sites of Special Scientific Interest and nature reserves. For example, the Edward Richardson & Phyllis Amey nature reserve has marshy areas and reedbeds. These spots attract interesting creatures like dragonflies and birds such as grey heron and great crested grebe. At Roundhouse Lake, you might see birds like Eurasian wigeon, red-crested pochard, common goldeneye, common pochard, and tufted duck.
The River Thames in Lechlade
Lechlade is the highest town on the River Thames where larger boats, like narrowboats, can still travel. You can even take a boat trip or walk along the Thames Path all the way from Lechlade to London! A long time ago, in the early 1700s, goods brought to Bristol were sent to Gloucester. From there, they were carried over land to Lechlade and then shipped down the Thames to London.
The Halfpenny Bridge in Lechlade is often the starting point for a "Thames meander." This is a term for a long journey down the Thames by boat. The Thames Path also continues upstream from Lechlade to the traditional source of the Thames at Thames Head. Boats can actually go a little further upstream, near the village of Inglesham, where the Thames and Severn Canal joins the River Thames. Smaller rowing boats can even reach Cricklade. Lechlade is a popular place for boating on the Thames. You can rent different kinds of boats here, from rowing boats to larger river cruisers.
The highest lock on the Thames is St John's Lock, located in Lechlade. Here, you can see a statue of "Old Father Thames" watching over the boats. From St John's Bridge, you get a lovely view across the lock and meadows to the tall spire of St Lawrence's church. The River Leach also flows into the Thames right at St John's Bridge. The famous poet Percy Bysshe Shelley wrote a poem called A Summer Evening Churchyard here. It includes these lines:
Clothing in hues of heaven thy dim and distant spire
Around whose lessening and invisible height
Gather among the stars the clouds of night
Lechlade's Economy and Tourism
Lechlade is a popular place for visitors and for activities on the river. The town has several pubs, some antique shops, a convenience store, places to buy food, a garden centre, and even a Christmas shop!
Culture and Community Life
Lechlade has hosted a music festival since 2011. In 2015, the famous band Status Quo was the main act. Sadly, the festival was cancelled in 2023 because of bad weather.
There are many activities for young people in Lechlade. Most of these take place at the Memorial Hall and the Lechlade Pavilion Hall next door. Behind the Town Hall, you'll find large playing fields, an astro turf pitch, a skate park, and a playground. The Memorial Hall was rebuilt after a fire in 2016.
The 1st Lechlade Scout Group has a long history, going back to 1915. That year, Robert Baden-Powell, who started the Scout movement, even visited Scouts from Lechlade and nearby areas.
Important Landmarks
Lechlade Manor, located north-east of the town center, was built in 1872 in a style called Jacobean. During World War II, it became a Catholic convent.
Transport in Lechlade
.jpg)
The main roads through Lechlade, the A417 and A361, can be quite busy. Where the A361 enters the town from the south, it crosses the River Thames on Halfpenny Bridge. Another river, the River Coln, joins the Thames at the Inglesham Round House.
The town's railway station opened in 1873 but closed in 1962.
Religious Sites
The Church of England parish church of St Lawrence is a very old and important building. It was built in the 15th century, probably around 1470-1476. Some parts, like the roof and tower, might have been added in the early 1500s. The church has a special brass memorial for John Twynyho, who died in 1485.
There is also a Baptist Church on Sherborne Street, which was built in 1817.
Notable People from Lechlade
- Reginald Arkell (1881-1959) was born in Lechlade. He became a journalist, script writer, and comic novelist. He wrote many musical plays for the London theatre.
- Thomas Prence (1599-1673) moved to America in 1621. He helped start a town called Eastham, Massachusetts. He was also an important leader and governor of Plymouth, Massachusetts, several times.
See also
In Spanish: Lechlade-on-Thames para niños
