Longford, Gloucestershire facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Longford |
|
|---|---|
_-_geograph.org.uk_-_502922.jpg) Longford flooding in 2007 |
|
 Longford
|
|
| OS grid reference | SO839205 |
| • London | 103m |
| Civil parish |
|
| District |
|
| Shire county | |
| Ceremonial county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Gloucester |
| Postcode district | GL2 |
| Dialling code | 01452 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
|
Longford is a village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England. Although situated within two miles of Gloucester city centre, Longford parish falls within the jurisdiction of the Borough of Tewkesbury.
The village borders the Tewkesbury Road running north out of Gloucester and is bisected by the A40 northern bypass at the busy Longford roundabout. Connected with Segregated Bicycle Path to Gloucester.
Longford is primarily residential, and is home to Oxstalls Sports Park and Tennis Centre, the Winfield Hospital and both Longford AFC and Gala Wilton Football Clubs.
History
From Gloucester, the Tewkesbury road ran northwards from Alvin gate through the settlements of Kingsholm, Longford, and Twigworth. In Kingsholm it was joined by a road from the blind gate, which in its south part was known in 1803 as Dean's Walk and in its north part in 1722 as Snake Lane (later Edwy Parade). Bridges and a causeway carried the Tewkesbury road over water courses and low-lying meadows in Longford, which took its name from the crossing.
On the Tewkesbury road north of Kingsholm a house was converted into three cottages in the early 19th century. Further north in Longford there was a small early settlement at the south end of the causeway, where a medieval cross and possibly a chapel stood. There was evidently a house there by the early 13th century, when a man surnamed of the plock was recorded, and Plock Court, east of the road, occupied the site of a medieval manor house.
In 1851 market gardeners were fairly numerous in Longford and Twigworth, and later there were several market gardens and nurseries at Longlevens (called Springfield) and Innsworth.
In 1870-72, John Marius Wilson's Imperial Gazetteer of England and Wales described Longford like this:
LONGFORD-ST.CATHERINE, a hamlet in St. Catherine parish, Gloucestershire; contiguous to Gloucester city, 1 mile N of Gloucester r. station. Acres, 200. Real property, with Longford-St. Mary, £4,735. Pop.. 213. Houses, 37. The manor belongs to the Bishop of Gloucester; and most of the land, to the Dean and Chapter. A Roman settlement is supposed to have been here.
Sport and entertainment
Every summer from 2013 to 2017, Oxstalls Sport Park, Plock Court was the venue for the Sportbeat Music Festival, a two day outdoor music and sports festival.
Sports activities include:
- Oxstalls Tennis Centre, Oxstalls Sports Park, with 6 indoor and 4 outdoor tennis courts
- Gala Wilton Football Club
- Longford A.F.C.
Education
Longford Park Primary Academy, a new primary school and nursery with 210 places, opened at Whittington Park, Longford, in September 2017 near the Longford Village Hall.
In 2017, the University of Gloucestershire submitted final plans to develop Plock Court as part of its Oxstalls Campus redevelopment. The improvements will comprise a new business school and growth hub together with substantial sports facilities: a sports hall and stadium, 4G pitches, landscaping, and better community access.
