Longhope facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Longhope |
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 Longhope
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| Population | 1,489 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | SO689189 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Longhope |
| Postcode district | GL17 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Longhope is a village located in west Gloucestershire, England, United Kingdom. It's found within the beautiful Forest of Dean area. A writer named Arthur Bullock, who was born there in 1899, once described its location. He said it's in the most eastern valley of the hills between the Severn and Wye rivers.
The name "Longhope" actually means "long valley." The valley is about four miles long and runs from north to south. It's separated from the Severn valley by a range of hills. These include May Hill, Huntley Hill, Blaisdon Hill, and Notwood Hill.
Longhope is part of an area called the Blaisdon and Longhope electoral ward. This is a local area used for voting. Longhope is in the northern part of this ward, and Blaisdon is its smaller neighbor to the south. In 2011, the total population of this ward was 1,754 people.
May Hill is a very famous landmark nearby. The top of this hill is owned by the Longhope Parish Council, which is like the local government for the village.
A small part of Longhope Parish is called Little London. It's located north of the main village, leading towards the village of Huntley. This area got its name during the Second World War. Many families from London were moved to the countryside for safety. After the war, some of these families decided to stay in Longhope and the surrounding areas.
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Longhope's Past
People have lived in Longhope since at least the 11th century. The village was even mentioned in the Domesday Book, a famous survey from 1086. The village church, called All Saints, was built a very long time ago, during the Norman period.
Inside the church, you can see the arms of William III above the door. Parts of the church's west tower are from the late Norman period. There's also a stone statue of a priest from around 1300. The church's porch and some windows were added in the early 14th century. The church was fixed up a lot in the 1860s.
Right across from the church is a building called Court Leet. This used to be the local court. The old wooden cottage next to it was once the village jail. Another interesting old house is Royal Spring. It's said that King Charles I stopped there for a drink in 1642. This was after the Battle of Powick Bridge during the English Civil War.
The Old Railway Station
Longhope station opened in 1855. It was part of the Hereford, Ross and Gloucester Railway, which connected Ross-on-Wye to Grange Court and then to Gloucester. The station was important for sending local products like jam and fruit to other places. It had a special section where trains could pass each other on the single track. The station building is gone now, but the old waiting room is still there.
Life in Old Longhope
Arthur Bullock wrote about what life was like in Longhope before World War I. He loved growing up there. He said the houses were close enough for people to feel like a community. But they were also spread out enough for everyone to feel unique. He mentioned the many train services available.
Arthur also noted that people didn't really need to leave the village for shopping. Longhope had two big general stores and three smaller ones. There were also two bakers, a post office, a coal merchant, a blacksmith, and four pubs. Later, another shop and a news agency opened. A man named Mr. C. Powell built a village hall called the Latchen Room. The village also had a cricket team, a football team, a tennis club, and a singing group.
Arthur Bullock's memories tell us a lot about Longhope back then. He mentioned James Constance and Sons as the main employers. Many other jobs were available, like making hurdles and building wheels. Plums were the biggest fruit crop grown there. The Bullock family was very active in the village. Other old families included the Carpenters, the Lanes, and the Halls, who were cartwrights (people who built carts). The village also had some interesting characters. One was the churchwarden, 'Feyther Field,' who would ride his bicycle while carrying a ladder!
Village Schools
Arthur Bullock said there was a council school near the Zion Baptist Chapel. But he and his brothers and sisters went to Longhope Church School, which was across from the church. He described it as "one big room with a fire grate at one end." The toilets were very basic, and there were no good washing facilities. He remembered how cold the schoolroom could be in winter. Sometimes his feet and hands were so cold he could barely write. However, he greatly admired the teachers, Mr. and Mrs. Hill.
Today, the village school is called Hope Brook Church of England Primary School. It was created on September 1, 2001. It combined the two older schools: Hopes Hill County Primary School and Longhope Church of England School. The current school is located next to the recreation ground.
Longhope Football Club
Longhope has a football club that has been playing since 1905. It's a big part of the village. The current Longhope team plays in the North Gloucestershire Division One league. Their home games are played at the Recreation Ground. The club's symbol is a lion, which is also the village's symbol. You can see it on the war memorial on Monmouth Road.
Longhope Football Club has had some great successes. In the 1949/50 season, they won both the North Gloucestershire Division Three championship and the Cup. Gerald Wyman was the team captain then. They won the same "double" again in the 2000/2001 season. Malcolm Stock managed the team, and Tracy Clark was the captain. In the 2005-2006 season, the club reached the final of the George Sandoe Cup but lost 3-1 to Worrall Hill.
In July 2019, Longhope Football Club hosted "The Legends Cup." This was a special game between the current team and a team of past Longhope football legends. Over 300 people came to watch, which was a record crowd! The current team, managed by Sam Hurst and captained by Steven Clark, won the very competitive match.
The club's most recent big win was in the 2020-2021 season. They won the George Sandoe Cup, beating Ellwood 2-1. Robert Clark managed the team, and Rhys Gardner was the captain.
Longhope Central
Longhope Central opened in December 2023. It's a special information hub for people living in and visiting the village. It used to be just a bus stop opposite Pound Cottage on The Latchen. Now, it has a village map that shows local businesses, groups, and clubs, along with their contact details. There's also a bookshelf where people can swap books. A noticeboard is available for local events and announcements.
See also
In Spanish: Longhope para niños
