Lydney facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lydney |
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 Newerne Street, Lydney |
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 Lydney
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| Population | 10,043 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | SO634032 |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | LYDNEY |
| Postcode district | GL15 |
| Dialling code | 01594 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Lydney is a town located in Gloucestershire, England. It sits on the west bank of the River Severn, within the Forest of Dean District. The town is about 16 miles (25 km) southwest of Gloucester. A main road, the A48 road, now goes around the town since 1995. In 2021, Lydney had a population of 10,043 people.
Lydney has a harbour on the River Severn. This harbour was built when the Lydney Canal was created. Near the town, the Lydney Park gardens are home to an ancient Roman temple. This temple was built to honor a god named Nodens.
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The Name of Lydney
The name "Lydney" likely comes from Old English words. It might mean "island or river-meadow of the sailor." Another idea is that it means "island of a man named *Lida." Records from around 853 and 1086 show the name as "Lideneg" and "Ledenei."
History of Lydney
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During the Iron Age, an ancient fort was built at Lydney Park. People later used this area for mining iron ore. In the late Roman period, a Roman temple was built on the fort's site. This temple was dedicated to the god Nodens.
In 1588, Sir William Winter was given the land of Lydney. This was a reward for his help against the Spanish Armada. He built a house called White Cross Manor, but it was burned down in 1645. Later, in 1723, the Winter family sold their Lydney land to the Bathurst family.
In 1810, docks were built to use the town's good location near the River Severn. The River Lyd also flows through the town and into the Severn. In 1935, Charles Bathurst became Viscount Bledisloe of Lydney. This happened after he retired as Governor-General of New Zealand. In 1940, a factory called Pine End Works was built. It made plywood for airplanes during World War II. On August 31, 1962, the Beatles even played a concert at Lydney Town Hall.
Getting Around Lydney
The Severn Railway Bridge used to cross the River Severn just north of Lydney. It connected Purton to Sharpness. Built in the 1870s, it was badly damaged in 1960 by two oil tanker barges. The barges hit a pier, causing parts of the bridge to fall. There have been ideas to rebuild the connection.
Lydney railway station serves the town. It is managed by Transport for Wales Rail. The station is on the Gloucester to Newport Line. You can also connect to the town centre using the Dean Forest Railway. The Lydney Canal was once very important for shipping timber, coal, and iron. Now, it is used by boats for fun.
Schools in Lydney
The main secondary school in Lydney is The Dean Academy. Before 2012, it was known as Whitecross School. Even earlier, from 1903 to 1973, it was called Lydney Grammar School.
Local Media
For TV news, Lydney gets coverage from BBC West and ITV West Country. Television signals come from the Mendip TV transmitter. Local radio stations include BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Heart West, Greatest Hits Radio South West, and Dean Radio. Dean Radio is a community-based station. The local newspaper is called The Forester.
Sports, Fun, and Arts
Lydney has a rugby football club that plays rugby union. Their home ground is Regentsholme. The club did well in the John Player Cup in the 1980s. One of their games was even shown on the BBC's Rugby Special. There is also a leisure centre in town. It has an indoor swimming pool, a gym, and other facilities.
Lydney Cricket Club started in 1862. They play cricket at The Bob Park Cricket Ground. The club has three senior teams that play on Saturdays. They also have a Midweek team and a Sunday team. Many young players learn cricket here too. Famous cricketers like Steve James and Geraint Jones started their careers at Lydney.
Lydney Town F.C. is the town's football club. They play at the recreation ground. They have four teams that play in different leagues. Bathurst Park, in the town centre, is also used for football and cricket. There is a hockey club and a netball club. They play their home games at Whitecross School. Lydney Golf Club has a new course located near the Lydney Bypass.
Lydney also has an outdoor swimming pool called Bathurst Swimming Pool. It was built in the 1920s and is open from May to early September. Volunteers help to run it.
The Lydney Twonkers Scrabble Club plays at the town's library. They have won championships in their league. Lydney also has a town brass band that started in 1892. The band has three groups: the Town Band, the Training Band, and a Starter Group. The Town Band competes nationally and performs concerts. In 2016, they qualified for the National Brass Band Championship. In 2022, they celebrated their 130th anniversary.
Lydney parkrun started in 2016. It is a free 5k timed run every week. It begins near the Lydney Boating Lake and involves three laps.
Places to Visit
- Norchard is where the Dean Forest Railway is based. You can ride historic trains here.
- Lydney Park is the site of a Romano-British Roman Temple. It was also an Iron Age hillfort. The gardens at Lydney Park are open to visitors for a short time each spring.
- Taurus Crafts is a special community and a popular place to visit. It has many craft shops and a café. It is part of the Camphill community.
Twin Towns
Lydney is twinned with:
- Bréhal, a town in northwest France.
Local Groups
- 614 (Lydney) Squadron Air Training Corps
- 586 (Lydney) Sea Cadet Corps
- Lydney and District Dramatic Society
Famous People from Lydney
- Charles Bathurst, Lord Bledisloe (1867–1958) was the Governor-General of New Zealand from 1930 to 1935.
- F. W. Harvey (1888–1957) was a poet known for his works during World War I.
- Christopher Herbert (1944–) was the Bishop of St Albans from 1996 to 2009.
- Herbert Howells (1892–1983) was a composer known for his church music. He was born in Lydney.
- Steve James (cricketer) (born 1967) is a former England and Glamorgan cricket player. He was born in Lydney.
- Lisa Rogers is a television presenter.
- Sir William Winter (died 1589) was a Vice-Admiral for Queen Elizabeth I.
- Sir John Winter (died 1676) was William's grandson and an important royalist during the English Civil War.
See also
In Spanish: Lydney para niños
