Tetbury facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Tetbury |
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 Tetbury
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| Population | 6,453 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | ST890930 |
| Civil parish |
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| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | TETBURY |
| Postcode district | GL8 |
| Dialling code | 01666 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Tetbury is a charming town and a local area (called a civil parish) in the Cotswold part of Gloucestershire, England. It sits where an old hill fort used to be. An Anglo-Saxon monastery was built here around 681, possibly by King Ine of Wessex.
In 2021, about 6,453 people lived in Tetbury.
Contents
History of Tetbury
During the Middle Ages, Tetbury became a very important place for trading Cotswold wool and yarn. Many of the buildings in the town centre, like the Church House, are from the 16th and 17th centuries.
The Market House was built in 1655. It's a great example of a Cotswold market house with pillars. People used to trade wool and yarn here, which made the town rich. Today, it's still used for meetings and markets.
Other interesting places to visit include the Tetbury Police Museum and Courtroom. Just outside town, you can find Chavenage House, Highgrove House, and Westonbirt Arboretum.
Tetbury Woolsack Races
The Tetbury Woolsack Races started in 1972. This is a fun yearly competition where people carry a 60-pound (27 kg) sack of wool up and down a very steep hill called Gumstool Hill. The races happen on the last Monday in May, which is a public holiday.
Awards for Beauty
Tetbury has won many awards for its beauty. It won five Gold awards in the "Heart of England in Bloom" competition from 2006 to 2010. It was also named "Best Small Town" in 2008, 2009, and 2010. In 2010, Tetbury won the overall "Heart of England in Bloom" award. The town also won Silver Gilt awards in the national Britain in Bloom Campaign in 2009 and 2011.
Geography and Nature
Tetbury is surrounded by gently rolling hills. These hills are mostly used for farming, like raising sheep and growing grains. The town's location was important because it was near a major trade route for moving goods and animals. This helped it become a centre for the wool trade long ago.
To the west of Tetbury, you can find Owlpen Manor, Beverston Castle, and Calcot Manor. The Tetbury Avon, a small river that flows into the Bristol Avon, starts north of the town. Locals call it the Ingleburn.
Local Government
Most of Tetbury is in the Tetbury parish. However, some northern parts of the town are officially in Tetbury Upton.
The Cotswold District Council manages many services in Tetbury. The Gloucestershire County Council is also responsible for some parts of the town.
For national government, Tetbury is part of the South Cotswolds constituency.
Economy and Shops
Tetbury is well-known for its antique shops and places selling interesting old items (called bric-à-brac). Homes & Antiques magazine even called Long Street one of the UK's top 10 favourite shopping streets in 2018.
The town centre also has many unique shops. You can find independent food shops, clothing stores, banks, and charity shops. There's also the Prince of Wales's original "Highgrove Shop," which opened in 2008.
A Tesco supermarket opened near the town centre in 2002. The high street has many specialist shops selling cheese, bread, meat, and other fresh products.
Tetbury has several pubs and hotels. The Royal Oak Inn was even featured in a 1971 film called Dulcima.
Culture and Events
Many events take place in Tetbury. Woolsack Day is held on the last public holiday in May. It's famous for the woolsack races and a street fair. A flower show is also held at the recreation ground.
The first "Tetbury Fiesta" was held in July 2008. The Tetbury Music Festival takes place in early October.
Healthcare
Tetbury Hospital is a private hospital. It gets money from government funding and donations. The hospital has a Minor Injuries Unit for small accidents. The closest major Accident and Emergency Department is in Cirencester.
Education in Tetbury
Tetbury has two schools for younger students. St Mary's Primary School is for younger children. Sir William Romney's School is a secondary school that focuses on creative arts. In 2006, Sir William Romney's closed its Sixth Form centre. This means older students who want to study for A-Levels now travel to Cirencester, Stroud, or Filton College in Bristol.
Westonbirt School is a private school for girls aged 11 to 18. Some Tetbury children also travel to grammar schools in Stroud, like Marling School for boys and Stroud High School for girls. Others go to Deer Park School in Cirencester.
Transport Links
Tetbury has bus services that connect it to nearby towns. The old Tetbury railway station closed in 1964. The closest train station now is at Kemble. The nearest big airport is Bristol Airport. Smaller planes use Kemble Airport.
Tetbury is on the A433 road, which makes it easy to get to the M4 and M5 motorway highways. The A4135 road also starts in Tetbury and goes west through Beverston.
Famous People from Tetbury
Living Now
- King Charles III, who has a private home called Highgrove House near Tetbury.
- Anne Hooper, a journalist, author, and counsellor.
- Jake Meyer, the youngest British person to climb Mount Everest.
- Josh Kumra, a singer and songwriter.
- Neil Woodford, an investment fund manager.
- David Mabberley, a professor of botany, writer, and educator.
From the Past
- Charlotte Eliza Collins, a famous diarist, married in Tetbury in 1853.
- Cecil "Sam" Cook, a Gloucestershire cricketer and umpire, who passed away in 1996.
- Robert Crowley, a printer, poet, and Protestant clergyman from the 16th century.
- Alice Liddell Hargreaves, the person who inspired the book Alice in Wonderland.
- Ester Lewis, a poet (1716–1794), married in Tetbury in 1760 and is buried there.
- Laurens van der Post, a writer, owned a farm nearby in the 1930s and passed away in 1996.
- Brian Trubshaw, the first British test-pilot of Concorde, who passed away in 2001.
Images for kids
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The Market Place in Tetbury.
See also
In Spanish: Tetbury para niños
