Uley facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Uley |
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 Uley
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| Population | 1,151 (2011) |
| OS grid reference | ST790984 |
| District |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | Dursley |
| Postcode district | GL11 |
| Dialling code | 01453 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Uley is a small village in Gloucestershire, England. It's located in a beautiful wooded valley within the Cotswolds hills. The village is surrounded by several tiny communities called hamlets, like Elcombe, Shadwell, Bencombe, and Crawley.
In 2011, about 1,151 people lived in Uley. However, many more people lived here during the early days of the Industrial Revolution. Back then, Uley was famous for making special blue cloth. The name Uley likely means 'clearing in a yew wood'.
Contents
Discovering Uley's Past
Ancient Roman History
The Romans built a temple near Uley, on West Hill. This spot was already a special place for worship even before the Romans arrived. In 1976, workers found many Roman writing tablets there. These were often lead curse tablets from the temple. They usually talked about thefts, often mentioning farm animals or tools.
You can see some items from this temple, including a stone head of Mercury, at the British Museum. There were also large Roman villas nearby in places like Frocester and Woodchester.
Village Churches and Chapels
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St Giles's Church, near the village green, was designed by an architect named Samuel Sanders Teulon in the 1800s. This church replaced an older one from Norman times, which had replaced an even older Saxon church.
The nearby church of the Holy Cross at Owlpen also has Saxon roots. It was rebuilt in 1828 and later decorated in 1876.
Uley's Changing Village Life
Uley was once known for having many pubs, about 14 of them! Now, only one remains, called The Old Crown. Years ago, the village also had a butcher's shop and a petrol station. These were later replaced by antique shops and restaurants. Today, only a small village shop is left.
The Story of John Daniel the Gorilla
In the 1920s, a woman named Miss Edna Cunningham brought a baby gorilla to Uley. She named him John Daniel. Her brother had bought him from a department store in London. Miss Cunningham raised John Daniel like a human child, and he even played with the village children.
However, as John Daniel grew very big, Miss Cunningham sold him. She was told he would go to a special reserve in Florida. Instead, he was sold to the Barnum & Bailey Circus and shown in New York. John Daniel became very sad and sick. When Miss Cunningham heard he was ill, she traveled to America, but he died before she arrived. His body was stuffed and is now on display at the American Museum of Natural History in New York.
Uley's Economy
Local Brewery
Uley Brewery started in the 1980s. It's in an old building that was part of a brewery from 1833. The brewery makes different kinds of ale, including Old Spot Prize Ale and Uley Bitter.
Things to See and Do in Uley
Ancient Sites
- Uley Long Barrow: North of the village, you can find a Neolithic burial mound called Hetty Pegler's Tump or Uley Long Barrow. It's a very old burial site.
- Uley Bury: Just above the village is an ancient Iron Age hill fort called Uley Bury. It's a great place to explore. The Cotswold Way, a popular walking path, goes right by it.
- Downham Hill: To the west is Downham Hill, also known as 'Smallpox Hill'. This is because an old smallpox isolation facility once stood on top of it. You can still see parts of the old buildings.
Arts and Education
- Prema Arts Centre: This arts center was started in the 1970s in an old Baptist Chapel. It offers art and craft courses, music events, workshops, and evening classes.
- Uley Primary School: Uley CofE VC primary school has about 100 students. It was rated 'good' by Ofsted and 'outstanding' by SIAS in 2012.
Historic Homes Nearby
- Owlpen Manor: To the east is Owlpen Manor, a beautiful Tudor manor house. It was built between the 1400s and 1600s, but its history goes back to Saxon times.
- Stouts Hill: Just outside the village is Stouts Hill, a large country house. Famous people like Stephen Fry and Rik Mayall went to school there when it was a preparatory school.
Famous People from Uley
- Mike Dauncey: Brigadier Mike Dauncey lived in the village until he passed away in 2017.
- Richard Clyburn: He invented an early version of the adjustable spanner.
Images for kids
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Uley, with Uley Bury rising behind it, as seen from Bencombe
See also
In Spanish: Uley para niños
