Wotton-under-Edge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Wotton-under-Edge |
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 Church of St Mary the Virgin, Wotton-under-Edge |
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 Wotton-under-Edge
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| Population | 5,632 (2021 Census) |
| OS grid reference | ST758933 |
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| Shire county | |
| Region | |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | WOTTON-UNDER-EDGE |
| Postcode district | GL12 |
| Dialling code | 01453 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | Great Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament |
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Wotton-under-Edge (pronounced WOOT-un) is a charming market town in Gloucestershire, England. It is located in the Stroud district. The town sits near the southern edge of the beautiful Cotswolds hills. The famous Cotswold Way long-distance walking path goes right through Wotton-under-Edge.
Contents
Discover Wotton-under-Edge's Past
The first mention of Wotton-under-Edge was in AD 940. This was in an old document from King Edmund I. The town's original name was Wudetun, which means "village in or near the wood". The "Edge" part of the name refers to the nearby Cotswold Edge hills, like Wotton Hill.
In 1086, Wotton was listed in the Domesday Book. Kingswood Abbey was started in 1139, but only a gatehouse from the 1500s remains today. Nearby, you can find old Tudor houses like Newark Park and Owlpen Manor. These are sometimes open for visitors. The historic The Ancient Ram Inn is a former pub that dates back to 1145.
The original town was burned down between 1199 and 1216. It was rebuilt in 1252. At that time, Johanna de Berkeley was given permission to hold a market and a three-day fair each year. In 1272, the townspeople were allowed to choose their own Mayor. This tradition continued until 1886.
Important Buildings and Schools
St. Mary the Virgin Church was built in 1283. It is the oldest and largest church in Wotton-under-Edge. Katharine Lady Berkeley's School was first set up as a grammar school in 1384. Today, it is a modern comprehensive school located just outside the town. Another school, The British School, was founded in the village in 1835.
Battles and Landmarks
The Battle of Nibley Green happened near the Ancient Ram Inn around 1470. This was a local battle where William de Berkeley defeated Viscount Lisle.
On top of Wotton Hill, you can see a group of trees. These were planted in the 1800s to remember the Battle of Waterloo. This spot was also once home to an early warning beacon. It was used to signal the approach of the Spanish Armada in 1588.
New Mills, a factory started in 1810, made money by supplying both sides during the Napoleonic wars. After many years, the mill was almost closing in 1981. Then, a company called Renishaw plc bought it.
The Wotton-under-Edge Town Hall was rebuilt in 1872. The town stopped being a corporation in 1886.
How Wotton-under-Edge is Governed
Wotton-under-Edge has its own local government area, called an electoral ward. This ward includes the town and also stretches to North Nibley. In 2011, the total population of this ward was 6,510 people.
Fun Things to Do in Wotton-under-Edge
The town has several pubs and a hotel. You can also find many takeaways and restaurants. There are active social groups, like the Scouts and a gardening club. The Wotton Lions are also very active.
Community Swimming Pool
In 1958, local people and students worked together to build the town's swimming pool. It was finished in 1961. Later, solar and electric heating were added. In 1999, with community help, a special roof was added. This roof can be pulled back, allowing people to swim for more of the year. In 2015, a skate park was opened for everyone to enjoy.
The Wotton Electric Picture House
In 2002, the local cinema closed down. A group of volunteers raised money to fix it up. They made it one of the first digital cinemas in the UK. It reopened in 2005 as a 100-seat cinema. It is located in an old stable yard that was once part of the Crown Inn. The cinema, now called the Wotton Electric Picture House, is a very popular place.
Local Landmarks
On the hills to the east, you can see the Wotton-under-Edge BT Tower. This tower was part of a special communication network during the Cold War. It is still a well-known landmark today. Nearby, Newark Park is a historic site run by the National Trust. It's a great place to visit and is within walking distance. There is also a very old burial mound, called a Neolithic long barrow, on Blackquarries Hill.
Wotton-under-Edge in the Media
Local news and TV shows come from BBC West and ITV West Country. Radio stations include BBC Radio Gloucestershire, Heart West, Greatest Hits Radio South West, and Edge Radio. Edge Radio is a local station that started broadcasting in 2020. The town also has its own newspaper, the Gazette Series.
Getting Around Wotton-under-Edge
Roads and Motorways
Wotton-under-Edge is located on the B4058 road. It is about 5 miles (8 km) from the M5 motorway, which connects to other major cities.
Train Travel
Brunel's Bristol and Gloucester Railway line passes about 2 miles (3.2 km) west of Wotton-under-Edge. This line carries many different types of trains. The closest train station is Cam & Dursley, which is about 7 miles (11 km) north of the town.
Charfield station was closer, about 2.5 miles (4 km) away. It opened in 1844 but closed in 1965. This left Wotton-under-Edge without direct train access. There were plans for a branch line from Charfield to Wotton in 1899, but it was never built.
However, there are now plans to reopen Charfield station! This follows the success of reopening nearby stations like Yate and Cam & Dursley. Permission to reopen Charfield station was given in March 2023. There are also plans for a "Greenway." This would be a path for walking and cycling between Wotton, Kingswood, and Charfield, away from traffic.
Bus Services
Bus services connect Wotton-under-Edge to nearby towns like Dursley, Yate, and Stroud. However, these buses do not run very often. The WESTlink on-demand bus serves Katharine Lady Berkeley's school. This service is also available to the public from Monday to Saturday.
Walking Routes
- The famous Cotswold Way goes down Wotton Hill and through the town center. This makes Wotton-under-Edge a popular stop for hikers.
- The Slow Ways project offers traffic-free walking routes. These connect Wotton to Dursley, Yate, and other towns.
- The Monarch's Way passes about 2.5 miles (4 km) from Wotton, through nearby Tresham.
Famous People from Wotton-under-Edge
Many interesting people have connections to Wotton-under-Edge:
- More Adey (1858–1942) – An art critic.
- Ian Alexander – A footballer.
- John Biddle – A Unitarian thinker.
- Charles Blagden – A physician.
- Bruce Chatwin – A well-known writer. He and his wife owned a house called Holwell Farm for many years.
- U. A. Fanthorpe – A poet.
- Sir Matthew Hale – A very important judge in the 1600s.
- Edward Jenner – A famous physician and scientist. He attended the local grammar school.
- Catherine Johnson – A playwright.
- Richard Knill – A missionary.
- James Lees-Milne and his wife Alvilde Lees-Milne – Writers who lived nearby for 13 years.
- Ian MacDonald (1948–2003) – A music critic and author.
- Sir Isaac Pitman – He created Pitman Shorthand, a special way of writing quickly. Pitman Place in the town is named after him.
- Mark Porter – A doctor.
- Sean Rigg – A footballer.
- Jamie Stephens – A footballer.
See also
In Spanish: Wotton-under-Edge para niños
