Northleach

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Church of St Peter and St Paul, Northleach

Northleach is a small Cotswold market town in Gloucestershire, England.

It is close to the A40 main road, and the Fosseway, the A429. The town was made wealthy by the wool trade of the fifteenth century, and the main church is of impressive size and quality in reflection of this fact.

The road which became the A40 ran through the town, and as the main road between Oxford and Cheltenham it contributed greatly to the town's development. The town was bypassed in the mid 1980s, only after vibration damage had been detected in some of the fine 15th - 18th century houses on the main road.

The town has three pubs: The Sherborne Arms, The Red Lion Inn, and The Wheatsheaf Inn. There is also a Sports and Social Club, a Snooker and Billiards club, a Mechanical Music museum, art and antique shops, and other shops.

The Church of St Peter and St Paul in Northleach is known as The Cathedral of the Cotswolds. The church dates from the early 12th century, and was built on top on an earlier building, also believed to have been a church. The 12th century version was simple, consisting little more than an aisle. That the chancels were a later addition is immediately apparent from the south eastern quoins visible in the Bicknell Chapel.

Other changes have left their mark. The scar on the steeply pitched roof of the tower wall indicates that the south aisle was widened twice. The chancel was built in the 1300s, followed by the nave, aisles and sacristy in the 1400s. The overall style of the present church is known as the Late Medieval Glass Cage type in which the structure of the church is of less importance than the large, traceried stained glass windows.

[edit] Sport

The town has a football club Northleach Town which runs a 1st and 2nd team. Both teams play in the Cheltenham League. The club's local rivals are Bourton Rovers and Sherborne Harriers.

The town also has a cricket club, consisting of a first eleven, second eleven, junior team and ladies team. The town also has teams for darts, skittles, snooker and pool, and a tennis club. The Westwood Community Centre has a number of sports activities.

Northleach Primary School is one of the few Gloucestershire Primary Schools with its own swimming pool (outdoor). The pool is open to the public for a small charge over the summer holidays.