Northleach

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Church of St Peter and St Paul, Northleach.

Northleach is a small Cotswold market town in Gloucestershire, England. It constitutes the major part of the civil parish of Northleach with Eastington.

The nearest railway stations are Moreton-in-Marsh, Kingham and Shipton on the Cotswold Line.

Location and history

The town is close to the A40 main road, and the Fosseway, now the A429, The brook "the Leach" runs part-way through. The town was made wealthy by the medieval wool trade of the 15th 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, a butchers, a bakers, a takeaway, a wine bar and other retail shops.

Sporting traditions and amenities

The town has a football club, Northleach Town F.C., which runs a 1st and 2nd team with both teams playing in the Cheltenham League.

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, running and a tennis club. The majority of the clubs use the Northleach Pavilion, the Snooker Club is on the ground floor of the Cotswold hall and 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.

From 1589 to 1904 and from 1927 to 1988, Northleach had Westwood's Grammar School, named after its founder Hugh Westwood and now demolished.[1][2] The westwood community centre now stands there. "Fallows" (a road nearby) honours a recent Headmaster.

The town celebrates St Peterstide every year.[citation needed]

See also

References

  1. ↑ "Westwood's Grammar School". Gloucestershire Archives. The National Archives. 1842-1972. Retrieved 24 October 2013. 
  2. ↑ Carlisle, Nicholas (1818). "North Leach". A Concise Description of the Endowed Grammar Schools in England and Wales, Band 1. Baldwin, Cradock and Joy. Retrieved 24 October 2013. 

External links

Coordinates: 51°49′44″N 1°50′15″W / 51.82900°N 1.83743°W / 51.82900; -1.83743

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