Minchinhampton
| Minchinhampton | |
 Market Square |
|
  Minchinhampton |
|
| Population | 2,875 (2011 Census) |
|---|---|
| OS grid reference | SO871008 |
| Civil parish | Minchinhampton |
| District | Stroud |
| Shire county | Gloucestershire |
| Region | South West |
| Country | England |
| Sovereign state | United Kingdom |
| Post town | STROUD |
| Postcode district | GL6 |
| Dialling code | 01453 |
| Police | Gloucestershire |
| Fire | Gloucestershire |
| Ambulance | South Western |
| EU Parliament | South West England |
| UK Parliament | Stroud |
|
|
Coordinates: 51°42′21″N 2°11′10″W / 51.705783°N 2.185980°W
Minchinhampton is an ancient market town, located on a hilltop, 4 miles (6.4 km) south-south-east of Stroud, Gloucestershire, England, in the Cotswolds.
The Common
Nearby is Minchinhampton Common, a Site of Special Scientific Interest.[1] It offers an area of 580 acres (230 ha) for the recreation of walkers and golfers and is managed by the National Trust. The Common is also used as grazing land for the cows of local farmers in the summer. On the Common are long parallel ditches and mounds which formed part of a large Iron Age fort. There are outstanding views from the Common, west over the Severn estuary into Wales, and east to the Golden Valley and further into the Cotswolds.
Town centre
The town's shops are clustered in and around the High Street and comprise a general store, two hairdressers, Boots the Chemist, a ladies' boutique, a butcher's shop, a local organic dairy outlet, two restaurants, a cafe, a Post Office, an antiques shop, an estate agency and several charity shops.
The Crown Inn closed unexpectedly in March 2014. The pub had hosted clubs and societies, including a folk club and Probus over the years and its location on the Market Square meant that it was a focal point for the Minchinhampton Country Fayre, held every other year.[2]
The main square has a War Memorial, and a 17th-century Market House, given to the town in 1919 by the Lord of the Manor Lt. Col. H. G. Ricardo and restored in 1944. A market is held every Thursday.[3]
Governance
An electoral ward in the same name exists. This ward stretches east from Minchinhampton to Aston Down. The total ward population taken at the 2011 census was 4,357.[4]
Churches
There are two churches in Minchinhampton – Holy Trinity (Anglican)[5] and Minchinhampton Baptist Church.[6] The spire of the parish church of the Holy Trinity was pulled down for safety reasons in 1863 and now the stub has been completed with a "coronet" structure.
Aston Down
Minchinhampton is close to the former Royal Air Force airfield, Aston Down, formerly a large employer in the area, now closed down and used for gliding. In 2005, following a Freedom of Information request, the local newspaper revealed that Aston Down is contaminated with arsenic, hydrocarbons and radium.[7] Since the site is located above a vulnerable aquifer, local residents have formed a pressure group, the Aston Down Action Group, in an effort to persuade local government and central government agencies to implement more stringent safety regulations.
Sport and amenities
The town has is also a doctors' surgery, library, dentist, school, youth club and sports facilities. The town has a very active rugby club, Minchinhampton RFC, with three adult teams, minis and juniors from under 6 to under 16 and a large touch rugby section. Minchinhamption RFC play in Gloucester 3.[8]
Minchinhampton Golf Club has 3 courses. The Cherington and Avening Courses are located near the villages of the same name, South East of Minchinhampton. The Old Course is located on Minchinhampton Common.
Notable residents
Minchinhampton is close to the home of the Princess Royal, Gatcombe Estate, which hosts the Gatcombe Horse Trials in late summer each year. In 2014, the 2003 rugby world cup winner and ex England and Gloucester RFC rugby international Mike Tindall who is married to Zara Phillips, the Queen's granddaughter and daughter of the Princess Royal, and who lives at Gatcombe Park started to play rugby for Minchinhampton RFC.[9] There is a twice-yearly craft fair at Gatcombe, and a summer visit by Gifford's Circus every year.[10]
Minchinhampton was both the birthplace and country residence of novelist Joanna Trollope. The actor Keith Allen lives within the parish.[11]
The town is twinned with Nkokoto, in Tanzania.[12]
References
- ↑ Natural England SSSI information on the citation, map and units of assessment
- ↑
- ↑ "Minchinhampton Country Market". Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ↑ "Ward population 2011.Retrieved 30 March 2015".
- ↑
- ↑
- ↑ Toxic threat to water supply Stroud News and Journal. 17 August 2005
- ↑
- ↑ "Former England and Gloucester centre Mike Tindall plays for his local club Minchinhampton". BBC Sport. 27 October 2014.
- ↑ "Gifford's Circus - Dates". Retrieved 2008-03-07.
- ↑ http://www.thisisgloucestershire.co.uk/painswick/news/Keith-Allen-loves-life-Gloucestershire/article-283231-detail/article.html
- ↑ "Stroud district twinning links". Retrieved 2008-03-07.
External links
Media related to Minchinhampton at Wikimedia Commons- Minchinhampton Parish website
- Minchinhampton Market House