Haresfield, Standish, Moreton Valence; 23 July 2010

Today Is nearly an out and back route, finishing near to the start.


I left the office in Hucclecote and headed for Upton St Leonards.  Often at this point, I would head uphill towards Painswick but not today.  Today I head out through Matson and on to Brookthorpe, cross Stroud Road and into the village of Haresfield.  About 10Km into the ride already, time to find a village church, fortunately Haresfield has one of them  but it is a little bit hidden.  
Hidden, in fact up track that has a large steel gate and a (small) sign declaring private road in quite big print and access to church and old vicarage only in smaller print.  I venture through the gate.  This is all indeed shown as a road and public path on my OS map.  However, it is stunningly beautiful and, in my submission, unwelcoming at the same time.  So to my grumble of the day.  If the Church of England is interested in attracting new members, then surely this is the sort of thing they really must stop doing.  I appreciate they want to keep the grounds in good condition, which is done really quite successfully, but at the expense of putting people off.  The old guard, I'm sure are comforted and possibly made to feel quite sanctimonious by these restrictions.  However, they won't be around forever.  The 'Keep off the grass', 'Don't let your dog foul', 'Private' and other signs, the gravel drive that appears to be a private drive all conspire to put you off.  I felt like a trespasser as I entered through the gate and had to walk my bike, the gravel was far too thick to ride on.  I suggest that if it is necessary to keep these buildings purely as historical buildings, then hand them over to (for example) English Heritage and ship the congregation off to a nearby church.  There are plenty about and I'm willing to bet none of the congregation walk.  If it is intended to be a place of worship, then open it up and employ a good caretaker and groundskeeper.
Rant over, the Church of St Peter is a stunning church dating back to 12th century and an incredibly impressive 15th century range of buildings that comprise the old vicarage and would, 500 years ago, no doubt have isolated the church even then as being above the common man.  (Sorry I said rant over).  The church comprises of comprises nave, chancel of two compartments, west tower and spire, and north and south porches.  Some of the original 12th century fabric still exists including decoration and ornamentation over the north doorway and north walls.  The church was rebuilt in the 14th century when the west tower with a spire, gargoyles, and a staircase turret on the north, and the porches were added.  In the mid 18th century, the church was re-roofed and repairs carried out on the tower and spire.  Interior restoration later in the 18th century led to accusations that some ancient  details.  Something must have gone wrong at some point as it was described in 1841 as 'unwholesome, uncomfortable, and squalid'.  This led to a thorough restoration in the next year.

Curiously, right next to the church on the East side, there is moated site, known as The Mount. A square moat encloses an island measuring approximately 50m by 48m. The motte at the centre now only stands 1.5m high but was previously recorded as 10ft high. The moat is 10 to 16m wide and 3-4m deep. The moat is believed to be the site of the manor house of Haresfield which was still standing in 1680.  From my position, it was difficult to see anything on the mount.  I would have to do that by foot along one of the many converging footpaths.

A kilometre or so south(ish) from Haresfield is a railway bridge that now looks rather sorry for itself, I have linked to this on the location link that you should see at the bottom of the blog.  A look at the OS map suggests that this would at one time been a road link towards Stonehouse and the area east of the railway line.  I'm no expert on railways or bridges, but I guess that this is industrial revolution type era so quite a change in the politics of the area.  The bridge now just leads to a farm.

Carrying on, heading east, next stop is Standish.  On the approach, you get an excellent view of the grade II listed village hall and 14th century church of St Nicholas.  Despite the church you can now see having been built in the 14th century, it is believed to have replaced a wooden Saxon church.  The church is grade I listed and restored in the 1860s.  Legend has it that the body of Edward II was brought to Standish church in 1327 on its way to being interred at Gloucester Cathedral.  A much more reliable historical reference can be found inside the church.  At the end of the 16th century, Sir Henry Winston was Lord of the Manor of Standish; his memorial in the church bears a 20th century sign:

"This monument to Sir Henry Winston was restored to commemorate the marriage in 1618 of his daughter Sarah to John Churchill from which union descended Sir Winston Churchill K.G. O.M. C.H. M.P. 1874-1965 Prime Minister 1940-1945 . 1951-1955"
This Sarah Winston's grandson became the first Great Duke of Marlborough, ancestor of Sir Winston.
In the grounds of the church are, probably, 14th century vicarage buildings that are now used as community and parish offices (I believe).  The openness and use of this church strikes a stark contrast to that at Haresfield whilst losing absolutely nothing of its majesty.


To the west of the church is, as the map says, a gateway.  This is, in fact, a very impressive ruined gatehouse leading to Standish court and to a house built by Abbot of Gloucester, probably dating from the 14th century. Sadly, beyond this point is private land.



The village of Standish is in fact a little bit of a misnomer.  It is a small scattered parish of less than 100 households spread out along 2 miles of the main road between Stonehouse and Gloucester.  It has no shop, no post office, no school and no pub.  So you're unlikely to meet my brother there.

And so I start to head north back towards Gloucester.  Stopping off at Moreton Valence and the church of St Stephen.  The nave and chancel are early 12th century, the tower 15th century followed by the south aisle.  A bit of a varied management as  no vicarage was ever established in Moreton Valence.  The parish changed hands between Standish and Moreton and Whaddon before the Bishop of Gloucester joined it with Whitminster in 1961.  Most of the curacy lived in other parishes.  One notable exception being the 1570 curate John Day.  He obviously didn't ingratiate himself to the parishoners having been described as 'to be 'no peacemaker, of late a weaver, ... a drunkard and an unruly man who put his pigs into the churchyard.  Perhaps the church needs more people like that?

Alongside the church is another moat.  A bit of a theme here I feel.  Again, not expected but another photo opportunity.  This is thought to be the site of a fortified manor house, the hall built by William de Valence in 1253. It was documented again in 1324 but was probably in a state of disrepair by 1372. No evidence has been found to support the traditon that this is the site of a castle.

From  here, the journey back to Barnwood could be a straight ride up the A38 but I have time on my hands.  So, without further stops, I cross over the canal and take a trip round Epney and Longney, again some beautiful, quiet well surfaced roads, a pleasure to ride on.  Dropping back over the canal at Hardwicke, through Quedgeley and onto the new(ish) bypass.  The canal was rerouted for the bypass, although they still bridged it, but this is a long reasonably straight pan flat road where one can be quite satisfied with a reasonable turn of pace for relatively little effort.  From here, I drop onto the inner ring road, onto Estcourt Road befor heading north into Longlevens and picking up the cycle path into Barnwood.

Total distance - 46 KM

Average Speed - 29.5 KM/h

Weather - about 23C, Dry, wind from NW, about 5 KM/h

Elmore Back 16 June 2010

Today's ride was a little more than just Elmore Back but most of the rest of the loop we have seen before but the other way round. Not that I have cycled it backwards you understand, that would be foolish; I mean previously I took an anti-clockwise route, this time, clockwise. However, today, being a bright, sunny, warm day and I haven't been out for a couple of weeks, I thought it would be nice to have a relatively un-hilly bimble by the river and, surprisingly, didn't stop at any churches.  You can see the route here.

I left home and rode along Cole Avenue towards Quedgeley and crossed the canal at Rea bridge.  Turning left, the road is a gentle, near flat, well surfaced road.  If you look at the elevation, it is quite misleading and looks like a stonking great hill. The difference is actually only about 20 metres but this is as high as we go.  Riding conditions here are absolutely perfect, blue sky, warm but not scorching hot and just a hint of breeze so a reasonable pace is quite easy to keep.  This road leads to Longney and we pass the parish church of St Laurence.  Continuing on our clockwise route, the breeze is now gently blowing from the right.  4Km later and we meet the first turn off at a couple of houses known as Farley's End (honest) towards the river and the first dead end.  This road leads to Elmore Back.  The 'Back' isn't derived from 'Back of beyond' as you might expect but from ye olde English word 'Bec' meaning ferry.  It seems that for several hundred years there was a pub here called the Salmon Inn from which you could get a ferry across the river to Minsterworth.  It is the church at Minsterworth that you can see in this picture.  The ferry stopped in May 1941, I believe.  The route to the old ferry terminal (I presume) is now accessed along a stretch of footpath which I walked along but provides a bit of a pet hate of mine.  Apart from riding, I also enjoy walking and use these marked public footpaths and I am mildly irritated by the obstacles that farmers introduce.  In this case, there are a couple of stiles to cross (which I hoiked my bike over), the farmer whose land these footpaths runs alongside has run electric fencing and/or barbed wire around the perimiter fence and right up to the gates and stiles that provide public access.  Not preventing access but it would take just a wee slip and you'll be a bit uncomfortable.

The only way to go now is to retrace my path back to Farley's End and a left hander through Elmore before reaching my second and final dead end road leading out to the river.  Signed as Weir Green, this is little more than a farm track that again leads to the river which the Severn Way waymarked path follows.  Although there appears nothing of any great note here, it is a very pretty place and you could just sit by the river and soak up the sun.  A pub would go down well here so long as not too many people were allowed as it would ruin the peace.

Returning to the main road leads back to the road back over Rea bridge but I turn right back to where we started the loop in order to cross the canal at Sellars Bridge where the bridge is open to allow a narrow boat through.  From here, it is a quick run through Hardwicke and Quedgeley back home.





Total distance - 38 KM

Average Speed - 27 KM/h

Weather - about 23C, Dry and sunny, wind from NE, about 10 KM/h

Coombe Hill, The Leigh, Norton 14 May 2010

I have a bit of a special treat for you, my loyal followers.  From this blog onwards, and possibly some backwards if I get round to it, you will be able to click on the route link to see the route and the terrain.

So to today's ride.  This is a sort of extension of my Staverton route, the outward part of the journey being very similar.  Passing Gloucestershire airport to Cheltenham Road East where I cross straight over.  Rather than turning towards Staverton Village I carry straight on through Hayden and eventually on to A4019 Tewkesbury Road, turning left away from Cheltenham.  This is a long, wide, largely straight and flat road providing a good couple of miles to stretch your legs and keep a reasonable pace for the length of the road.  So to my first stop at Uckington where we find Moat Lane which, you'll be surprised to hear, leads to a moat.  The moat is medieval in origin although none of the original buildings exist but there are a bunch of more modern properties inside, access is via a Victorian cast bridge.

A little further along Tewkesbury Road, we arrive at the junction with the A38 between Gloucester and Tewkesbury.  Also affectionately known as Tewkesbury Road.  This also is a flattish, straight road but in my experience it always seems to channel something of a headwind.   Right on the junction is the hamlet of Coombe Hill which is home to two disused chapel buildings.  The first is a former Methodist Chapel with a separate community building, dating back to the turn of the twentieth century with commemorative stones laid by some of the alderman and dignitaries of the day.  This has a small graveyard alongside but is now out of use and empty although there is a sign in the window indicating that planning permission has been sought to convert the properties into dwellings.  This led me to think.  The buildings are very nice indeed and will, I'm sure, make jolly nice dwellings, but what do you do with the graveyard?  Any property developers that know the answer, I'd love to hear it.

The second chapel, South of this one is more obscure.  A wooden framed building with absolutely no identification on it whatsoever.  Quite obviously it hasn't been in use for many years.  There is a fair amount of rubble, and undergrowth.  I have tried a bit of a Google search but can't find anything.  Again, if anyone can fill me in?

Between the two chapels and down a small lane running back from the main road is the terminus of a disused canal that runs from here to the river near Wainlode hill, a distance of just under 3 miles.  I understand that this was commissioned at the end of the 18th century with the intention of carrying goods to Cheltenham but local geography made this impossible so it quickly became redundant.  Here, it is now a nature reserve; in 1954 the canal was registered as a Site of special scientific interest.  It is the home of a number of rare and uncommon beetle species and two species of fly that have not been found anywhere else within the UK.

Back on the bike and heading South once more, we reach The Leighs.  A small village that loops off the main road.  The heart of the village, as one might expect is a church.  This is The Church of St Catherine and the first place in today's list of visits that is still in use for its original purpose.  The church belongs to the Seven Towers Benefice which also includes Boddington, Staverton, Down Hatherley, Norton (a bit further down), Sandhurst and Twigworth.  This is a mid thirteenth century church although it is suspected that the foundation may date back another 500 years.  The church is grade one listed and in constant need of maintenance.  Some of this has been funded by English Heritage as well as some sterling efforts on the part of the parishoners and local events.

I was fortunate in that when I arrived, there were stonemasons working on the fabric of the building and it was open so I took the opportunity to take a quick shufty inside. 

 The next little village / hamlet as we travel South is Norton, and not the British motorcycle marque.  Prior's Norton is on a bit of an uphill East of Norton and its rather delightful church of St Mary is easily visible from a bit of a distance on the main road.  Although much more difficult to see from the village itself, lending itself to the nickname 'The Disappearing Church'.  Most of the church was built between the thirteenth and fifteenth century and is Grade 2 listed.  It underwent a fair amount of renovation around 2000.  The church and its significant grounds and graveyard present themselves as immaculately kept and the views from the grounds across the Severn Valley.

The journey back takes us through Down Hatherley where there is another of the churches of the in the Seven Towers Benefice as well as a couple of other interesting sights but time is short so its a bit of a blinkered ride through to Cheltenham Road East and on through Churchdown, passing St Andrew's before returning to Hucclecote.

Total distance - 38Km

Average Speed - 28 KM/h

Weather - about 14C, Dry, Light southerly wind.  Overcast so it did feel a little muggy

Witcombe, Leckhampton, Cowley, Hardwicke 8th April 2010

Anyone who knows the Gloucestershire area may think that there is very little link between the first three of today's destinations and the last.  You're right.  With scant regard to other's fears over my sanity (you know who you are), I had two rides today.  The first a little hilly, the second after getting home, deciding the weather was far too good and going out again, this time accompanied by Anthony on a shorter much gentler pootle.
So to the rides.  I spent a fair chunk of my Bank Holiday Monday cleaning and lubing my bike so I'm happy to report she was all shiny and made that very satisfying gentle rustling noise from the gears.
Leaving, as is often the case, from Hucclecote, I rode through Brockworth and on out to Witcombe, this time to visit the reservoirs that I mentioned here.  The reservoirs consist of three bodies of water formed by dams, originally built in the mid 19th century on the site of a mill.  Now the reservoirs are popular with fishermen and are also a prolific breeding ground for certain types of waterfowl.  The photograph is taken from a path running through the middle of the reservoirs looking roughly South towards the Roman remains and Cooper's Hill wood and farm.  A thoroughly pleasant 15 minutes or so were slightly marred as I left the site.  I cycled at near walking pace to avoid a large 4x4 approaching, the occupant flicking a discarded (though still smoking) cigarette end out of the window.  Sure the car had stopped, I made to leave.  As I did, the ageing rotund occupant leapt from the drivers door leaving it open and shouted at me "I say are you lost?" (sorry, can't write in a plumby accent, you'll have to imagine it).
"No, came here on purpose to have a bimble round the reservoirs.  Lovely aren't they?"
"Didn't you see the sign saying this is a private road.  There are young horses you know"
"Yes" I lied.  "But this is shown on Ordnance survey as a right of way so I guessed the sign is not legal nor binding"
"It's a private road, you can only cycle on bridleways and this isn't even a footpath"
"I am aware of the legal position, I am a sitting judge"  Not the whole truth.
"You might scare the young horses.  At least push your cycle or you'll scare them"
"Surely no more than a 4x4 or burning fag?"
"You're breaking the law"
"If you want to take it further, I'll happily settle it in court".
Frankly, I have no idea of the legal status of the sign, I do know the road is shown on the OS map though.  That being said, if you only have half truths sound convincing.

Leaving Great Witcombe, I head North to Bentham where I noticed a church on the OS map and was, in my narrow, Anglican way, surprised to see that it is a Greek Orthodox Church.  I would expect to see these in the City but seems a bit unusual in a small village.  I may be wrong.  The churchyard is still dedicated to St Peter in The Church of England but the church is now owned as St John Chtysotom Greek Orthodox Church of the Archdiocese of Thyateira and Great Britain.  Catchy.  This is only a recent development, the Greek Orthodox assembly previously having shared the church building with St Luke's in Cheltenham.  I can find little information about the church but the graveyard and other evidence suggests that this is no older than early 19th century but I'm willing to be shot down in flames.  Unfortunately, my photographs were rubbish so here is one that I am allowed to use so long as I credit the originator, I reckon a link to where the photo came from should suffice.

Cycling north away from Bentham on Shurdington road, en route to Leckhampton, I am passed by Billy Bad Boy in his super souped Citroen Saxo (or similar), resplendant with exhaust the size of your head (you need that to get rid of all those gasses from a 1.1 engine.  Spotty youth mate leans out of the window and shouts "Nice arse".  Now, he isn't wrong, but surely that sends somewhat mixed messages about Billy's sexuality.


Next stop is a personal favourite of mine for many reasons.  We're off to Leckhampton, stopping at St Peter's church.  Not only was I privileged to be best man at a very good friend's wedding here in 2006 but it is one of the most peaceful and picturesque locations you can imagine, so long as you don't turn around to the rather ordinary looking row of houses not to mention the jolly ugly industrial units that house the auction house.  Looking East from the church, you can see right across to Leckhampton Hill although not quite a clear view of Devil's Chimney but there is an excellent walk to the old quarry where Devil's Chimney is located, maybe a mile or so each way from where you can get excellent views.  I shall just give a quick run down of the church because it has a massive history tied in with the now Sue Ryder Hospice at the neighbouring Leckhampton Court.  The earliest part of the church dates back to the 12th century although there has been some modification made, notably in the 19th Century.  I found plenty of inscriptions in the graveyard back to early 18th Century although I believe that there are older inscriptions.  There is also this rather grand monument (pic left) which, among others, suggests to me that there are also burials of some importance and certainly for high clergy.  If you want to know more about the church, they have an excellent website or you could buy the book.

View across the churchyard to Leckhampton Hill.








Leaving the church, I cycled to the end of the imaginatively named Church Road which the church sits on.  If you turn left, it will take you towards the centre of Cheltenham.  Right will take you up Leckhampton hill.  I turned right.  This hill is a bit of a slog, 5 kilometres uphill although I still maintain that on the whole it isn't a terribly difficult climb except for the first 1/2 Km or so where it is quite steep and does take it out of you a bit.  A couple of kilometres up, I opt to take a left and head towards Cowley.  Unfortunately, I don't have time to stop at the villages en route - we'll leave that for another day.  I do, however, stop briefly to admire the views across to the Malvern hills in the distance.

Somehow or other, the road I follow drops me off at Birdlip, where I also haven't stopped for pictures, and I return to Hucclecote downhill through Witcombe.  The road here offers good views across the reservoirs where we started today.  If you look really hard to the left of the photo, you can just about make out the Roman Villa where we were last year.

Total distance - 32Km

Average Speed - 26 KM/h

Weather - about 16C, dry and sunny, No noticeable wind.

After going home, we decide the weather is far too good to waste so Anthony and I decide to take a bimble.  A much more leisurely ride on the more or less flat.  We leave Gloucester, head out to Quedgeley and cross the canal on Rea bridge, this was right at the start of my driving instructor part two test when I passed.   Although, I also came this way on the first attempt when I failed.  Apparently, there are sixteen bridges along the length of the Gloucester-Sharpness canal the length of which does now supposedly have usable tow path, and I reckon that one day it would be a cracking idea to do the lot.  

After crossing the bridge, the road takes us towards the river which we follow for a while, sharing the road with a significant number of learner drivers and those taking their test.  We only take the road as far as Sellars Bridge, the next crossing.  From Sellars Bridge, we head towards Hardwicke which of late has become sort of joined to Quedgeley, both having grown out of all proportion since the 1980s.  

We, however are heading for the old bit.  And, for those who know me, no surprises, means the parish church.  In this case, it is the parish church of St Nicholas; one of the three churches of the Benefice of Hardwicke and Elmore (St Laurence) with Longney (St John The Baptist).  The other two of which we visited here.

A church has been recorded in Hardwicke since the 11th century, the earliest evidence though at the current buiding dating from lateish in the 12th century and came under the curacy of Standish (where we must go sometime as well).   The church has undergone many changes since this time and was restored in the mid 19th century.  The lych gate was erected in 1921 as a monument to those that lost their lives in the First World War and the role has been maintained sadly showing local losses right up to the current conflict in Afghanistan.  Again, there is much more information on  the three churches of the Benefice on their website.

The return journey from here takes us through the newer part of Hardwicke, through Quedgeley and home.

Total distance - 15Km

Average Speed - 28 KM/h

Weather - about 16C, dry and sunny, No noticeable wind.

Elmbridge, Docks 16th March 2010

Brief report this one and a sort of addendum to my last entry but with a couple of differences.  This time, I have swapped my road bike for mountain bike and am joined by the good lady wife.  Use of the mountain bike will become apparent later.  Elmbridge sits sort of north west of Barnwood and the two blur into one.  Having cause to be in this part of Gloucester, we took the opportunity to bring the bikes and a camera and have a bimble.  I shan't be doing the normal distance and average speed thing at the end, just a guess because I don't believe the readings my computer was giving.  At one stage it suggested an average of  >200KM/h, and I'm not that good, before rapidly dropping to 3KM/h and I'm not that bad.  So any readings taken with a healthy pinch of salt.

For blog's sake, we are starting at Armscroft Park.  The Armscroft area/estate sits as a sort of border between Elmbridge and Barnwood. Armscroft Park has been a part of this area for ever and is now a part of the rather good, in my opinion  at least, Gloucestershire Park & Open Spaces scheme.  It is also now right on the edge of the redevelopment area that has been touted for some time by the Gloucester Heritage Urban Regeneration scheme.  It is also home to Gloucester Old Boys Rugby club.  This end of the park sits right by the level crossing area near Gloucestershire Royal hospital.  A small stream runs through the park and appears to have had the banks reinforced with overgrown wicker baskets.

Leaving the park, we cycle into the City Centre.  This doesn't feature much in the blog for a couple of reasons.  Primarily, you can't cycle round the City centre very much, rightly or wrongly.  Also, there is such a concentration of interesting stuff the blog would become a full time job.  Finally, most of the interesting history and buildings are covered by readily available books.  For a small fee, I would recommend The Story Of Gloucester if you are interested in such things.  Business done, time for a short bimble to the docks, or rather the Quays as it prefers to be known.  The new development here which is largely based on a large outlet shopping centre and hotel complex has polarised local opinion.  Just look at the comments pages attached to any vaguely related story in the local news web site.  The neigh sayers and doom mongers will come out in force.  Personally, I think it is fantastic.  It has regenerated the area, I'm sure there are things that could have been different but on the whole it has breathed life into a formerly run down ex industrial area.  It is a shame in a way, but there is little call now for goods to be transported by canal so to turn it into a leisure and shopping facility whilst blending in, more or less sympathetically, with the historic areas is good.  There are, as you can see in this picture, some of the derelict warehouses still standing empty and run down.  Whilst you could easily and reasonably argue they are an eyesore they also provide a powerful nod back to the history of the area.

From left to right, this picture shows the edge of the new Sainsburys, the blue and white of Gloucestershire College, St Anne's Way bridge right in the centre.  Behind the bridge, is the earliest dock basin with the renovated warehouses in the background, a bit of squinting and you should just about be able to see the Cathedral right at the back.  On round to the right of the picture are the derelict warehouses and behind them the new Quays development.  Of course, the canal is in the foreground.

Following a well earned coffee in Sainsburys cafe, overlooking the docks (and from where these pictures were taken), the trip home is only a couple of kilometres along the canal towpath.  This has largely been cleared in recent years and provides a very pleasant route; although more suited to a mountain bike.

Total distance - Probably about 15Km

Average Speed - Who knows?  But probably less than 200 KM/h

Weather - about 12C, Dry, Southerly wind.