Charlton Kings
Encyclopedia
Charlton Kings is a suburb of Cheltenham
in Gloucestershire
, England
. The area constitutes a civil parish
. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972
coming into force on April 1, 1974, it had been an urban district
. Its population is just over 10,000.
It is in the heart of the Cotswolds
with beautiful surroundings.
times, the word Charlton evolved from the term ceorls' tun, a ceorl
or churl
being the Saxon term for an independent peasant landowner and tun meaning a fenced enclosure with a dwelling. This particular ceorl's tun was established as part of the royal manor and Hundred of Cheltenham, hence the term Kings in the name.
was found underneath a Roman villa
discovered in 1980. There are many other Roman
settlements close by such as Wycomb and Whittington
and the area of Charlton Kings is well suited to settlement due to the well drained sand
and gravel
composition of the soil
making early settlement much more likely. Much of early Charlton Kings was used for agriculture, tended to by small homestead
s. This is evidenced by place names surviving until today. These small homesteads gave way to larger manor house
s, for example, Charlton House which is now the headquarters of the engineering company Spirax Sarco. There is evidence in local place today of the crops previously grown in Charlton Kings, such as Hempcroft (hemp
), Flaxley (flax
) and Crab End (crab apples). Other crops known to be grown in the area were cherries
and grape
s. There is no evidence to suggest that Charlton Kings was badly affected by the Black Death
and subsequent plagues as other areas of England were.
, the local division of the Stagecoach Group
. Stagecoach West provide a regular bus service around Charlton Kings and into Cheltenham. Main roads to London
and Oxford
(A40
), Bath (A46
) and Cirencester
(A417) all run through Charlton Kings providing good connections, buses from Stagecoach and National Express
also serve these destinations with stops in Charlton Kings.
Plans for a railway line through Charlton Kings were first drafted in 1872. The Charlton Kings section of the Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway
line had a troublesome construction mainly due to the clay in the soil, progress was slow, and the line was opened in 1881 with a small station in Charlton Kings
. From 1891 the line was also part of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway
(M&SWJR) between Cheltenham and Swindon
, a north-south route that went on through Swindon to Andover and the south coast ports. Between 1899 and 1914, the Charlton Kings line had frequent services to Cheltenham, Banbury
and Swindon
as well as major expresses to destinations such as Manchester
, Birmingham
and Southampton
using the line. Rail traffic along the M&SWJR line greatly increased due to the transportation of men and munitions southwards during World War I
and World War II
. After the war, the line was used much less. The M&SWJR closed on September 9, 1961 and the Cheltenham to Banbury line closed on October 15, 1962, when the station at Charlton Kings finally shut.
Electric tram
s were also used in Charlton Kings between 1903 and 1930 when they were replaced by buses.
in 1190 by William de Vere
, Bishop of Hereford
, is the oldest church in Charlton Kings. It was built to ease the nearby Cheltenham parish church due to increasing congregation size.
It houses numerous historical artifacts, including an old alms chest used for collecting money to donate to the Third Crusade
which may date back to 1190. The church also contains a stained glass window which was donated by Japanese
naval officers to the church in 1907 in memory of Robert Podmore. St Mary's church houses one of the oldest royal arms
in the country, it was acquired in 1660 to celebrate the restoration of Charles II
and restored in 1988 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George III
's visit to Charlton Kings. Robert Burns
's granddaughters, Sarah and Annie Burns and his great-granddaughter Margaret Constance Burns Hutchinson were all buried at St Mary's church between 1909 and 1925.
Cheltenham
Cheltenham , also known as Cheltenham Spa, is a large spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, on the edge of the Cotswolds in the South-West region of England. It is the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horse racing, the Gold Cup, the main event of the Cheltenham Festival held...
in Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is a county in South West England. The county comprises part of the Cotswold Hills, part of the flat fertile valley of the River Severn, and the entire Forest of Dean....
, England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The area constitutes a civil parish
Civil parish
In England, a civil parish is a territorial designation and, where they are found, the lowest tier of local government below districts and counties...
. Prior to the Local Government Act 1972
Local Government Act 1972
The Local Government Act 1972 is an Act of Parliament in the United Kingdom that reformed local government in England and Wales on 1 April 1974....
coming into force on April 1, 1974, it had been an urban district
Urban district
In the England, Wales and Ireland, an urban district was a type of local government district that covered an urbanised area. Urban districts had an elected Urban District Council , which shared local government responsibilities with a county council....
. Its population is just over 10,000.
It is in the heart of the Cotswolds
Cotswolds
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in west-central England, sometimes called the Heart of England, an area across and long. The area has been designated as the Cotswold Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty...
with beautiful surroundings.
History
The name Charlton Kings comes from Anglo-SaxonAnglo-Saxons
Anglo-Saxon is a term used by historians to designate the Germanic tribes who invaded and settled the south and east of Great Britain beginning in the early 5th century AD, and the period from their creation of the English nation to the Norman conquest. The Anglo-Saxon Era denotes the period of...
times, the word Charlton evolved from the term ceorls' tun, a ceorl
Churl
A churl , in its earliest Old English meaning, was simply "a man", but the word soon came to mean "a non-servile peasant", still spelt ċeorl, and denoting the lowest rank of freemen...
or churl
Churl
A churl , in its earliest Old English meaning, was simply "a man", but the word soon came to mean "a non-servile peasant", still spelt ċeorl, and denoting the lowest rank of freemen...
being the Saxon term for an independent peasant landowner and tun meaning a fenced enclosure with a dwelling. This particular ceorl's tun was established as part of the royal manor and Hundred of Cheltenham, hence the term Kings in the name.
Early settlement
Evidence of settlement in Charlton Kings as early as the middle Iron AgeIron Age
The Iron Age is the archaeological period generally occurring after the Bronze Age, marked by the prevalent use of iron. The early period of the age is characterized by the widespread use of iron or steel. The adoption of such material coincided with other changes in society, including differing...
was found underneath a Roman villa
Roman villa
A Roman villa is a villa that was built or lived in during the Roman republic and the Roman Empire. A villa was originally a Roman country house built for the upper class...
discovered in 1980. There are many other Roman
Ancient Rome
Ancient Rome was a thriving civilization that grew on the Italian Peninsula as early as the 8th century BC. Located along the Mediterranean Sea and centered on the city of Rome, it expanded to one of the largest empires in the ancient world....
settlements close by such as Wycomb and Whittington
Whittington, Gloucestershire
Whittington, Gloucestershire is a village in the county of Gloucestershire in England, United Kingdom.- Location :Whittington, Gloucestershire is situated some 4 miles south east of Cheltenham, just off the busy A40 road.- History & Amenities :...
and the area of Charlton Kings is well suited to settlement due to the well drained sand
Sand
Sand is a naturally occurring granular material composed of finely divided rock and mineral particles.The composition of sand is highly variable, depending on the local rock sources and conditions, but the most common constituent of sand in inland continental settings and non-tropical coastal...
and gravel
Gravel
Gravel is composed of unconsolidated rock fragments that have a general particle size range and include size classes from granule- to boulder-sized fragments. Gravel can be sub-categorized into granule and cobble...
composition of the soil
Soil
Soil is a natural body consisting of layers of mineral constituents of variable thicknesses, which differ from the parent materials in their morphological, physical, chemical, and mineralogical characteristics...
making early settlement much more likely. Much of early Charlton Kings was used for agriculture, tended to by small homestead
Homesteading
Broadly defined, homesteading is a lifestyle of simple self-sufficiency.-Current practice:The term may apply to anyone who follows the back-to-the-land movement by adopting a sustainable, self-sufficient lifestyle. While land is no longer freely available in most areas of the world, homesteading...
s. This is evidenced by place names surviving until today. These small homesteads gave way to larger manor house
Manor house
A manor house is a country house that historically formed the administrative centre of a manor, the lowest unit of territorial organisation in the feudal system in Europe. The term is applied to country houses that belonged to the gentry and other grand stately homes...
s, for example, Charlton House which is now the headquarters of the engineering company Spirax Sarco. There is evidence in local place today of the crops previously grown in Charlton Kings, such as Hempcroft (hemp
Hemp
Hemp is mostly used as a name for low tetrahydrocannabinol strains of the plant Cannabis sativa, of fiber and/or oilseed varieties. In modern times, hemp has been used for industrial purposes including paper, textiles, biodegradable plastics, construction, health food and fuel with modest...
), Flaxley (flax
Flax
Flax is a member of the genus Linum in the family Linaceae. It is native to the region extending from the eastern Mediterranean to India and was probably first domesticated in the Fertile Crescent...
) and Crab End (crab apples). Other crops known to be grown in the area were cherries
Cherry
The cherry is the fruit of many plants of the genus Prunus, and is a fleshy stone fruit. The cherry fruits of commerce are usually obtained from a limited number of species, including especially cultivars of the wild cherry, Prunus avium....
and grape
Grape
A grape is a non-climacteric fruit, specifically a berry, that grows on the perennial and deciduous woody vines of the genus Vitis. Grapes can be eaten raw or they can be used for making jam, juice, jelly, vinegar, wine, grape seed extracts, raisins, molasses and grape seed oil. Grapes are also...
s. There is no evidence to suggest that Charlton Kings was badly affected by the Black Death
Black Death
The Black Death was one of the most devastating pandemics in human history, peaking in Europe between 1348 and 1350. Of several competing theories, the dominant explanation for the Black Death is the plague theory, which attributes the outbreak to the bacterium Yersinia pestis. Thought to have...
and subsequent plagues as other areas of England were.
Transport
Charlton Kings is served by Stagecoach WestStagecoach West
Stagecoach West is an operating division of the Stagecoach Group. Based in Gloucester, it operates bus services in Cheltenham , Gloucester , the Cotswolds , the Wye Valley, the Forest of Dean and Swindon .- History :Stagecoach West...
, the local division of the Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group
Stagecoach Group plc is an international transport group operating buses, trains, trams, express coaches and ferries. The group was founded in 1980 by the current chairman, Sir Brian Souter, his sister, Ann Gloag, and her former husband Robin...
. Stagecoach West provide a regular bus service around Charlton Kings and into Cheltenham. Main roads to London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
and Oxford
Oxford
The city of Oxford is the county town of Oxfordshire, England. The city, made prominent by its medieval university, has a population of just under 165,000, with 153,900 living within the district boundary. It lies about 50 miles north-west of London. The rivers Cherwell and Thames run through...
(A40
A40 road
The A40 is a major trunk road connecting London to Fishguard, Wales and officially called The London to Fishguard Trunk Road in all legal documents and Acts...
), Bath (A46
A46 road
The A46 is an A road in England. It starts east of Bath, Somerset and ends in Cleethorpes, North East Lincolnshire, but it does not form a continuous route. Large portions of the old road have been lost, bypassed, or replaced by motorway development...
) and Cirencester
Cirencester
Cirencester is a market town in east Gloucestershire, England, 93 miles west northwest of London. Cirencester lies on the River Churn, a tributary of the River Thames, and is the largest town in the Cotswold District. It is the home of the Royal Agricultural College, the oldest agricultural...
(A417) all run through Charlton Kings providing good connections, buses from Stagecoach and National Express
National Express
National Express Coaches, more commonly known as National Express, is a brand and company, owned by the National Express Group, under which the majority of long distance bus and coach services in Great Britain are operated,...
also serve these destinations with stops in Charlton Kings.
Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway
The Banbury and Cheltenham Direct Railway is a former railway in the Cotswold Hills in Gloucestershire and Oxfordshire, England.-Origins and development:...
line had a troublesome construction mainly due to the clay in the soil, progress was slow, and the line was opened in 1881 with a small station in Charlton Kings
Charlton Kings railway station
Charlton Kings railway station was a small station in Gloucestershire serving the village of Charlton Kings and the southern outskirts of Cheltenham Spa.-History:...
. From 1891 the line was also part of the Midland and South Western Junction Railway
Midland and South Western Junction Railway
The Midland and South Western Junction Railway was, until the 1923 Grouping, an independent railway built to form a north-south link between the Midland and London and South Western Railways allowing the Midland and other companies' trains to reach the port of Southampton.-Formation:The M&SWJR...
(M&SWJR) between Cheltenham and Swindon
Swindon Town railway station
Swindon Town railway station was on the Midland and South Western Junction Railway at Swindon in Wiltshire. The station was sited in the Old Town area about one-and-a-half miles from the Great Western Railway's Swindon Junction.- History :...
, a north-south route that went on through Swindon to Andover and the south coast ports. Between 1899 and 1914, the Charlton Kings line had frequent services to Cheltenham, Banbury
Banbury
Banbury is a market town and civil parish on the River Cherwell in the Cherwell District of Oxfordshire. It is northwest of London, southeast of Birmingham, south of Coventry and north northwest of the county town of Oxford...
and Swindon
Swindon
Swindon is a large town within the borough of Swindon and ceremonial county of Wiltshire, in South West England. It is midway between Bristol, west and Reading, east. London is east...
as well as major expresses to destinations such as Manchester
Manchester
Manchester is a city and metropolitan borough in Greater Manchester, England. According to the Office for National Statistics, the 2010 mid-year population estimate for Manchester was 498,800. Manchester lies within one of the UK's largest metropolitan areas, the metropolitan county of Greater...
, Birmingham
Birmingham
Birmingham is a city and metropolitan borough in the West Midlands of England. It is the most populous British city outside the capital London, with a population of 1,036,900 , and lies at the heart of the West Midlands conurbation, the second most populous urban area in the United Kingdom with a...
and Southampton
Southampton
Southampton is the largest city in the county of Hampshire on the south coast of England, and is situated south-west of London and north-west of Portsmouth. Southampton is a major port and the closest city to the New Forest...
using the line. Rail traffic along the M&SWJR line greatly increased due to the transportation of men and munitions southwards during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
and World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
. After the war, the line was used much less. The M&SWJR closed on September 9, 1961 and the Cheltenham to Banbury line closed on October 15, 1962, when the station at Charlton Kings finally shut.
Electric tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s were also used in Charlton Kings between 1903 and 1930 when they were replaced by buses.
Schools
- Charlton Kings Infants' SchoolCharlton Kings Infants' SchoolCharlton Kings Infants' School is a infant school in Gloucestershire, England. C.K.I.S. work closely with their Kindergarten staff to insure the balanced education. The school neighbours a Junior school: C.K.J.S.- External links :**...
- Charlton Kings Junior SchoolCharlton Kings Junior SchoolCharlton Kings Junior School is a school located in Gloucestershire, in the United Kingdom . The school has been present since 1968 as the establishment of separate infant and junior schools came into construction....
- Balcarras SchoolBalcarras SchoolBalcarras School is a comprehensive school for 11 to 18 year olds, located in Charlton Kings, Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England.-History:Balcarras School was opened to pupils on 2 September 1986 replacing Charlton Kings County Secondary School, which was closed as part of a secondary education...
(Comprehensive) - St. Edward's Junior School (Independent)
- St. Edward's School, CheltenhamSt. Edward's School, CheltenhamSt. Edward's School is an independent co-educational Catholic school in Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England welcoming pupils of all denominations from 11 to 18 years old....
(Independent) - Glenfall Community Primary School
- Holy Apostles C of E Primary School
Churches
Charlton Kings has five churches;- Charlton Kings Baptist Church
- Holy Apostles' Church (Church of EnglandChurch of EnglandThe Church of England is the officially established Christian church in England and the Mother Church of the worldwide Anglican Communion. The church considers itself within the tradition of Western Christianity and dates its formal establishment principally to the mission to England by St...
) - Sacred Hearts (Roman CatholicRoman Catholic ChurchThe Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
) - St Mary's Church (Church of England)
- Glenfall Fellowship
St Mary's Church
St Mary's church, dedicated to MaryMary (mother of Jesus)
Mary , commonly referred to as "Saint Mary", "Mother Mary", the "Virgin Mary", the "Blessed Virgin Mary", or "Mary, Mother of God", was a Jewish woman of Nazareth in Galilee...
in 1190 by William de Vere
William de Vere
-Biography:The son of Aubrey de Vere II and Adeliza of Clare, probably the fourth of five sons, and brother of Aubrey de Vere III first earl of Oxford, de Vere spent part of his youth at the court of King Henry I of England and his second wife, Queen Adeliza of Leuven. Little is known of his...
, Bishop of Hereford
Bishop of Hereford
The Bishop of Hereford is the Ordinary of the Church of England Diocese of Hereford in the Province of Canterbury.The see is in the City of Hereford where the seat is located at the Cathedral Church of Saint Mary and Saint Ethelbert which was founded as a cathedral in 676.The Bishop's residence is...
, is the oldest church in Charlton Kings. It was built to ease the nearby Cheltenham parish church due to increasing congregation size.
It houses numerous historical artifacts, including an old alms chest used for collecting money to donate to the Third Crusade
Third Crusade
The Third Crusade , also known as the Kings' Crusade, was an attempt by European leaders to reconquer the Holy Land from Saladin...
which may date back to 1190. The church also contains a stained glass window which was donated by Japanese
Japanese people
The are an ethnic group originating in the Japanese archipelago and are the predominant ethnic group of Japan. Worldwide, approximately 130 million people are of Japanese descent; of these, approximately 127 million are residents of Japan. People of Japanese ancestry who live in other countries...
naval officers to the church in 1907 in memory of Robert Podmore. St Mary's church houses one of the oldest royal arms
Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom
The Royal coat of arms of the United Kingdom is the official coat of arms of the British monarch, currently Queen Elizabeth II. These arms are used by the Queen in her official capacity as monarch of the United Kingdom, and are officially known as her Arms of Dominion...
in the country, it was acquired in 1660 to celebrate the restoration of Charles II
Charles II of England
Charles II was monarch of the three kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland.Charles II's father, King Charles I, was executed at Whitehall on 30 January 1649, at the climax of the English Civil War...
and restored in 1988 to commemorate the 200th anniversary of George III
George III of the United Kingdom
George III was King of Great Britain and King of Ireland from 25 October 1760 until the union of these two countries on 1 January 1801, after which he was King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland until his death...
's visit to Charlton Kings. Robert Burns
Robert Burns
Robert Burns was a Scottish poet and a lyricist. He is widely regarded as the national poet of Scotland, and is celebrated worldwide...
's granddaughters, Sarah and Annie Burns and his great-granddaughter Margaret Constance Burns Hutchinson were all buried at St Mary's church between 1909 and 1925.
Holy Apostles Church
Holy Apostles Church is located in a triangular junction between the roads to London and Cirencester. This location for the church was contested early in its development as local people thought that if another church was to be built, it would be better to have it in a location where it could serve more isolated parishioners. The foundation stone of the church was laid in 1866.Sports and recreation
Local community organisations include:- 1st Charlton Kings Boy's Brigade
- 1st Charlton Kings Guide Company
- 7th Cheltenham (Charlton Kings) Scout Group
- 125th (Cheltenham) Squadron Air Training Corp
- Charlton Kings Choral Society
- Charlton Kings Football Club play their home matches at the Beeches playing field in Charlton Kings.
- Charlton Kings Local History Society
- Falcons AFC http://www.pitchero.com/clubs/falconsafc/
Politics
Charlton Kings is in the Charlton Kings ward of Cheltenham Borough Council, the Charlton Kings division of Gloucestershire County Council and the parliamentary constituency of Cheltenham.Famous people with a connection to Charlton Kings
- Sydney Dobell, a poet moved to Charlton Kings in 1840 and regarded Charlton Kings as "home above any other place".
- Cecil Day-LewisCecil Day-LewisCecil Day-Lewis CBE was an Irish poet and the Poet Laureate from 1968 until his death in 1972. He also wrote mystery stories under the pseudonym of Nicholas Blake...
, Poet LaureatePoet LaureateA poet laureate is a poet officially appointed by a government and is often expected to compose poems for state occasions and other government events...
lived in Charlton Kings between 1931 and 1938, and taught at Cheltenham College. - Adam Lindsay GordonAdam Lindsay GordonAdam Lindsay Gordon was an Australian poet, jockey and politician.- Early life :Gordon was born at Fayal in the Azores, son of Captain Adam Durnford Gordon who had married his first cousin, Harriet Gordon, both of whom were descended from Adam of Gordon of the ballad...
was baptised at St Mary's Church in 1833. - James Gill occasionally visits Charlton Kings.
- Jaz ColemanJaz ColemanJeremy "Jaz" Coleman is a musician, composer, singer-songwriter and record producer. He is notable for his vocal contributions to rock band Killing Joke...
, composer and lead singer of Killing JokeKilling JokeKilling Joke are an English post-punk band formed in October 1978 in Notting Hill, London, England; other sources report the band formed in early 1979.Related news articles: Founding members Jaz Coleman and Geordie Walker have been the only constant members.A key influence on industrial rock,...
, was born and raised in Charlton Kings. - Gilbert BiberianGilbert BiberianGilbert Biberian is a British guitarist and composer.Born in Istanbul of Greek/Armenian descent, Mr Biberian's ethnic roots are integral to his compositions. He studied at Trinity College of Music, graduating in 1968. In 1965 a French Government grant took him to France to study with Ida Presti...
, a renowned classical guitarist and composer, currently resides in Charlton Kings.
External links
- Charlton Kings Infants' School
- Charlton Kings Parish Council
- Holy Apostles' Church
- Sacred Hearts Catholic Church
- St Mary's Church
- Charlton Kings Choral Society
- Balcarras School - BalWeb
- Falcons AFC
- Charlton Kings Scouts
- St Edward's School
- Charlton Kings Parish Council
- Glenfall Community Primary School