Sheepscombe, Gloucestershire
Encyclopedia
Sheepscombe is a small village in Gloucestershire
, 6.5 miles (10 km) south-east of Gloucester
, 6 miles (10 km) north-east of Stroud
, and 1+1/2 mi east of Painswick
, lying just off the A46
and B4070 roads. The first record of the village dates from around 1260, with the original name of Sebbescumbe - the name possibly comes from the names of early local settlers named Ebba or Sebba. 'Combe' means valley. Variations of the name over the centuries have been: Sebbescumbe - Sciapp'scombe -Sheppescombe - Sheppiscombe - Shepescombe - Shepyscombe - Shipscombe - Shepscombe - Sheepscombe.
Since the early 17th century, Sheepscombe was involved in cloth making like many of the Cotswold
towns in the area and its near neighbour Painswick
. It enjoyed its industrial heyday during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the last mill closed in 1839.
The village church, St John the Apostle, was built and opened in 1820. The school was opened in 1822, a modernised building opening on the same site in 1882.
Many of the houses in the village, at the northern end, date from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
During the early part of the 20th century, Sheepscombe was still a rural, agricultural village, but today it has become, like many Cotswold villages, an expensive and select place to live. Most of its inhabitants are of the professional middle-classes, who pay considerably for the privilege of living there. Situated at the bottom of a steep valley, Sheepscombe is a relatively inaccessible village, and not easy to live in for those without a car.
Sheepscombe is the birthplace of the administrator John Light, and the childhood home of William Moseley
, and the physicist and explorer Tom Stedall.
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....
, 6.5 miles (10 km) south-east of Gloucester
Gloucester
Gloucester is a city, district and county town of Gloucestershire in the South West region of England. Gloucester lies close to the Welsh border, and on the River Severn, approximately north-east of Bristol, and south-southwest of Birmingham....
, 6 miles (10 km) north-east of Stroud
Stroud, Gloucestershire
Stroud is a market town and civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It is the main town in Stroud District.Situated below the western escarpment of the Cotswold Hills at the meeting point of the Five Valleys, the town is noted for its steep streets and cafe culture...
, and 1+1/2 mi east of Painswick
Painswick
Painswick is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. Originally the town grew on the wool trade, but it is now best known for its parish church's yew trees and the local Rococo Garden. The town is mainly constructed of locally quarried Cotswold stone...
, lying just off the 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 B4070 roads. The first record of the village dates from around 1260, with the original name of Sebbescumbe - the name possibly comes from the names of early local settlers named Ebba or Sebba. 'Combe' means valley. Variations of the name over the centuries have been: Sebbescumbe - Sciapp'scombe -Sheppescombe - Sheppiscombe - Shepescombe - Shepyscombe - Shipscombe - Shepscombe - Sheepscombe.
Since the early 17th century, Sheepscombe was involved in cloth making like many of the Cotswold
Cotswold
The Cotswolds are a range of hills in central England that give their name to:*Cotswold *Cotswold *Cotswold Chase, a horse race*Cotswold Games, annual games in Chipping Campden, Gloucestershire...
towns in the area and its near neighbour Painswick
Painswick
Painswick is a small town in Gloucestershire, England. Originally the town grew on the wool trade, but it is now best known for its parish church's yew trees and the local Rococo Garden. The town is mainly constructed of locally quarried Cotswold stone...
. It enjoyed its industrial heyday during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, and the last mill closed in 1839.
The village church, St John the Apostle, was built and opened in 1820. The school was opened in 1822, a modernised building opening on the same site in 1882.
Many of the houses in the village, at the northern end, date from the late 17th and early 18th centuries.
During the early part of the 20th century, Sheepscombe was still a rural, agricultural village, but today it has become, like many Cotswold villages, an expensive and select place to live. Most of its inhabitants are of the professional middle-classes, who pay considerably for the privilege of living there. Situated at the bottom of a steep valley, Sheepscombe is a relatively inaccessible village, and not easy to live in for those without a car.
Sheepscombe is the birthplace of the administrator John Light, and the childhood home of William Moseley
William Moseley (actor)
William Peter Moseley is a British actor, currently best known for appearing as Peter Pevensie in the film series The Chronicles of Narnia. Previously, he had a small role as Forrester in a 2002 adaptation of the novel Goodbye Mr...
, and the physicist and explorer Tom Stedall.