fish home finders - Glocestershire property

Gloucestershire

Gloucestershire, with a population of around 570,000, is a charming rural county of 1,025 square miles stretching from the South Midlands into the South West of England. It consists of part of the Cotswold Hills, a band of limestone hills internationally renowned for its idyllic mellow stoned villages, such as Stow-on-the-Wold and Chipping Campden, as well as part of the valley of the River Severn and the entire Forest of Dean. Gloucester is the county town famous for its Norman Cathedral. Other principal towns include Cheltenham, renowned for its Regency architecture and Spring Horse Racing Festival and the Roman town of Cirencester.

The many places of historic interest in the county include Sudely Castle at Winchcombe and Owlpen Manor, the romantic Tudor manor house located between Stroud and Dursley.  There are several royal residences in Gloucestershire, including Highgrove House, home to Prince Charles, and Gatcombe Park, home to the Princess Royal.

Education

Gloucestershire has many excellent state and independent schools.  It has a mainly comprehensive system with 7 selective schools situated in Stroud, Cheltenham and Gloucester. There are 41 state secondary schools and 12 independent schools including the renowned Cheltenham Ladies College.

Transport

There are good road connections to the south west via the M5, to the north via the M5/M6 and M42, to Wales using the A40 and the M4 and to London and the south-east using the A40 and the M4. Travelling by car from Gloucester to London takes approximately 2 hours 20 minutes; to Birmingham, 70 minutes; Bristol, 45 minutes. By rail, Gloucester to London takes approximately 2 hours 15 minutes.

Interesting Gloucestershire facts

    • Gloucestershire is well known for the eccentric sport of cheese rolling whereby a round of cheese is thrown down a muddy, slippery hill pursued by competitors hoping to catch it! It is also famous for Gloucestershire Old Spot pigs.
    • John Stafford-Smith, composer of the tune for the American National Anthem, the "Star Spangled Banner", was born in Gloucester in 1750.
    • Gloucestershire has the largest ice-cream factory in Europe (Walls).