Gaydon
Encyclopedia
Gaydon is a parish and village in Warwickshire
, England
, close to Leamington Spa
. In the 2001 census
, the parish had a population of 376.
The village is at the junction of the B4100 (former A41
) and B4451 roads, a mile from Junction 12 of the M40 motorway
, and is two miles north-east of Kineton
.
base of RAF Gaydon
, is the Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Centre, one of the Jaguar Land Rover
engineering centres (another being at the Whitley plant
in Coventry) and the headquarters of Land Rover
. Alongside is the Heritage Motor Centre
, home to the largest collection of historic British cars in the world, charting the history of the British car industry from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Adjacent to the site is the headquarters of Aston Martin
.
's BFI National Archive
, the world's largest archive of film and television.
Although Gaydon has become something of a commuter village because of its proximity (half a mile) to the M40, which was completed in January 1991, it is undergoing a revival which is looking back to its roots, agriculture and community spirit. There are plans to revive allotments in Gaydon with the backing of the local Parish Council. Just as significant and more advanced is the establishment of a local village shop in the centre of the village to provide local produce to local residents.
The section of the M40 passing Gaydon was considered as the site of a possible motorway service station, with plans first being drawn up in 1986 before being scrapped in 1990 a few months before the motorway's completion.
Warwickshire
Warwickshire is a landlocked non-metropolitan county in the West Midlands region of England. The county town is Warwick, although the largest town is Nuneaton. The county is famous for being the birthplace of William Shakespeare...
, 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...
, close to Leamington Spa
Leamington Spa
Royal Leamington Spa, commonly known as Leamington Spa or Leamington or Leam to locals, is a spa town in central Warwickshire, England. Formerly known as Leamington Priors, its expansion began following the popularisation of the medicinal qualities of its water by Dr Kerr in 1784, and by Dr Lambe...
. In the 2001 census
United Kingdom Census 2001
A nationwide census, known as Census 2001, was conducted in the United Kingdom on Sunday, 29 April 2001. This was the 20th UK Census and recorded a resident population of 58,789,194....
, the parish had a population of 376.
The village is at the junction of the B4100 (former A41
A41 road
The A41 is a formerly-major trunk road in England that links London and Birkenhead, although it has now largely been superseded by motorways. It passes through or near various towns and cities including Watford, Hemel Hempstead, Aylesbury, Solihull, Birmingham, West Bromwich, Wolverhampton,...
) and B4451 roads, a mile from Junction 12 of the M40 motorway
M40 motorway
The M40 motorway is a motorway in the British transport network that forms a major part of the connection between London and Birmingham. Part of this road forms a section of the unsigned European route E05...
, and is two miles north-east of Kineton
Kineton
Kineton is a village and civil parish on the River Dene in south-eastern Warwickshire, England. The village is part of Stratford-on-Avon district, and in the 2001 census it had a population of 2,278....
.
Motor Industry
Close by, on the site of former RAF V bomberV bomber
The term V bomber was used for the Royal Air Force aircraft during the 1950s and 1960s that comprised the United Kingdom's strategic nuclear strike force known officially as the V-force or Bomber Command Main Force...
base of RAF Gaydon
RAF Gaydon
RAF Gaydon is a former Royal Air Force station in Warwickshire in the UK located east of Wellesbourne and north west of Banbury.-Second World War:During World War II a RAF station was built near the village of Gaydon...
, is the Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Centre, one of the Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover
Jaguar Land Rover is a British automotive company owned by Tata Motors of India. It develops, manufactures and sells vehicles under the Jaguar and Land Rover marques.-History:...
engineering centres (another being at the Whitley plant
Whitley plant
The Whitley plant, situated in Whitley, Coventry in the West Midlands of England, is one of the engineering centres of Jaguar Land Rover and the headquarters of Jaguar Cars...
in Coventry) and the headquarters of Land Rover
Land Rover
Land Rover is a British car manufacturer with its headquarters in Gaydon, Warwickshire, United Kingdom which specialises in four-wheel-drive vehicles. It is owned by the Indian company Tata Motors, forming part of their Jaguar Land Rover group...
. Alongside is the Heritage Motor Centre
Heritage Motor Centre
The Heritage Motor Centre is a British motor museum and research centre, located adjacent to the Jaguar Land Rover Gaydon Centre near Gaydon in Warwickshire, England. The centre is open to the public, and houses a collection of important vehicles, celebrating Britain's motoring heritage...
, home to the largest collection of historic British cars in the world, charting the history of the British car industry from the turn of the 20th century to the present day. Adjacent to the site is the headquarters of Aston Martin
Aston Martin
Aston Martin Lagonda Limited is a British manufacturer of luxury sports cars, based in Gaydon, Warwickshire. The company name is derived from the name of one of the company's founders, Lionel Martin, and from the Aston Hill speed hillclimb near Aston Clinton in Buckinghamshire...
.
Film archive
A disused military base near Gaydon is also home to special vaults housing the highly flammable nitrate film elements of the British Film InstituteBritish Film Institute
The British Film Institute is a charitable organisation established by Royal Charter to:-Cinemas:The BFI runs the BFI Southbank and IMAX theatre, both located on the south bank of the River Thames in London...
's BFI National Archive
BFI National Archive
The BFI National Archive is a department of the British Film Institute, and one of the largest film archives in the world. It was originally set up as the National Film Library in 1935; its first curator was Ernest Lindgren. In 1955 its name became the National Film Archive, and in 1992, the...
, the world's largest archive of film and television.
Gaydon Village
Gaydon parish is crossed by only two roads of any importance—the Kineton-Southam road, which runs in a north-easterly direction, and the Warwick and Banbury road which crosses it at right angles. The Gaydon Inn stands close to the point of intersection of the two roads, and the main part of the village of Gaydon is disposed along a short loop south of the junction. The Gaydon Inn was famous in the 18th century for its association with violent highwaymen. Unusually for a village of only 300 inhabitants, Gaydon has two pubs, the Gaydon Inn and the Malt Shovel.Although Gaydon has become something of a commuter village because of its proximity (half a mile) to the M40, which was completed in January 1991, it is undergoing a revival which is looking back to its roots, agriculture and community spirit. There are plans to revive allotments in Gaydon with the backing of the local Parish Council. Just as significant and more advanced is the establishment of a local village shop in the centre of the village to provide local produce to local residents.
The section of the M40 passing Gaydon was considered as the site of a possible motorway service station, with plans first being drawn up in 1986 before being scrapped in 1990 a few months before the motorway's completion.