Huntley, Gloucestershire
Encyclopedia
Huntley, Gloucestershire
, is a village on the A40
located seven miles (11 km) west of
Gloucester
in the north of the Forest of Dean
.
as Huntelei.
The village was the scene of fighting during the English civil war
. In 1643 the Royalists
took the parliamentary
garrison, but they were betrayed and in 1644 the parliamentarians regained
control.
The roads to Mitcheldean
(now the A4136) and Ross-on-Wye
were turnpiked in 1726 and the Toll house
, which was built c1830 stood at their junction. This Toll house, that operated where the Longhope
Road joins the
Ross
Road, was of sufficient importance to be replaced by a new one in 1881 and the house still
stands.
William Cobbett
wrote that, during one of his Rural Rides through England in September 1826, he wanted to
spend the night in Gloucester
, but arrived there at the time of the Three Choirs Festival
. As rooms were
so expensive, he had to continue to the coaching inn at Huntley.
The common, part of which is now the recreation ground and allotments
, was enclosed in 1857 and in 1872 most of the remaining common land on Huntley Hill was also enclosed.
The village stocks
were originally situated on the main road. They were re-sited on the recreation ground in
the early 1970s. They are believed to be the only remaining set in the Forest of Dean
.
The village was the home of the Forest of Dean chronicler Winifred Foley
and her husband Sydney until the mid-1970s.
Two miles north-west lie the earthwork remains of Taynton Castle, a ring motte of C11-C12 date.
church was effectively built on to the Norman
tower. It was designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon
and it has been described by a President of the Royal Institute of British Architects
as "one of
the most interesting buildings in England". The reredos
displays in detail the story of the Last Supper
.
The stonework is finished in local red sandstone and honey coloured Cotswold stone. It has ornate and elaborate
decoration of the interior, with paintings of Biblical texts.
School and is situated next to
the church.
towards the Toll House and the pub. Between 1951 and 1980 a large number of new houses and roads were built
around the centre.
Many residents commute to Gloucester
to work, but some do work locally. Fruit production has declined in recent years, but much land is still devoted to agriculture
, horticulture
and woodland
. There has been a growth in the leisure and recreation sector, such as a golf course
, a garden centre
and a School of Equitation
. The village had its own Post Office
until 2010 when it closed. The nearest Post Office
is located in Longhope. There is also a pub, "The Red Lion", a traditional butcher's
shop and other businesses.
A range of community groups use the Village hall
, including the football
club, which plays in the Northern
Senior League of Gloucestershire County League of the FA
. The cricket
club, founded
in 1874, has its own ground to the south of the main road and runs a Beer Festival
in the summer
.
SO 7095 1955) exposes a volcaniclastic
suite of rocks not known anywhere else. Their age is enigmatic; past suggestions have
included either Precambrian
, Ordovician
or Early Silurian
. In addition to their problematic age and
the perplexing rock type, the strata has been considerably deformed by faulting
and tectonic movement.
Gloucestershire Geology Trust is currently in the process of buying nearly two acres of land, which includes Huntley Quarry. The quarry and its environs will become the first geology reserve in the county, and the first to be owned by a geology trust. See also Geology of 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....
, is a village on the 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...
located seven miles (11 km) west 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....
in the north of the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
.
History
Huntley (meaning Huntsman's clearing) is mentioned in the Domesday BookDomesday Book
Domesday Book , now held at The National Archives, Kew, Richmond upon Thames in South West London, is the record of the great survey of much of England and parts of Wales completed in 1086...
as Huntelei.
The village was the scene of fighting during the English civil war
English Civil War
The English Civil War was a series of armed conflicts and political machinations between Parliamentarians and Royalists...
. In 1643 the Royalists
Cavalier
Cavalier was the name used by Parliamentarians for a Royalist supporter of King Charles I and son Charles II during the English Civil War, the Interregnum, and the Restoration...
took the parliamentary
Roundhead
"Roundhead" was the nickname given to the supporters of the Parliament during the English Civil War. Also known as Parliamentarians, they fought against King Charles I and his supporters, the Cavaliers , who claimed absolute power and the divine right of kings...
garrison, but they were betrayed and in 1644 the parliamentarians regained
control.
The roads to Mitcheldean
Mitcheldean
Mitcheldean is a small town in the east of the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, England.-History:Mitcheldean was a thriving community for many centuries due to the town's proximity to iron ore deposits...
(now the A4136) and Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
were turnpiked in 1726 and the Toll house
Toll road
A toll road is a privately or publicly built road for which a driver pays a toll for use. Structures for which tolls are charged include toll bridges and toll tunnels. Non-toll roads are financed using other sources of revenue, most typically fuel tax or general tax funds...
, which was built c1830 stood at their junction. This Toll house, that operated where the Longhope
Longhope
Longhope is a village in west Gloucestershire, situated just outside the Forest of Dean, England, United Kingdom.The placename Longhope means "long, enclosed valley" which describes the aspect of the village....
Road joins the
Ross
Ross-on-Wye
Ross-on-Wye is a small market town with a population of 10,089 in southeastern Herefordshire, England, located on the River Wye, and on the northern edge of the Forest of Dean.-History:...
Road, was of sufficient importance to be replaced by a new one in 1881 and the house still
stands.
William Cobbett
William Cobbett
William Cobbett was an English pamphleteer, farmer and journalist, who was born in Farnham, Surrey. He believed that reforming Parliament and abolishing the rotten boroughs would help to end the poverty of farm labourers, and he attacked the borough-mongers, sinecurists and "tax-eaters" relentlessly...
wrote that, during one of his Rural Rides through England in September 1826, he wanted to
spend the night in 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....
, but arrived there at the time of the Three Choirs Festival
Three Choirs Festival
The Three Choirs Festival is a music festival held each August alternately at the cathedrals of the Three Counties and originally featuring their three choirs, which remain central to the week-long programme...
. As rooms were
so expensive, he had to continue to the coaching inn at Huntley.
The common, part of which is now the recreation ground and allotments
Allotment (gardening)
An allotment garden, often called simply an allotment, is a plot of land made available for individual, non-professional gardening. Such plots are formed by subdividing a piece of land into a few or up to several hundreds of land parcels that are assigned to individuals or families...
, was enclosed in 1857 and in 1872 most of the remaining common land on Huntley Hill was also enclosed.
The village stocks
Stocks
Stocks are devices used in the medieval and colonial American times as a form of physical punishment involving public humiliation. The stocks partially immobilized its victims and they were often exposed in a public place such as the site of a market to the scorn of those who passed by...
were originally situated on the main road. They were re-sited on the recreation ground in
the early 1970s. They are believed to be the only remaining set in the Forest of Dean
Forest of Dean
The Forest of Dean is a geographical, historical and cultural region in the western part of the county of Gloucestershire, England. The forest is a roughly triangular plateau bounded by the River Wye to the west and north, the River Severn to the south, and the City of Gloucester to the east.The...
.
The village was the home of the Forest of Dean chronicler Winifred Foley
Winifred Foley
Winifred Mary Foley was an English writer.-Forest life:...
and her husband Sydney until the mid-1970s.
Two miles north-west lie the earthwork remains of Taynton Castle, a ring motte of C11-C12 date.
Church
The church, dedicated to St John the Baptist, dates from the 11th Century. In the 19th Century a newchurch was effectively built on to the Norman
Norman architecture
About|Romanesque architecture, primarily English|other buildings in Normandy|Architecture of Normandy.File:Durham Cathedral. Nave by James Valentine c.1890.jpg|thumb|200px|The nave of Durham Cathedral demonstrates the characteristic round arched style, though use of shallow pointed arches above the...
tower. It was designed by Samuel Sanders Teulon
Samuel Sanders Teulon
Samuel Sanders Teulon was a notable 19th century English Gothic Revival architect.-Family:Teulon was born in Greenwich in south-east London, the son of a cabinet-maker from a French Huguenot family. His younger brother William Milford Teulon also became an architect...
and it has been described by a President of the Royal Institute of British Architects
Royal Institute of British Architects
The Royal Institute of British Architects is a professional body for architects primarily in the United Kingdom, but also internationally.-History:...
as "one of
the most interesting buildings in England". The reredos
Reredos
thumb|300px|right|An altar and reredos from [[St. Josaphat's Roman Catholic Church|St. Josaphat Catholic Church]] in [[Detroit]], [[Michigan]]. This would be called a [[retable]] in many other languages and countries....
displays in detail the story of the Last Supper
Last Supper
The Last Supper is the final meal that, according to Christian belief, Jesus shared with his Twelve Apostles in Jerusalem before his crucifixion. The Last Supper provides the scriptural basis for the Eucharist, also known as "communion" or "the Lord's Supper".The First Epistle to the Corinthians is...
.
The stonework is finished in local red sandstone and honey coloured Cotswold stone. It has ornate and elaborate
decoration of the interior, with paintings of Biblical texts.
School
The local junior school is Huntley Church of England JuniorSchool and is situated next to
the church.
Economy
Over time, the focus of the village has moved from the Church and School, on the slopes of Brights Hill, downtowards the Toll House and the pub. Between 1951 and 1980 a large number of new houses and roads were built
around the centre.
Many residents commute to 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....
to work, but some do work locally. Fruit production has declined in recent years, but much land is still devoted to agriculture
Agriculture
Agriculture is the cultivation of animals, plants, fungi and other life forms for food, fiber, and other products used to sustain life. Agriculture was the key implement in the rise of sedentary human civilization, whereby farming of domesticated species created food surpluses that nurtured the...
, horticulture
Horticulture
Horticulture is the industry and science of plant cultivation including the process of preparing soil for the planting of seeds, tubers, or cuttings. Horticulturists work and conduct research in the disciplines of plant propagation and cultivation, crop production, plant breeding and genetic...
and woodland
Woodland
Ecologically, a woodland is a low-density forest forming open habitats with plenty of sunlight and limited shade. Woodlands may support an understory of shrubs and herbaceous plants including grasses. Woodland may form a transition to shrubland under drier conditions or during early stages of...
. There has been a growth in the leisure and recreation sector, such as a golf course
Golf course
A golf course comprises a series of holes, each consisting of a teeing ground, fairway, rough and other hazards, and a green with a flagstick and cup, all designed for the game of golf. A standard round of golf consists of playing 18 holes, thus most golf courses have this number of holes...
, a garden centre
Garden centre
A garden centre is a retail firm that sells plants and products related to gardens as its primary business. It is open to the public, with facilities to care for and display plants.- UK :...
and a School of Equitation
Equitation
Equitation is the art or practice of horse riding or horsemanship.More specifically, equitation may refer to a rider's position while mounted, and encompass a rider's ability to ride correctly and with effective aids. In horse show competition, the rider, rather than the horse is evaluated...
. The village had its own Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
until 2010 when it closed. The nearest Post Office
Post office
A post office is a facility forming part of a postal system for the posting, receipt, sorting, handling, transmission or delivery of mail.Post offices offer mail-related services such as post office boxes, postage and packaging supplies...
is located in Longhope. There is also a pub, "The Red Lion", a traditional butcher's
Butcher
A butcher is a person who may slaughter animals, dress their flesh, sell their meat or any combination of these three tasks. They may prepare standard cuts of meat, poultry, fish and shellfish for sale in retail or wholesale food establishments...
shop and other businesses.
A range of community groups use the Village hall
Village hall
In the United States, a village hall is the seat of government for villages. It functions much as a city hall does within cities.In the United Kingdom, a village hall is usually a building within a village which contains at least one large room, usually owned by and run for the benefit of the local...
, including the football
Football (soccer)
Association football, more commonly known as football or soccer, is a sport played between two teams of eleven players with a spherical ball...
club, which plays in the Northern
Senior League of Gloucestershire County League of the FA
The Football Association
The Football Association, also known as simply The FA, is the governing body of football in England, and the Crown Dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. It was formed in 1863, and is the oldest national football association...
. The cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
club, founded
in 1874, has its own ground to the south of the main road and runs a Beer Festival
Beer festival
A Beer Festival is an organised event during which a variety of beers are available for tasting and purchase. Beer festivals are held in a number of countries...
in the summer
.
Huntley Quarry
Huntley Quarry (to the west of the village at grid referenceGrid reference
Grid references define locations on maps using Cartesian coordinates. Grid lines on maps define the coordinate system, and are numbered to provide a unique reference to features....
SO 7095 1955) exposes a volcaniclastic
Pyroclastic rock
Pyroclastic rocks or pyroclastics are clastic rocks composed solely or primarily of volcanic materials. Where the volcanic material has been transported and reworked through mechanical action, such as by wind or water, these rocks are termed volcaniclastic...
suite of rocks not known anywhere else. Their age is enigmatic; past suggestions have
included either Precambrian
Precambrian
The Precambrian is the name which describes the large span of time in Earth's history before the current Phanerozoic Eon, and is a Supereon divided into several eons of the geologic time scale...
, Ordovician
Ordovician
The Ordovician is a geologic period and system, the second of six of the Paleozoic Era, and covers the time between 488.3±1.7 to 443.7±1.5 million years ago . It follows the Cambrian Period and is followed by the Silurian Period...
or Early Silurian
Silurian
The Silurian is a geologic period and system that extends from the end of the Ordovician Period, about 443.7 ± 1.5 Mya , to the beginning of the Devonian Period, about 416.0 ± 2.8 Mya . As with other geologic periods, the rock beds that define the period's start and end are well identified, but the...
. In addition to their problematic age and
the perplexing rock type, the strata has been considerably deformed by faulting
Geologic fault
In geology, a fault is a planar fracture or discontinuity in a volume of rock, across which there has been significant displacement along the fractures as a result of earth movement. Large faults within the Earth's crust result from the action of tectonic forces...
and tectonic movement.
Gloucestershire Geology Trust is currently in the process of buying nearly two acres of land, which includes Huntley Quarry. The quarry and its environs will become the first geology reserve in the county, and the first to be owned by a geology trust. See also Geology of Gloucestershire
Geology of Gloucestershire
Gloucestershire is one of the most geologically and scenically diverse counties in England, with rocks from the Precambrian through to the Jurassic represented...
.