Pope's Hill
Encyclopedia
Pope's Hill is a hill and a small village situated in the east of the Forest of Dean
, Gloucestershire
within the parish of Littledean
. The hill is 12 miles south west of Gloucester
and 3 miles east of Cinderford
. The small village of Flaxley
lies in the valley to the immediate north. Pope's Hill is said to have got its name from Mary Pope, who used to reside in Flaxley Abbey
in the 18th century and walked over the hill as a young girl. She is buried in Flaxley churchyard.
A principal road runs over the hill starting from the A4151 just east of Littledean
and rejoins the A4151 further east at the Greyhound Inn. The A4151 runs along the southern flank of the hill. A steep section of road on the Flaxley side, Joey's Pitch, is notorious for being impassable in ice and snow. There are numerous other small roads and tracks linking the houses and smallholdings which are scattered across the hill. Rising to the west is Chestnuts Enclosure, an area of Forestry Commission
woodland, and to the north, Welshbury Hill which has Iron Age
workings.
As well as the Greyhound which is a popular pub beside the busy main road with its trademark dinosaur "Horace" in the beer garden, there is also White House Hotel, at the summit. Pope's Hill offers extensive views of the Severn Vale, Gloucester, Cheltenham
, as far north as Bredon Hill
and as far south as the hills above Bath. The entire Cotswold Edge is also visible, and May Hill
dominates the view to the north.
There used to be small chapel close to the Greyhound Inn but this is now a private house.
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...
, 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....
within the parish of Littledean
Littledean
Littledean is a village in the Forest of Dean, west Gloucestershire, England. The village has a long history and formerly had the status of a town. Littledean Hall was originally a Saxon hall, although it has been rebuilt and the current house dates back to 1612. The remains of a Roman temple are...
. The hill is 12 miles south 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....
and 3 miles east of Cinderford
Cinderford
Cinderford is a small town on the eastern fringe of the Forest of Dean in Gloucestershire, England. A population of 8,116 people is recorded in the 2001 census....
. The small village of Flaxley
Flaxley
Flaxley is a small settlement in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire, located in between the larger villages of Westbury-on-Severn and Mitcheldean at the foot of the Vale of Castiard.-History:...
lies in the valley to the immediate north. Pope's Hill is said to have got its name from Mary Pope, who used to reside in Flaxley Abbey
Flaxley Abbey
Flaxley Abbey is a former Cistercian monastery in England, now a private residence, in the Forest of Dean, Gloucestershire.-History:Flaxley Abbey was founded in 1148 by Roger Fitzmiles, 2nd Earl of Hereford...
in the 18th century and walked over the hill as a young girl. She is buried in Flaxley churchyard.
A principal road runs over the hill starting from the A4151 just east of Littledean
Littledean
Littledean is a village in the Forest of Dean, west Gloucestershire, England. The village has a long history and formerly had the status of a town. Littledean Hall was originally a Saxon hall, although it has been rebuilt and the current house dates back to 1612. The remains of a Roman temple are...
and rejoins the A4151 further east at the Greyhound Inn. The A4151 runs along the southern flank of the hill. A steep section of road on the Flaxley side, Joey's Pitch, is notorious for being impassable in ice and snow. There are numerous other small roads and tracks linking the houses and smallholdings which are scattered across the hill. Rising to the west is Chestnuts Enclosure, an area of Forestry Commission
Forestry Commission
The Forestry Commission is a non-ministerial government department responsible for forestry in Great Britain. Its mission is to protect and expand Britain's forests and woodlands and increase their value to society and the environment....
woodland, and to the north, Welshbury Hill which has Iron Age
Iron 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...
workings.
As well as the Greyhound which is a popular pub beside the busy main road with its trademark dinosaur "Horace" in the beer garden, there is also White House Hotel, at the summit. Pope's Hill offers extensive views of the Severn Vale, Gloucester, Cheltenham
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...
, as far north as Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill
Bredon Hill is a hill in Worcestershire, England, south-west of Evesham in the Vale of Evesham. The summit of the hill is in the parish of Kemerton and it extends over parts of eight other parishes...
and as far south as the hills above Bath. The entire Cotswold Edge is also visible, and May Hill
May Hill
May Hill is a hill between Gloucester and Ross-on-Wye, whose summit is on the western edge of Gloucestershire, though its northern slopes are in Herefordshire....
dominates the view to the north.
There used to be small chapel close to the Greyhound Inn but this is now a private house.