Leckhampton

Leckhampton is a district in south Cheltenham, Gloucestershire, England. The area constitutes a civil parish and is part of the district of Cheltenham.

History

Leckhampton is mentioned in the Domesday Book (1086) as 'Lechametone' and 'Lechantone', meaning 'homestead where garlic or leeks are grown'. The earliest recorded mention comes from the 8th century, as the home farm of the royal manor of Cheltenham [cite web | title = History of Leckhampton and Bath Road | url=http://www.cheltenham4u.co.uk/leckhampton_history.asp?area=Leckhampton%2C+Bath+Road | accessdate = 2008-08-25 ] .

The old village of Leckhampton stands at the foot of Leckhampton Hill, around the medieval parish church of St. Peter's. During the 19th and 20th centuries, there was residential development in the direction of Cheltenham.

Between 1881 and 1962, Leckhampton had its own railway station with services on both the Great Western Railway line between Cheltenham and Banbury and on the north-south Midland and South Western Junction Railway.

The Leckhampton Riots

In 1894, Henry J Dale of the Leckhampton Quarry Company Limited bought 26 acres of land on Leckhampton hill. To the outrage of local people, he fenced off the area, closing footpaths and warning that anyone found on the land would be treated as trespassers. He also built Tramway Cottage on Daisybank Road, a site that had been used for a fun fair every Good Friday.

In March 1902, about 10,000 protesters tore down the fences and converged on Daisybank Road where they destroyed the cottage. The ringleaders were arrested and sent to Gloucester Prison. Henry Dale rebuilt Tramway Cottage but in 1906 another large group of protesters demolished Dale's fences and gathered at Daisybank Road with the intention of demolishing it again. This time, they were met by the town magistrate (G. B. Witts) and a number of policemen. The magistrate read the Riot Act and, once more, the ringleaders were sent to prison.

In 1929, Cheltenham Town Council bought the land, making it available once more for public access,

The Leckhampton Community

Leckhampton Village Hall, formerly the Parish Hall of St. Peter's Church, is a grade 2 listed building in Church Road. It provides a base for various community activities and is used for amateur dramatics (Leckhampton Players) and dance classes (Leckhampton Tappers).

The village has a playing field used for cricket, rugby, and football matches, with a play area and nursery nearby.

The main shopping area for Leckhampton residents is the Bath Road, a mile or so north of the old village centre.

The Old Patesians R.F.C. is based at the foot of the hill.

The Sue Ryder organisation has a home in Leckhampton which was once used as a prisoner of war camp.

Churches

The oldest church in Leckhampton is St. Peter's.

The expansion of Leckhampton towards Cheltenham resulted in the building of two more churches, the Victorian Gothic St. Philip and St. James (which is linked to The Church in Warden Hill) and the mid-20th-century Emmanuel Church (which is linked to St. Stephen's, Tivoli). Leckhampton is also served by Bethesda Methodist Church and Leckhampton Baptist Church.

chool

The local school is Leckhampton Church of England Primary School.

Geography

Near the top of Leckhampton Hill stands a noted limestone rock formation known as the Devil's Chimney. It is believed that the chimney was created by limestone quarrymen.

To the south of Leckhampton lies the residential area of Pilley.

References