Cheltenham

Related Topics:
Cheltenham_Town :: Cheltenham_Saracens :: Cheltenham :: Cheltenham_Sunday :: Cheltenham_Township :: Cheltenham_Association_Football_League

Borough of Cheltenham

Geography
Status:	Borough
Region:	South West England
Admin. County:	Gloucestershire
Area: - Total	Ranked 304th 46.61 km²
Admin. HQ:	Cheltenham
Grid reference:
ONS code:	23UB
Demographics
Population: - Total () - Density	Ranked / km²
Ethnicity:	96.7% White 1.4% S.Asian
Politics
Cheltenham Borough Council http://www.cheltenham.gov.uk/
Leadership:	Leader & Cabinet
Executive:
MPs:	Martin Horwood, Laurence Robertson
Coat of arms

Cheltenham (or Cheltenham Spa) is a spa town and borough in Gloucestershire, England, near Gloucester and Cirencester. The town has a population of 110,013 (2001 census) and the people of the town are known as "Cheltonians". The town motto is: Salubritas et Eruditio ("Health and Education").

The town is located on the edge of the Cotswolds and has an image nationally of being 'respectable' and wealthy or, simply, posh. Cheltenham has been a health and holiday spa town resort since the discovery of mineral springs there in 1716. The small River Chelt flows under and through the town.

Cheltenham is well known for being the home of the flagship race of British steeplechase horseracing, the Cheltenham Gold Cup, and Cheltenham Ladies' College. The town hosts several festivals of culture, principally the annual Cheltenham Festival of Literature.

The current boundaries of Cheltenham were set under the Local Government Act 1972, when the existing borough of Cheltenham was merged with Charlton Kings urban district to form the modern non-metropolitan district of Cheltenham.

Outline

Education

In accordance with the "Eruditio" part of its motto, Cheltenham is a major centre for education, including Cheltenham Ladies' College, Pate's Grammar School, Cheltenham College and the main campuses of the University of Gloucestershire.

Festivals

Cheltenham holds music, jazz, folk, literary and science festivals every year. Events take place at the Town Hall, the Everyman Theatre, and the Pittville Pump Room. Additionally, Greenbelt, a Christian arts and music festival, is held at Cheltenham Racecourse.

Sport

Internationally, Cheltenham is well known for its horse racing. Cheltenham Racecourse, located in the suburb of Prestbury, is the home of National Hunt, or jumps, racing in the UK. Meetings are hosted during the winter months (when the ground is soft enough for the horses to safely negotiate the fences) from November to April. The highlight of the season is the Cheltenham Gold Cup, which is normally held in the middle of March, during the Cheltenham Festival. This happy co-incidence (with St Patrick's Day) ensures that the town swells with an influx of Irish horseracing devotees.

The local football team is Cheltenham Town F.C., who have recently enjoyed success in the football league.

There are several well known amateur rugby clubs including Cheltenham RFC, Cheltenham North RFC, Old Patesians RFC, and Cheltenham Saracens RFC.

Shopping and nightlife

Cheltenham is a popular regional shopping centre, home to several department stores, including Cavendish House, part of the House of Fraser chain, and arcades including the Regent Arcade. Although not noted nationally for its nightlife, the town also serves as a regional nightlife centre.

Major employers

Cheltenham has a number of light industries, including food processing, aerospace, electronics and tourism. The British government's electronic surveillance operation GCHQ, renowned for its 'doughnut-shape' building, is located in Cheltenham. Cheltenham is also home to Chelsea Building Society, Endsleigh Insurance, UCAS (Universities & Colleges Admissions Service), Kohler Mira and the administrative headquarters of Kraft Jacobs Suchard.

Railway

Cheltenham Spa railway station is located on the main Bristol-Birmingham line, giving connections to Gloucester, Bristol, Swindon, London Paddington, Plymouth and the South West, Birmingham, Derby, the North West, the North East and Scotland.

The Cheltenham Spa Express, once known as the "Cheltenham Flyer", is a named passenger train, connecting Cheltenham with London.

In addition, a restored station at Cheltenham racecourse is the south terminus for the Gloucestershire Warwickshire Railway preserved railway.

Twinning arrangements

The town is twinned with Annecy, France; Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, U.S.A.; Göttingen, Germany; Sochi, Russia and Weihai, China. The town also has 'Friendship' status with Stampersgat, the Netherlands and Kisumu, Kenya.

Districts of Cheltenham

The districts of Cheltenham include Benhall, Charlton Kings, Fairview, Hesters Way, Leckhampton, Montpellier, Pittville, Prestbury, The Reddings, Rowanfield, St Marks, St Paul's, Swindon Village, Up Hatherley, Whaddon and Wymans Brook.

Notable Cheltonians

cheltenham.evans.arp.jpg|thumb|250px|right|Statue of Edward Adrian Wilson in the town centre. Born Cheltenham 1872, died Antarctica 1912. The plinth reads:
Edward Wilson of the British Antarctic Expedition reached the South Pole on January 17th 1912 and died with Captain Scott on the Great Ice Barrier in March 1912]]

Notable people from Cheltenham include:

Duncan Gordon Boyes, VC
Eddie 'the Eagle' Edwards, Olympic ski-jumper
James Elroy Flecker, poet
Gustav Holst, composer
Edward Jenner, the physician who invented vaccination
Brian Jones of the Rolling Stones
Nigel Jones, Baron Jones of Cheltenham
Richard O'Brien of Rocky Horror Show fame
Edward Adrian Wilson, explorer who joined Scott on his ill-fated Antarctic Expedition)

External links

Visiting Cheltenham
Art Gallery & Museum
Cheltenham Festivals
Greenbelt
Christ Church Cheltenham
Cheltenham - 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article
Gloucestershire Echo (local newspaper)
Trinity Church (one of the largest Anglican churches outside London)