Lechlade is a town in Gloucestershire, England. It is located at the southern edge of the Cotswolds. The town is named after the River Leach.

There is a large open space in the centre of the village, near the parish church of St Lawrence, which is now a car park. The main roads through the village are busy, as the village is situated at an important cross roads, of the A417 with the A361.

The River Thames

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Lechlade is the highest town to which the River Thames is navigable by narrowboats. It is a popular 'resort' for Thames boating. Boats of different types can be hired from Lechlade, from rowing boats to river cruisers. It is possible to travel by river from here to London. The river is actually navigable for a short way further upstream, near to the village of Inglesham, where the Thames and Severn Canal joins the River Thames. Rowing boats can reach even further upstream, to Cricklade. The highest lock on the Thames is St Johns Lock, at Lechlade. There is a statue of Old Father Thames overlooking the boating activities. The view from St Johns Bridge, across the lock and the meadows to the spire of St Lawrence's church is memorable.

The River Leach flows into the Thames at St Johns Bridge.

As the A361 enters the town from the South, it crosses another tributary of the Thames, the River Coln, at Ha'penny Bridge.

Youth activities

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Lechlade has a number of activities available to its younger citizens, most of which are centred around the town hall and its adjacent structure, the Lechlade Memorial Hall.

Since 1997, the town has seen the birth and growth of 1970 Squadron of the Air Training Corps. The squadron's membership consists of young people from the town itself as well as neighbouring towns such as Fairford and Faringdon.

Behind the town hall are large playing fields and a skate park.

Location

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Lechlade is situated on the A417, at its crossing with the A361. The 15th Century parish church is located at Ordnance Survey mapping six-figure grid reference 'SU 215995

External links

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• Lechlade-on-Thames official website
• Lechlade-on-Thames - Guide to the Gloucestershire town of Lechlade
• Images the church of St Lawrence
• 1970 (Lechlade) Squadron ATC

Towns in Gloucestershire | River Thames