Eastleach
{{Short description|Civil parish in Gloucestershire, England}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{Infobox UK place
| official_name= Eastleach
| country= England
| region= South West England
| static_image_name= Peace_of_Christ_Eastleach_Martin.jpg
| static_image_caption= St. Michael & St. Martin
| static_image_alt=
| area_total_sq_mi=
| population= 306
| population_density=
| os_grid_reference= SO2016905239
| map_alt=
| coordinates = {{coord|51.746|-1.709|type:city(500)_region:GB|display=inline,title}}
| london_distance_mi= 84
| post_town= CIRENCESTER
| postcode_area= GL
| postcode_district= GL7
| dial_code= 01367
| constituency_westminster = North Cotswolds{{cite web|title=Location of North Cotswolds |url=https://members.parliament.uk/constituency/4201/location |website=parliament.uk|access-date=19 January 2025}}
| civil_parish=
| shire_district= Cotswold
| shire_county= Gloucestershire
| website=
}}
Eastleach is a civil parish in the county of Gloucestershire, England. It was created in 1935 when the separate parishes of Eastleach Turville and Eastleach Martin were combined as the civil parish of Eastleach.[https://archive.today/20121224165028/http://www.visionofbritain.org.uk/relationships.jsp?u_id=10371030&c_id=10001043 Eastleach CP], on A Vision of Britain through Time website The two villages of the parish—Eastleach Turville and Eastleach Martin—are separated only by the narrow River Leach, which is spanned by the stone road bridgeGrade II [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1341393 listed] on 5 February 1987 and a stone slab clapper footbridge.Grade II [https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1341410 listed] on 23 January 1952 Together the villages of Eastleach have over 60 listed houses and farm structures.[http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/england/gloucestershire/eastleach List] of listed buildings
Eastleach Martin
On the east bank of the Leach is Eastleach Martin, the smaller of the two villages. Today, the two principal structures are the church of St. Michael & St Martin, and Eastleach House, with a formal garden and extensive grounds open to the public.[http://www.eastleachhouse.com/ Official website] of Eastleach House Eastleach Martin was also known as Bouthrop or Burthrop.
File:Eastleach Swan Stone Footbridge.jpg clapper bridge across the River Leach]]
=St. Michael & St. Martin=
{{main|St Michael and St Martin's Church, Eastleach Martin}}
A Grade I listed structure,[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1156545 Listed] on 26 January 1961 St. Michael & St. Martin is of early Norman in origin. Founded by Richard Fitz Pons, it was given to Great Malvern Priory in 1120, later passing to Gloucester Abbey. The present church is mostly 13th century; there are a Perpendicular font and some decorated Gothic windows terminating in tiny carved heads, but the interior is relatively plain. No longer used for worship, the church is maintained by the Churches Conservation Trust.[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~engcots/EastleachMartinPhotos.html Pictures]
Eastleach Turville
Eastleach Turville is the larger of the two villages today. The village hall, the parish church of St. Andrew, and the Victoria Inn all lie within Eastleach Turville.
=St. Andrew=
{{main|Church of St Andrew, Eastleach Turville}}
File:St Andrew, Eastleach Turville.jpg
Also a Grade I listed structure,[https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1089225 Listed] on 26 January 1961 St. Andrew sits directly across the Leach from St. Michael & St. Martin. Decoratively the more interesting of the two churches, St. Andrew's most prominent feature is the Christ in Majesty tympanum over the west door of the church. The interior of the church is also striking because of the spacious and beautiful Early English Period chancel.David Verey, Cotswold Churches (B. T. Batsford Ltd., 1976), at page 106 The lectern is said to have come from Tewkesbury Abbey. The 13th- or 14th-century tower of the mostly-Norman church has a simple gable roof known as a saddleback.[http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~engcots/EastleachTurvillePhotos.html Pictures] St. Andrew remains a functioning parish church.Church page on Church of England [http://www.achurchnearyou.com/eastleach-st-andrew/ website]
Notable people
John Keble was curate of St. Michael & St. Martin, Eastleach Martin, in the early 19th century, where he founded a Sunday School; the clapper footbridge over the Leach is named after him. The priest and antiquary Peter Bailey Williams also served in Eastleach Martin, early in the 18th century.
The journalist, diplomat and intelligence agent, Jona von Ustinov, father of the actor Sir Peter Ustinov, died in Eastleach in 1962. His wife, the artist Nadia Benois also lived in the village. Some of her paintings depict local scenes.
Notes
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{Commons category-inline|Eastleach}}
- [https://eastleachparishcouncil.org Eastleach Parish Counci]
{{authority control}}