Slimbridge
{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}
{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}
Slimbridge is a village and civil parish near Dursley in Gloucestershire, England.
{{Infobox UK place
|country = England
|static_image_caption=Parish church of St. John the Evangelist; the canal at Patch Bridge, near the Wildfowl Reserve
|coordinates = {{coord|51.728|-02.378|display=inline,title}}
|official_name=Slimbridge
|civil_parish= Slimbridge
|population = 1,136
|population_ref=(2011, including Cambridge){{cite web|url=https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128580&c=GL2+7AX&d=16&e=62&g=6428022&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1427796164398&enc=1|title=Parish population 2011|accessdate=31 March 2015|archive-date=2 April 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150402132350/https://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11128580&c=GL2+7AX&d=16&e=62&g=6428022&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=0&s=1427796164398&enc=1|url-status=live}}
|shire_district= Stroud
|shire_county= Gloucestershire
|region= South West England
|constituency_westminster= Stroud
|post_town=GLOUCESTER
|postcode_district=GL2
|postcode_area=GL
|dial_code=01453
|os_grid_reference=SO740035
}}
It is best known as the home of the Wildfowl and Wetlands Trust's Slimbridge Reserve which was started by Sir Peter Scott.{{cite web |title=Sir Peter Scott |url=http://www.slim-bridge.co.uk/peter%20scott.html |publisher=WWT |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=16 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190916094200/http://www.slim-bridge.co.uk/peter%20scott.html |url-status=live }}
Canal and Patch Bridge
The Gloucester and Sharpness Canal runs through the village, and under Patch Bridge which must be crossed to reach the Wildfowl Trust. Damage to the decking of Patch Bridge in October 2007 resulted in a temporary repair being made using steel plates. This had the effect of unbalancing the bridge, which warped and jammed on 23 October 2007. The swing bridge was replaced in early 2009.{{cite web |title=Patch Bridge Replacement |url=https://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/canal/patchreplacement.htm |publisher=Gloucester Docks |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=2 November 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171102160901/http://www.gloucesterdocks.me.uk/canal/patchreplacement.htm |url-status=live }} Nearby there is a caravan park and pub.{{cite web |title=Slimbridge - Tudor Caravan Park |url=https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/gloucestershire/slimbridge/tudorcaravanpark/ |publisher=Camping and Caravan Club |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827155344/https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/campsites/uk/gloucestershire/slimbridge/tudorcaravanpark/ |url-status=live }} The name of the bridge is echoed by the locals abandoning the "Tudor Arms" name and merely referring to the pub as "The Patch." https://www.thetudorarms.co.uk . On the canal towpath, next the bridge, is the Slimbridge Boat Station, which is a cafe, general store and boating resource centre.
Church
The village church of St John the Evangelist dates from the early 13th century and is a grade I listed building.{{cite web | title=Church of St John the Evangelist | work=historicengland.org.uk | url=https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1305799 | access-date=27 August 2020 | archive-date=27 August 2020 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827155328/https://historicengland.org.uk/listing/the-list/list-entry/1305799 | url-status=live }}
School and playing field
Slimbridge is home to one primary school that takes pupils from Slimbridge and the surrounding village of Cambridge, Gloucestershire. The school is fairly small consisting of only 4 classes and around 100 pupils.{{cite web |title=Slimbridge Primary School |url=https://slimbridgeprimaryschool.org.uk/ |publisher=Slimbridge Primary School |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=6 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190806000113/https://slimbridgeprimaryschool.org.uk/ |url-status=live }} There is also a recreational field in Slimbridge that the Playing Field Committee raised money for, through the aid of National Lottery funding, to build a brand new pavilion.{{cite web |title=PARCS (Play Area Regeneration Committee of Slimbridge) |url=https://slimbridge-pc.gov.uk/parcs-play-area-regeneration-committee-of-slimbridge/ |publisher=Slimbridge Parish Council |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827155332/https://slimbridge-pc.gov.uk/parcs-play-area-regeneration-committee-of-slimbridge/ |url-status=live }}
Slimbridge estate
The {{convert|2480|acre|km2|adj=on}} Slimbridge Estate is owned by the Ernest Cook Trust based on an original purchase in 1945 by Ernest Cook of {{convert|1109|acre|km2}} in the parishes of Slimbridge and Gossington out of the sale of outlying portions of the Berkeley Castle Estate.{{cite web |title=The Slimbridge Estate |url=http://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/the-trusts-estates/gloucestershire/the-slimbridge-estate/ |publisher=Ernest Cook Trust |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=24 January 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200124104003/http://ernestcooktrust.org.uk/the-trusts-estates/gloucestershire/the-slimbridge-estate/ |url-status=live }} The Berkeley Estate had for years been a famous sporting estate although the last Earl of Berkeley, who died young, was more interested in the sciences. Ernest Cook extended the estate further by purchasing Breadstone Farm and Wanswell Court from the Berkeley family.
Sport and leisure
The village's football club, Slimbridge Football Club play in the Southern Football League South & West Division as well as competing in the FA Cup and FA Trophy.{{cite news |title=Slimbridge get promotion confirmed by FA after long wait |url=https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/sport/12956168.football-slimbridge-get-promotion-confirmed-by-fa-after-long-wait/ |accessdate=27 August 2020 |work=Gazette |date=18 May 2015 |archive-date=27 August 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200827155332/https://www.gazetteseries.co.uk/sport/12956168.football-slimbridge-get-promotion-confirmed-by-fa-after-long-wait/ |url-status=live }} "The Swans" or "The Bridge" play their home matches at their ground located in Wisloe Road, Cambridge, just across the A38 from Slimbridge village.{{cite web |title=Slimbridge AFC FC home ground - Wisloe Road |url=http://www.myfootygrounds.co.uk/StadiumDetails.asp?team=Slimbridge%20AFC&StadiumId=782 |publisher=My Footy Grounds |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=16 April 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170416090713/http://myfootygrounds.co.uk/StadiumDetails.asp?team=Slimbridge%20AFC&StadiumId=782 |url-status=live }} In the Summer of 2016, the club's Wisloe Road Ground was renamed 'Thornhill Park' in memory of former Chairman Evi Thornhill, who donated the field that the club has built on in his will when he died in 1960.
The village also has a cricket club which operates in the Stroud District Cricket League.
Slimbridge Local History Society holds regular meetings featuring presentations of local history and maintains online archives for members' use.{{cite web |title=Slimbridge Local History Society |url=https://slimbridgelhs.com/ |publisher=Slimbridge Local History Society |accessdate=27 August 2020 |archive-date=18 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180818105522/https://slimbridgelhs.com/ |url-status=live }}
International relations
=Twin towns – sister cities=
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
- {{cite web | url=http://www.slimbridge-pc.gov.uk/ | title=Slimbridge Parish Council | work= | publisher= }}
- {{cite web | url=http://www.slimbridgeafc.co.uk/ | title=Slimbridge AFC | work= | publisher= }}
- {{cite web | url=http://www.ernestcooktrust.org.uk/estates/glos/slimbridge.html | title=The Slimbridge Estate and the Ernest Cook Trust | work= | publisher= | url-status=dead | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110719102612/http://www.ernestcooktrust.org.uk/estates/glos/slimbridge.html | archive-date=19 July 2011 | df=dmy-all }}
- {{cite web | url=http://www.slimbridgelhs.com| title=Slimbridge Local History Society | work= | publisher= }}
- [https://stroudvoices.co.uk/#slimbridge Stroud Voices mid 20th century oral history from Slimbridge residents]
{{Commons category|Slimbridge}}
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