Withington, Gloucestershire

{{Short description|Village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=March 2015}}

{{Use British English|date=March 2015}}

File:Withington Church - geograph.org.uk - 658804.jpg]]

Withington is a Cotswold village and civil parish in Gloucestershire, England, about {{Convert|7|mi|km|0}} southeast of Cheltenham and {{Convert|8|mi|km|0}} north of Cirencester. The River Coln runs through the village. The parish includes the hamlets of Hilcot, Foxcote and Cassey Compton. The parish population taken at the 2011 census was 532.{{cite web|url=http://neighbourhood.statistics.gov.uk/dissemination/LeadKeyFigures.do?a=7&b=11130824&c=Withington&d=16&e=62&g=6426945&i=1001x1003x1032x1004&m=0&r=1&enc=1|title=Parish population 2011|publisher=Office for National Statistics|access-date=20 January 2017}}

The site of a Roman villa lies to the south of the village. Remains of the villa were rediscovered in 1811 by Samuel Lysons, and investigations by the Time Team television programme for an episode first broadcast in 2006 found further Romano-British buildings east of the villa, towards the river.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1003345|desc=Romano-British villa at Withington, Romano-British building at Manor Court Field and associated features|access-date=20 January 2017}}{{Cite web |title=Time Team - Episode Guide - Series 13 |url=http://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team/episode-guide/series-13/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090817220213/http://www.channel4.com/programmes/time-team/episode-guide/series-13 |archive-date=17 August 2009 |access-date=20 January 2017 |publisher=Channel Four Television |language=en}}

The origin of the name is unclear but it is found in records as early as 737 AD (Wudiandun, which would mean the hill of Wudia: Wudia may be a real settler or the legendary Germanic hero Witege). The other English places called Withington may have different origins. In his 1955 work, H. P. R. Finberg argued for continuity between Anglo-Saxon Withington and an earlier Roman settlement.{{cite book |last=Finberg |first=H.P.R. |authorlink=Local history#United Kingdom |title=Roman and Saxon Withington: a study in continuity |year=1955 |location=Leicester |publisher=University College, Leicester}} During Saxon times there was an important monastery at Withington.

The parish church of St Michael and All Angels dates from the 12th century and is a Grade I listed building.{{National Heritage List for England|num=1302954|desc=Church of St Michael|access-date=19 January 2017|fewer-links=yes}} The church was altered in the 15th century when the Perpendicular clerestory and higher tower were added, and has been described as "a typical example of an important Cotswold church".{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=uCE3AQAAIAAJ|title=Cotswold churches|author=David Verey|publisher=B.T. Batsford|year=1976|page=86|isbn=9780713430547 }}

From 1891 to 1961, Withington had a railway station on the Midland and South Western Junction Railway which ran between Cirencester and Cheltenham.

The Mill Inn, now the only public house in Withington, is credited locally with creating the popular "chicken in a basket" fried chicken and chips meal in the 1960s.{{cite web|title=Feathers fly over pub meal's exit|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/gloucestershire/7587978.stm|website=BBC New: Gloucestershire|accessdate=20 January 2017|date=29 August 2008}}

The 2000 Trees music festival is held annually at Upcote Farm, near the village.