Tortworth

Tortworth

Tortworth Court
Tortworth
 Tortworth shown within Gloucestershire
Population 147 
OS grid referenceST7093
Civil parishTortworth
Unitary authoritySouth Gloucestershire
Ceremonial countyGloucestershire
RegionSouth West
CountryEngland
Sovereign stateUnited Kingdom
Post town Wotton-under-Edge
Postcode district GL12
Police Avon and Somerset
Fire Avon
Ambulance South Western
EU Parliament South West England
UK ParliamentThornbury and Yate
List of places
UK
England
Gloucestershire

Coordinates: 51°38′00″N 2°26′00″W / 51.633333°N 2.433333°W / 51.633333; -2.433333

Tortworth is a small village and civil parish, near Thornbury in South Gloucestershire, England. It has a population of 147 as of 2011. It lies on the B4509 road, which crosses the M5 motorway to the west of Tortworth.[1]

History

In the Domesday Book of 1086 the manor is recorded as held by Turstin FitzRolf.[2] Tortworth is noted for its ancient chestnut tree in St. Leonard's churchyard, which became known as the "Great Chestnut of Tortworth" as early as 1150. This tree measured 51 feet in circumference at 6 feet from the ground in 1720.[3] The tree is one of fifty Great British Trees, selected in 2002 by The Tree Council to commemorate the Queen's Golden Jubilee.[4]

Geography

The Tortworth inlier is the most complete section of "Silurian" rocks in the Bristol and South Gloucestershie area.[5] Old red sandstone is most dominant.[6]

Notable landmarks

The civil parish contains Tortworth Court. It was formerly the home of the Earls of Ducie, but now runs as a hotel.[7][8] Tortworth Rectory, was part of Oriel College.[9] It was renowned for its library collection, which was eventually purchased by the Earls of Ducie.[10]

There is a national prison nearby, HM Prison Leyhill, which was converted into a prison from an army hospital in the post-war period.[11] In 1985 the prison won the Windlesham Trophy for the best-kept prison gardens.[12]

References

  1. ↑ Google (29 August 2016). "Tortworth" (Map). Google Maps. Google. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  2. ↑ Williams, Ann; Martin, Geoffrey Haward (2003). Domesday Book: A Complete Translation. Penguin Books. p. 469. ISBN 978-0-14-051535-0.
  3. ↑ Sylvan sketches; or, A companion to the park and the shrubbery, by the author of the Flora domestica. 1825. p. 96.
  4. ↑ "Tortworth Sweet Chestnut". Woodland Trust. Retrieved 29 August 2016.
  5. ↑ British Geological Survey 1:50,000 geological map sheet no 264 (England & Wales series) Bristol & 1" scale Bristol District:special sheet, BGS, Keyworth, Notts
  6. ↑ Transactions Of The Geological Society. Cadell. 1824. p. 341.
  7. ↑ The Gentleman's Magazine, and Historical Chronicle, for the Year ... Edw. Cave. 1853. p. 87.
  8. ↑ Hospitality. Hotel, Catering and Institutional Management Association. 2003. p. 637.
  9. ↑ Mabey, Richard (1986). Gilbert White: A Biography of the Author of The Natural History of Selborne. University of Virginia Press. p. 96. ISBN 978-0-8139-2649-0.
  10. ↑ Ker, Neil Ripley; Perkin, Michael (2004). A Directory of the Parochial Libraries of the Church of England and the Church in Wales. Bibliographical Society. p. 373. ISBN 978-0-948170-13-3.
  11. ↑ The British Journal of Delinquency. Institute for the Study and Treatment of Delinquency and Baillière, Tindall and Cox. 1951. p. 25.
  12. ↑ GC & HTJ. Haymarket Publishing. 1985. p. 4.


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