Prestbury Village
Prestbury is an historic village on the northern edge of Cheltenham. Its name probably derives from the Anglo-Saxon ‘Priest’s manor’. Today it is mainly associated with National Hunt racing with the most prestigious event being the Gold Cup race at the Cheltenham Festival in March. The cheering of the racegoers as the horses reach the final pull can be heard all over the village. The racecourse was laid out in 1902 at Prestbury Park, a beautiful site with a backdrop of the Cotswold escarpment.
Shaw Green is an even older settlement based near the Bishop of Hereford’s moated manor off Park Lane.
In its heyday over a 100 racehorses were trained in Prestbury. Now the village has lost its farms and stables although racehorses can still be seen exercising on nearby Cleeve Common, the location of the first Gold Cup racing.
As you walk around the old village, visiting the various gardens open for the weekend, you can notice some historic sites and buildings.
St Mary’s Church, www.northchelt.org.uk dating from 1280, is at the heart of the village but not seen if simply driving through. It is on Mill Street, hidden behind the High Street though linked to it by footpaths. A church has stood on this site for C.1000 years: the central part of the building dating back to the twelfth century. Over the next two centuries due to fire in the town, the Reformation and being commandeered as an armoury and stable by Parliamentarian troops, the church fell into disrepair and was not restored until 1676 and a massive restoration in 1868 by George Edmund Street, who designed the Law Courts in the Strand London. There are some stained glass windows worthy of note: the west window of the north aisle by Kempe 1877, three windows by Lawrence Lee 1963-7 and a 20th century east window. More detail of architecture and fittings may be found under Church of St Mary, Mill Street at, www.historicengland.org.uk
The Burgage
The wide Burgage is of historic interest dating from medieval times. In 1249 The Bishop of Hereford secured a weekly market and 3 day fair for his Manor of Prestbury. This made the village prosper. A burgage plot was a property rented by a ‘burgess’. As burgesses congregated around main streets, the Burgage being the main road between Gloucester and Winchcombe, space at the front was at a premium. Burgage plots are therefore long and narrow, with a row of outbuildings stretching to the rear of the house and shop. Burgage holders were exempted from agricultural duties, making their living from trade and crafts. The market declined in the 15th century partly because of a fire which destroyed the greater part of the Burgage.
Pubs
The Royal Oak is an attractive pub built in the 16th or 17th century. The pub was once famously run by Gloucestershire, Worcestershire and England cricket legend Tom Graveney and has long been a favoured watering hole with Cheltenham racegoers.
There were originally two mills in Prestbury. Lower Mill was a water mill which went out of use between 1885 and 1894. The other mill was higher up in Mill Lane.
The Kings Arms, a black and white 16th century half-timbered inn. The famous jockey Fred Archer grew up here as his father was the publican. The heavy oak front door of the inn remains in place. The large stables at the rear have been converted to provide further dining accommodation.
Shops
Opposite The Kings Arms, Prestbury Village Stores in the High Street, formerly known as The Bakery Stores is a black and white timber framed building possibly early 17th century. The Queen Mother’s car used to make a detour on its way to the races to allow the shopkeeper, John Fogarty, to present her with a bouquet of flowers.
War Memorial
Prestbury possesses a particularly beautiful war memorial in the shape of a 15th century cross. It was designed by a London architect, John Coates-Carter, who lived in The Burgage. In 2011 the memorial was vandalised. It was faithfully rebuilt by a local benefactor. Large numbers from all sections of the community gather here on Remembrance Sunday, with the parish Church choir and a brass band for a service led by the Rector and other community leaders from the URC and local council.
There were originally two mills in Prestbury. Lower Mill was a water mill which went out of use between 1885 and 1894.