South Cerney

Church of All Hallows, South Cerney

South Cerney is a village and parish in the Crowthorne and Minety hundred of Gloucestershire, three miles south of Cirencester and close to the border with Wiltshire. It had a population of 3,074 according to the 2001 census, increasing to 3,464 at the 2011 census. It was founded in 999 by Saxon settlers, with a charter by King Æthelred II. South Cerney was winner of the best-kept village award, (big villages) for 2001.

History

Two fragments of a carved wooden crucified Christ, a head and a foot, were found in 1915 concealed in a wall of the church of All Hallows. The crucifix was probably hidden at the time of the Reformation but mostly disintegrated due to the damp. Part of a crucifix that dates from the 12th century, it is one of very few early-mediæval wooden sculptures of Christ extant in England, and would have been part of the 'rood' that stood above the rood screen that separated the nave of the church from the chancel. The original carvings were purchased by the British Museum in 1994. The South Cerney church now contains a replica.

At the end of Silver Street in South Cerney is the Ann Edwards School, founded by Ann Edwards in 1834. And in nearby Station Road, an attractive row of gabled cottages dates from the 16th and 17th centuries. The remains of some of the old railway line can also be found in this area of the village.

Culture

The Village is home to an active theatre group called the South Cerney Players as well as two active singing groups, Bluenotes and Singing for Fun.

Tourism and recreation

The village lies within the Cotswold Water Park, an area made up of over 140 lakes, mostly formed by gravel extraction. Many of the lakes are now used for leisure activities including fishing and sailing. South Cerney Sailing Club is well established in the Cotswold Water Park.

The village is also home to the South Cerney Outdoor Education Centre, which was created in 1971 by Gloucestershire Council as a non-profit organisation to promote outdoor learning and provide low-cost outdoor activities for young people.

The village is also home to active Beaver, Cubs and Scouts, meeting on Thursday evenings, and Guides who meet on Tuesday evenings, all at The Jim Denley Scout Headquarters in Berkeley Close. The Brownie Pack meet in the village hall located in School Lane on Wednesdays from 5:45-7:00pm.

Local amenities

South Cerney has a range of local amenities including a Post Office and newsagents (known as South Cerney News), Spar general store, hairdressers, a fish and chip shop, an Indian restaurant/takeaway, pharmacy and a dental surgery. There are three public houses in South Cerney, The Old George, The Royal Oak and The Eliot Arms Hotel. There is a Village Hall and Fenton's Community Centre.

Duke of Gloucester Barracks, on the site of the former RAF South Cerney, is located approximately a mile outside the village. In 1986 RAF South Cerney hosted the World Aerobatic Championships.

It is also home to South Cerney Golf course & Driving Range. South Cerney is a par 70 - 5,987-yds course.

Ann Edwards Primary School

Ann Edwards School is also located within the village. The name of the school was adopted when the buildings were located on the present site in 1970.

Ann Edwards lived in South Cerney and was actively involved in education in the early 19th century. She was the wife of the village curate and ran a dame school. When her husband unexpectedly came into money, she endowed the first school building which was opened in 1820. It was a Church of England Foundation School and there were 29 pupils in 1867. The colours of the Coat of Arms of Ann Edwards - black and gold - have been adopted as the colours of the school uniform in memory of the founder.

The original building still stands in School Lane; it was used as a school until 1972 when it was outgrown and children moved to buildings on the present site. These were demolished in 1990, having been replaced by a modern, purpose-built school.

The present school is a Voluntary Controlled Church of England Primary School. It serves the communities of South Cerney, Cerney Wick, and Somerford Keynes. The school was designed as a semi open-plan building by a local architect and stands on a landscaped site of approximately six acres.

The re-built school was formally opened by Pam Ayres in 1990.

Wildlife

South Cerney is well endowed with numerous land and water dwelling species including the black poplar, water vole, otter, breeding and wintering birds, and bats.

Development

There are several industrial areas which have sprung up on the outskirts of South Cerney, bringing more requirements for housing and a large estate was built on the land sold by Aggregate Industries some years ago.

South Cerney has a growing business community with many companies occupying the industrial and business estates that have built up on the outskirts of South Cerney.

Transportation

Cirencester is located at the hub of a significant road network with important routes to Gloucester (A417), Cheltenham (A435), Warwick (A429 "Fosse Way"), Oxford (A40 via the B4425), Swindon (A419), Chippenham (A429), Bristol and Bath (A433), and Stroud (A419).

The nearest railway station is a few miles away at Kemble which is on the main line to London (Paddington).

The nearest airports are at Bristol, Cardiff and Birmingham, all more than an hour away by road.

See also

• South Cerney Castle

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about South Cerney)

• Location map: 51°40’16"N, 1°55’55"W
• Parish Council
• Fenton's Community Centre