Upper Rissington
| Upper Rissington | |
| Gloucestershire | |
|---|---|
 Housing at Upper Rissington | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | SP204198 |
| Location: | 51°52’35"N, 1°42’18"W |
| Data | |
| Population: | 1,046 (2011) |
| Post town: | Cheltenham |
| Postcode: | GL54 |
| Dialling code: | 01451 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | Cotswold |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
The Cotswolds |
Upper Rissington is a village in Gloucestershire, about two-and-a-half miles east of Bourton-on-the-Water. It is one of the highest villages in the Cotswolds at an elevation of 902 feet. This is not however one of the Cotswolds' achingly beautiful ancient villages: it is a modern housing development built on old Ministry of Defence Land.
The village is on the site of the Central Flying School. The airfield is still the active RAF site, RAF Little Rissington. Some of its housing was built as officers' quarters from the 1930s to the 1950s. These were sold by the Ministry of Defence in 1996 to developers, who modernised the properties and sold them on. The street names give a clue to the village's former life, having names such as Sopwith Road and Avro Road. The village has since been greatly expanded with many new houses built on the site of the old RAF hangars and ancillary buildings. Several of the buildings of architectural importance such as the Station HQ and the Officers Mess have been retained and converted into housing. The village is enhanced by the large numbers of mature trees planted by the first Station Commander which are now all protected.
An estimate in 2004 gave a population of 994, but this has since grown rapidly due to the new housing.
Once famed for its social life in the old ballroom when it housed hundreds of young trainee pilots, the new village is now well known locally for community events such as its firework displays and football training.
Churches
Local churches have come together to start Cur:Ve a Christian group in the village focused on building the new community as well as introducing people to Jesus. Cur:Ve employ a full time worker focused on starting community activities such as sports and children's groups.
Local amenities
A mini shopping mall has been constructed as part of the new development which includes a MidCounties Co-operative Society shop, Badham's Pharmacy, The Hangar Café, Runner Bean Gym and a Barnado's charity shop. There is also a village hall, a primary school, tennis courts, football pitches and many green spaces around the village.
See also
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Upper Rissington) |