Avening

Avening is a village and parish in the Longtree hundred of Gloucestershire, about three miles north of Tetbury. According to the 2001 census it had a population of 1,094, decreasing to 1,031 at the 2011 census. Nearby is Gatcombe Park, the home of the Princess Royal.

History

During the Second World War, Avening lay on GHQ Line. Extensive anti-tank ditches were constructed to the south and south-east, and were overlooked by a number of pillboxes. The defences were constructed as a part of British anti-invasion preparations.

Famous residents

• Michael Powell (1905–90). Film director, producer, screenwriter, actor. Buried in Holy Cross Church. The gravestone was designed by his son Columba who appeared in some of his films [1].
• Pamela Brown (1917–75). Enigmatic RADA trained actor, Pamela spent her last days with Michael Powell at the cottage in Avening which they both loved. Also buried in Holy Cross Church.
• Tina Hobley (1972-). Plays Chrissie Williams in Holby City [2].
• "Arthur Lee, 1st Viscount Lee of Fareham" and Lady Lee lived at Old Quarries, a Grade-II-listed building.
• The now-disbanded Clogging dance group Roughshod Appalachian Cloggers and their band The Costwold Mountain Boys originated from Avening.[3] They were well known around the local area and in the UK folk festival circuit. They appeared on The Michael Barrymore show in 1993 [4][5].
• John Sirgood (1822-1885). Christian fundamentalist lay preacher and founder of the Society of Dependants was born in Avening.

References

General references

• Foot, William (2006). Beaches, fields, streets, and hills ... the anti-invasion landscapes of England, 1940. Council for British Archaeology. ISBN 1-902771-53-2. 

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Avening)

• Avening Parish Council
• Avening in the Domesday Book
• Stroud Voices (Avening filter) - oral history site