Shurdington

Shurdington
Gloucestershire
The Cheese Rollers, Shurdington
Location
Grid reference:	SO923187
Location:	51°52’1"N, 2°6’46"W
Data
Population:	1,936  (2011)
Post town:	Cheltenham
Postcode:	GL51
Dialling code:	01452
Local Government
Council:	Tewkesbury
Parliamentary constituency:	Tewkesbury

Shurdington is a village near Cheltenham in Gloucestershire. It is to the south of Cheltenham on the A46, and east of Gloucester.

The population at the 2011 census was 1,936.

Parish church

The parish church, St Paul, is of the 11th-century. It has been much remarked upon for its spire. Arthur Mee waxes lyrically about the "...amazing broached spire, 14 century, but restored."

The spire is the most striking feature of the church, rising to 109 feet, gracile and slender. Various dates are carved into the stonework, recording some of the occasions when restoration work has been necessary. Attention was required in 1797, then again in 1894 when the spire was struck by lightning and had to be all-but rebuilt at a cost of £400. In the early 1980s the spire was again struck by lightning and for some reason the lightning conductor had been wrenched from the ground and so as the bolt hit the ground hat two stones from the base of the tower were pushed out of true.

There are traces of wall paintings to be seen.

Around the village

The village has a modern Social Centre (completed 1998) containing the Century Hall and Millennium Hall, a Primary School, a post office and general store and a hairdresser. There are two public houses: the Bell Inn and The Cheese Rollers. The latter is named for the annual cheeserolling event which takes place at nearby Cooper's Hill.

Sports and recreation

Local community organisations include:

• 15th Cheltenham (Shurdington) Scout Group
• Cricket Club
• Shurdington Women's Institute

The recreation ground in Shurdington is a King George's Field.

Outside links

("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Shurdington)

• Shurdington Village
• Shurdington Primary School