Hawkesbury Upton
| Hawkesbury Upton | |
| Gloucestershire | |
|---|---|
 War Memorial, Hawkesbury Upton | |
| Location | |
| Grid reference: | ST780870 |
| Location: | 51°34’52"N, 2°19’8"W |
| Data | |
| Post town: | Badminton |
| Postcode: | GL9 |
| Dialling code: | 01454 |
| Local Government | |
| Council: | South Gloucestershire |
| Parliamentary constituency: |
Thornbury and Yate |
| Website: | Parish Council |
Hawkesbury Upton is a village in Gloucestershire, east of the much smaller Hawkesbury. It is to be found north of Horton, east of Dunkirk and south of Alderley and Hillesley.
Hawkesbury Upton is close to the A46 road. The village lies on the Cotswold Way and exhibits many of the characteristics of a Cotswold village, including use of the local limestone in the majority of the buildings.
The village has two pubs – the Beaufort Arms and the Fox Inn, both on the High Street – a primary school, a village shop, a post office and a hair salon. There is also a village hall with a recreation ground and a cricket club.
Somerset Monument
The Somerset Monument stands on the Cotswold Edge escarpment, about half a mile from the village on the road towards Hillesley. Built in ashlar and designed by Lewis Vulliamy, it was constructed in 1846 as a memorial to Lord Edward Somerset, who led the British cavalry at the Battle of Waterloo.[1] The monument is a slightly tapering square tower, about a hundred feet high.[2]
The first keeper of the monument was Shadrack Byfield, a one-armed veteran of the Anglo-American War of 1812, whose memoirs of that conflict have achieved a measure of fame. Byfield, a native of Bradford on Avon in Wiltshire, lived in Hawkesbury Upton from 1843 to 1856.
Events
Hawkesbury Horticultural Show takes place annually on the last Saturday in August, in the village hall and recreation ground. The show features a large marquee, where the best fruit, vegetables and flowers, as well as home baking, varied crafts, home-made wine & beer, original photographs and pictures are exhibited – all produced by the local community. In addition, there is entertainment in the arena, a carnival procession, fairground rides and a wide range of local craft, trade and charity stalls. The show has been running continuously since 1885 - never once cancelled for adverse weather or war - something which villagers are extremely proud of.
The Hawkesbury Upton Literary Festival, is a free public event celebrating books and reading, founded in 2015 by local author Debbie Young. It takes place on the closest Saturday to World Book Day, which is Shakespeare's birthday.
Outside links
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("Wikimedia Commons" has material about Hawkesbury Upton) |
References
- ↑ Headley, Gwyn; Meulenkamp, Wim (1999). Follies, grottoes & garden buildings. London: Aurum. p. 241.
- ↑ National Heritage List 1320834: Monument to Lord Robert Edward Somerset
