Welcome to the village. Although the village is small with about 180 dwellings there is a lot going on and the area is rich in history.
You can find all the latest information on our website and if you are a Facebook user then please join our Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/westonsubedge
History of Weston-sub-Edge
Weston-sub-edge is a peaceful village with many historical buildings and lots of Cotswold charm. The village, recorded in Domesday, lies at the foot of Dovers Hill, and is located between the Vale of Evesham and Chipping Campden.
The hill is named after Robert Dover who organised his ‘Olympick’ Games there from 1612, it is a well-known beauty spot with extensive views over the surrounding countryside. The hill lies within the Cotswold AONB and was gifted to The National Trust in 1926.
Part of ‘The Cotswold Way’ footpath runs through Dover’s Hill. This national footpath joins with ‘Monarch’s Way’ and ‘Heart of England’ footpaths in Chipping Campden two miles away from Weston-sub-Edge.
‘Buckle Street’, a byway from Weston-sub-Edge to the top of Saintbury hill is an old Roman road that has recently undergone major repairs and is now open to the public.
Numerous other footpaths link Weston-sub-Edge with Aston-sub-Edge to the east, Saintbury, Willersey and Broadway to the west and Honeybourne to the northwest.
The Romans occupied Weston from the 2nd Century AD, a date based on coins and pottery found in the village. Their Ryknild Street (now called Buckle Street) forms the parish boundary with Saintbury and provided a link with Watling Street and The Fosse Way. Weston, said to have been a station for the Imperial Post, lies roughly halfway between Alcester and Slaughter Bridge, near Bourton on the Water, where Ryknild joins the Fosse.
There are 3 listed Romano-British sites in the village, including one just below the Lynches Wood. It is said that the Romans grew their vines on the clearly defined terraces there and walking along them on a fine sunny day this is easy to believe.
Not far from the hill is the Kiftsgate Stone, the stone pillar marking the Kiftsgate Hundred. Here in Saxon times, the Court of the Hundred met and public announcements were proclaimed. The Stone can be seen on the boundary of Weston Park, almost 200 acres of ancient woodland, first sold from the Giffard Estate in 1610. It still remains in private hands.
There are several listed buildings in the parish: Some are 16th/17th century houses built of the local honey-coloured Cotswold limestone. One of these is Latimers, which is a fine example of Jacobean architecture in the Cotswold style. A date stone indicates it was built around 1617, although it is thought that some parts of the building date back further. The house has a fascinating history, having been used at different times both as a theological college and as an inn. There are also several agricultural buildings and the school that have been converted to residential use. The school was closed in 1985, and the pub, Seagrave Arms, was refurnished and reopened in 2010.
The church is 13th century and despite some restoration in the 19th century, still retains a number of its original features, including the altar which is just one large piece of stone measuring almost a yard wide and 11 feet long. The church was built by Godfrey Giffard, Bishop of Worcester. Squires of the village for some 400 years, the Giffards lived in the castle near the church, of which only the moated site now remains. It is believed to have been sacked during the Civil War and later the stone was used to build the walls of the village.
The Lych Gate is a memorial to the men of the village who lost their lives in the last two wars. In the churchyard the inscriptions on tombstones were first recorded in 1893 by J.Bloom, inscriptions he described as being “chiefly remarkable for their poetical character”. A later record was made in 1975 when his work was much valued due to the weathering of some stones in the interim.
The village hall, donated in 1930, was originally an old coach-house. It has since been extended. In 1981 during building alterations, what appeared to be a piece of old lead piping was found to contain a hoard of coins, 2 gold and 307 silver, the latest dated 1642.They can be seen in the Corinium Museum at Cirencester.
Farming was the main occupation until the Second World War during which an aerodrome was built on the lower fields. The countryside surrounding Weston-sub-Edge is still farmed land, largely sheep and cattle grazing with some arable areas, and is classified as predominantly grade 3 agricultural land. Much of the grazing land consists of mediaeval ridge and furrow pastures or non-productive orchards. Most fields are enclosed by hedges. The aerodrome buildings are used for other purposes including a small industrial estate.
Leisure Activities
The Village Hall
The Village Hall and surrounding area was given, in trust, to the villagers by Katherine McCulloch in 1931. The trustees over the years have extended and modernised the building and many groups in the village use it regularly.
You can hire the Village Hall for your own functions.
For Bookings contact Becky White Tel: 07759 1333129
Village Hall Bar
The comfortable bar offers you a warm welcome and sells a full range of beverages, sandwiches, and hot meals.
Bar Opening Times
Thursdays 4pm until 11pm
Fridays 12pm until 11pm
Saturdays 12pm until 11pm
Sundays 12pm until 7pm
Free Wi-Fi is available in the bar and surrounding areas. Upstairs there is a full-sized Snooker table, pool table and a dart board. Coffee Mornings are held the first Saturday of the month at 10.30am.
Licensee Becky White Tel: 07759 1333129
Keep fit group
Monday afternoons in the village hall have been the scene of much activity with the new Keep Fit Group going through their paces has averaged 13 people each week, both men and women (although we would welcome a few more men!) and everyone has enjoyed this fun way of building up their fitness. Age is no barrier to these classes so do come along and exercise at a pace suitable for you. For more information, please contact Danny Tel: 01386 841595.
Weston Seniors
A regular coffee morning in the village hall has now been running since December 2007 and is thoroughly enjoyed by those who attend.
Volunteers host the monthly get-togethers in the Village Hall. Coffee mornings are usually on the 2nd Monday of the month between 10.30am and 11.30am. Details appear in The Messenger.
For further information contact Peter Welstead Tel: 01386 841451.
Zumba
The Latest dance craze takes place in the Village Hall on Wednesday evening at 6:30 pm. For more information call Rachel Tel: 07942 50616
The Rural Cinema
Films are shown in the Village Hall on the last
Thursday of the month. Doors open at
7.30pm for an 8.00pm start. Tickets are £4.00. The Village Bar is open before and during the interval for drinks and food.
Yoga
Tuesday evenings at 7pm-8.30pm. Sophie Whitehouse can be contacted Tel: 07964 278424.
Pilates
Every Tuesday at 1pm for 1 hour. Contact Beverley Smith Tel: 01608 651900.
U3A
The History Group meets from 10am to 12.00 noon on Tuesdays the 1st week of the month. If you are interested in joining please ring Dr. David Pegg. 01386 858232.
U3A website https://u3asites.org.uk/northcotswold/welcome
Curling Group meet from 10.00am to 12.00 noon on the 4th Monday of the month. This is a sport that is played with ‘stones’ which have to be sent from one end of the court to a target at the other end. Scoring is determined by the number of stones closest to the centre of this target. It is usually played in teams of four, two teams to each set of stones. If you are interested in joining this group, please contact Daphne Bell Tel: 01386 840182.
Village Green Playground
Situated behind the old school opposite the church is a modern playground for children of all ages.
The WsE Education Charity
History Weston-sub-Edge Educational Charity was set up in 1987 using funds from the sale of the village school. For the benefit of children and students under 25, who live or whose parents live in the village of Weston-sub-Edge or who attended or whose parents attended Weston-sub-Edge Church of England Primary School.
Type of grants
Grants range from £10 to £500. People at any stage of education who fit the criteria listed above (including people starting work) can be supported for books, equipment/instruments, fees, educational outings in the UK and study or travel abroad. Further and higher education may also be supported for maintenance/living expenses. In cases of special financial need grants can be for uniforms or other clothing for schoolchildren Awards have been given for nursery fees, music, dance, drama and sports lessons, after school clubs and trips, residential trips, Brownies/Clubs, extra tuition, through to grants to university students. Contact Rachel Hurley Tel: 01386 841808
The Parish Church of Weston-sub-Edge
After rededication in June 2012 the church became St John the Baptist and St Lawrence
The entrance to the church is through the Lych Gate, c.1920, which was designed by F L Griggs of Chipping Campden and is a memorial to the men of the village who died in both world wars.
In the churchyard there are two 17th century chest tombs and the oldest tombstone is Thomas Blackwell’s. He died in 1675. The stone coffin on the south wall may have been in the church at one time, and could have contained the bones of Robert Giffard who, in his will of 1446, wished to be buried in the church. Four coffin lids situated below Canon Bourne’s memorial are thought to be over 700 years old.
A silver birch planted to commemorate King George VI’s coronation and a copper beech commemorating King George’s Jubilee can be seen. A second copper beech was planted on the north side of the church during the 7th centenary celebrations in 1984. The 13th century church, with its 15th century tower, was much rebuilt during 1853-4. The architect was F Preedy, and Canon G D Bourne, Rector for 55 years (1846-1901), was responsible for the restoration. He removed the gallery, raised the roof, and paid for the stained-glass windows in memory of his two wives. The beautiful stained glass is by Wailes and Preedy, 1854-1867.
In the tower there is a single bell, hung in July 1817 at a cost of £30.12s. The clock was installed in 1892.
The large stone altar was consecrated in 1315 and is just one large piece of stone measuring almost a yard wide and 11 feet long. Behind the altar is an arched stone reredos. The Lord’s Prayer and Ten Commandments were painted in 1849. In the chancel there are two carved stone figures under 14th century canopies. There is a fine Elizabethan brass memorial on the north wall to William Hodge who died in 1590. The hexagonal pulpit is late Jacobean and dates from about 1680. The choir stalls are Victorian.
A list of Rectors hangs on the north wall. Special note is made of Richard Giffard, appointed Rector in 1284, and Godfrey Giffard, Bishop of Worcester, who was responsible for the building of the church. The Giffards lived in the moated manor of Weston for 400 years until 1613
Services are conducted by the Priest-in Charge or other licensed clergy throughout the benefice.
Vale & Cotswold Edge Benefice
The Northern Group of the Vale and Cotswold Edge Benefice includes the parishes of Willersey with Saintbury, Weston-sub-Edge and Aston-sub-Edge, Honeybourne, Pebworth and Dorsington. The parishes lie along the B4632 Cheltenham to Stratford road, just west of Chipping Campden and north of Broadway, and along Buckle Street through the Vale of Evesham. Before 2011, Saintbury was a separate ecclesiastical parish but St Nicholas is now no longer a parish church and is vested in the Churches Conservation Trust.
The four churches of St Peter, Willersey and St Nicholas, Saintbury, St Peter, Pebworth and St Ecgwin, Honeybourne are Grade 1 Listed buildings. St John the Baptist and St Lawrence, Weston-sub-Edge and St Andrew, Aston-sub-Edge are Grade 2*. The church of St Peter in Dorsington is unusual in being built of red brick. The benefice is in the Diocese of Gloucester, the archdeaconry of Cheltenham and the deanery of the North Cotswolds. Services are held in each of our churches at least on one Sunday each month, and in Honeybourne and Willersey on almost every Sunday of the year. On two Sundays each year, St Peter Willersey foregoes its own services to join in Methodist worship; on two others, the Methodists join us.
Northern Group Services
The majority of our services are ‘eucharistic’ (i.e. Holy Communion) though there are three non-Communion services each month in the mornings.
Our services generally alternate between BCP and Common Worship (CW), the majority being the latter. During the course of the year, a number of special services take place. St Andrew’s, Aston-sub-Edge hosts services for Plough Sunday, Rogationtide, Lammas as well as Harvest, which all the churches observe. The Easter Ceremonies (‘Dawn Mass’) are sometimes celebrated in the open on Dover’s Hill.
As of 1 August 2022, the Vicar responsible for the Northern Group in the Vale and Cotswold Edge Benefice departed, and the position is currently in vacancy.
For further information please contact Liz, the Chipping Campden Church Office Administrator,
telephone: 01386 841927 email: admin@stjameschurchcampden.co.uk
Visitors are always welcome.
Useful Information
Village Defibrillator
There are two defibrillators. One is located on the wall at the junction of Church Street and Dovers View at Number 8 Dovers View and the other is on the wall of the Village Hall. To unlock the cabinet, you will need to dial 999 to get the code and call for an ambulance/paramedic. Do not leave the patient alone get help to bring the defibrillator to you. CPR should be administered until the defibrillator is ready for use.
Book Exchange & Tourist Info
Books can be borrowed/exchanged in the old telephone box in Church Street. A selection of tourist leaflets is also available.
Doctors
There are two practices that serve Weston-sub-Edge
Barn Close Surgery in Broadway
38-40 High Street Broadway, Worcs, WR12 7DT
Tel: 01386 853651
and
Campden Surgery in Chipping Campden
Back Ends, Chipping Campden, Glos. GL55 6AU
Tel: 01386 841894
Most information can be found on the respective websites. Barn Close surgery have their own dispensary and Weston-sub-Edge villagers can use a drop box service located at Hartwell & Co. Ltd. for repeat prescriptions. Prescription items are delivered Wednesday mornings for repeat prescriptions and repeat prescription requests are picked up at the same time. So, if you leave a repeat prescription request at Hartwell & Co. Ltd. by Wednesday morning then you pick up the items the following Wednesday. If you order via the internet, then this should be ordered by Thursday evening to be delivered the following Wednesday. For both surgeries if you have difficulty getting to the surgery then you can request a car ferry service by phoning the surgery reception the day before your appointment.
Walk in Minor Injuries units are available at North Cotswold Community Hospital Moreton In Marsh Tel: 0300 421 8770 and Evesham Community Hospital. Tel: 01386 502449
Police
The police non-emergency number is 101. This is the number to call for all non-urgent calls. In an emergency the number is 999.
There is also a police information point at Malvern Strollers in the High Street, Chipping Campden where letters can be left. The nearest Gloucestershire police station is at Stow-on-the-Wold and is open to the public between 9am and 5pm, Monday to Friday, Tel: 01452 907273
Wellbeing Service
Your local Wellbeing agent is Carol Stockman and together with Jo Spicer (Social prescriber based in several local surgeries) can offer advice and support for anyone over 16 in times of need such as
– times of change (redundancy, health issues, retirement)
– emotional hardship like bereavement
– worries with debt or financial issues
– who don’t know where to turn to for support
– who would want to volunteer in the community
If you, a family member, neighbour or friend, needs help then call 01452 528491 or email info@grcc.org.uk