Abbeydale
Abbeydale (Heron Park & The Wheatridge)
Abbeydale, now a modern extension of Gloucester, was initially a pioneering housing project. Located on the left of Painswick Road, its expanse includes the southern stretch up to where the M5 motorway meets Upton St. Leonards and extends east, encompassing The Wheatridge. Its boundaries with Coney Hill and Abbeymead are marked by the River Twyver or Sud Brook, near Hawthorn & Abbeymead Avenues.
In 1968, Heron Homesteads, a Bristol-based firm, began developing Heron Park as part of their vision to create garden estates. This plan, rooted in the Garden City Movement's principles, featured Heron Way, a central road flanked by pedestrian paths and car streets, emphasizing ample green spaces. The estate's layout, influenced by the Radburn design from Fair Lawn, New Jersey, featured houses on cul-de-sacs spiraling off Heron Way.
Construction on the estate started around 1968, initially focusing on Heron Way and its adjoining streets. A resident recalls houses in Grebe Close being available in 1969, even as the estate was still under development. Heron named the streets after British birds, reflecting its name and the local nature. Initially, Fieldfare was Swift Road and Woodcock Close, but confusion led to renaming it Fieldfare, with renumbering of houses along the road from Heron Way to Bittern Avenue.
It took years for the estate to develop into a community, complete with local stores. A temporary church was established in a pair of semi-detached houses at Nos. 50-52 Grebe Close. The main road paused at this point until construction began on The Wheatridge around 1975.
Heron Primary School's construction started in 1975 and opened in 1977, followed by the Glevum Shopping Centre in 1981.
Almond Close 1979-83
Built by Robert Hitchins.
Ann Edwards Mews 1992-94
Designed by Pamela Lea, built by Coldray Builders (Brockworth). Built for the Ann Edwards Charity. GC 20/08/1994.
Ashton Close 1982-84
Built by Westbury Homes. HMLR 24th June 1982.
Autumn Rise, The Wheatridge 2002-04
Three properties were built within a gated development. Designed by ASTAM GBC (Gloucester), built by South Marco Properties. GCC
Awebridge Way, Brindle Close, Drayton Way, Rustic Close, Timmis Close & Weald Close 1984-86
The estate was named Brookside Gardens due to its position next to the Sud Brook. Built by Rendell Partnership Developments, part of the Lovell Group. Advertisements for homes in the local paper. GC 11/09/1986.
Extension to Awebridge Way & Raven Close
Built by Edenstone Property Development.
Aycote Close 1961-63
Built by D. Shuker. HMLR 10th July 1961. Adopted by Gloucester City Council in 1965. Named after Aycote House in Rendcomb.
Badger Close 1979-83
Built by Robert Hitchins.
Barn Close
Built by Prospect Homes. HMLR 06/11/2008
Basil Close 1979-83
Built by Robert Hitchins.
Berry Lawn 1976-79
Built by Glevum Estates.
Brae Walk
Built as a self-build estate constructed by Larmaca Builders Ltd. HMLR 01/08/1983.
Bramble Lawn 1976-79
Built by Glevum Estates.
Briar Lawn 1976-79
Built by Glevum Estates.
Built by Heron Garden Estates. HMLR 10th November 1980.
Boyce Close 1995-96
Built by E.B. Tilling. Designed by Rodney Purse Architects.
Clementine Court 2007-09
Designed and built by McCarthy & Stone. GCC
Curlew Road 1971-73
Built by Heron Homes.
Georgian Close 1975-78
Built by Glevum Estates. HMLR 7th August 1975.
Grebe Close 1971-73
Built by Heron Homes. HMLR 5th September 1971.
High Meadow 2004-06
Designed by Evans Jones Housing (Cheltenham), built by Chamberlayne Estates (Ashleworth) Ltd.
Meerstone Way, Jaythorpe, Fielden, The Lawns, Berry Lawn, Briar Lawn, Bramble Lawn, Fern Lawn, Buttercup Lawn. 1975-79
Built by Glevum Estates, HMLR 07/08/1975
Osprey & Owl Close
Built by Heron Garden Estates, HMLR 10/11/1980.
Pine Way with connecting streets
Built by George Wimpey. HMLR 29th December 1982.
Robin Close 2006-09
Designed by Andrew P Jones Associates (Cheltenham), built by Colburn Homes (Cirencester). GCC.
Rumsey Close 1978-80
Built by Hornchurch Construction Ltd. HMLR 8th December 1978.
Skylark Way 1980-82
Built by McLean Homes. GC 01/09/1994
Simpson's Orchard
Built by New Dawn Homes, HMLR 05/05/2005.
Stonechat Avenue 1971-73
Built by Heron Homes. HMLR 5th May 1971.
Sudgrove Way & Saintbridge Close
Built by The Building & Public Works Construction Co. Ltd. (Swindon). HMLR 4th May 1961. The name Sudgrove in Old English means the southern grove. Saintbridge is the crossing close to the Askwith Road & The Lampreys entrance on Painswick Road. Its thought that the name means the bridge by the sand.
Tern Close 1980-82
Built by Constain Homes.
The Chase & The Malverns
Built by Ideal Homes, HMLR 10/09/1986.
The Lampreys 1975-78
Built by E.G. Carter & Co. Contract with GCC 11/04/1975. Named because of Gloucester custom for the consumption of these eel type fish. The Lampreys Inn was named after this unusual tradition too.
Thrush Close, Oriole Way, Hawk Close & Bittern Way
Built by Heron Garden Estates, HMLR 22/03/1974
The Wheatridge
A historic name that is based within the older parish of Upton St. Leonards. First recorded as "Wedrugg" in 1221 (1). The name itself is quite self-explanatory meaning a ridge with a wheat growing on it. Geographically this makes sense as the lane lies on a shallow ridge.
Withy Mews, Cotteswold Road
References:
1) Nottingham.ac.uk. (2024). Wheatridge:: Survey of English Place-Names. [online] Available at: https://epns.nottingham.ac.uk/browse/id/53285a97b47fc40ab3001633-Wheatridge [Accessed 2 Feb. 2024].
Comments
Post a Comment