An Anglo-Saxon settlement, Cheltenham was the site of a monastery as early as 803. It first became famous in 1716 when a spring with healing waters was discovered on the site of what is now The Ladies College, a visit of King George III in 1788 confirmed it's position as a fashionable Spa town.

THE SPA ERA

Cheltenham's heyday as a spa lasted from about 1790 to 1840 and by 1840 it had also become a popular residential town, particularly for military families, many of whom had served in the Empire. It also gained a reputation for the quality of preaching in its many churches and chapels and for its schools and colleges, which encouraged still more families to settle in the town.

MODERN HISTORY

Since then, Cheltenham has continued to grow. During the late 19th century, craft industries developed. During the First World War a local firm, H H Martyn & Co., began to manufacture aircraft components and later established the Gloster Aircraft Company.

CHELTENHAM CREST

The crest of Cheltenham Borough incorporates all the significant events in the history of Cheltenham. Its motto Salubritas et Eruditio refers to Cheltenham as a health spa and the centre for education. Today, Cheltenham crest is also the crest of Cheltenham Town FC.