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Cheltenham is a market town, parliamentary borough, and fashionable watering place, in the parish and hundred of its name, 95 miles W.N.W. from London, (131 by rail, by the Great Western and Swindon Junction lines), 43 N.N.E., from Bristol, and 9 N.E. from Gloucester; situated in the charming vale of Gloucester, and sheltered on the north east by an immense amphitheatre of eminences formed by the Cotswold hills, which abruptly terminate at about the distance of two miles to the north. Various opinions exist as to the derivation of the name Cheltenham : by some etymologists it is deduced from the Saxon words Chilt and Ham - the former signifying 'an elevated place,' the latter 'a farm' or 'village'; whilst others, with more probability, ascribe its origin to the small river Chilt or Chelt. The town, borough, and hundred of Cheltenham are described, in Domesday book, as having been, previous to the Conquest, 'parcel of the possessions of King William.' Before the discovery of the spa, it was an inconsiderable straggling town - the house for the most part thatched, and their inhabitants, generally speaking poor; a stream of water ran through the street, and it was only by the aid of stepping stones that a communication was effected between the opposite sides of it. The present town is built principally of brick, cemented, which gives it a peculiarly clean appearance : the High street is upwards of a mile and a half in length - every where light, airy, and of considerable width; the pavement for pedestrians is spacious, and usually forms the grand promenade -; the houses in general are well built, and exhibet verandahs and areas, resembling those of the metropolis; the shops are handsome, and many of them sufficiently furnished to gratify the most fastidious taste; and the inns and hotels are of the first order. Within these few years the number of houses has been greatly increased by the erection of many magnificent villas, crescents, parades, and streets, sured to the accomodation of the numerous fashionable families who make this place their permanent or temporary residence. The town is gas lighted, efficiently drained, and plenteously supplied with excellent water - the latter obtained from the adjacent hills, by a company, who have recently provided an additional reservoir of great dimensions to supply the requirements of the increasing population. Since the year 1788, when the town was visited by George III, its increase in population and buildings have been truly astonishing. This may be ascribed not only to its fame waters, but to the salubrity of the atmosphere, the beauty of the scenery around, the character of its amusements, and the refinement of its visitants. As an evidence of the healthfullness of the town, it may be stated that during the period when the cholera ravaged other parts of the country, not a single death occured in Cheltenham from this fatal disease. The ... are kept in excellent order by the respective lessees; the pump room of the Royal Old Wells has dated, been rebuilt, and is now the largest in the country. Full military bands perfom at stated times on the promenades during the season. Jessop's nursery furnishes a delightful recreation on the the florist and botanist, as well as to the admirer of rural beauty.
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Cheltenham is not a manufacturing town; its prosperity is wholy attributable to its numerous and respectable class of visitors - to its neighbouring gentry, and other wealthy residents. The malting business is of some importance; there are several large and excellent breweries, and the retail trade of the place is generally flourishing. In the railway system of the country, this locality is eligibly interested: the Western Union, a line in connexion with the Great Western Railway, has its station here; the Bristol and Birmingham Railway includes Cheltenham in its route; and the line hence to Oxford will be a valuable acquisition to both places, in the way of transit communication. There are five newspapers published in Cheltenham weekly; they are ably conducted, and enjoy a respectable amount of patronage - their titles, days of publication, &c, are given in the trades' list.
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Cheltenham has been divided into wards for parochial and sanitary purposes, and into districts for ecclesiastical purposes. The manor now belongs to James Agg Gardner, Esquire, who purchased it of Lord Sherbourne (in whose family it had been in since the year 1628 for nearly £10,000. Cheltenham is included in the fifty fifth circuit of towns, under the County Court Act, for adjudicating claims to any amount not exceeding £50. The Reform Bill conferred upon the town the priviledge of returning one member to parliament - the Gentleman at present sitting for the borough is Colonel C. F. Berkeley.
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There are eight churches under the establishment, and chanels for various religious denominations, of which being appended with their situations and officials, we shall only notice, more particularly the most elegant and interesting structures. The parish church of Saint Mary stands nearly in the centre of the town, a short distance from High-street; it is venerable commodious structure, in the form of a cross, with a tower containing an excellent peal of ten sweet toned bells and summounted by an elegant octagonal spire; the living is a perpetual curacy. The Holy Trinity Church, situated on the approach to Pitville, is a neat structure, dependent on the mother church. St. John's erected under the forty years' act, stands in Berkeley street, and is independent of the parish church. The other churches are St. Paul's, in the street of its name; Saint James', in Suffolk square; Christ Church, in Lansdowne place; St. Peter's, on thew Tewkesbury road; and St. Philip's, in Leckhampton parish: some of these are elegant buildings, and all are neat and convenient. Of the religious denominations, not of the church, there are buildings for the worship of Baptists, Independents, Methodists, Unitarians, Society of Friends, Roman Catholics, Jews, &c. The Roman Catholic Chapel of St. Gregoey is St. James' square, erected in 1857, is an elegant cruciform building, and consists of a nave and aisles, transcept, chancel, lady chapel and organ chamber; it has eight stained glass windows, and the stone carving in the interior is very fine. The porch is very ornamental, and the grouping of the several parts of the edifice is very fine. The Rev. James Catham is the priest; the schools in connection with the chapel will accommodate 400 children. The charities are exceedingly well supported - the principal are an hospital and dispensary; the female orphan asylum; Pates' almhouses, &c. The public education establishments comprise a richly endowed grammar school; the proprietary college; and National, British and Foreign schools, supported by contributions. A literary and philosophical society ; and several well stored libraries are liberally supported. Mr. Bailey's collection in the Queen's circuis is a large and choice one, and there is one of theological works on the promenade. The market is held on Thursday, and the fairs on the second Thursday in April, Holy Thursday, and August 5th. The parish of Cheltenham, the limits of which are identical with those comprising the parliamentary borough, contained in 1841, 31,411, inhabitants, and in 1851, 35,051.
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Cheltenham is distant from London 94 miles, Gloucester 10, Tewkesbury 10, and Northleach 11. this place was honoured with the residence of the royal family during the autumn of the year 1788.
About two miles East of the town is a mineral spring, as a cot-house called Hyde. The waters are full as powerful as the spring at Cheltenham. Two miles farther to the East, Cleve Hill raises its awful head, clothed almost to the summit with hedge rows of elm-trees, which inclose corn-fields, arable lands, and orchards. At the top of this hill there are still left the remains of a Roman camp.
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