Historical Descriptions of Bishop's Cleeve

Bishop's Cleeve is a hamlet and village, 3« miles N. by E. from Cheltenham; situated on an eminence, on the road to Evesham and on the ridge of the acclivity here is a large double entrenchment, called the 'Camps'. The parish churh of Saint Michael is a curious and spacious structure, principally of Norman architecture, with an elaborate and noble arch, in the same style, over the western entrance. The spire fell down in 1696, and was replaced in 1700 by the tower that now rises from the centre of the building: the living is a rectory, in the patronage of the family of Townsend.

Bishop's Cleeve, a parish in the hundred of the same name, in the county of Gloucester, 3 miles to the N. of Cheltenham, its post town. It is a station on the Bristol and Birmingham section of the Midland railway. The parish includes the hamlets of Gotherington, Stoke Orchard, Southam with Brockhampton, and Woodmancott.

The living is a vicarage* in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol, of the value of £1,574, in the patronage of the Rev. W. L. Townsend, incumbent. The church, dedicated to St. Michael, is a large ancient structure in the form of a cross, with a central tower of modern erection, and exhibits various styles of architecture, from the Saxon downwards. It has a fine Norman arch at the west end, and contains monuments of a crusader, and of the De la Veres of Southam House.

The rectory house was formerly a residence of the bishops of Worcester, to whom the village belonged. On Cleeve Hill is a large ancient entrenchment, of a crescent shape, supposed to be a British work. On the same hill the Cheltenham races annually take place. There are mineral springs in the vicinity.

Bishop's Cleeve, a township in Winchcombe district, and a parish in Winchcombe and Tewkesbury districts, Gloucester. The township lies 1¾ mile E of Cleeve r. station, and 3 N by E of Cheltenham; and has a post office under Cheltenham. Real property, £3,950. Pop., 703. Houses, 184.-The parish includes also the hamlets of Gotheringtone, Woodmancote, Stoke-Orchard, and Southam and Brockhampton. Acres, 8,150. Real property, £15,107. Pop., 1,970. Houses, 486. The property is much subdivided. The Cleeve hills, along the E, have a crescent-shaped ancient British camp, and the race-ground of the Cheltenham races; and exhibit brilliant scenery of cliff and wood. There are mineral springs. The living is a rectory in the diocese of Gloucester and Bristol Value, £2,000.* Patron, the Rev. W. L. Townsend. The church exhibits features from early Norman downward; is cruciform and large; and has a central tower, of modern construction. The parsonage was at one time the residence of the Bishops of Worcester. There are Independent and Baptist chapels and a national school.