Cheltenham in the 1960s

1960s in Cheltenham was a decade of spring cleaning – what was considered old and outdated was demolished or closed and new “modern” buildings were build to take its place.

Over thirty pubs were knocked down during this period, among them The Dove and Rainbow in Burton Street, the Noah’s ark in St. George’s Street, the Prince’s Plume in Princes Street, and Seven Stars in Henrietta Street. Winchcombe Street lost its small shops, and with them half-timbered Swiss chalet-style building at the corner of High Street. At lower High Street Basket Shop disappeared, an old timber framed building with a shingle roof of Cotswold tiles. All of Pittville Street from the High Street to Albion Street was knocked down and the small shops, such as Barnett-Hutton ladies’ wear, Blackburns, Whites and Gordon Thoday fabrics had to go.

In 1967 E. L. Ward’s department store, situated in the High Street where Primark is now, closed down and its building made way to a new one. Webb’s brickworks in Battledown, famous for its distinct wire-cut bricks, closed too and went into liquidation.

Another place which changed its look was the lower part of the High Street where the building of the boy’s Grammar School together with the Fleece Hotel and the adjoining shops have been demolished to make way for block of shops which stands there today. The Grammar School moved to a brand new building in Hester’s Way. The most famous of the buildings which sprung up around the town is the Eagle Star which opened on 18 October 1968 and forever changed the horizon of Cheltenham.

Britain’s railways underwent an enormous change in the 1960s. Following the Beeching report, services to Cheltenham have been cut and Leckhampton and Charlton Kings lost their railway stations as the Cheltenham – Kingham line ceased to operate on 15 October 1962. In 1966 St. James’ railway station, located where Waitrose supermarket stands today, and Malvern railway station were also shut.

One of the phenomena of the 1960s was the “Chip Shop” and Cheltenham had its fair share of master friers scattered around the town. Among the best was Beard’s in Pittville Street (between the Masonic Hall and Williams cycle shop) where you couldn’t get anything else than a perfect fish with chips. Other famous premises included Poole’s in the Lower High Street, Walrus chip shop at the junction with Townsend Street and Prior’s Norwood Fish Bar, off Norwood Arms roundabout.

In the 1960s Cheltenham developed a thriving music scene. Jazz could be heard in venues such as the Rotunda, St. Luke’s Hall in Bath Road and the swimming club at the old Alstone Baths in Great Western Road. Other venues included pubs, such as Star, Cat & Fiddle, the Gladstone Arms and Eight Bells, and some of Cheltenham’s bars, such as The Tiffin in Royal Crescent, Bar-B-Q and Waikiki Club in Montpellier, the Patio Snack bar in the Strand and the El Flamenco.

The Opera House closed for refurbishment and re-opened in 1960 with new fittings, a new company and a new name - the Everyman Theatre.

Cheltenham’s cinemas changed names in the 1960s – The Gaumont became the Odeon and in the Promenade the Regal was renamed to ABC. The Daffodil cinema in the Suffolks became a bingo hall. Odeon continued with staging rock and pop acts and brought to Cheltenham cockney rockers Joe Brown and the Bruvvers, Rolf Harris, Helen Shapiro, Billy Fury, Dusty Springfield, Herman’s Hermits and many more.

Cliff Richard and the Shadows played there twice and 1 November 1963 Odeon’s stage was taken by storm by the Beatles. With them on the bill were the Rhythm & Blues Quartet, the Vernon Girls, Frank Berry, the Brook Brothers, Peter Jay and the Jaywalkers, and the Kestrels. The Beatles played a short set of about half an hour to a screaming audience which threw jelly babies at the stage as George was said to be partial to them. The very first printed use of the word Beatlemania appeared in The Daily Mirror 2nd November 1963 in an article describing the Cheltenham concert. "Beatlemania! Its happening everywhere.. even in sedate Cheltenham", said The Daily Mirror.

The same year brought to Cheltenham another even more subversive band – the Rolling Stones with Brian Jones, who was born in Cheltenham. More Rolling Stones concerts followed 10th February and 10th September 1964. Compering the latter show was Don Spencer and the evening opened with The Innocents, followed by Mike Berry and the Mojos, the Le Roys, Simon Scott and Inezz and Charlie Foxx. Before and after the show crowd was waiting outside the cinema to catch a glimpse of the rock stars. The Stones visited Cheltenham for their last concert on 27th September 1965.

Another venue was The Grotto Club (formerly Club 66) at the Wheatsheaf Inn, Leckhampton (today The Venue). Its popularity came to an end in 1966 when the focus of live rock moved back to the High Street as a new club opened above Burton's called Blue Moon (today’s Night Owl), which soon became popular enough to attract bands on their way to the international stardom. Now world famous rock icons, such as The Who, The Small Faces, Rod Stewart, Elton John and Jimi Hendrix were among the acts who appeared at the Blue Moon.