Lynworth

LYNWORTH, WHADDON

Lynworth is situated to the south of Prestbury, in the eastern part of Cheltenham. The name was in existence by 1575 as a field-name, meaning a flax enclosure. The Lynworth Farm estate, a 60-acre housing scheme, had been planned since 1943 and got under way as soon as the war ended. Lynworth Farm, from which it got its name, stood diagonally opposite the junior school in Bouncer's Lane.

The area has got fine recreational facilities in Clyde Crescent Recreation Ground, which is the focus of many community activities during the summer. Children’s Play Area was installed in 2004 as Doorstep Green development.

Whaddon, as the area east of Prestbury Road is known, was first noted as Whaddonfield in 1606. In 1929 a new development of houses was planned to be built mainly on the land of Whaddon Farm. Wyman’s Road, Colne Avenue and Thames Road were the first three roads to be built, named in 1935 in accordance with the river theme adopted for this estate. Other rivers featured in the street names of the development are the river Severn, Windrush and Clyde.

Whaddon Road Stadium

Whaddon is famously home to Cheltenham Town Football Club, the history of which dates back to the 1880s. Whaddon Road Stadium has been the home ground of The Robins since 1932. The stadium commands beautiful views of Cleeve Hill.

The area on the north-east edge of Cheltenham, on a lower slope of the Cotswold scarp is sometimes referred to as Oakley. In the medieval times this was a great source of timber for the manor of Cheltenham, but by 1617 the oak woods had gone.

The former Oakley Farm has gone too, though the name is still used by some for its site, occupied since early 1940s by government offices and since 1953 principally by GCHQ. The GCHQ building has been demolished as the offices moved to the grand doughnut-like building in Benhall and on its place a new housing development has started. A new large Sainsbury’s supermarket serves the shopping needs of local residents.

Oakley is also a political ward of Cheltenham Borough Council, covering Lynworth and Whaddon. It has the population of almost 6,000.